Questions I received on the connection between root and branch:

Question: I heard that there is no connection between spirituality and our personalities or physical qualities. On the other hand, there is a notion of root and branch, which says that every thing, object and quality in our world has a connection to its root. There seems to be a contradiction here. Doesn’t this mean that physical properties and personality are set according to spiritual roots?

My Answer: Of course there is a connection, and it’s direct: the root determines the result, such as one’s personality, habits, inclinations, and so on. However, the result does not undergo change because in our world it is impossible for any qualitative changes to occur. The only thing that’s always changing – even if we don’t realize it – is the soul, which strives toward the root and belongs to the Upper World.

Generally speaking, everything revolves around the soul. Because we don’t perceive the soul, we don’t understand the flow of life, since everything taking place has only one purpose – the soul’s correction.

Question: According to the law of root and branch, can a smaller one influence a bigger one, like in the example of the guest and the host?

My Answer: This is exactly what the Creator is waiting for us to do – to take control over the universe and thereby attain Him, become like Him, and reach adhesion with Him. Then there won’t be any difference between Him and us (by “us” I mean the common soul that’s absolutely united into one whole)!

During the process of correction, on the way to the final state (adulthood, Gadlut), we are like children, and all of the Creator’s actions revolve only around us – not us in the physical sense, but only our souls. We have to remember this, and if we wish to understand Him, we have to stop thinking about bodies (that is, about the excess things besides what’s necessary for the body to exist) and start identifying ourselves with the soul. We should perceive the body as temporary, something we were given during the period when we’re not fully corrected yet and are separated from the soul.

Question: Is there a spiritual root of good and evil? If yes, then what is it?

My Answer: The root of everything in existence is the one, unique Creator, the single force that governs everything. However, we perceive this force dually, depending on whether we are with it or against it.

For more on this, read the articles “Thou Hast Hemmed Me in Behind and Before,” “There Is None Else Besides Him,” the letter from page 70, and watch the lessons that I gave on these articles during the 2008 Odessa congress (see the Related Material below).

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: We Raise the Entire Universe Up to the Creator
Shamati 240: Inquire Your Inquirers When They Inquire Your Face
Basic Concepts in Kabbalah: Chapter 8: The Language of Kabbalah
Odessa Congress – Lesson 1
Odessa Congress – Lesson 2
Odessa Congress – Lesson 3
Odessa Congress – Lesson 4
Odessa Congress – Lesson 5
Odessa Congress – Lesson 1
Odessa Congress – Lesson 2
Odessa Congress – Lesson 3
Odessa Congress – Lesson 4
Odessa Congress – Lesson 5

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A question I received: By disseminating Kabbalah you ascended spiritually and enabled Rabash to ascend even higher. This is why during his life Rabash did everything to make sure that you would continue to disseminate Kabbalah once he is gone – this was the purpose of his life. Before his death Rabash instructed you to continue disseminating Kabbalah. Does your dissemination of Kabbalah today play any role in Rabash’s afterlife?

My Answer: All the souls are absolutely interconnected. Even in our world studies already reveal that every one of us knows everyone else through a sixth acquaintance. Baal HaSulam explains that all the souls in our world go through correction over the course of 6,000 years, in the form of one Partzuf:

• At first, during the first 2,000 years, the world, common soul, Kelim Chabad are corrected with the Light of Nefesh;
• Next, over the second 2,000 years, the world, the common soul, Kelim Hagat are corrected with the Light of Ruach;
• Finally, over the last 2,000 years (and we are living at the end of this period), the world, the common soul, Kelim NHY are corrected with the Light of Neshama.

By correcting ourselves we receive the smallest Light – Nefesh, but due to our correction in the first souls (the forefathers, the great Kabbalists of the past), our corrections reveal the greatest Light – Neshama. The Kabbalists of the past prepared all the conditions for our correction, but it is we who correct the broken (devoid of a screen, of the intention “for the sake of bestowal”) and the mixed (Bina and Malchut) Kelim (desires). Hence, we and our actions are the most important in the process of creation’s development. We raise the entire universe up to the Creator!

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: The Reshimot Surfacing Today Demand Spiritual Ascent of All Humanity
Laitman.com Post: Connected Through the Worlds
The Open Book, Chapter 7 – The Purpose of Reincarnation According to the Zohar

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Two questions I received on why things become more confusing when you study more, and how to tell that you are on the right track:

Question: When I started watching lessons on youtube and beginners lessons at the Ari Online Learning Center, everything was so clear and simple and made sense. But now that I am much more engaged and I started reading a lot of articles and the “Introduction to the Book of Zohar,” everything became much harder and more confusing, to the degree that sometimes I think of posting a question but I can’t even express it in words! Does this mean that I am not on the right track?

My Answer: Many articles will tell you that these states are precisely the states leading to revelation. It’s because we don’t reveal spirituality through knowledge, but through equivalence of form. As long as my qualities are different from the qualities of the thing I want to attain, I imagine it in my mind, speculatively, and I understand it more or less.

