Question: To what internal, emotional state should I strive in every situation, as a man of the future of civilization?

Answer: Each one of us should feel a responsibility to make sure that this civilization is realized spiritually, so that humanity will accomplish its mission, becoming a place of revelation of the Creator!
[96458]
From the Novosibirsk Convention 12/9/12, Lesson 6

Related Material:
On The Border Of The New World
The Generation That Is Revealing The Mystery Of The Universe
Earthlings, Forward!

Filed under: Conventions, My Similarity to the Creator, Q&A, Spirituality - No Comments →

The desire to receive, which we are in now, is bad. It is very good if we want to enjoy life, and it helps us as much as it can. But it becomes bad and cruel if a desire to bestow is evoked in us, and it doesn’t let us adhere to the Creator, to the upper level. The desire to receive places a Machsom (barrier) between the upper and us, which does not allow us to pass.

The point, the spark of bestowal, strongly yearns to adhere to the Creator. The more the desire to receive dominates it, the more it yearns for the Creator. The more the domination of the ego is revealed, the more strongly this point has to struggle with it. And so its intention for the Creator grows and at the same time the sorrow and the pain also grow from the inability to adhere to the Creator. Its feeling of exile becomes greater and more bitter.

The tension, pressure, and yearning grow, and thus the vessels are formed. The vessels for attaining this upper level are not formed by the desire to receive that has turned into a desire to bestow, but are derivative of it. It is a result of the efforts and the sufferings, of the struggle between the spark of bestowal in a person and his desire to receive.

The spark struggles in order to adhere to the Creator, but it cannot do so since the desire to receive holds it by its feet and doesn’t let it break free. Then its exertion (for which the desire to receive is responsible since it held the “point in the heart” in its hands) becomes the vessel in which the unity of the next level is revealed.

This means that the desire to receive itself doesn’t become this vessel, it always remains restricted, but we work above it, by building our vessel above it, from the bricks of our exertion.
[96482]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/25/12, “The Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot”

Related Material:
Pharaoh Will Remain In Egypt Forever
Driven By Suffering, Curiosity, Or The Point In The Heart
The Most Difficult Task Is To Ask

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Egoism, Group Work, Inner Work, My Similarity to the Creator, Spirituality - No Comments →

Let’s draw a spiritual scheme of the present world order. In the center of the circle is the global organization of Bnei Baruch (BB). The first circle around Bnei Baruch are the Jews who are in Israel (Common Israel), the next circle is all the Jews around the world. The outer circle is the nations of the world, the rest of the world. Baal HaSulam wrote about this in this article, “Introduction to The Book of the Zohar,” where he clarified the question of the internality and externality.

The correction, without a doubt, depends only on the inner group. It begins to influence and to transfer this correction to the outside, and only in this consistent way, this correction spreads through all the circles, from the inner circle outwards. Thus, the faster we can reach the Israelis, the faster, easier, and more correctly can we work with the rest of the world.

It is clear that in the meantime, it is in the intermediate stages. Through the Jews in Israel and outside of Israel, we will be able to reach the most outer circles. And this is a big problem, a most serious obstacle on the way, especially the Jews that are outside of Israel. In Israel, at least, it is somehow possible to shake and stir them, but the next circle is very problematic.

But in any case, this is the way the spiritual ladder is built. The Jews who live in other countries of the world, they anyway comprise the inner part in comparison to humanity in general.

Until we correct this inner part, the Jews of Israel (ISR) and outside of Israel, especially the Jews of the USA, the process won’t include the nations of the world (World). There is no other way, only in this way will the upper light spread, bringing the general correction.
[96384]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/24/12, “The Wisdom of Kabbalah and Philosophy”

Related Material:
The Israeli Nation In The Modern World
Duty To Humanity
Correction From An Inner Need

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Group Work, Kabbalah Dissemination, Spirituality, World - No Comments →

Question: Will a person feel his integral inclusion into everyone constantly?

Answer: Certainly! A person will constantly exist in such a social environment that will support him since he fully depends on the surrounding environment.

The person we see now is unreasonable, limited, and almost negligible. Therefore, when a person starts revealing the properties, feelings, attainment, and width in the integral system, they will be billions times greater than the ones he reveals inside his small, low, and enclosed egoism. This is why he in no way wants to break away from integrality to withdraw into himself to “take a break.”

