Question: What deficiency of the spiritual work allows the “impure forces” (egoistic intentions) to cling to it?

Answer: It happens when I, in my spiritual work, allow the egoistic intentions (impure forces) to arise and exist in me by wanting to use spiritual data, forces, and discernments egoistically. It diverts me from the goal. Being on guard against these thoughts is called “the measure of purity” in the work.

I may err in my intentions; however, a conscious desire (intention) “to bestow in order to receive” or “to receive in order to bestow” is an impure act. On the other hand, purity is defined by my discerning whether or not I steal from spirituality for the sake of corporeality.

It is very important not to try to extract any personal benefit from anything that pertains to spiritual work. We are held strictly accountable for this.
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From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/28/10, Beit Shaar HaKavanot

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Question: What should I do if I am constantly finding new flaws in myself while being on this path, as if I am running a lengthy marathon?

Answer: Think of it as a sign of advancement! There are criminals who take pride in their transgressions, and we should learn from them and be proud that we managed to discover these flaws within ourselves, that we are indeed criminals! If I find that I am such in order to assist my advancement toward the goal, I have to rejoice in it.

It is similar to being a scientist who is studying himself and keeps discovering how much is yet unknown and what enormous field of work lies ahead of him. So, he is glad that he has an opportunity to advance and a place to work and explore. We should view it as work in the internal laboratory.

You work as a scientist who is making discoveries and corrections, and you are moving into Infinity, unaware of the final destination point, constantly discovering something new. Treat this process constructively and creatively for you are building new worlds while you are uncovering and reconstructing them from the broken parts!

Do you wish to quickly earn a little money and retire?! Such folks don’t get to know spirituality for it is not meant for this sort. We have to be persistent as true heroes are. A hero isn’t the one who beats another to a pulp but the one who breaks his own ego. It happens specifically by overcoming all unpleasant states thereby finding an opportunity to spiritually evolve and become a human.

I understand that it is frightening for it is written that Moses feared Pharaoh greatly. He fled from Egypt and was afraid to return there until he reached the degree of Bina when the Creator revealed Himself to Moses in the “burning bush.”

Clearly, we have the same fear. But if you are in the group, there is no evil that may rise in front of you and be worth fearing longer than an instant. At first, I get scared when I unfold something unpleasant that I didn’t expect to find in myself.

But if I am connected with the environment, then in an instant, I realize that it is a spring board which helps me to leap forth toward the goal. Alternatively, if you don’t view the evil as purposeful and instead start digging into it and “eat” yourself, it means that you don’t have a connection with the external force, the group.

You see this journey as a lengthy tiring marathon? But that’s what your life is given to you for! You are in this world to begin and finish your correction.

Don’t think that you can get everything done in a year or two, after which you will rest in your spiritual retirement and enjoy the illumination of Shechina. Indeed, it is written that the righteous live in the joyous presence of Shechina, but they are able to do so because they are constantly engaged in spiritual work, raising such powerful Reflected Light, the Light of Hassadim (Mercy), that Shechina can tirelessly shine on their “heads,” their intentions.

They work restlessly, as it is written that “the righteous don’t rest in this world or the next one.” What rest can there be if you desire to bestow? There is no greater punishment than being unable to bestow, which is similar to the pain of the mother who cannot feed her child.

Bestowal is the greatest reward. So, do not seek rest.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/16/10, “The Essence of Religion and Its Purpose”

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Question: We constantly hear that we have to unite and look for the Creator, but we do not perceive this as practical work. What should we actually do?

Answer: If the external actions are beneficial to the inner processes, then we have to carry them out. The benefit might come in the future. For example, suppose I perform a physical action for an entire year so that my actions will result in me attaining a more inner layer, or in other words, so I will come closer to the quality of the Creator, bestowal. I will realize how far away I am from it and then my desire will facilitate the correction of my intention from “for myself” to  “bestowal.”

In other words, the “end of the action” must be present in the “initial thought.” Either I am told what to do and I carry it out “above reason,” or I act this way myself. In any case the execution of the action belongs to the person.

