How To Find Way Into The Book Of Zohar

 

Question: What will help us “get into” The Book of Zohar and understand it?

Answer: It is not so easy to get into this book. It is really secret, concealed. For thousands of years, no one could open it. As it happens, something exists, but hands do not reach it. But in our time, we are beginning to uncover it.

To uncover does not mean to understand the language in which it is written. To uncover The Book of Zohar means to bring yourself into its narrative, inside it.

Let’s say in childhood you pick up a book, for example, In Search of the Castaways, and when you read about their adventures, you enter them, sail with them on a ship, travel around the world: Patagonia, the tribes, and you are there with them.

But mom tells you “It’s time for bed.” You are forced to close the book, and you are already back at home, in your bed, falling asleep and breaking away from this fairy-tale world that was invented by somebody.

As children, we very often continue to live with the book’s characters, in some way we as if play these roles, talk like them. But then it passes. Life takes its toll. We develop more serious desires, more serious relationships. We are more connected with life than with books. Thus, the period when we live in books passes.

But not here. On the contrary, it turns out that you enter into The Book of Zohar and you live in it, and as if you lead a double life. On one hand, you live in our normal world. It is normal because that is how we are used to treating it, as perfectly normal, like all people do.

And at the same time, you exist in another dimension to which this book is gradually introducing you, to a world that does exist, not in your imagination. It is even brighter, more vivid, more powerful, more defining than the world you live in.

Moreover, you begin to understand, realize, feel, and see that the world you are now revealing actually controls this small world that you previously thought was the only one that exists.

When you close The Book of Zohar, the world that you entered does not disappear. After all, every time you open it, you perceive this world even more deeply, you open this world in yourself even deeper, you begin to feel that you already exist in it.

That is, the world that is revealed to you through The Book of Zohar exists here, along with this world. You feel it, see it, and interact with it. Every time it becomes clearer and richer. And you live in it.

It turns out that this is not a double, conditionally divided life, but both worlds mutually complement each other. However, the world that is now revealed to you is more majestic, strong, defining, and higher. All the powers come from it and control your little previous life.

Question: As a result, do I begin to identify more with this serious, big world?

Answer: This happens gradually because you see that everything is determined at the upper level, in the upper world. Our world is inside it. It follows as a consequence of the upper world, and you can already see how people and all sorts of events are determined precisely from it. It seems that a person is standing, then he moves, then he does or says something. And you see how they move him, do things through him, and talk through him.
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From KabTVs “The Power of The Book of Zohar” #1

How To Make Creation Perfect?

 

The Creator has a big problem—He is perfect. How can He create something outside of Himself that is also perfect? Moreover, if He is perfect, then how can there be anything other than Him? And if there is something and it must necessarily be like the Creator, then what about His perfection? This raises a dilemma.

From our point of view, the Creator seems to be in a state of incomprehension, what is happening in general? What should He do with creation?

It turns out that in order for creation to be perfect, it must be created opposite to the Creator so that this opposite is realized in the likeness of Him. And although initially creation is the opposite, meaning absolutely imperfect, as a result of its transformation, it will become similar to the Creator.

Creation must take over from the Creator His perfection and clothe itself in it. Then both of them will be equal in external expression, and this will lead them to complete adhesion, similarity to each other, to complete love and reciprocity.

But inside creation there will still remain a point that is absolutely opposite to the Creator, meaning the desire to enjoy, think, and take care only of oneself. And in this way creation will be different from the Creator.

Therefore, the perfection of the Creator is in His nature of full bestowal and love. And the perfection of creation will manifest itself when it becomes similar to the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “Kabbalah – Science of Life” 3/1/18

Endless Pleasure

 

The Creator is the absolute. He wants to express Himself. He has no other means but to show His love and express Himself in bestowal and love. Therefore, He created the creature to which He can give everything.

But the desire that arises in the created beings is limited; it cannot receive everything and enjoy the love of the Creator. That is the problem. Ultimately, as soon as the creation begins to accept the attitude of the Creator and fill itself with pleasure, the desire gradually dries up.

This usually happens during meals: the more I eat, the less appetite and feeling of pleasure I have from eating. My desire decreases to the point that I no longer want to eat, I push the food away and even feel repulsion toward it.

How can the Creator make the pleasure in His creation endless? This is His task.

And here comes the solution: it needs to be done in a way that the reception in the created being is not for its own sake. That it would enjoy not what it receives from the Creator but the fact that it delights the Creator.

