A question I received: Why is the spiritual system so complicated:  The creature asks for one thing and receives something entirely different?

My Answer: First of all, this is incorrect. The Creator and the creature can understand each other, work together, and have no disagreement provided they become partners. Then the creature receives what it asks for: The Creator knows in advance what the creature will ask for, gives it all that it needs, and there are no problems.

A problem arises only when the creature is not asking according to the order of the degrees, meaning it is asking for the sake of self-gratification. Then the creature naturally receives a burdening of the heart and suffering, in order for it to see that its state is not good and the aim is incorrect.

Therefore, it is only by incorrect communication between the creature and the Creator that makes it seem to the creature that the Creator doesn’t understand it, doesn’t do for it what is needed. With the incorrect aim, the creature presents numerous claims to the Creator: “So where is everything that I’m entitled to, why are you not correcting me, why are you not filling me?” However, as soon as the creature acquires the connection with the Creator, it knows exactly what portion of Light it is receiving, why, where to work by means of faith above reason, where by means of personal strength, and so on.

The Creator is interested in our getting to know Him and walking along His side. But where are we in communication with the Creator? In faith above reason. The creature desires to be in communication with the Creator under the Machsom, within the desire to receive, but the Creator tells him: “No, rise up to Bina, attain the qualities of bestowal. There we will understand each other, there you will have no problems with me!”

It is written, “The Creator created man to be direct, but people invent numerous calculations.” Numerous calculations are within the desire to enjoy, because there are a huge amount of all kinds of desires. However, if we cover all these desires with only an intention to bestow, then there are no longer numerous calculations. There is only one calculation, one destination.
[14673]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/25/10, The Zohar

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Shamati #16 “What is the Day of the Lord and the Night of the Lord in the Work”
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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “VaYikra (The Lord Called),” Item 373
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Тhe Zohar is written for people who wish to attain the purpose of creation and yearn for the Light that brings them back to the Source. Without the Light, it’s impossible to correct our desires and unveil the Creator in them. This is why The Zohar, like the entire Torah, can either be the “elixir of life,” or a “deadly poison.”

One has to check his intention before approaching The Zohar and the Torah, in general. If with the help of studying he wishes to attain the Light that Reforms, the Torah becomes an elixir of life for him, as it is written: “I created the evil inclination and handed down the Torah for its correction, because the Light in it Reforms.”

If, however, a person isn’t yearning to bestow, meaning return to the Source, but studies The Zohar motivated by his will to receive pleasure and be filled; if he is pursuing other objectives (which is called “idolatry”), then, his studying turns into a “deadly poison” and distances a person from the purpose of creation.

Therefore, we must be cautious and remember that during our studies, especially while reading The Zohar, we are preparing our desires for the Creator. We want Him to give our desires the strength to bestow and as a result, to reveal Himself in these forces of bestowal.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/27/10, The Zohar

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Rav Baruch Ashlag, Article “Love of Friends“
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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “VaYikra (The Lord Called),” Item 364
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A question I received: When a spiritual descent comes, I can immediately understand that I have to go through it and submerge myself in it, can I?

My Answer: You are yearning for the corrected state, and only then you fall. Otherwise, if you are trying your best to attain a good state, you won’t be able to discover your egoistical downfall.

A downfall is not an error on the path, but uncovering in oneself an additional new egoism. It is as if you picked up a barbell, gathered all your strength to lift it; lifted 200 pounds; and suddenly it fell! What happened? You suddenly realized that they had added another 2 weights to it, 10 pounds each. This why you faltered and fell; you felt their heaviness.

Now that you experienced the additional weight, you know what you need the strength to overcome. This analogy in spirituality translates to your knowing what you need to rise above, knowing what to ask the force of correction for. You fell with the weight of these added desires, the additional 20 pounds. You felt the weight and heaviness of the additional desires that were revealed to you that opposed your will. Now, you have these new Kelim (spiritual vessels, instruments). If you now ask for additional strength for them, you will be able to lift the 240 pounds.

This means you will not be able to receive the burdening of the heart until you succeed! Only when you succeed, can you receive additional egoistic desire. Of course you will fall. This, however, is a sign of your success! Now you have managed to receive additional strength for correction.

