People are starting to feel that everything is changing day by day, and this leaves them confused. They don’t understand what is happening and aren’t able to manage it. In reality what’s happening is the authentic revelation of the Upper Force to the creatures. We don’t yet recognize that this is the Upper Force. However, we already understand that there is some force now at work in the world and there is nothing we can do about it. We feel that something is happening in the world, but we are unable to explain it or establish contact with it. Yet, we see that something unusual is taking place, and Kabbalah explains that this is the beginning of the revelation of the Creator.

People must now realize that they have no way of attaining control over this state or opposing it. Therefore, we must ascend and discern this force by attaining it through the same principle we have used to discover and learn  the use of other forces of Nature. Why? How is this force different from anything we have previously encountered?

The forces of Nature were previously revealed to individuals, rather than in a mutual, global form. Therefore, the forces revealed were not related to the Mutual Upper Governance. The Upper Force that becomes revealed when all the creatures unite together, had not yet been revealed. Today however, it is being revealed as the global force – the Upper Force that’s being expressed inside all of us. Very soon it will force us to unite so we’ll be able to reveal it in a good way. Otherwise, we’ll sentence ourselves to destruction.

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The moment we start revealing the connection between us, we are living in the generation of the Messiah. If we are revealing the fact that we are all one family, this is a sign of the coming of the Messiah, because we thereby reveal the system of Adam HaRishon. Before people could do anything they wanted to, but now they have to become similar to this system. This connection symbolizes the end of the exile.

The Ari and Chaim Vital felt that the exile was ending even in their time, 500 years ago. This is why Chaim Vital wrote, “I am waiting for the Messiah but He is not coming yet.” To him, it was clear that the exile had ended. All the great Kabbalists talked about this, including Baal Shem Tov and Baal HaSulam.

But today this isn’t only apparent to the great Kabbalists who see the entire system of souls in its revealed form; but even the average person encounters it. People don’t quite feel it yet, but they are hearing about it. Each person is seeing and beginning to feel that he depends on everyone. He’s beginning to feel that there’s a system of mutual connection at work. This is the revelation of the system of souls, called “The First Man” – Adam HaRishon. But the force that is now operating inside this network of souls is negative. It is a force opposite to the Creator. However, if you ask Him, He will turn to face you!
(From the lesson on Baal HaSulam’s article, “Messiah’s Horn” on 03.24.2009)

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Questions I received about man’s relationship with the Creator:

Question: If the Creator created the universe, how can man become equal to Him? Isn’t this a delusion of grandeur?

My Answer: The Creator created Evil from Goodness, and man corrects Evil to make it Goodness. He does this by means of his desire, with help from the Creator.

Question: In Kabbalah, what does it mean to worship the Creator?

My Answer: It means to respect the quality of bestowal and love for all.

Question: Do we owe anything to the Creator because of the fact that He created us?

My Answer: No.

Question: Does the Creator experience enjoyment when we are happy?

My Answer: Yes.

Question: Does trying to make someone happy out of our love for the Creator bring us closer to the goal?

My Answer: Yes, much closer!

Question: I keep reading that the Creator has no desire to “receive,” yet I always hear statements like “to please the Creator,” “to give contentment to the Creator,” “for the sake of the Creator,” “the Creator gets pleasure from seeing his creatures enjoy,” and so on. How does He get pleasure without receiving? Can you please clear this up?

My Answer: The sole quality of the Creator is bestowal. Therefore, the Creator enjoys giving. But when the creatures do not receive from Him, He suffers.

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Questions I received on various Kabbalistic concepts and definitions:

Question: Is the screen a tool that returns us to the state we were in before the knowledge of good and evil?

My Answer: It is the tool of recognition, attainment and ascent above the knowledge of good and evil, leading to equivalence of form with the Creator.

Question: What is the spiritual meaning of the Sabbath?

My Answer: It’s a symbol of the Full Correction.