But as soon as I start approaching it through equivalence of form, then I can no longer build “mental” pictures because my feelings override them. Hence I am confused, don’t understand anything, feel dumb, and in general I don’t know “where, who, or why?”

All you have to do is continue, and suddenly the fog will clear away and a new picture and understanding will emerge. This will be once again followed by fog, and then clarity – and so on, many times over!

Question: As a student who did not attain anything yet, how can I know if I am on the right track or not?

My Answer: Precisely by the states I described above – constant confusion and clarifications in your mind, and sensations of ease and heaviness in your heart.

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: We’re All Playing Tennis Against the Wall
Laitman.com Post: Onwards and Upwards
Laitman.com Post: This Path Can Only Be Surmounted by Those Who Walk It
Shamati #35: “Concerning the Vitality of Kedusha”
Lesson on Baal HaSulam’s Article: “Exile and Redemption”

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Questions I received on memories of past lives and the resurrection of the dead:

Question: How much time does it take for a soul to reincarnate into a new body – days, months, or years?

My Answer: There is no time, and therefore it can happen at any moment.

Question: How do you explain it when a person has memories of a past life?

My Answer: These aren’t memories of a past life, but fantasies of this life.

Question: Why do we need cemeteries if everything stays in our memory, and especially since our soul reincarnates into a new body?

My Answer: When one of the soul’s 613 desires “dies,” it is “buried” – one stops using it. Then, as one continues the correction process, this desire is “resurrected from the dead” – in order to be corrected. This is how all the desires undergo death, burial, and resurrection, in order to reach the full correction.

Question: There are first and second restrictions, as well as the “resurrection of the dead.” When a person chooses the path of Kabbalah, starts studying the material and implementing it, then when does the “resurrection of the dead” take place?

My Answer: A person goes through these states one after the other: first the double concealment of spirituality, then single concealment, then single revelation, double revelation, resurrection of the dead, and the full correction.

Related Material:
Kabbalah Today Article: To Be Or Not to Be?

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Three questions I received on sharing one’s personal attainments, staying connected with the Creator on every new level, and overcoming disgust of Kabbalah:

Question: Why is it harmful to share your personal attainments with others? And if so, what is meant by “attainment” in this case? Is the prohibition only on sharing one’s “communication” with the Creator, or are there other forbidden topics? Is it harmful for people to share their experience of going through different states, such as how they came out of descents, and their relationships with the environment? I feel that other people’s experience really helps me, and enables me to discover new perspectives on how to do inner work in Kabbalah.

My Answer: You cannot bring your personal relationship with the Creator outside of you. The Creator is envious! This can be compared to a situation where you love someone, or your intimate relationships, or how much money you have in the bank, and so on. There are things that you don’t want to share with everyone.

In Kabbalah, there are several reasons for the prohibition:

• One does not speak with anyone about the things he holds most dear;
• Any person can harm your spiritual path with his thoughts and desires, even unintentionally;
• Corrections are done through the intention, not through words.

Question: On every new level, what can help me stay connected with the Creator, and perform a correct analysis of my thoughts and desires, considering that everything starts from zero on every new level?

My Answer: The only thing that can help is a framework that you set ahead of time:

• systematic studies for 1-3 hours a day;
• dissemination for 1+ hours a day; and
• attending a gathering of friends once a week together with other people who are physically near you.

Question: Over the last week or two, I feel disgusted during the morning lessons. But I also feel an inner urge to persist in studying and coming to the morning lessons. This also happens in relation to the friends in the group. How should I deal with this situation?

My Answer: You should overcome yourself, but without breaking or forcing yourself – only by raising the importance of the goal, “The Attainment of the Creator.” You should see all the disturbances as a mountain that you have to climb in order to reach the goal, the Creator.

Related Material:
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Chapter from Book The Kabbalah Experience: “Reflections and Thoughts”
Shamati #79: “Atzilut in BYA”

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Questions I received on souls and the connections between them:

Question: Can one soul connect to another soul if it has never seen its corporeal body? What I mean is: is it possible for a soul to unite with another soul, without the latter making that connection as well?

My Answer: Yes. It can be done by means of a common screen, or by the second soul’s submission, like the Upper One with regard to the lower one.

Question: Can a person who still hasn’t crossed the Machsom talk to souls residing in bodies, and with souls residing outside of bodies?

My Answer: Souls are always “outside of bodies,” and the presence of a body is insignificant for a soul. A connection with the soul is made through a common screen.

Question: In one of the kab.tv broadcasts you said that animals don’t have a soul. Can you please explain: what specifically is your basis for saying this?

My Answer: Perhaps there was a misunderstanding. Of course every creature (including humans) contains a force that enlivens it. However, the soul is defined as “A part of the Creator from Above,” and hence it is only present in a person who has developed it by studying Kabbalah. That is to say, he rose above the Machsom and attained the quality of bestowal and love, at least at the first level.