You might ask: So, when do I succeed if every time I get up I am immediately thrown right back down? Why not let me spend a little time enjoying my achievements? Why don’t I receive the medal I deserve? Then I can continue. That isn’t possible. This is done on purpose, so that you learn to enjoy the work itself and see a reward in the fact that you were given a chance to give a little more.

From the Evening Zohar Lesson 5/26/10

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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “VaYikra (The Lord Called),” Item 323
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, “Preface to the Sulam Commentary,” Item 24
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot, Item 12
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Rav Baruch Ashlag “Love of Friends”
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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “VaYikra (The Lord Called),” Item 305
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We are yet to discover our need for all seven billion people living on Earth. Society serves as an amplifying force because an individual’s own strength is very small. Thus, the more people in society under whose influence we put ourselves, the greater the strength we receive. It determines the height of the degree in our resembling the Creator, as well as the measure of adhesion we attain with Him.

We wouldn’t be able to achieve this alone on our own. A Kabbalistic group is a place where a person attaches himself to the Creator, and this determines how high he’ll climb to Him. The group becomes the house where the Creator and the creature dwell together. And when we dwell together there is no longer “I”; rather, there is only “we,” which now becomes the person’s “I.”

It is said, “A prisoner cannot free himself from the prison.” However, the friends can free him by providing him with their inspiration and strength. Therefore, everyone should think about helping a friend connect each state that occurs to its importance toward the purpose, along with understanding its necessity and rejoicing when the “sinners” are revealed in them.

It’s not important what states, what ups and downs, we go through; most important is that we progress toward the goal. Then we understand that we have to go through all states, like a patient undergoing treatment that might be unpleasant, but the recovery is already anticipated. Therefore, it is necessary to elevate each other’s spirits, not by acting silly or frivolous, but by giving each other the spirit of life, that is, spiritual life, which brings one happiness.

The mood is so important because it gives us the force of life. However, material life, wealth, or power won’t bring us an uplifted mood. If a person lost the power of faith, the force of life,  if he no longer feels the support of the society, the only means of advancement, then he can be helped only by another person. Only the other person can imbue us with the feeling of how important bestowal, confidence, and a fulfilled life are. In this, everyone has to help a friend. Everyone has to set an example of his burning passion toward reaching the goal at any minute.

From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/25/10, Article, “They Helped Everyone His Friend”

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A Question I Received: For whom do I request the Light that Reforms? Is it for my corrected friends, as it were, or for myself?

My Answer: A person’s request comes out of the depth of his inner need, his desire. The desire has to be for the society. Indeed, if we are talking about attaining spirituality, there isn’t any individual reckoning with anyone there.

There isn’t a case where I exist in the spiritual world. I is the collective of the souls that includes me. Therefore, one can’t remain there alone in separation from the others. So, for what life does one asks for strength? Strength of life is for the common body of the unified soul. Hence, one has to request the strength in order to give it to this body. All his life is defined by how much he gives to the common system.

Therefore, even if one’s prayer is motivated by the will to receive strength, it’s a prayer to have the strength to bestow to the common body of the soul. This is why, whether he’s asking for everyone or for himself, it’s the same prayer.

When we say that there’s “a prayer of one” and “a prayer of many,” it’s still an uncorrected prayer. There is no other prayer but the “prayer of many” which is the prayer for the society. However, as long as a person isn’t in the fully corrected state, he asks partly for himself and partly for the society. According to this, he gets reformed and corrected in his aim so that he begins to feel where it’s better and where it’s worse. In this way, he is led to the correct prayer.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/24/10, The Zohar

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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “VaYikra (The Lord Called),” Item 264
We must understand that we are dependent upon one another if we wish to reveal The Book of Zohar. We must create a net of “mutual guarantee” in which The Zohar will be revealed.
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, “Preface to the Sulam Commentary,” Item 22
Everything happens due to the fact that we’re connecting to one another more and more and we are creating a system that can be presented to the Creator to be corrected.
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot, Item 9
Thanks to the Kabbalists of the past times we don’t need to practice asceticism to overcome our egoism. Instead we attract the Light – the Force of correction.
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Rav Baruch Ashlag “What Does ‘Love Thyself as Thy Friend’ Give Us?” 
There’s no direct access to a friend: The Creator is the line that connects us.
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