However, if the action is not done with the intention “for the sake of the group’s unity,” then no matter how important the intention is, it won’t bring any benefit. A person’s work is precisely the work on the intention.

It’s impossible to go around it because the nature of the world is the desire to enjoy and the desire to give pleasure, the thought that is next to them, their unity and mutual inclusion. There is nothing besides the desire and intention!

The desire to receive of the lower one enters the desire to bestow of the Upper One as MAN (plea for correction), and the desire to bestow of the Upper One descends into the desire to receive of the lower one and fills it as MAD (the Light of Correction). Then the two undergo mutual unification: Bina in Malchut and Malchut in Bina, the Creator in creation and creation in the Creator, until they attain total equality. That is the entire act!

Where does this happen? It takes place only in the thought, in the desire, in the inner effort! Of course, that is the most difficult thing. Some of us find it easy to work mentally while others find it difficult. However, spiritual work is equally difficult for everyone, whether you are a scientist or a carpenter, because it is performed in the soul, not in the mind.

We do perform certain external actions that unite us with the right intention: Why are we doing this? Why do we do it together instead of individually? Why do we want to expand the circle of participants? This revives us and brings us inspiration.

Without an intention to our efforts, we are a “gathering of fools” because even the most important work is devoid of meaning if it lacks an intention!
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/1/10, Writings of Rabash

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Question: How can we practically use a “prayer of the many” at the convention? Which thought and what kind of attitude toward others should I hold during the course of the convention?

Answer: 7,000 people will arrive at the convention. This is an enormous force! If these people begin to connect even slightly (certainly, to the extent of their individual abilities since there are “big” and “small,” experienced and beginners, among them), if they simply want to be part of this process, this is enough. This is because in spirituality, the quality of the force is more important than its quantity. When there is one guide who knows the way, everyone else follows him, and he brings everyone to the goal.

We already have a large and experienced group that has been studying for 15 years. These people know and understand what needs to be done. And even if another several thousand new students will join, this does not matter because the spirit comes from the top of the pyramid. This is why everyone joins one direction and “many” become “one,” “like one man with one heart.” We know that this is exactly what happens based on our experience at previous conventions.

During the convention, everyone experiences different inner sensations: Sometimes you want to escape, at other times return. This testifies to the strength of the inner work, the intensity of the corrections and analyses that come to the person. Over the period of these three days one attains results that he is unable to attain over the course of a year. For this reason it is very beneficial to be at the convention.

Every day I give three lectures at the convention, besides there are gatherings of friends, seminars, cultural evenings, meals, and other events. All of these measures are directed towards the creation of one from many since we must become one whole in order to reveal the Creator. From this we understand what the condition of “love thy neighbor as thyself” means.

We will necessarily achieve something by acting in this direction. We cannot reach the infinite connection, but its 1/125th part, the smallest spiritual level, is quite attainable. And then we will feel that there is a small Light between us which gives the sensation of a spiritual life. In this sensation we exist above the body and perceive a different field, a different dimension in comparison to our physical senses.

All of this is attained through the connection between us, the prayer of the many. The “prayer of the many” means that I ask for the ability to bestow to many people in order to only feel the Creator in this ability.

Question: During which part of the convention can we expect this sensation?

Answer: This depends on the preparation for the convention. If we prepare properly, if we know the materials and the lecture topics, learn the songs, take part in writing the questions, and answer them, then nothing will prevent us from experiencing the mutual connection and the Upper Force that unites us towards the end of the first day.
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From Kabbalah for Beginners, “Prayer of the Many” 10/11/10

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During the convention, a person goes through various states; he experiences mood swings, all kinds of thoughts pass though his mind, some of them "in favor," some of them "against." But we will try to explain to beginners that all of that is inner work which develops us very quickly. These discernments save us years of life with needless suffering.

What you go through in three days of the convention is more than all what you experience throughout your entire life, and all of it is preparation of your inner, spiritual vessel by the power of the Light drawn by such a huge mass of people. It is because the Creator is present "within the nation." Unity contains the Light and that Light acts upon us!

