Entries in the 'Zohar' Category

The Dating Of States

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Zohar, “Introduction of The Zohar,” Chapter “BeLaila De Kala (Night of the Bride),” Item 135: On the fifteenth of Nissan, David sent a proclamation through all of Israel to go to war. They were with Yoav on the seventh of Sivan, and went and destroyed the land of the children of Amon. They were detained there through Sivan, Tamuz, Av, and Elul, and what happened with Bat Sheba was on the twenty-fourth of Elul. And on Yom Kippur [Day of Atonement], the Creator forgave his iniquity.

Of course, we are not dealing with dates here, but with spiritual degrees. The annual cycle is divided into 12 months, in accordance with the four stages of HaVaYaH multiplied by the three lines. The four seasons, the order of months, and holidays are determined by the mutual inclusion of the Lights of Hochma (Wisdom) and Hassadim (Mercy).

The Jewish calendar is based on the cycles of both the sun and the moon. The sun calendar is the part that pertains to Zeir Anpin, and the lunar months are the part that pertains to Malchut.

These are descriptions of spiritual corrections, depending on the kind of forces and influences are at play. Either Malchut influences Zeir Anpin, or Zeir Anpin influences Malchut. As a result of the correct connection that they build between them, they ascend and attach to Bina, to their supernal mother, who corrects them.

Accordingly, all dates in the lunar cycle have their own spiritual meanings. Every month begins with a new moon and ends before the next new moon. This concerns the thirty Sefirot of HaBaDHaGaTNHY, each including the three lines. The states of this system may be subdivided and systematized by its particular Sefirot down to “hours,” “minutes,” and “seconds.”

This would clarify what specific corrections Bat Sheba had undergone with David and Uriah, and why they had fallen on those “dates.”
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/18/10, “Hakdama, BeLaila De Kala (The Night of the Bride)”

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Back To The Book Of Zohar

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe wisdom of Kabbalah is given to us to correct our state. Having descended from the World of Infinity (Ein Sof) into the corporeal world, we can ascend back up into the World of Infinity by using the method of Kabbalah. When can we do so? As soon as we use it as it was intended.

In Infinity, we all are linked together, as one man with one heart. We are bonded in the hearts, regardless of the bodies. The “hearts” should be viewed as desires, intentions, and even thoughts. After all, thought is designated to amplify and sort desire; it is intended as a tool for working on desire.

Hence, it is not said: “As one man with one heart and one mind” but rather, just “one heart” for it is enough. We have to link our desires to become as one. What kind of desires? The desires aimed at the purpose of creation. They are the ones we must link together. They expand from Infinity so that we may unify and correct them.

Our entire problem has been caused by the breaking of the Kelim (vessels) and separation, the distancing of these desires or sparks from each other. Thereby, correction is their moving closer to each other and achieving total adhesion. It is implemented by way of our efforts when we desire to unite while reading the authentic primary sources, the works written by Kabbalists who were in attainment of oneness and correction.

With this intention, we should turn to The Book of Zohar.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/18/10, “Hakdama, BeLaila De Kala (The Night of the Bride)”

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A Spiritual Booster

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What do we need to do in order to aspire towards the high state of unity that exists in The Zohar?

Answer: This comes from disappointment. No matter what I tell you now, it will not help until you develop an urgent need, aspiration, a vital necessity. Only then will you turn to the group.

When you know that you have a big problem, your life is at risk, or you are ill, then you run for help. But when you do not feel ill, do not see that there is a problem, or do not believe that anything will help, you remain still. This is why we need a deficiency. Either the Creator gives us a deficiency as He pushes us from behind with suffering, or we make a connection with the environment without waiting for suffering and try to receive an opposite reaction from it.

I come to my environment without experiencing a need for it; I simply follow the advice of the Kabbalists. They are wise, and I listen to them. This means that the Creator places man’s hand on a good faith and says: “Take it! Take it! Why should you suffer?”

Then we receive additional desire from the group. This is how it works. Those who are lucky will hear, turn to the group, arrange for this booster of desire, and come to the Creator though the group.

Ultimately, the group needs to direct a person towards the Creator. The connection with the group and our entire work is the preparation of the desire, the Kli. And then we come to the Creator.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/17/10, The Zohar

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The Only Desire That Attains The Goal

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Zohar, “Introduction to The Zohar,” “BeLaila De Kala (The Night of the Bride),” Item 128: …Zeir Anpin unites with Malchut, and she sees her husband…For she will not be able to see her husband until they all gather. And they depend on one another.

Malchut incorporates all the souls. Without them she is merely a point in the World of Atzilut, a point of Keter that has nothing of her own.

The broken souls, in other words, I and the group are found beneath in the Worlds of BYA. I want to unite with my friends, and my desire rises towards Malchut. From there it rises towards Zeir Anpin, and from there even higher toward Infinity (Ein Sof). Then as a response from her, I receive the strength to ascend. This way, the only thing that goes to Malchut is my desire to become part of the group, when I force myself into it.