Like a child, for example, when he eats just to satisfy himself, it is one thing, but when he eats for the sake of his mother, it is a completely different kind of pleasure. Then he rises, understands his mother’s attitude toward him, and they both enjoy each other, both are filled with pleasure. This is the purpose of creation.

Therefore, the creation is created in a special way. It goes through a special series of transformations until it is ready to enjoy for the sake of the Creator, just as the Creator enjoys fulfilling the creation. And by this, they become similar, united, and love one another.
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From KabTV’s “Kabbalah—the Science of Life” 3/1/18

What To Worship?

 

Baal HaSulam, The Writings of the Last Generation: Ethics cannot rely solely on education and public opinion, because public opinion necessitates only what is in the public’s favor. Hence, if one comes and proves that morality is harmful to the public and vulgarity is more beneficial, they will immediately discard morality and choose vulgarity, as Hitler testifies.

Question: It turns out that Baal HaSulam denies any education in the material plane and says that this will inevitably lead to Nazism. Hence, there must be some kind of higher ideal. But we see in religions that God, as the highest ideal, has not worked. So what can work?

Answer: Nature! They put God in an incomprehensible place, associating Him with some kind of priest. In general, they made of Him some kind of figure with all the attributes in all kinds of guises. For different people, for each group, it is different.

And if you destroy all these gods, idols, what will remain? Nothing! Only complete emptiness in which only the power of love is at work. Its disclosure to humanity is the manifestation of the Creator. This is what we should worship.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 9/10/20

Tools Of The Spiritual Teacher

 

Question: Which tools does a spiritual teacher use in order to focus and fine tune my internal attributes?

Answer: First it takes place only during the lesson in which we discuss different topics together, when students ask and the teacher explains. When the students interact with the teacher and try to understand him in depth, they seemingly enter him, and try to connect with him emotionally and not mentally.

Emotionally means in their desires, as it says: “make your desire like his desire.” This connection is very important. You don’t need to be physically close to the teacher in order to do that. You don’t need to be in direct contact with him and to sit in the same building with him.

I, for example, have a very good connection with the group in Santiago. I feel how close they are to me despite the physical distance.

There are groups that I have known for a long time, but which I don’t feel so closely, since it depends on the internal yearning for connection with each other.

Generally speaking, you need to understand that the teacher aspires for that and is ready for it, although he can also be blunt and tough. After all, it is an absolutely precise act with regard to the student. Everything is determined only by the need to be in mutual contact so that you will receive spiritual energy from me, the feeling, the understanding, the connection between what we study and our internal world, our actions.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” 12/2/18

Perspectives On Moral Principles: Scientists And Kabbalah

 

Question: There is a point of view that suggests that some moral principles are a part of the biological nature of man. Researchers argue that the formation of moral judgements among people of differing sex, age, and culture can differ significantly. Do you think these parameters affect moral principles?

Answer: Of course. Biology influences decision making.

Comment: Researchers have discovered that acting in accordance with accepted moral norms increases people’s resistance to stress and strengthens their physical condition.

My Response: Undoubtedly, if I were sure that my actions were supported by moral foundations, principles, and agreements of society, then I would feel much more confident.

Question: Neurophysiologists argue that the moral judgments of people can be influenced by changing the activity of certain areas in the brain. It seems as though all talk of morality will soon stop by itself and the morality of society will, instead, be formed with the help of two electrodes. Do you think it is possible to change the moral principles of a person through external influences?

Answer: No. With the help of electrodes, it seems, you can control some forces. Who actually controls them? You cannot get to this answer. There is the basis of all human morality.

Question: Experts at Harvard University conducted a series of experiments that concluded a person’s moral principles change during the day and weaken in the evening. Therefore, they recommend making important, morally difficult decisions during the morning. What is your opinion?

Answer: It depends on the physiology of the person. There are people who do not think at all in the morning; they think better in the evening or even at night.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 10/8/20

Age And Motivation

 

Question: How do I motivate mixed-age groups? For example, our integral education course will be attended by people of different ages: young people and the elderly. Young people, of course, have a problem with motivation. Are there any general principles for increasing it, because everyone is at their own level of desires?

Answer: We may have fewer problems with this than others because we can explain to all people, regardless of age, gender, or development, why we need to unite, why we need the science of Kabbalah, what it can give to a person, and how much we need it in our time.

Therefore, people of very different ages, levels, educational qualifications, etc. will be able to understand each other and work together.
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From KabTV’s “Management Skills” 8/28/20

A Step Into The Open Door

 

Now we have special opportunities for spiritual advancement. The door is opening; one might even say that it is almost open, and all that remains is for everyone to enter the spiritual world.

