Rosh HaShanah

A “year” is a period from the beginning of creation to its end. It is written that a man called Adam was created on the eve of the new year, on Rosh HaShanah, and before that, the whole world was created. Therefore, within a year, we need to complete all the corrections, and if we do not succeed this year, then the next one comes.

A year is a complete cycle of states necessary to correct all of our properties. Therefore, our program for the next year is to reach a final, corrected state, and for this, it is necessary simply to awaken the Creator constantly so that He gives us strength to make corrections. We should not let Him go.¹

Blowing the Shofar evokes mercy, the power of the good. Prayer, Shofar—all this is meant to awaken the upper level to make corrections in us.²
From the Daily Zohar Lesson 9/11/18, Zohar for All,  “Rosh HaShanah”

The Dalai Lama, It’s Not Easy …

In the News (The Earth Chronicles of Life): “‘The Dalai Lama revealed the secret of happiness’:

“Less envy and anger, more love and compassion – only through this man can come to harmony in the soul, the Dalai Lama XIV said in Riga during the spiritual teachings for Buddhists from Russia and the Baltic States.

“Man is destroyed by anger, envy, a sense of competition, fears and other negative emotions that lead to suffering, while happiness is achieved not through the implementation of unbridled desires, but through the ‘peace of mind’. Compassion and altruism help to come to him.

“’It has already been scientifically proven that anger literally destroys the immune system, while compassion and peace of mind strengthen it. If you treat others with compassion and altruism, then malice, envy and competition in you will be much less, and happiness – much more,’ said the Dalai Lama.

“A materialistic system of values ​​makes a person a money-grubber.

“’Unchecked desires destroy both man and the environment, and this does not bring happiness to anyone. Happiness comes when the mind is at peace, when there is peace in the soul. Therefore, it is so important to train your mind,’ he said.”

My Comment: He is absolutely right, but how can this be accomplished?

Remark: In principle, it is clear what the Dalai Lama is leading to: it is a specific view of the world, meditation…

My Comment: This method is good for people with very little egoism, which used to manifest itself in humanity thousands of years ago. Also, today it also applies, but only in some parts of the world where it can really be offered and accepted.

Question: How can the state of happiness be achieved?

Answer: To do this, you need to change a person in order for a person to change the world so that the world does not chase artificial goals, but everything is in balance with nature and with each other.

It is possible, but not through a technique of just sitting and feeling happy.

Question: You said that the ego will develop and grow and that there is no escape from it. What can be done with egoism that grows and kills me?

Answer: I’ve talked about this many times. Until we show people that this final state leads us to destruction and instead there is an eternal and perfect state that we can achieve in this world now, today, until we convince humanity of this possibility, we can do nothing.

Question: How can this be done?

Answer: Only by working on ourselves, bringing ourselves to a state where we can truly become an example of correct human relationships, finding happiness and the highest quality between us.

Question: What should our relationships be like?

Answer: Love each other. The Dalai Lama also speaks about this, only it must be achieved. It is not easy and is accomplished through tremendous effort and by a trustworthy method that connects the impossible with the desired.

Is it necessary to get to this? It is necessary. Is there an opportunity? There is, but it’s hard. Here, we must reshape human nature, change it.

Question: How does human nature change?

Answer: Only under the influence of the revelation of the upper force. In attempts to unite, we reveal this force. We want this power to change us, but only this force! And not that I want to be good, and I’m already good.
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From KabTV’s “News with Michael Laitman” 6/20/18

A Lifeline For Everyone

The desire to enjoy is the material of creation, so it cannot be good or bad. It is just matter that can be neither praised nor condemned—it is just how it was created.

If the desire to enjoy cares only about itself at the detriment of others, it is called egoism. If the desire to enjoy, which receives the ability to give from above, that is, the ability to work with one’s desire in contrast to one’s natural instinct to enjoy himself and instead to give pleasure to others, it is called the desire to bestow.