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: The Soul Is the Part of One’s Desire That’s Similar to the Creator
Booklet: The Structure of the Soul
The Path of Kabbalah: Chapter 2.12 – “The Body at the End of Correction”

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A question I received (my answers appear in bold font): In this blog entry you wrote: “You shouldn’t fight against anything, except your own laziness in carrying out the instructions of Kabbalists.” If a group of men has agreed to carry out the instructions of Kabbalists – we have composed a charter and created a group – but then began to experience group laziness, then what should we do?

• Admit that we’re not ready, that we can’t carry out the part of the instructions that deal with friendship and the group, and then get together to discuss what to do next? Try to fight this state by elevating the importance of the goal.
• Pretend that nothing is happening? Definitely not! Otherwise this will go on forever.
• Focus on dissemination? This is the only way to work together and perform actions of bestowal. Hence, the best thing to do is to get together only for dissemination and weekly gatherings of friends. Later, once you mature, you will be able to expand your relationships.

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: The Group Is the Place for Discerning All Your Spiritual Questions
Laitman.com Post: By Disseminating the Wisdom of Kabbalah, You Correct Your “Self”
Rabash Article – “The Purpose of the Association”

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A question I received: When I started studying Kabbalah, I was fascinated and dedicated, and everything was all right. I had downs and ups, but after a down there was always an up. The problem is that some time ago I started feeling depressed all the time. I can`t stand my reality, I feel sick, I am moaning all the time, and I can’t reach balance. I’m still trying to study with my virtual group, but because of my work, I can’t watch morning lessons. I also feel that my intention is worth nothing now. I don’t even know where it is. I feel confused and weak. Also the people around me keep telling me that I have changed, that I’m aggressive and nervous, and that I am thinking only about myself. And I feel that this is true, but I can’t change my behavior.

Is all of this natural for a person studying Kabbalah or I am doing something wrong? What can I do to pass this and be better for everybody around me and for myself, because I feel that I hate myself as well?

My Answer: We all go through states like this. Kabbalah compresses all of your future states for many years ahead, leading you through them over a shorter period of time. Hence, it isn’t easy to live through this period. Everything inside you changes suddenly and drastically. You get thrown from Light into darkness, from joy into depression, and so on.

The only thing that will help is to lower your head. In other words, regardless of your thoughts and desires (your mind and heart, and the sensations in them), cling to the group as the only source of salvation in this world given to you by the Creator. Organize systematic, daily studies for yourself, and spend all your free time participating in dissemination. Accept the fact that this life was given to you in order to come out of it and enter the Upper Life.

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: “A Day for Each Year”
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Chapter from the Book A Guide To The Hidden Wisdom of Kabbalah
Shamati #50: “Two States”

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Questions I received on attaining the root of one’s soul:

Question: If I haven’t solved my mundane problems, can I still solve the problems of my soul?

My Answer: Yes. In fact, this is the only way you can find out what your true mundane problems are.

Question: How can I tell what my spiritual goal is?

My Answer: It’s the same for everyone – to attain the root of one’s soul, the point from which the soul descended to our world.

Question: Why are Kabbalah studies only effective in a group? Can’t I practice unconditional bestowal with people who don’t even know that Kabbalah exists?

My Answer: It’s because the group gives you the goal and the power to attain it.

Question: In one of the morning lessons, you talked about seeing the souls as one whole. This reminded me of an interview I watched with a researcher who spent his entire life studying ants, and found that they they are an indivisible whole that works to achieve a common goal. Is this research analogous to a Kabbalist who reveals the goal of all the souls of Adam HaRishon and the connections between them?

My Answer: Yes. Kabbalah reveals the essence and path of every soul, the destinies of all the souls together, and their final state. The revelation takes place inside the person who attains, to the extent he is similar to the unique, eternal and perfect condition of “the merging of all the souls into one, with each other and with the Creator.”

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: Correction Lies in Unity
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Laitman.com Post: By Developing One’s Desires, Kabbalah Also Develops One’s Mind

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A question I received: I have a question about that period just before going to sleep and the importance of reading or listening to something inspirational. I have often heard the phrase, “Passing the night guards safely.” Who are these night guards? What happens to us when we fall asleep?

My Answer: In spirituality, falling asleep is when one gradually loses the clear perception of the Upper Light. In Hebrew, “evening” comes from the word Erev, to mix. Hence the phrase “evening descends onto man” refers to the mixing of Light and darkness. A person is no longer clear on the difference between the Light and the darkness, and he gradually submerges into the night – the absence of the Upper Light. Hence he is unable to correct his desires.

This is a state, because there is no time in spirituality, and it is necessary in order for new, uncorrected desires to be revealed in a person, as well as the desire to correct them. When one is in the state of darkness, but he desires to start correcting his new desires, this is called “morning.” This is when love and bestowal (which seemed as darkness before, in the new uncorrected desires) start surfacing and one feels that they are good, and he desires them. This is the dawn!

Once a person fully corrects all of his desires, then the entire darkness of our world, of every state in it, will turn to Light. He will understand that it has always been this way, but like a bat, he could not see Light. Then there will only be daytime, without the night.

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: How Do You Turn a Bat Into a Rooster?
Shamati #16: “What Is the Day of the Lord and the Night of the Lord in the Work”

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