Question: I was reading The Book of Zohar and in the section, The List of Abbreviations and Explanations, it states: “AA – Arich Anpin – the Partzuf of Hochma, the central, initial Partzuf in the World of Atzilut, from which all the other Partzufim originate.” Is this correct? As far as my very limited knowledge goes, Keter is central and the other Partzufim originate from it.

My Answer: Arich Anpin is Keter of the World of Atzilut, because Atik is concealed from the lower Partzufim.

Question: Could you please explain what is the “mouth to mouth” teaching technique? Is this form of study used today?

My Answer: This type of study happens through the common screen of a teacher and his student. The screen is located in the mouth (Peh) of the souls (Partzuf).

Question: What is the difference between desire and effort?

My Answer: Effort can be exerted only to the extent of the desire.

Question: If there is no desire, how does one create a demand for the effort?

My Answer: Under the influence of the environment.

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Questions I received on the spiritual meanings of Kabbalistic writings:

Question: Is there a translation of the 613 desires (commandments) of the Torah to the language of the ten Sefirot?

My Answer: As one example, see Baal HaSulam’s article, “Pkudin ve Eitin” at the end of the “Preface to the Book of Zohar” (not to be confused with the “Introduction to the Book of Zohar”).

Question: The following is a quote from a poem by Baal HaSulam: “And then that special Tower of Oz will appear before you.” What does the Tower of Oz refer to?

My Answer: Oz is a force, referring to the complete revelation of the Creator.

Question: One of Baal HaSulam’s texts reads: “The Method of Influence Through the Names.” Could you explain what this means?

My Answer: Names refer to partial attainments of the Creator, which then combine together to form His one four-letter name, HaVaYaH.

Question: The Book of Creation speaks about the seven skies, each of which has seven moons, and the seventh sky has pure souls. And it also mentions “screens.” I would like to know more about this. What do the skies, the moons, and the screens actually mean?

My Answer: All of this refers only to the Sefirot, Parzufim, Olamot, Masachim, Reshimot, and other parts of the desire, which gradually become similar to the Creator. It’s because nothing exists except the Creator and the desire He created. The seven skies are the seven Sefirot of ZON. The seven moons are the Malchut in each Sefira. And so on. See the Ari‘s work.

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Two questions I received on the right way to use the feeling of envy:

Question: I feel the love of my friends, but at the same time, I feel their envy. I have read in Kabbalah books that envy is a positive quality because it forces us to advance. Don’t you think it would be better to be impressed by our friends, since it is the same kind of feeling as envy, only with the component of love? What is the best way to deal with negative feelings in the group?

My Answer: Only to see your complete dependence on the group in order to attain the goal. This will force you to attune yourself to it correctly.

Question: Is envy really such a positive feeling that it can advance a person in spirituality? If so, how can I turn the jealousy I feel toward my spouse into something positive?

My Answer: Being jealous of others’ acts of goodness and kindness helps one to become like them. Jealousy can be turned into goodness only if you use it in order to improve yourself. For example, using jealousy, you can change your attitude toward your correction.

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Three questions I received on daily life and Kabbalah study:

Question: I started watching the morning lessons, but my day has become disorganized. I can’t combine good sleep, the morning lessons, dissemination, the group, and reading of books. 24 hours a day just doesn’t seem enough for it all. What is your advice for structuring the day and prioritizing things?

My Answer: You should go to bed a couple of hours earlier. For example, I go to bed at 9 or even 8:30 p.m. and sleep until 2 a.m. So, go to bed as soon as you get home. And when you’re at the dissemination center, don’t waste even a minute on idle chatter.

Question: Why do some students of Bnei Baruch believe they should purposefully increase their egoism? Where does this confusion come from?

My Answer: It’s because they don’t understand that one has to keep aspiring toward bestowal and love by working in the group. During this work, if one’s egoism towards the friends increases, then this is the egoism he must correct in order to rise above it to the Creator. On the other hand, the original egoism that one has is just animalistic and it doesn’t relate to the Creator.