A desire is able to behave this way if it considers the one to whom it gives more important than itself. If I value you more than myself, then instead of taking for myself, I will give to you.

In our world, it is easy to do. After all, if I see that I depend on the one who is higher, more important, and stronger than me, then I am ready to give to him. I do this based on the same egoistic calculation because by giving it to him, I will win even more than if I took it myself.

There are, however, two conditions for genuine, non-egoistic bestowal. First, the object I want to give to has to be hidden. I should not feel its importance, otherwise I will certainly give with egoistic intentions, as it plays out in this world. Besides, I need to get more strength for such bestowal, despite the total lack of egoistic motivation.

First, we are helped from above, the importance of the higher is hidden. Then, one needs to do it on his own. Other than that, one has to receive the power of bestowal from above. Then I will have the opportunity to give to the Creator although in my corporeal eyes He has no importance. On the contrary, I see that the whole world and I myself am much more important. However, I gain the power of bestowal atop my nature. This is called faith above reason, above one’s own opinion. This is a true miracle from above.¹

It is said: “A lifeline has been thrown to us by the Creator.” Why are there so many disappointed people who have not achieved anything? It is because they did not want to hold onto the rope. Everyone gets a lifeline; it hangs right in front of your nose, but you do not want to notice it.

Once one grabs the rope, he starts to get closer to a Kabbalistic group, he gets absorbed in it, and dissolves. We people think the opposite: that we are ready to do anything alone and that these actions will help us.

People remain in this delusion for 10, 20, 30, even 40 years, until they finally agree not to bow down. The force comes from above and they become ready to annul themselves in everything, bow their heads, and join the ten. They are ready to do anything: to give up everything just to join the group.

This is very difficult. It requires self-scrutiny, clarification, and overcoming. One should be very straightforward and honest with himself and with the group.²
From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/29/18, Writings of Baal HaSulam,“A Speech for the Completion of The Zohar“

A Well-Tuned Symphony Of Light

One needs a strong screen strength in order to receive the Light of Hochma for the sake of bestowal. The whole work of the spiritual Partzufim on correction consists of turning the state of Achor be Achor(back-to-back) to a state of Panim be Panim (face-to-face).

There is nothing more opposite than the male and female principles. When the spiritual Partzufim Aba and Ima, the supreme father and mother, turn face to face, they are the most opposite to each other. Therefore, there should be a tremendous force of love in order for the male and female principles to unite face to face and on equal grounds when they want to give to each other and to the lower.

This is impossible without mutual participation and common intention. And all this is done to please the Creator. “Face to face” means: according to the good will of the higher and the good will of the lower, at the good will of the father and the good will of the mother who want to give birth to a new spiritual level ZON to enjoy this higher power, the Creator.

By their nature they are opposite: Aba desires Hochma, and Ima desires Hassadim; the father seeks wisdom, and the mother seeks grace. But if they are able to rise above their nature, then all three together: Aba, Ima, and ZON become similar to Keter. All the nine lower Sefirot work in order to become similar to the highest—Keter.¹

A Well-Tuned Symphony Of Light

The spiritual world works as one common organism that always strives to make maximal use of itself for the sake of bestowal. Therefore, it does not perceive its parts separately, but only on equal terms, as one. This is the Malchut of the world of Ein Sof, which constantly thinks about how to engage itself in order to achieve maximum bestowal.

In the higher Partzufim, there is such a polyphony of sounds, as if from Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier. Two spiritual phenomena grow and develop parallel to each other, like two melodies, each in its direction and tonality, and in the end, they merge into one infinite harmony, a symphony of Light.²
From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/29/18, Talmud Eser Sefirot, Vol. 2, Part 7,“Histaklut Pnimit,” Item 9

Ibur (Conception)

We are born in this world with a desire to enjoy, with a selfish heart in which there is one special point: the beginning of the upper world, the divine part from above. We need to transfer the importance and significance from our desire to enjoy to this point, the desire to bestow. From the desire to enjoy, only a black point should remain, and the desire to bestow, from a point, from a drop of semen, from a tiny spark, should expand to the magnitude of Bina and Keter.