I want it even stronger, and only this kind of pressure rises above to become incorporated in Malchut de Atzilut. Only it constitutes MAN, the actual appeal for correction.

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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/15/10, “Hakdama, Laila de Kale (The Night of the Bride)”

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Instructions On Canning Egoism

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Book of Zohar, Introduction, Chapter “BeLaila DeKala (On the Night of the Bride)“: …the Sitra Achra has only a thin light of the illumination of Malchut. This is regarded as Shoresh [root], and it is sufficient for the persistence of the Klipot… This Shoresh is also called “a fine thread,” meaning a thin root for the sins. It is written about it, “At first, it is akin to spider-web, and later it becomes as cart-ropes.”

Klipa is Kelim that we are unable to correct yet by the intention of bestowal. We are talking about very powerful and important desires in which the greatest Lights will be revealed later on at the final correction. In principle we do not have the possibility of doing anything with the desire for pleasure. We can only sort out its parts and decide which of them we are now able to work with on various conditions.

As for the rest of the desires, we have to “can” them and constantly keep guarding them so they won’t break out and attack us. All the enemies of Israel, meaning those who hate the aspiration “straight to the Creator,” are exactly the great egoistic desires which we cannot correct yet. The Torah calls them the nations that never let Israel be.

Of course, we understand that their wars are the awakening of egoism, which is for a person’s benefit. They enable him to discern his uncorrected desires and “to kill” them, meaning to always find new parts in them that can be corrected and attached to him in order to be used for the sake of bestowal.

Thus, we need to worry about the egoistic parts of the desire which are not yet subject to correction. We have to support their existence and perform special spiritual work for their sake.

After all, I feel them inside me. It’s not enough to simply cut them off and not use them. On the current phase I correct them by giving them a small illumination, designated by the letter Kuf (ק), whose lower part descends beneath the line, bringing a thin glow to the worlds of BYA and to the Klipot that are there.

It’s the same as how a sick person is connected to a life support machine in the emergency room. It’s not that I pretend that these desires don’t exist in me, but on the contrary, I admit that they exist and I rule over them. It turns out that they depend on me because I support a small spark of life in them.

We need the Klipa because, like a peel, it protects the fruit during the period of its ripening. Without these actions we are unable to start correcting Malchut.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/18/10, The Zohar

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A Ticker Of Correction

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Zohar, Chapter “Tzav (Command),” Item 18: Happy are the righteous in this world and in the next world, who know the ways of Torah, and who follow it on the path of truth. It is written about them, “The Lord, by them they live.” “By them” are the ways of Torah. “Live” means that they will exist in this world and in the next world.

Each one of us is part righteous and part sinner. Perhaps one’s percentage of righteous is still zero, while the sinner in him comprises 100%. Or it may be that he is in the process of transforming the sinner’s part, his desire which is 100% intention to receive for oneself, into the intention for the sake of bestowal. Then that part is called the righteous within us.

Every time, we go through the following process:

1. We pass to the state where we feel ourselves as sinners.
2. We take part of our desires from there and correct them.
3. That very moment we become the righteous.
4. Then, we become sinners again by going back to another uncorrected desire to receive pleasure.
5. Once again, we transfer part of our desires into the intention for the sake of bestowal.

This way, our corrections accumulate piece by piece into one general correction.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/17/10, The Zohar

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The War Against Amalek

The War Against Amalek

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Zohar, Chapter “BeShalach (When Pharoah Sent),” Items 466-467: “And Aaron and Hur supported his hands.”… When he raised means that he raised the right over the left. By that, it meant that when he spread his hands, Israel prevailed, Israel above, ZA. “And when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”

The right refers to Hesed (the quality of mercy), and the Light of Hassadim (Mercy) is what we need most. First and foremost the Light of correction, the Light of Hassadim, must reign within us for that is what binds everybody together.

It reigns inside our desire (Kli), covers it with the intention to bestow, and then, to the extent the Kli is corrected by the intention to bestow, the Kli can be clothed by the Light of Hochma (Wisdom), which is the Creator’s presence, His sensation and revelation.

But before the Creator is revealed, we need equivalence with Him. This is done by the Light of Hassadim, the Light of bestowal and mercy (Hessed), filling us at our request.

Therefore, the entire war between Moses and Amalek (Amalek is an abbreviation of Al MenAt LEKabel, “for the sake of receiving”) amounts to Moses initially demanding the Light of Mercy, the force of Hassadim, which is the force of Aaron who supports him from the right. Then Moses begins to raise his heavy hands, called “the hands of faith.” Why are they heavy? It is because his desire to enjoy is great and constantly growing on account of Amalek.

When the desire to enjoy is awakened in a person, his hands, “the hands of faith,” the symbol of bestowal, are lowered, and the intention for himself overcomes him once more. What follows is the necessity to support Moses’ hands.