Question: What “fuel” should we run on to travel the distance from the recognition of evil to crossing the Machsom? And how can I speed up this process?

My Answer: You can do this only by means of the correct environment. See the article, “The Freedom.”

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Three questions I received on desires and emotional responses:

Question: I am addicted to computer games, but I have heard you say that we should not suppress our desires. Will my addiction to computer games and TV be corrected by the Light?

My Answer: All you need to do is study Kabbalah – read, listen, and watch our materials. The studies will correct you without you having to force yourself. You have to force yourself to study and not be lazy, but don’t try to “break” your qualities, because only the Upper Light (Ohr Makif) can correct them.

Question: Is there a connection between Kabbalah studies (the lessons, work in the group, and dissemination) and a stronger sexual desire?

My Answer: Yes, but try not to pay attention to this as much as you can, or to other interferences that arise. Focus only on advancing toward the goal. Then, everything else will happen as necessary. It is natural for obstacles to emerge and it happens to everyone.

Question: Why is it that when I listen to Kabbalistic songs or watch the animated films, tears stream from my eyes uncontrollably and my heart fills with longing. What is happening? How can this be explained?

My Answer: This happens out of joy from an encounter with the eternal and perfect, and the foretaste of the future fulfillment.

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Two questions I received about studying in groups:

Question: A few months ago we formed a virtual group, consisting of various territories, including Germany, Estonia, Israel, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Tell us, is it necessary to separate the virtual group into male and female parts when reading Baal HaSulam’s and Rabash’s articles?

My Answer: No, it’s not necessary. It should happen only by consent.

Question: Our group has a great desire to reveal the inner connection between us. Some people aim to strengthen our connection with each other, while others aim to demonstrate the nuances of the correct inner examination in order for the group to advance. Others still just try to feel the desire for a positive attitude and the right focus. However, we were told that these tactics impede the progress. If this is the case, why then do we feel a need to do this, which we shouldn’t? Is this a normal phase in our development?

My Answer: I don’t understand exactly what you mean. No one is against connections within or between groups. Could it be that you are doing something that isolates you from others? If so, you will be violating the principle of equality and the general connection. Please describe the problem to me in more detail.

We strive to achieve unity, which Nature (the Creator) demands from us and from all of humanity. The unity must happen among the entire mass of people studying in the framework of the worldwide Bnei Baruch group. This is no one’s whim or invention; everything that’s studied is a law of Nature, and the students apply it to whatever extent they can. Therefore, there are no leaders, but only people who explain.

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When you reveal to someone what will happen tomorrow, whether it’s good or bad, and you direct him to the path based on your knowledge of the system which isn’t yet revealed to him, then you are like a prophet in relation to that person, because you are one step ahead of him.

What does it mean to ascend up the spiritual ladder? In our world, it means to move forward “in time.” But what is time? What does it mean that a Kabbalist accelerates and “sanctifies” the time? It means that he ascends. In other words, he has already attained the state that the world will reach several years later. This is why he speaks to the people and warns them: “Be careful!”

It’s like a labyrinth, where some people have entered the labyrinth and are lost there, but he watches them from above and directs them: “Go left, go right, now this way, then that way.” And this is how he leads them out of the labyrinth.

There are several labyrinths in the world that have been specifically designed for us. Once you enter one, you cannot find your way out, as each one is a unique kind of adventure. But our adventure has become dangerous, and those who are above, those who have already gone through this path and who know the method and the program, plan, map, or compass; those who have mastered this entire system, all its lanes and laws, and everything that happens in it – these people are called prophets in relation to everyone else.

You can’t be a guide unless you have already gone through several degrees of this path. Otherwise you will not be able to lead those who want to follow you down the same path.
(Excerpt from the lesson on Baal HaSulam’s article, “One Precept,” on 03.18.2009)

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