This is how we move from one world to the next. Everything depends on the importance of the point in the heart, the point of bestowal and love, on exiting oneself into one’s friend, and the ever-greater disregard of one’s egoistic desire until it shrinks to a point. Although at first we feel the whole big world in this desire, it turns into a point that it originally was, into the four stages of direct Light: a black point inside the white Light. Also, the spark of bestowal will expand to the magnitude of the world of infinity, filling everything with the white Light.

We need to make all these changes through our own efforts, to increase the value of the point of bestowal and love, the spiritual spark, the Creator’s property, and simultaneously, each time we annul ourselves and the importance of our desire to enjoy in which we meanwhile perceive this whole big world.

Our entire work is to reduce our world to a single black point, to find a spiritual spark in ourselves, and raise it up to the world of infinity, a bright, vast world.

This whole process begins with the state of an embryo, when we pay attention only to the point of the white Light, to the spiritual spark, and do everything in order to augment it. We imagine ourselves staying within Bina, in the mother’s womb, and this is how we advance.¹

Usually, at this time, higher egoistic aspirations awaken in a person to rise up, to establish oneself, to become famous, which are opposite to the desire to annul oneself. This is exactly the work that is given to us from above. Until a person agrees to become a zero, which does not need anything either now or in the future, he will not be able to enter the spiritual world and become a spiritual embryo. Not before.

Until a person agrees to diminish himself to zero, to one point, he will not enter the state of the embryo. It is necessary to feel this well in order to understand where this eye of a needle through which one penetrates into the spiritual world is located.²

The force that draws us into spirituality, called Moses, leads us to the foot of Mount Sinai, that is, to our insignificance in front of the mountain of doubts. This is a very difficult feeling and a person must agree with it, that is, be ready to continue despite many doubts and humiliations, reducing himself to a complete zero.

If he reduces his desire to enjoy to the very minimum necessary for existence to which his nature, the Creator, obliges him, then he is ready to receive the Torah.³

We must allow the upper one to work on us, completely trusting Him, like an infant in his mother’s arms or in the mother’s womb. The whole world is a mother’s womb and we need to become an embryo in it. Imagine how to do this; one needs to reduce one’s own desires, thoughts, and actions. Perhaps we work a lot, but it is as though we do nothing by ourselves; it is the upper one that works through us. We only want to feel how He works on us.⁴
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/5/18, Lesson on the Topic “Conception”

Why Don’t We Feel The Upper Light?

Question: If we talk about the Light, then what is the suffering that I feel?

Answer: It depends on the suffering: love or hate.

Suffering is the absence of the desired. If I wish to give to someone, to please, and I cannot, this is one type of suffering. If, on the contrary, I want to receive and do not receive, this is another type of suffering.

Question: It is said that if the Light of life is not clothed in the Light of mercy, it is like a sharp knife. What does this mean?

Answer: Any Light coming to us should be clothed in the quality of bestowal, to transfer it to others, and then it will be for our benefit. We must prepare for this, otherwise the Light will not come.

We do not feel the upper Light because we do not have the desire to pass it on to others. As soon as I transform myself into a conductor of Light, then immediately the upper Light opens up in me to the extent that I am opened to others.

Question: Can we then say that when I feel pain and suffering, it means that the Light of life (Hochma) is not clothed in the Light of mercy (Hassadim), in my bestowal?

Answer: Yes, I close it within myself, and it presses on me, wishing to enter.
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From the Kabbalah Lesson in Russian 4/15/18

The Game Is The Constant Work Of The Group

Baal HaSulam, The Writings of the Last Generation: Just as we expect actors in the theater to do their best to make our imagination think that their acting is real, we expect our interpreters of religion to be able to touch our hearts so deeply that we will perceive the faith of religion as the actual reality.