Some understand this more, others less, yet everybody is influenced by the Light according to his or her level. There is no risk in it. A person scrutinizes his states, and it’s very beneficial. We will discuss it there.

You can invite anyone. A person will feel absolutely free at the convention. He will always have an opportunity to go outside, sit down, have a chat with others (there will be stands with tea, coffee, and cookies), and then return to the convention hall or even go home and return the next day.

A person has come in touch with his inner work, and it leaves a mark in him. You can’t put any pressure on him; just give him a chance to come in touch with the Light, with spirituality.

Don’t be afraid; a calculation is made from Above concerning everybody as far as how much force one needs to receive from that human mass in order to advance him. It can’t have any adverse effects.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/18/10, "The Teaching of the Kabbalah and Its Essence"

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The group is the “button” we are constantly clicking on to draw the Light to ourselves. I participate in its life, aspire for unity with the friends, and desire to “dissolve” in them, thereby attracting the Light that Reforms. Essentially, this is my only action: to attract the Light which will implement all the necessary changes.

The situation is simple. There I am, the one who desires to reach the right goal: to become equivalent to the Creator. There is also a means: to demand the Light to affect me and to gradually make all the necessary modifications in me through the group. This is the way we advance.

With every change, I can examine myself: What is “day,” and what is “night” for me? If I am in the “day,” it means that I am being diversely fulfilled; if I am in the “night” or “dark,” it signifies devastation of the mind and heart. This is how it looks in egoistic desires.

Now, we have to stir such changes within ourselves that would allow us to acquire desires to bestow in which we will evaluate “day” and “night” as the Creator does. For the Creator, “day” is bestowal or faith above reason, which contradicts the logic and sensation of the current level.

To reach it, we don’t have to exert superhuman efforts which we are incapable of doing. Rather, we make efforts in the group, in our unification, and summon the force of the Light which descends and does the work.

In fact, all spiritual work is regarded as the “Creator’s work.” He does it, and I must only desire it like a child who grabs a grown-up’s hand and pulls him where he wants to go. If a person understands the essence of this interaction, he feels at ease. With every new step, he utilizes free will in the group and draws the Light that Reforms.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, Shamati #16

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Question: How do I work on connecting with the friends in the group beyond the work on Kabbalah circulation?

Answer: Circulation has absolutely nothing to do with spiritual connection between us. It is a burden we have accepted as our duty so as to serve the world on the corporeal level. Obviously, it is desirable that dissemination were done solely by our people since they can infuse it with the spiritual spark, but in principle, we can recruit outsiders for it as well.

As to spirituality, it is defined as our unity above the level of egoism or our climbing the spiritual degrees by acting above reason. There is no other possibility. This work is not related to dissemination; it is personal and available to everyone, even if the person lives in Alaska in complete isolation.

True circulation is spreading one’s desire for connection and love in the entire network of connections between the souls.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/10/10, “The Matter of Above Reason”

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Spiritual work constantly begins anew. We have to understand this, accept it, and be grateful for this new beginning. A person always starts as if he has had nothing before. Everything becomes deleted.

“Nukva always returns to its virgin state.” This means that I don’t retain any life experience on my path to Him; the entire contact with the “Groom” or the Creator disappears. One should not take anything with him from the past. It’s just the opposite: He should pray to receive the ability to forget everything. It’s better if I don’t know anything.

Being in the egoistic desire, we are incapable of imagining how one can reject his experience. However, we don’t need any knowledge. We need a mind only for the purpose of starting from zero each time like from a blank piece of paper. If we are capable of doing this, then we are indeed approaching faith or bestowal.

I don’t need any mind for bestowal. All I need is a pure attitude that doesn’t tie anything to a past state which was corrupt for sure because I have not achieved Infinity and the End of Correction. Therefore, Nukva and Zeir Anpin return each time to their minimal state, a point and six Sefirot.

One needs to learn this as a necessary condition for advancement and try to accept it with understanding, love, and joy when every time he starts from ground zero.

From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/15/10, Talmud Eser Sefirot

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When I read the text of The Zohar, it’s not good if the text conceals the purpose of reading from me. I must constantly check: What exactly do I desire by reading it?