We are already beginning to understand little by little how the spiritual world works. We have not yet crossed this threshold, but we are right in front of the open door to spirituality. There has already been a big breakthrough since the beginning of the pandemic.

We need to focus on our thoughts, intentions, sensations, and not on mechanical actions. This is how Kabbalah differs from religion; it speaks of a person’s intention, which he should receive from the upper force through his group and work with it. And religion speaks only of physical actions, of words.

Every person who wants to attain the Creator has the opportunity to do this without any distinction between race, gender, or skin color. Kabbalah is meant for everyone; the only difference is in our desires because we come from one soul of Adam HaRishon. Initially, he was generally one person, and then he was divided into a man and a woman.

We must return to this unity into one person who is all in the intention of bestowal for all his desires. Therefore, the end of correction is the same for everyone, both men and women. And the general correction is that all desires in the world—inanimate, vegetative, and animal—receive the intention for bestowal from us, people. And then the whole world will rise to the level of bestowal and unity.

Therefore, all religions will oppose the method of connection among all because each of them tries to divide people and prove its rightness. Each religion considers itself the only true one and better than others. But the science of Kabbalah comes from the side of integral nature and explains that we all belong to one system. That is why Baal HaSulam says that a person can remain in his own religion, in his customary family ways and traditions, but not to the detriment of universal connection and unity.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/23/20, “Work with Faith Above Reason”

The Infinity Of The Creator And His Creation

 

The Creator made the desire of the creatures small, like the Malchut of the world of infinity. Infinity meant that the desire was completely filled, that is, without boundaries, like a full glass.

But then this desire must develop to infinite proportions. Due to the fact that the Creator created the creation, the desire to enjoy, the opposite of Himself, this gives us the opportunity to reveal the Creator without any boundaries and restrictions, without any stopping on the way until the end of correction and after it.

When we finish all the corrections, covering the whole desire to enjoy with the intention to bestow, then further progress will continue in other forms, no longer due to lack. However, the endless movement forward will continue anyway because this is the only way to reveal the infinity of the Creator.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/18/20, “Connecting the World in the Last Generation”

The Wisdom Of The Crowd And The Wisdom Of Kabbalah

 

Question: The effect of the wisdom of crowd is that the generalized opinion of a large group of people allows for more accurate answers and predictions. But this only happens when members of the crowd make judgments independently of one another. Why? How does it work?

Answer: The principle of collective data processing where everyone looks for himself at opposite opinions, opposite views, opposite schools, this is a slightly different principle than in Kabbalah.  And when they try to generalize the result together, it turns out much better and much more true than the result each one would have reached individually. But this is still not what Kabbalah says.

According to Kabbalah, we should rise to the level of faith above reason, that is, above ourselves, and solve problems not in an egoistic way—how much smarter each of us is and can connect more with others—but be in faith above reason, be able to master the strength of the team, to rise above the individuality of each one and above the common individuality.

By adding up our egoisms, we simultaneously collect together the desire to rise above our total ego. It turns out that on one hand, we have a huge common egoism, and on the other hand, we acquire anti-egoistic strength. And then we can really do a very high-quality, completely new action, which is built on giving and not receiving.

Remark: This is similar to what Einstein said: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” It is always solved at a higher level. That is, the next step is connection between people.

My Comment: Yes. And although Einstein instinctively came to this, the diagnosis is correct.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 9/25/20

Age And Gender Differences

 

Question: In the first parts of the integral education courses, men and women study together. Some research suggests that in a production team where there are women, many decisions are made much better and faster. And when we are engaged in spiritual development, there must be a division at some stage. Why?

Answer: There must be a gender division because in Kabbalah we work with very deep internal properties of a person and mixed groups are a great hindrance. At the initial stage, men and women can work together for several months, no more than six months, and then they quickly need to be separated.

Question: Do they need to be divided by age?

Answer: Age doesn’t really matter. I believe that it is even better to mix them so that, as in our daily life, the old help the young, and the young help the old. There is no contradiction in this.

Nature did not divide us sharply by age. On the contrary, generations help and support each other. But joint male and female training can be very harmful in that it will deviate people from the intentions of bestowal and love to the level of hormones.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 8/21/20

Conditions Of Information Perception

 

Question: There are several ways to improve your listening skills. First, it’s recommended to avoid distractions, especially now with virtual learning. It comes to the point that many people simply turn off their screens. What do you advise here?

Answer: It is necessary to constantly start discussions, have questions and answers, conduct role-playing games, in general, everything that can be done to turn the learners into participants of the event.

