The question is whether we were given a mind so that we can examine things by it and delve deeper inside or whether it was given to us so that we will actually confuse ourselves by it and let the upper force enter us and correct us.

This is the question: How do we use the data that are inside of us, which control us, in our inclinations, in all the attributes a person has?

Why were they given to us? In order to reach a certain correction or to use these data and our abilities the way they are?

If I want to use them just the way they are, I thus negate the fact that there was a shattering, which means that I want to keep on working with my mind and my heart directly, using them to discover the world.

Then we see the gloomy outcome and the crisis that such an attitude brings us to. Although we haven’t even reached the initial awareness of the unfolding of the crisis, it is about to be revealed soon.

It is because it is only the shattered vessels that are revealed. If I use my mind and heart and don’t listen to the Kabbalists’ warnings saying that it is all shattered, and keep on working with them, I eventually will discover that it is all shattered. When I discover that the system is shattered it means that I have reached the crisis.

It will take a long time and lots of pain until I recognize the crisis and understand it. It is because this attitude is called the path of natural evolution, “in its time” (Beito), the path of suffering, the path of the shattered mind.

But there is another path, the path of “I shall hasten it” (Achishena), hastening time. Along that path I am told: “Do you know why everything is shattered? So that you will be able to feel distracted, feel your helplessness, and realize that you have neither a mind nor a heart and that you cannot exist this way. Isn’t the crisis that you see before you enough in order to want to stop this stupid chase and say: enough!”

Now I begin to use my heart and mind differently: I am out of the egoistic focus and this is actually the reason that I open up a passage for the Light by allowing it to influence me and to change me internally. This means that I use my heart and mind, but differently.

I don’t want to use my heart and mind directly, as they were given to me. My mind was given to me so that I will understand that I don’t have a mind. All my feelings were given to me so that I will understand that I don’t have any feelings. My heart and mind cannot help me discover the true reality.

There are only two ways to use the data that I was given correctly: either within reason or above reason. Choose!
[137628]
From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/13/14, The Zohar

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It is written: “I created the evil inclination.” In the weekly chapter “VaYishlach,” the image of Esau is a certain special interpretation of the evil inclination; in other chapters, this will be the pharaoh, Bilak, Bilam, and other villains, but this will always be my evil inclination; it does not exist outside of me. It is simply described from different perspectives, emphasizing different properties that I need to work with each time on a different level.

In contrast, I am also being told about the forces that I must use to help me work with this, and I am shown that my first encounter with this evil inclination results in complete failure.

I immediately submit to it when it becomes revealed; I do not know what to do! But then, gradually, I begin to free myself of it, I separate myself, I restrict it, and begin to control it slightly. I cut a piece of it and correct it, then another piece, and in this way we go from one layer to another until the very end of correction, until we correct our entire egoism.

The Torah always reveals how man corrects himself, and now you will not have any difficulty reading it. Man is a small world, and everything must exist within you, you only need to try to find Beit El, Shechem, Balak, Dina, all the character of this tale within you, and also all the still, vegetative, and animate nature that the Torah speaks about, because these things are also properties of your soul, just on a lower level.

By no means should you ever see a literary work in the Torah. It is written about this: “Do not make images, do not make any images for yourself.”
[29340]
From the Weekly Torah Portion 11/18/2010

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Preparation for the Lesson

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Igrot,” Letter 47

“The Book of Zohar” — Selected Excerpts, “Torah and Prayer,” Item 184

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 73

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Preparation for the Lesson

Workshop

Writings of Rabash, “Igrot,” Letter 23

“The Book of Zohar” — Selected Excerpts, “Torah and Prayer,” Item 182

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 71

Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Nation” 

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Preparation for the Lesson

Workshop

Writings of Rabash, “Shlavei HaSulam,” “Concerning Above Reason”

“The Book of Zohar” — Selected Excerpts, “Two Points,” Item 124

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 71

Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Nation” 

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Preparation for the Lesson

Workshop

Writings of Rabash, “Dargot HaSulam,” Article 371

“The Book of Zohar” — Selected Excerpts, “Two Points,” Item 122

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 70

Writings of Baal HaSulam “One Commandment” 

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Preparation for the Lesson

Workshop

Shamati #69 “First Will Be the Correction of the World” 

“The Book of Zohar” — Selected Excerpts, “Two Points,” Item 121

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 69

Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Nation” 

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Preparation for the Lesson

Workshop

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot,” Item 119

“The Book of Zohar” — Selected Excerpts, “You Are Partners with Me,” Item 62

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 67

Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Mutual Guarantee,” Item 26

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Preparation for the Lesson

Workshop

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “600,000 Souls”

“The Book of Zohar” — Selected Excerpts, “You Are Partners with Me,” Item 61

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 66 

Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Mutual Guarantee,” Item 25

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Preparation for the Lesson

Workshop

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Peace in the World”

“The Book of Zohar” — Selected Excerpts, “On the Night of the Bride,” Item 146

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 64

Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Mutual Guarantee,” Item 23

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