After all, existence in the integral system will become like rest, a flight, or relaxation for him rather than stressful with the burden of taking care of himself. At the spiritual level he will feel his perfection, eternity, and freedom from the body.
[96173]
From KabTV’s “Integral World,” 11/26/12

Related Material:
Growing Interdependence
The Magnitude Of Spiritual Desires
The Spiritual World Is An Integral System (Advanced)

Filed under: Egoism, Integral Upbringing, Perception, Q&A, Spirituality - No Comments →

Question: What should I do if I don’t envy the friends?

Answer: If you don’t envy the friends it means that you feel that you are better and higher than them or that you don’t pay any attention to them, as if they didn’t exist and you don’t measure yourself in comparison to them. You have your own Creator, your own way, and you come to the group as a free listener who comes to hear a lecture.

It turns out that you have the wrong approach, since you don’t understand that the spiritual world can be revealed only through the connection with the friends. The spiritual world is absolute bestowal, and it’s revealed only in bestowal. The Creator is the force of bestowal, and He can be revealed only according to the equivalence of form with the force of bestowal that a person develops internally towards the environment. But if you don’t work with the environment, there is no way you can advance.

The more you work with the environment, the more you feel that your friends are greater than you. It simply can’t be any other way, since you begin to see the group as one whole. You feel that through the friends, you receive Light, and you see that they are already corrected, that they have transcended the Machsom (barrier), and that you are left all alone here below.

But if you don’t feel that the friends have advanced much further than you, then it isn’t the right approach to correction. If you don’t envy everyone around you, seeing that they understand and feel more than you, it’s a sign that you are not on the right track.

This envy is intended to stimulate and to push a person as a result of his right attitude towards the group. God forbid that he should ever want to see them as inferior to him. When he sees that they are higher than him, he wants to adhere to them, to be in contact with them. His ego pushes him to connect with them, like a child who is impressed by adults asking them: “Take me with you! Help me be like you!”

With that, he turns to the Creator, since he discovers that the Creator is there within the friends, more than in him. It’s a very concrete and qualitative revelation, as it says: “I have learned from all my students.” You see that only if you incorporate in the group and annul yourself, it is there that you will find your spiritual state. If you don’t feel that, it’s a bad sign in the work.
[96295]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/23/12, “The Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot”

Related Material:
Taking Care Of The Spiritual Need
Envy That Helps Us Advance
Envy Is Useful When It Increases Wisdom

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Group Work, Q&A, Spirituality - No Comments →

Baal HaSulam, “The Wisdom of Kabbalah and Philosophy”: … the truth is that the force itself is also considered a genuine matter, just as any corporeal matter in the concrete world…”

We say that spirituality is a “force.” Does it mean that this world is the matter? No, it doesn’t. A force by itself is matter. There is nothing but force. Contemporary physics arrived at the following conclusion: beyond atoms, particles, and photons, we don’t detect matter. Even when we use traditional methods of exploration of the universe and go deep down into the very basis of it, we discover that at the foundation matter “disappears” and actually works as a force. We are used to drawing a material picture of the world, but in fact it exists only in our perception, but in fact, matter is only a force, nothing more than that.

This force is divided into two categories (two desires): giving and receiving. Overall, the multiplicity of isolated forces outlines a kind of reality that Kabbalists call imaginary, illusory. It is realistic, but ephemeral, like a three-dimensional drawn in the air with a laser beam. And we live in it, and actually “come from” this “beam.” All of us are “painted” in space, and in fact, our essence is also a force, two desires and a screen that balances them.

These forces are receiving and giving desires that must incorporate and integrate with one another. But so much one of them dominates the other, and so that the resulting desire also has “access to power,” and cooperation, participation, understanding, shared common sensations all the way to love, when everyone is ready to give partnership, stay in mutual cooperation and understanding, share common sensations including love and be ready to give up everything they have for the sake of each other and at the same time they have to accept everything from others.

The receiving force has to achieve the same power of being as the power of bestowal, feel it, and develop accordingly to obtain qualities similar to the Creator. And for this it must go through special states that allow it to feel that it is alive and empowered to make decisions, to plan and to implement plans into reality. At this point, it is impossible to abide without an imaginary picture. This is where the illusion called “our world” in which the receiving desire prevails comes from.

Baal HaSulam brings an example of a coachman who used to live with his wife and children, earned enough money to keep his house properly, and was quite happy until his troubles began: His horse died, the house was burned down, and his wife and children died in an epidemic. As a result, the coachman appeared before the Higher Court where it was resolved that he would be paid for his adversity since he had suffered so much.

What was he given? He received a horse, a cart, a wife, children, and a house; the same feeling, which for him was happiness. In this “picture,” his life is again wonderful: he works, brings money to his family, and rejoices together with them. Everything is great! His desire is small, but for him it’s a real paradise where all is well and nothing more is needed. A perfect illusion.