We have to play a game, until “faith in this methodology will gain strength in our hearts.” Playing a game is the constant work in the group. If this is not the case, it is unlikely the group has a chance to advance.

Question: Is the agreement to act out a contract between us or is each of our contract’s in relation to the Creator? Is there a difference in these definitions?

Answer: There is no difference. The cause and the consequence change all the time: I work with the Creator for the sake of the group, or I work with the group for the Creator.

Question: So the concepts of “contract with the Creator” and “contract with the group” are the same?

Answer: Yes and no. It depends on what is the cause and what is the consequence.
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From KabTV’s “The Last Generation” 2/8/18

Blitz Of Kabbalah Tips – 3/18/18, Part 2

Question: Which actions are used as a preparation for attaining the goal according to the wisdom of Kabbalah?

Answer: I would say that there is nothing except for unity.

Question: Learning the wisdom of Kabbalah accelerates our correction. Does this mean that all the suffering that is destined for my nascent soul will happen in this lifetime?

Answer: I don’t know. Everything depends on your efforts, but you can complete all of your corrections in the current incarnation.

Question: Is there some kind of stimulant we can use, like the drugs used in sports? For instance, is there something you can “eat” and immediately accelerate into the upper world?

Answer: You have to get this stimulant from your friends.

Question: Is it possible to see the entire world in one person?

Answer: There is no problem. After all, the entire world is a common general Kli.

Question: Is it true that people whose fate is difficult and complicated are closer to correction than those who live without worries?

Answer: Yes and no. I personally don’t have a difficult and complicated fate. My entire life had been arranged materially, nothing bothered or  annoyed me. But I had a different emptiness, a lack of spirituality, not something material.

Question: How is it possible to hear the quiet voice of the Creator that constantly speaks to you and not confuse it with the voice of the ego?

Answer: The Creator whispers to you about love, not in relation to yourself, but in relation to others, how to work on unity with others, how to push them toward unity in a pleasant way.

Question: What are the desires of a friend in the group that I fulfill?

Answer: These are mainly his yearning to attain the Creator.
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From the Kabbalah Lesson in Russian 3/18/18

Hurricane Florence

From My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 9/12/18

North Carolina’s Governor Cooper says residents should plan to be without power for days, as Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall early Friday and bring life-threatening storm surge and rainfall to the Carolinas.

While electrical power may be unavailable, we have a greater power at hand that we should learn how to harness.

As I have been saying for many years, we live in a single, integrated system. It’s hard for us to recognize that all layers of nature are interconnected and interdependent. From earth’s plants and minerals to human thought and behavior, and everything in between.

Within the natural system, humans make for a highly qualitative element, and the way we relate to each other has impact on all the other layers of nature. It is an indirect, and intricate influence. But just as it’s hard for us to identify, so it is vital for nature’s balance.

We don’t fully understand how and why earth’s tectonic plates are shifting after millions of years, earth’s mantle incorporates volatile compounds from the atmosphere, and radiation is coming from the belly of the planet.

But if we saw the inner workings of nature’s system, we would see how much of it relies on human relations. We would see that nature’s law of balance and homeostasis must be kept on the human level as well.

The planet is awakening and working to bring us into balance with each other and with the rest of nature.

Read more in “Why Nature Will Always Win” >>

In The Field Of The Creator

Rabash, “The Agenda of the Assembly 2”: To the extent that the society regards the greatness of the Creator with their thoughts during the assembly, each according to his degree originates the importance of the Creator in him. Thus, he can walk all day in the world of gladness and joy, meaning he enjoys every little thing that he does concerning the work of the Creator. This is so because if he remembers that he should contemplate spirituality for even a minute, he immediately says, “I am already grateful and praising and glorifying the Creator,” since he believes that now the Creator has called him and wishes to speak with him.

We need to work not in our field, but in the field of the Creator. Then, there will be no problems. You are constantly concerned about making Him happy, like a mother who does not think about herself but about her child. If something happens to the baby, she is completely within it, not within herself.

Blessing the Creator is the work in His field.