Remark: Second, it is advised to clarify what you have heard. The lecturer should always ask some questions.

My Comment: Yes, this is the basis for conducting workshops.

Question: Moreover, questions should be asked openly in order to ensure understanding of the rest of learners. Normally, you require students to concentrate on the questions of the other friends. For what purpose are you doing this?

Answer: If a student speaks in accordance with the subject, it does not matter how he formulates the question, because the answer is still relevant for everyone. Therefore, there are no stupid, simple, unnecessary, or extraneous questions if people ask in accordance with the subject.

Sometimes I answer them harshly. For example, today at the lesson one student asked me something that we learn in the first or second Kabbalah lesson. And there were people who have been studying for 20 years. Therefore, I answered him harshly that one should read the primary sources.

Question: It is also believed that information is transmitted to the listener through the speaker’s posture. Do you think it’s important to look at someone’s face and nod your head?

Answer: Today, when we are dealing with distance learning, I don’t think it is that important. Well, what can I transmit with my body? I sit in one position for three hours and transmit information. In practice, it is a broadcasting head.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 8/14/20

Hear And See

 

Question: There are several forms of receiving information. If a person listens to a teacher at a university in order to gain knowledge, this is one thing. If he listens to a friend talking about a dramatic situation in the family and empathizes with him, this is different. And third, a person listens to his like-minded friend in the group in order to unite with him and reveal the plan of nature.

Is there any difference between these situations?

Answer: The difference is huge. Especially when friends are trying to achieve the highest goal of nature because it unites them. Everyone works against themselves to connect with others.

There is already a clear classic communication, above your egoism, when you must necessarily rise above yourself in order to connect with another and with him feel how you penetrate into a third thing—into the very structure of the universe.

Question: What does “see” and “hear” mean in spirituality? Is this a special level of communication?

Answer: Hearing is a work of bestowal. Seeing is the transition from bestowal to reception for the sake of bestowal.

Remark: Even the primary sources say: “And they heard the voice of the Lord.”

Answer: Yes. There are those who hear, i.e., work in the light of Hassadim. And there are people who actually see, they work in the light of Hochma.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 8/14/20

Transfer Of Information In Kabbalah

 

Question: Many books that carry spiritual information are written by students who listened to the teacher and then wrote down what he said.

According to modern research, this method of transmitting information leads to its distortion, because we hear only 25% of what the other person says. How can such a transmission be reliable?

Answer: In Kabbalah the transfer of information happens in a different way than in the corporeal world because the student does not just listen to the teacher but to some extent attains him by rising above his egoism, and then he writes down what he has attained. And although it still passes through the student, a completely different information transfer takes place, a completely different channel, which comes from the similarity of qualities of the teacher and the student.

Therefore, the student can “hear” even those things that the teacher does not say but are at this degree.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 8/14/20

A White Spot On The Map Of Creation

 

The Creator created the creatures and the environment for their existence. That is why we feel that we live in this world surrounded by inanimate nature, the entire universe, as well as plants, animals, and people on this Earth. We all live according to the rules and laws established by the Creator, the common upper force of nature.

Then the question arises: why is there something in this system that is outside this law that can be good or bad and cause doubt? It is as if there is some ambiguity and uncertainty in nature, a white spot in which different options and doubts are possible as to whether the result will be good or bad.

But the Creator purposely left one vague, misty area inside creation, a white spot where we exist. He wanted us to use all the resources given to us and build in this spot conditions, a country, society, the world, the galaxy, just as the Creator would have made them, but He entrusted it to us.

Therefore, we must study which properties the Creator has given us and which He has not given us, and with the help of all of them find out what the Creator is, what His desire is, and what is missing in creation to make it the perfect state intended by the Creator. Thus, the Creator has started the creation, and we fulfill and finalize it, and attain His desire, capabilities, acting forces, and the system.

It turns out that a part of creation was completed by the Creator and a part was not. But we can use all the parts of creation that He has created to make it into a perfect, fully connected form.

From the word “Ashlama” (completion), that is, “Shlemut” (perfection), comes the word “Shalom” (peace), the word of the Creator, His name. Our task is to establish peace in the world.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/8/20, Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Peace in the World”

The Purpose Of Information Transfer

 

Question: There are different forms of conveying information. Messages usually take up to ten minutes. A report can run from ten minutes to three hours. Lectures last an hour and a half on average.

From your experience in lecturing, what is the most effective form of information transfer for human development, unification of people, and acquisition of communication skills? Or does it all depend on the goal?