Hence, the Upper Forces come out against Amalek: the right, Aaron, and the left, Hur, while the Light descends from Above and clothes one’s desire, corrected by faith, the Light of Bina. Then Moses is able to defeat Amalek, his egoism.

This takes place in many situations in our work: The desire to enjoy grows, and we must wage war against it.
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From 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/15/10, The Zohar

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Kabbalah: Wisdom Or Knowledge?

Dr. Michael LaitmanWhen we turn to the works of Kabbalists, we can either study the science or the Torah (the method of correction). “Science” implies regular sciences such as physics, chemistry, history, geography, and so on. This is what academics think of Kabbalah. According to them, The Zohar was written in Spain in the Middle Ages, and not 2,000 years ago in Israel.

Scientists are trying to draw knowledge and information from Kabbalistic sources. They discuss the style, analyze texts, and try to draw a correlation between the text and historic events.

This rational approach has nothing to do with “studying the Torah.” This is because the Torah is a method of correcting our nature and becoming similar to the Creator in our properties. The Creator becomes revealed within us to the extent of this similarity.

The purpose of all the “holy” books is to reveal the Creator to man. However, primary sources like the Five Books of Moses, Talmud, and Mishnah are narrated with an earthly, material language; they describe the Upper World through corporeal images. It is difficult for us to see spiritual actions in these narrations.

But the language of Kabbalistic books helps to avoid deviating from the direction towards correction and similarity to the Creator. This is because it speaks of correcting yourself through unity in order to reveal the Creator.

This is why the language of Kabbalah is most appropriate for the attainment of the goal for which the Torah has been given. It is written: “I created the evil inclination and the Torah because the Light in it reforms.” For us, the Torah is a method of correction; it is not a science, but the Light that Reforms.

It is written that one must bless the Torah before studying it, otherwise he will receive a curse instead of a blessing. This means that one needs to concentrate on correction. “To bless the Torah” means to thank the Creator for giving you the opportunity to correct yourself with the help of the Light that is hidden in it.

The Zohar describes our correcting the connection, that which was broken between us. This is why we must strive towards unity when studying it and wait for the Light, the force that corrects our connection. Only then, to the extent of our unity and the mutual guarantee, the Creator will become revealed between us.

So let us “bless the Torah”: Think about the creation of the collective Kli as we turn to The Zohar.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/16/10, The Zohar, “Introduction to The Zohar

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What If I Do Not Understand Anything?

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: During the parts of the lesson when we study The Zohar and TES (Talmud Eser Sefirot), I experience tremendous difficulty understanding anything. What is the correct approach to the content so that it would help me strengthen the bond between us?

Answer: Baal HaSulam and Rabash wrote articles, letters, and other similar texts. In addition, Baal HaSulam wrote a commentary on The Book of Zohar, The Study of Ten Sefirot (TES), “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah” and the book Beit Sha’ar HaKavanot, all of which are the primary sources we get nourished by.

I drew a dividing line between them for the following reason. We use the above mentioned books as an instrument to draw the Light (Segula). And we read all the other works not only to draw the Light but to also understand the content. In the first case, understanding plays a supplementary role, whereas in the second it is in the lead.

What If Do Not Understand Anything
The Book of Zohar doesn’t leave anything for the mind to cling to. At times, it explains something or provides a hint, although we don’t especially need it. In the end, we need a method called “the Torah” since the Light it conceals reforms us. Therefore, it doesn’t matter how much you understand. It’s not the wise one who learns. Intelligence doesn’t play a role here.

Some people write down every word, which is good for as long as it helps them connect to the source emotionally, in the desire. But if everything is determined by the mind, it isn’t worth it. We are not in the university, and from studies alone you will learn nothing unless you obtain a desire to bestow, connection with others, and love. Only this will allow you to feel the material since man is a desire, a vessel of sensation and perception.

Mind is powerless in itself; it is a mere means to direct and strengthen the desire.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/15/10, “The Essence of Religion and Its Purpose”

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Fear For Bestowal

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Zohar, "Introduction of The Zohar," Chapter "BeLaila de Kala (On the Night of the Bride)”: …through the deficiency of the light, which is the night—which includes all the Dinim and torments, which are opposite to the quality of day, Hesed—there is fear of Him. Were it not for the fear, the measure of day and morning would not appear.

Our first correction is fear. I am afraid of receiving the Light directly into my desire. I am cautious; I tremble and fear that I won’t be able to hold back and will "open the door" to the pleasures that come through in the Light.

Like a guest who refuses a feast, I lock all the locks, fearing the possibility of receiving these pleasures not for the sake of bestowal.

The first phase of correcting my desire is to keep it back from directly receiving the Light. This is called "return from fear."

This is the first quality that I have to acquire, the fear that all of my actions would be only for the sake of bestowal.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/16/10, The Zohar

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