Rabash, “The Agenda of the Assembly 2”: And when a person imagines that the King is calling him and tells him that he wants to play with him, what joy would he experience then, and what high spirits would he have? Certainly, in that uplifted state, he would not think any trifle thoughts. He would only be a little embarrassed at not knowing the King’s laws and manners—how to behave when the King speaks to him.

But he considers what he does know how to do for the King as a great fortune…

At every moment I should try to think about how I influence the Creator through my present state: What do I bring Him in the given moment?
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From KabTV’s “The Last Generation” 2/8/18

Why Does A Person Need The Mind?

Everything that separates me from the Creator is called evil. Where, however, do I decide that this is evil, in the mind or in the heart?

Why did the Creator give a person a mind, which is above any animal’s mind, if we need to annul it, working by faith above reason?

The Creator created the mind for a person precisely in order for us to work against our animalistic mind. Otherwise we would be unable to figure out where is bitter and sweet. We replace our mind with the mind of the upper. Since we need to begin from something, the Creator gives us an animalistic mind.

It is similar to how the Creator creates the desire to receive so that we first feel reception as sweet and bestowal as bitter. One can ask why the Creator initially created the creature as opposite to Him? This, however, already relates to the question: Why did He break the creation? And the answer: the advantage of the Light is attained from darkness.
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From a conversation in Iceland, 5/23 /18

Spiritual Shame

Baal HaSulam, Talmud Eser Sefirot, Part 1, “Histaklut Pnimit”: …why did He bring the Neshama into such a foul and filthy Guf? From his attainment of the upper governance, the Kabbalist answers this. They explained it with the verse, “One who eats that which is not one’s own, is afraid to look upon one’s face.” It means there is a flaw of shame in any free gift. In order to spare the Neshamot this blemish, He has created this world, where there is work. They will therefore enjoy their labor, for they take their pay from the Whole, in return for their work, and are thus spared the blemish of shame.

Spiritual shame is a feeling of receiving pleasure for myself.

Question: What is the connection between corporeal and spiritual shame?

Answer: Spiritual shame is above the screen, above the first restriction. Therefore, we cannot assess spiritual shame based on corporeal shame.
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From the Kabbalah Lesson in Russian 4/15/18

New Life #1038 – Harmonious Social Relations

New Life #1038 – Harmonious Social Relations
Dr. Michael Laitman in conversation with Oren Levi and Tal Mandelbaum ben Moshe

Summary

It important for us to learn about the system we live in, how social relationships influence us, and how can each one of us bring the system closer to a state of balance. This educational process allows every person to acquire the feeling that he is in a single system with everyone, where it is good for everyone to be together.

The reward for good relationships will be balanced life in a good society that relates to us like a loving mother, providing us with warmth and security. In a society like this, concession is considered to be beneficial. Social support will give each person the power to concede, since one’s bestowal to others creates bestowal toward the entire system and a powerful response, multiplied many times over, will therefore come back to me. Social values, honor, and shame can direct people toward treating others well. In order to achieve these ends, public opinion must be changed through a deep process of general social education based on the rule “And you shall love your friend as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).
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From KabTV’s “New Life #1038 – Harmonious Social Relations,” 7/19/18

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Rosh HaShana Blessing

From My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 9/9/18

I wish all of us what we lack most, love and connection between us!

It has always saved our people, it is in our DNA. “Love your neighbor as yourself” is what we must realize between us for the entire world.

Happy Rosh HaShana!

Upbringing In Kabbalah

Question: Many times I’ve heard you speak about the necessity of proper upbringing. What is upbringing according to Kabbalah? Can egoism be educated or do we need a properly educated egoist?

Answer: A Kabbalistic upbringing means an upbringing by means of the upper Light. It is when I, along with my friends, with the help of various actions described in the Kabbalistic methodology, attract the upper Light. The upper Light influences us and brings us to a state of unity where the Creator is revealed and where we all become one whole. This is the state we have to reach.

