Question: While reading The Zohar, I feel fulfillment that later on is gone. I try to find the force that is working on me, and the sensation returns, only to leave again. Is this how it should work?

Answer: Yes, exactly so! Every time when a person continues, forgets, escapes in his thoughts, and returns, it all begins anew. It’s very good! Nothing disappears, but “penny to penny, it turns into a great sum” and then revelation occurs.

Question: What indicates that my intentions are working correctly?

Answer: It is the extent in which I start feeling more that I depend on the group and together with the friends achieve correction.

Question: What should I do if I don’t understand what’s written in The Zohar and am constantly bombarded by numberless irrelevant thoughts?

Answer: First of all, a lack of understanding is not an issue. You shouldn’t worry about it. A person must feel rather than understand.

When the time comes and one’s desires are reformed to the level of what is described in The Zohar, he will understand, but from sensation. First, he will feel, and later understand more and more. Thus a baby experiences the world without a clue about what is going on, while gradually obtaining a mind.

Hence, a person should be concerned with how to develop desire to the degree described in The Zohar. And what we read about are the forms of bestowal between spiritual Partzufim: Malchut, Bina, Zeir Anpin, Aba ve Ima, and Yeshsut. Let a person make sure that his desire is being worked on by the forces that we receive while reading about the unknown to us spiritual processes.

Therefore, during the studies, I should think about how I must change and where the force that reforms me is. It is as though I am receiving an intravenous infusion and waiting for when the medicine will finally start to work, as it is said: “When my actions reach the acts of the Creator.”

Question: How can I anticipate correction by The Zohar if I don’t feel “ill”?

Answer: This is also necessary on the path. But what do you mean that you “don’t feel ill”? Do you really find yourself in the movie of the spiritual world that The Zohar talks about?

You should feel that these actions wash through you, that you live in that world, know the difference between the spiritual objects (Partzufim) and their descents and ascents. Do you find yourself in these ascents and descents, in all types of transformations? Do you experience them or not? If not, you have something to think about.
[37893]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/13/2011, The Book of Zohar

Related Material:
A Trip Around The World With The Book Of Zohar
Expect To Be Healed By The Zohar
The Mind Cannot Comprehend The Zohar

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Inner Work, Kabbalah Study, Q&A, Zohar - No Comments →

Question: To what extent do our thoughts, intentions, and ability to focus during the lesson depend on everyone who studies with us around the world? Is there such a global interconnection?

Answer: What does interdependence entail? If I view the entire reality as parts of my soul, then I am totally independent. These parts of mine awaken solely to the extent of my attitude toward them, my desire to awaken them.

I don’t focus on their external behavior, but rather awaken them from within, and at the same very level of inner connection, with that they awaken me in response. Everything is determined by my outlook on the world: Either I view it as a material reality with lots of corporeal bodies, or as the earthly desires of men, or as the body of my soul, its Partzuf (structure).

In the latter case, I see not the external images which seemingly exist in the corporeal world, but rather the parts of my soul, which I must transform. “I” is the focal point of my thought, intention. “I” is the intention which I must add to these desires and properties to aim them correctly.

What does it mean that I depend on and get awakened by the others? As I awaken them, I awaken myself in response. This awakening seemingly passes through the external system, while the system is mine nonetheless.
[37445]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/8/2011, “Introduction of The Book of Zohar”

Related Material:
The World’s Problem Is My Problem
Under Anesthesia
Kabbalah Moments – My Japan

Filed under: Collective Soul, Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Group Work, Inner Work, Perception, Q&A, Zohar - No Comments →

Excerpts for the Topic: Chosen Passages: Arvut as the Condition for Reception of the Torah
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

The Book of Zohar — Selections, Chapter “Ekev (Because),” “Ten Things to Do in a Meal,” Item 31, Lesson 4
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Talmud Eser Sefirot 3, Part 9, Item 8, Lesson 7
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Topic: Globalization — We Live in an Integral World, Lesson 1
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Zohar - 1 Comment →

Nothing Is Evil in this World, Everything Is Necessary and Worthy of Its Purpose
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

The Book of Zohar — Selections, Chapter “Ekev (Because),” Item 7, Lesson 6
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Talmud Eser Sefirot 3, Part 9, Item 7, Lesson 6
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Ecological Problems and the Path to a Solution
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Zohar - No Comments →

Inner Preparation for the WE!
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “The Donkey Driver,” Item 93
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Explanation of the Article, “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Lesson 15
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Rav Yehuda Ashlag, “The Freedom,” Lesson 15
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Zohar - No Comments →

What Is Prayer?, Lesson 2
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

The Book of Zohar — Introduction: “Ekev (Because),” Item 7, Lesson 2
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Talmud Eser Sefirot 3, Part 9, Item 6, Lesson 5
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Topic Lesson: Life and Death, Lesson 1
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Zohar - No Comments →

The Zohar, Introduction, “The Intention in the Blessing,” Item 16: …For this reason, the blessing that a person blesses the Creator awakens to bestow upon the Creator blessings from above to all the worlds.