Sometimes, we have dreams. How do they differ from reality? What if in a couple of minutes the alarm clock rings and wakes you up, and you realize that what you have seen was a dream? In fact, this is the way it is. So, what is the difference between a dream and the reality? How do we tell one from the other?

It is important to understand that our reality is “drawn” by a force and is granted to us to make our desire to receive feel independent, powerful, competent, and detached from the one who actually operates it. This is the only way to reach equivalence of form with the Creator. Otherwise, what kind of similarity would it be if I were completely under its control?

In fact, our detachment from the Creator is illusionary, and that’s why this world is called imaginary. On the other hand, spiritual realms are not imaginary, because that is where we are aware of the illusion, agree with it, and rise above reason. There, we work above our understanding, knowing that there is none else besides Him, agreeing with this more and more deeply. We are already working with a real force, despite the fact that we ourselves also are a force, and there is only force.

Question: If our whole life is just one, long dream, what practical conclusions can we make of this?

Answer: It is said in Psalms: “We were as dreamers.” Practically, I have to take this life seriously. It is given to me to rise above it, not to neglect it. Nothing should be disregarded. The current “picture” is drawn for me by the upper force, and until I complete the preparation period, I cannot get rid of it. I have to continue sensing this world until the end of correction; each time returning for new corrections. Even if I ascended to the 124^th level and all that is left is the last 125^th step, I still will return.

There is no other choice. This “basic infrastructure” is extremely important, since only by leaning on it we realize our choice. Thanks to it, at each step, it seems to us that we act independently and that we are equal with the Creator, and perhaps are even more powerful than He is. There is not the slightest chance to merge with Him without this sense independence. Otherwise, there is no “me”, the one who is able to merge with Him.

This is the way we work in this world. Let it be imaginary, we are aware of it, and then we accept it. We are starting to consciously play with our “independence,” and at this point, the fact that we are being governed by Him is no secret to us anymore.
[95571]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/18/12, “The Wisdom of Kabbalah and Philosophy” 

Related Material:
The Strongest Weapon
The Spiritual World – The World Of Qualities
We Are Children That Don’t Resemble Our Mother Nature

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, My Similarity to the Creator, Perception, Q&A, Spirituality - No Comments →

From Baal HaSulam’s article “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot,” Item 78: “Even if the whole world says you are righteous, be wicked in your own eyes,” specifically in your own eyes. In other words, as long as you have not attained “opening of the eyes” in the Torah, regard yourself as wicked. Do not fool yourself with your reputation in the entire world as righteous.

People are not at will to do good or bad deeds. Regarding spirituality, the natural qualities of a person, which he was born with, don’t count: how nice and polite or how rude he is. Until one merits a revelation and the Creator’s testimony, that will guarantee his good intentions, until then, one will remain wicked.

But when a person achieves a revelation and the Light keeps holding him up, from then on, he will be a good, righteous. Therefore, we don’t make calculations about each other, who is bad and who is good. Regarding the spiritual path, everything is determined by crossing this cherished border—the “Machsom.”
[95665]
From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/16/12, “The Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot”

Related Material:
Seduced By The Light
When The Light Is Present But Doesn’t Correct
All The Light? That’s Too Much, Can I Have Just A Bit?

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Egoism, Free Will, Spirituality - No Comments →

Question: Do we draw the Creator by actions that are aimed at the revelation of spirituality? In other words, do we raise the actions or do we lower the Creator?

Answer: There are no such terms as “up” or “down” in spirituality in the simple sense of the words. We can divide them according to quality: Up means a higher quality and down means a lower quality.

I want to be connected to the Creator in all my actions; I want to feel how He manages me from the inside, I want to feel that all my thoughts, feelings, and decisions stem from Him. He is inside me, as the hand wearing the glove of the puppet, the puppeteer.

No matter what I do, it is Him, but everything depends on the extent to which I discover that “there is none else besides Him.” Therefore I ask and yearn for it in order to discover Him in me.

But I can do it only when I am with the group, because it is impossible to discover the attributes of bestowal alone. I am an egoist, an individualist, which means that I have to be with a group and to adhere to it.

I am included in a group, connect to the friends, and try to be with them in one desire, one inclination. Through them I ask for all of us, because I cannot ask for myself, since it will be egoism again. I ask for all of humanity—that the Creator will be revealed in us and that we will all feel Him and feel how He operates in us. This is how I want to see what joy and contentment we are bringing Him.