A Kabbalistic upbringing is supposed to unite us under the influence of the upper Light, revealing the Light under the condition that our connection, our mutual bestowal, will resemble its qualities. Then in the union between the upper Light and us, we will reveal its source—the Creator.
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From the Kabbalah Lesson in Russian 4/29/18

New Life #1037 – Love Of The Nation Of Israel

New Life #1037 – Love Of The Nation Of Israel
Dr. Michael Laitman in conversation with Oren Levi and Nitzah Mazoz

Summary

Other nations have natural love, but love of the nation of Israel means that each one wants to benefit others and enjoys this. The people of Israel are made up of a gathering of the nations of the world and therefore they have no connection. “National love” means that I must love each one in the nation that aims toward reaching love. A connection between differences is called “Israel,” which means we direct ourselves straight toward the higher integral power in nature. We need to learn to cover over all hatred with love like the forces of plus and minus and then we will attain wholeness and eternity. That is how we acquire the “weapon” of love and then nobody will want to harm us. The “weapon” of love is connection; it has the power to fight against all evil which is separation. There is no need to fight with anyone else but only with the evil that is found within me, only to fight with my own ego. When we relate this way to each other, people will immediately change their attitude toward us in a positive way because we will illuminate the whole world.
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From KabTV’s “New Life #1037 – Love Of The Nation Of Israel,” 7/17/18

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UK Racism Posters Against Israel

From My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 9/7/18

Bus stops across London were defaced with posters in the colors of the PLO flag declaring “Israel is a racist endeavor.” Apparently, these unauthorized ads protest the British Labor Party’s decision to adopt the definition for anti-Semitism by the International Organization for Holocaust Remembrance.

Among the eleven clauses of the definition are four clauses that define a certain criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic. One of those who opposed them was Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbin. His anti-Semitic remarks in recent months have stirred a public outcry to the point that British Jews have threatened to leave the U.K. if Corbin wins the upcoming elections.

In light of the steep rise in violent incidents towards the 270,000 Jews of Britain over the past three years, the adoption of a new international definition of anti-Semitism is crucial there. But Corbin’s last minute decision to adopt the clauses of the definition will not change things. Corbin’s hatred for Jews flows in his veins by nature. And he’s not guilty of it. It is like an illness that doesn’t let him rest.

And Corbin is not the only one suffering from this illness. The “anti-Semite” may arise in every person, in any time, by any trigger. It is like a wild animal within, demanding to release its strong aversion towards the Jews, whom it identifies as “the source of all evil.”

Therefore, we can write formal definitions on paper, but they will not alter human nature. Precise formulated phrases cannot balance the negative attitude towards Jews that is naturally embedded in the nations of the world, and especially in those who harbor anti-Semitic sentiments.

In the Book of Zohar, the greatest book in the Wisdom of Kabbalah, it was written 2,000 years ago that hatred of the Jews will last for thousands of years until a balancing force flows into the world. Kabbalist Yehuda Ashlag, who wrote the commentary on the Book of Zohar, describes it as follows: “the Israeli nation had been constructed as a form of gateway by which the sparks of purity would shine upon the human race across the world, until they develop and recognize the pleasantness and tranquility found in the kernel of love of others.”

Until this happens, the world may point blaming fingers towards Jews in any event that happens: murderous terrorist acts in Europe, the September 11 attacks, the spread of AIDS, economic crises, and even natural disasters.

Rav Kook wrote: “Any noise in the world happens primarily for Israel” (Letters of Rav Kook). The ancient Jewish sages wrote that “no calamity comes into the world, but for Israel” (Tractate Yevamot), and Tikkun 30 in the corrections of the Zohar writes that “the Jews cause poverty and ruin and robbery and killing and destruction throughout the world”.

The natural system drives all of human society towards a central pressure point – demanding the Jewish people to unite in order to fulfill their spiritual duty. To do that, the Jews were given the method of connection – the wisdom of Kabbalah, which can help them become a model for all nations.