First and foremost, I desire for the reading of The Book of Zohar to reveal my illness: egoism, and then to heal it by helping me acquire the quality of bestowal instead of it. I want to acquire unity with others who aspire to the same goal. This is called the intention before the study.

After preparing the intention or the reason why I read The Book of Zohar, I can then start to read it. If I am consistently able to maintain the intention, then I can allow myself to also listen to the text and its meaning.

This is similar to a sick person who is in a critical state: He reads a medical book only in order to find the remedy. Nothing else interests him! He doesn’t care about the style of the text or the details of the story. He only looks for the remedy (the elixir of life: the Light)!

Therefore, first and foremost we must have the right intention, and after that we can listen to the details about what The Zohar narrates. There is nothing more important than receiving the “medical procedure” because we don’t understand any of the actual story until we enter that state ourselves.

Why then did the authors of The Zohar write all of these stories for us? It was in order for us to make efforts to keep the intention. Only after that, to the extent it is possible, can we allow ourselves to listen to the story while desiring to reveal it through the intention. We have to realize that we are not living these states and don’t understand the text, but we do desire to reveal it and aspire to be inside the state that is being described. Then we can understand the text and connect to it.

My primary desire is to attain the spiritual quality through the right attitude to The Book of Zohar. After that I can pay attention to the text and be sure that I will understand it correctly. This is called “desiring to attain what you study,” as written in Item 155 of “Introduction to Talmud Eser Sefirot.”

The text of The Zohar is the place where I perform my inner work and make the inner discernments regarding where I am. First I must have an intention in relation to the goal, and then a sensation in relation to the text.

We have to feel the depths of the layers of attainment. This is called “Engaging in the Torah and the Commandments,” and “Studying the Torah.”

From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/12/10, The Zohar

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There are actions during our meetings when we have to give up all our criticism and simply merge with everyone. How can I do that? I can do it precisely by jumping and singing together with everyone like a child, nullifying myself.

This attitude connects me to the general state, giving me the ability to come out of my limitations and feel a spiritual "wind"! It might seem as though this kind of behavior is reckless, but it only seems that way to us because we don’t recognize the spirituality in it, and that’s because it is the Light of Infinity! We are unable to discern anything in it with our instruments of perception. That’s why it seems to us that it is lifeless or still (Nefesh). However, whether or not we will be able to see the whole spiritual Light of NaRaNHY in it depends entirely on our Kli .

Everything that comes from unity, even the smallest kind, is perfection. Therefore, it is precisely in this manner, through mutual dance when you are jumping together with others, that we have the opportunity to perceive a spiritual sensation.

These dances came to us from the great Kabbalists, especially Baal Shem Tov. Rabash also made us, his students, dance this way. It’s not just recklessness; inside the dance there is serious thought and tremendous work. Suddenly you don’t want it and thoughts "for" and "against" alternate within you with great frequency, evoking horrible doubts. Meanwhile, you continue to jump….

It also isn’t meditation because you don’t disconnect from reality. You are always standing before the question: What am I doing and why? What does this give me, who is making me do this, and who am I jumping together with, what connects us? You go through the entire inner work from beginning to end while you are dancing.

The dance forces you to go through all the different thoughts that exist against it! They are against unity, which you don’t want. Your mind always rises up in battle against this and you are forced to make discernments.

That is why the dance turns into arduous inner work. You come out of it simply drained, devoid of energy. And it’s not because you jumped, but because you went through so many discernments inside. You are dancing inside yourself, in your inner ascents and descents. And the fact that you are externally jumping at the same time is only there in order to awaken these inner states in you.

You are jumping externally, rising and falling, while inside of you there is a profusion of other ascents and descents taking place simultaneously – and that’s the most important thing! Without the external actions you will not be able to make the inner ones. One won’t happen without the other. That’s why the dance turns into a unique means of working. This is why Baal Shem Tov and the first Hassidim, who were Kabbalists, taught these traditions.

From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/12/2010, A Lesson About the Role of the Nation

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