Answer: Of course, it depends on the goal. Information can be audio, visual, etc., as well as spiritual. In our world, it is transmitted by speech, text, music, and pictures. All this reveals the inner world of a person.

Information should fill everything that a person is ready to perceive. And a person should take care about how to correctly perceive it and prepare to receive a certain amount of information. It is most important.

The transfer of information is the stimulation of certain internal schemes that need to be employed in a person.

He must awaken in himself specific forms of communication that close certain chains in his consciousness, in his sensory, visual, and mainly spiritual perception in order to create such forms in himself that are not in our world, and thus correctly perceive the picture that I want to convey to him.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 8/14/20

What Gives The Correct Study Of The Wisdom Of Kabbalah

 

Question: During the study of the wisdom of Kabbalah various disturbances arise. Can these obstacles be perceived as suffering? How can they be dealt with?

Answer: The study of the wisdom of Kabbalah never invokes or summons sufferings in any way. You simply need to study it correctly. This means that you have to be in a group, study together with everyone, and try to be in a collective system, in a ten, which is called a “soul,” and thus advance.

The moment we arrange this state of the group, we will acquire mutual responsibility, mutual guarantee, and thus begin to feel the impact of the upper force until we actually reveal it.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” 11/18/18

A Kabbalist On the Art of Listening

 

Question: What kind of listener do you consider yourself: ideal, above average, in need of additional training, or mediocre?

Answer: I do not even know. I hardly listen to anyone. I tried to listen to my teacher by simply opening all channels.

Question: Do you listen to your students?

Answer: I listen to their questions because I am very interested in answering them correctly.

Question: Are you a good listener?

Answer: No.

Question: Whom are you willing to listen to continuously? Is there such a person on Earth?

Answer: No, there are no such people in the world today.

Question: Were you a good listener when you were studying with your teacher?

Answer: I hope so! Even though I was not very good, I was still better than in all other instances in my life.

Question: What factor do you think influences one’s listening ability the most?

Answer: First, there must be desire. You must understand that what you hear can never be found anywhere else because you are receiving the information you need the most.

Question: Who, in your opinion, is a better listener: a man or a woman?

Answer: I think a man. A woman is more inclined to talk, to exchange information. A man tends to be silent and listen.

Question: If you could either hear or speak for 24 hours, what would you rather sacrifice: hearing or speaking?

Answer: Speaking. Listening is more important and I would talk to myself.

Question: Do you like to listen to other people’s advice?

Answer: In general, yes.

Question: Do you like listening to music?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do you think you can learn to listen or is it a gift?

Answer: No, it depends on your needs. When you are exactly in tune with what you need, you search for this channel, for this source.

Question: Is there a connection between people’s desire to unite and listening skills?

Answer: Yes. Necessarily. Shared conversations, shared ideas and topics bring people together.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 8/14/20

To Keep People From Leaving Lectures

 

Question: What is your reaction to the fact that ten minutes into a lecture a couple of people may walk out, and twenty minutes later another couple of people leave?

Answer: It does not bother me at all. I know there are not many people who want to listen to Kabbalah. This requires special development, rising above one’s habits.

A person must be free internally. And if he is constrained within his narrow framework, attachments, and education, then of course he leaves. In particular, I know this even from my relatives.

Question: Still, what advice would you give to a teacher if people leave his lecture?

Answer: At the very beginning of the lesson you can say: “If it is not clear to you, if it is unpleasant for you, you can safely leave. I give you permission.” By doing this, on the contrary, you will loosen the situation. And they will feel close, they will understand you.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 8/14/20

Contact Of Hearts

 

Question: You can listen to another person in order to get information or for the purpose of empathy and understanding the other person. What does it mean to “hear” from the point of view of Kabbalah?

Answer: From the point of view of Kabbalah, this is the contact of hearts, when I want to feel what my friend is feeling. Listening and feeling are two different things. When I feel another, I don’t need his words, I just “drink” everything that is in him, and it enters into me and fills me. And listening is just like listening to a radio.

If I listen to a friend as a Kabbalist, I do it for a specific purpose: so that my attention would help me now connect with my friend and have common feelings, thoughts, desires, and aspirations appearing between us. Then we will work together on one common goal to which we strive, to reveal the Creator.

Question: In integral education courses, we usually sit in a circle and discuss a given topic. During that time, each expresses his opinion, and the rest listen. How can I hear another?

Answer: You have to enter this person and feel that you have some common spiritual and life goals with him. Then it will work.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 8/14/20