Then, a balancing force will finally spread throughout the world, soothe the hatred towards Jews, and unite all of humanity into a global community. If British Jews were to become aware of this principle and share it with the people of their country, they would bring about a true revolution.

New Life #1003 – The Oral Torah, Part 2

New Life #1003 – The Oral Torah, Part 2
Dr. Michael Laitman in conversation with Oren Levi and Nitzah Mazoz

Summary

Without the guidance of a teacher who is a Kabbalist, it is impossible to understand the secret that is latent in the Torah, in the Mishnah, or in The Book of Zohar. Since the destruction of the Temple, there has been controversy about the concept of “Lishma” over the question of whether the Torah requires a correction of the ego in order to love. Torah “Lishma” means that I perform actions for the sake of others, “Lo Lishma” (not for Her Name) means that I am doing things for myself, for the sake of receiving a reward, respect, and so forth. Most people lost the connection with Torah Lishma and the Kabbalists who taught this were always oppressed and persecuted. The language of the branches, which Kabbalists teach, is based upon the connection that exists between the upper force and the physical branch that is activated in our world.

People who claim that there is no need to maintain the Torah Lishma, the correction of the ego and loving, are dealing with the externalities of the Torah; while the Kabbalists learn it through the language of the branches, and discover its upper spiritual roots.
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From KabTV’s “New Life #1003 – The Oral Torah,” part 2, 4/24/18

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A Wish To Be The Head And Not The Tail

On Rosh HaShanah we ask the Creator to make us a “head” and not a “tail” in the new year. This means that we want to work according to intention and thought, not according to the force of desire. We want to rise above the desire toward the thought, which is called faith above reason, and to be concerned with the intention with which we use our desire.

We do not want the desire to determine our actions as it does today. Now, we are under the control of the desire, which is driving us, determining our actions and intentions. All our intentions are aimed only at fulfilling our desires.

We, however, want to correct the relationship between the intention and the desire so that the intention would govern the desire. The intention for the sake of bestowal, which is called “faith,” will rule over the desire that will realize this intention.

This is a big shift in the spiritual work. In the beginning of the path, we only pay attention to our desire and want to realize it. Then we begin to scrutinize our intentions, which for now are also egoistic. We then, however, see that intention can be different. The reforming Light influences us and changes our attitude toward our desire to enjoy and the Creator’s desire.

As a result of working in the group, the study, and the influence of the reforming Light, we begin to perceive the Creator as more important. We have not yet revealed the Creator, but we already feel that it is important for us to think about Him, to give Him joy, to come closer to Him, and to adhere to Him. This already pertains to the intention; we ask the Creator for an opportunity to act in this way.

It follows that there is no good or evil in the world. It only appears this way to me so that I would have an opportunity to come to know the upper force, to discern it, unite with it, to attain it,  and to understand the Creator.

That is, in the beginning, we are governed by the desire, and in the end, by the intention. It does not matter if the desire is to receive or to give, whenever possible I use every desire only for the sake of realizing my intention to bestow.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/22/18, Lesson on the Topic: “Rosh HaShana”

The Human Prerogative

Question: What does the upper providence manage? What remains in the person’s power and freedom, which is not subject to management from above?

Answer: Everything except our freedom of will is the Creator’sprerogative.

Freewill means to determine at every minute what else I can add to get closer to other people.

Our task is to connect all the elements of the spiritual scheme together into a single system. I thus have to determine whether I can do this with greater success at every given moment. In essence, this is my job, and I cannot escape it. However, the question is, did I put my efforts into it or will the upper world, the Creator, force me to do it?

It is between these two possibilities that my freedom of will lies: either I myself rush forward to connect with everyone, or I will be forced from above. Therefore, freedom of will, as Baal HaSulam writes in the article of the same name, is to get involved in the environment, to receive the corresponding desires, aspirations, and goals from it, and to realize them.
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From the Kabbalah Lesson in Russian 4/22/18