Question: What is a blessing?

Answer: A blessing is a special force from above, the force of Bina that influences Malchut. The Creator is called Blessed if I turn to Him from Malchut with the request for the forces of bestowal to come to me, to enter me, and become part of me.

When I include these forces inside of me, it means I receive a blessing, the qualities of Bina that become included in Malchut. According to these qualities, which I received from the Creator, I can call Him Blessed. Otherwise I do not have the same qualities for which I can value and thank Him.

Why do I want to receive these qualities from Bina? It’s so that I won’t curse the Creator, but will bless Him. That is to say, all of the corrections that I try to acquire are not for my own benefit, but only in order to love, to respect, and to bless the Creator.

Therefore, the words “Blessed are You” in the blessings of prayer mean that I have already gone through the corrections enabling me to work for the sake of bestowal, that I have received blessing from Him, and am now in the quality of bestowal and love. And I bless the Creator for this opportunity.
[37564]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/9/11, The Zohar

Related Material:
The Basis Of All Corrections
Bestowal Is Invisible But Infinitely Important
The Advantage Of The Light Is From The Darkness

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Prayer and Intention, Q&A, Zohar - No Comments →

Question: How can we bring our inner movements to match the text of The Book of Zohar?

Answer: Relative to other Kabbalistic sources, this is actually easy to do with The Zohar because the speed and reading of the text are such that all you have to do is feel out how to “flow” together with it. But this does not mean that you are hearing its sound like the noise of a river that flows by.

“Flowing together with it” means that you are trying very calmly, as it is written, “The words of the sages are heard in calmness.” You are going together with the authors of The Zohar without any resistance, arranging your inner motions to suit the sound of the words. If you missed a few words and did not hear them, don’t worry and keep going with the following words. Thus, you continue with the flow like a wooden chip on waves, repeating all of the nuances of the water.

That is how we should enable our qualities, desires, and sensations to flow together with the text of The Zohar as if on the water’s surface, trying to suit this flow, trying to find where these qualities and desires The Zohar describes are inside of us. But we should look for them very simply and easily. The most important thing is to let this flow pass through you. After all, we are just a vessel or Kli through which this entire flow of words has to enter us.

When reading The Zohar, we do not try to activate the mind or discern the inner definitions. Even in places where The Zohar seems to use technical, scientific terms, using the language of Kabbalah, we should also try to let this text pass through the sensations rather than the mind, meaning to try to listen to our own feelings and impressions, trying to feel how every word echoes inside us regardless of the language that The Zohar uses.
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/9/11, The Zohar

Related Material:
Merging Together Like Droplets Of Water
The Secret Code Of The Zohar
Sailing Toward The Goal On The Waves Of The Zohar

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Kabbalistic Sources, Q&A, Zohar - No Comments →

What Is Prayer?, Lesson 1 
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

The Book of Zohar — Introduction: “Ekev (Because) ‘The Intention in the Blessing’,” Item 1, Lesson 1
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Talmud Eser Sefirot 3, Part 9, Item 4, Lesson 4
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Topic Lesson: Time, Lesson 1
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Zohar - No Comments →

Question: During the lesson I am constantly thinking about the upcoming convention and it’s hard for me to focus on the lesson. Am I losing something as a result of this?

Answer: Of course not. We always feel the pressure in the process of preparing for such massive events. Once a year we get together at a convention in the United States, and we should see this as a unique opportunity to unite with each other. There is no other opportunity to receive more Surrounding Light, support, and strength to advance than at gatherings such as this.

This is exactly what I personally expect. I remember how when I began studying with Rabash, literally a few months later we traveled to Tzfat together. In a small yard by a little house, all of Rabash’s students gathered who had studied with him at different times and suddenly they wanted to join us. About 40 people gathered, which was a pretty big group before I brought new students to him.

I saw how excited he was by this trip and by being there. I asked him, “What is so special about it?” He explained that these gatherings are the most effective means in our world for spiritual advancement when a person comes in order to unite with others, works for this sake, makes efforts, and desires to receive the forces from others, to gather and absorb them inside of him, to literally drink up this might. And this depends only on him and his sensitivity.

If I prepare for the convention the right way, then when I come there, I receive everything I possibly can. It all depends on me. It is because we are standing in front of Infinity. I can come to the convention and not receive anything, scorning others, and leaving there even colder than before. Or I can come there and be impressed, touched, and inspired. I can absorb so much strength and Surrounding Light that I wouldn’t receive during years of study. Everything depends on my preparation.

Therefore we must already be preparing for the upcoming convention. Before such a huge event, when a person is planning to connect with others, he must experience worry and fear, feeling that he is standing at the threshold of great inner changes. This pressure-filled expectation and preparation is even felt physically.
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/8/11, The Zohar

Related Material:
Go With The Flow Of The Convention The Right Way
Everything Requires A Skill
Find Your World In The Blink Of An Eye

Filed under: Conventions, Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Q&A, Zohar - No Comments →