This is fulfilled by the law of “the end result is in the initial thought,” since in spirituality there is no time and no sequential actions. There is a static state, and it is only with regard to us that it is revealed this way, so that we will perceive it gradually.

We must understand the whole formula of creation from the beginning to the end, since otherwise it won’t work. We have to be moderately involved in it, since even our slightest participation is made of the same ten Sefirot according to the law of “the general and the individual are equal.” So we have to feel ourselves deeply, the group, humanity, and the Creator together in one general picture and to complete it.

Question: What is the Creator’s joy?

Answer: The Creator’s joy is the state in which we are all connected, adhered inside Him, enjoying the same wholeness that is actually the Creator Himself.
[95574]
From the Novosibirsk Convention 12/9/12, Lesson 5

Related Material:
What Does It Mean To Unite With The Creator?
125 Degrees Of Drawing Closer To The Light
The Conversation Between The Creator And His Beloved Creation

Filed under: Conventions, Group Work, My Similarity to the Creator, Prayer and Intention, Q&A, Spirituality - No Comments →

Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot“: ‘The wicked, in their lives, are called “dead.”’ This is because their death is better than their lives, as the pain and suffering they endure for their sustenance is many times greater than the little pleasure they feel in this life.

If we don’t advance towards attaining the source of life, then life turns into an escape from sufferings. All our thoughts are only about how to avoid evil and unpleasantness. Therefore, we don’t imagine the good as a filling, since we cannot fill ourselves, but simply try to find some peace between the bad moments.

As a result, all the pleasures that we feel don’t last more than a short while, and so we are called “dead” even while we are alive, since we don’t receive a filling from the real source of life upon which all of reality and all of creation stand.

Of course, everyone has his own accounts, and if he sees how much pain and suffering he feels, how much he suffered and what efforts he has made compared to the few moments of pleasure that have made him happy and brought him joy, then he discovers that it wasn’t worth living. This whole life can only be justified as a preparation for the spiritual ascent. But if one examines this life as is, there is no point to it.

Now when we are awarded the Torah and Mitzvot (commandments), we are awarded with the real happy and joyful life by keeping them, as it says: “Taste and see that the Creator is good.” This is what those who have attained it feel. Then we can choose between good and evil. After we receive the Torah, the way, the spiritual principles, we begin to work with the two lines.

This is what the writings mean by: “and you shall choose life so that you and your descendants shall live.” Actually it is a repetition: “and you shall choose life so that you shall live.” But it refers to living by keeping the Torah and the Mitzvot. Then one really lives. “But life without the Torah and the Mitzvot is harder than death.”

This is how a person perceives the difference between life and death: Life means spiritual advancement, and death means lack of advancement. A person gradually understands that advancement means getting closer to love, to bestowal, to self annulment, to rising above one’s ego. Only this is called “life,” without any account of what we feel in our egoistic desires.
[95505]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/11/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot” 

Related Material:
What Is Our Life? A Game!
When Spirituality Becomes Our Life
Finding Our Life’s Purpose Through Revelation Of The Creator

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Love, Perception, Spirituality - No Comments →

In the News (from news.com.au): “Scientists from the University of Washington are conducting experiments to discover whether the universe exists within a Matrix style computer simulation created by supercomputers of the future.

“The experiment could prove that we are merely pawns in some kind of larger computer game.

“So who created these super computers that may hypothetically power our existence?

“Professor Martin Savage, one of the physicists working on the project says it’s unclear.

“‘Imagine the situation where we get a big enough computer to simulate our universe, and we start such a simulation on our computers. If that simulation runs long enough, and have the same laws as our universe, then something like our universe will emerge within that simulations, and the situation will repeat itself within each simulation,’ he said. …

“In a nutshell the physicists will be looking at the distribution of the highest energy cosmic rays in order to try and detect patterns that could suggest that the universe is the creation of some futuristic computer technology.

“If it turns out that we are bit players in some sort of computer program, the physicist suggested that there may be a way to mess with the program, and play with the minds of our creators – all in the name of science, you understand.”

My Comment: Kabbalah reveals the program of creation of our world; we have to master it, and change ourselves according to it, to reveal the creator of this program—to understand his intention, reasons, and goals. And then, after the correction, meaning full mastery of the properties of the program’s creator, to develop outside the “matrix”—in the world of infinity, that is, unlimited possibilities.
[95602]

Related Material:
How Firm Is Our World?
All Sciences Examine The Creator
The Spiritual World – The World Of Qualities

Filed under: My Similarity to the Creator, News, Perception, Science, Spirituality, World - No Comments →