The First Drink Of Freedom

It is said that “confidence is the clothing for the Light.”Confidence refers to the Returning Light, the Light of Hassadim, a state of a righteous who doesn’t even have a shirt but doesn’t need one either, because he has such a strong Light of confidence.

We don’t understand this since our whole world exists by the force of receiving. The Creator is the force of bestowal, the spiritual world, that is our spiritual state which is in accordance with the Creator, means that we with our force of receiving acquire the Creator’s force of bestowal and manage to integrate these two forces in us.

The spiritual world, which means our spiritual state, is established when we balance these two forces. We don’t understand what the force of bestowal is. It’s a totally different heart and mind. It isn’t just an opposite state that we can somehow imagine as being like the opposite of our state. It’s impossible to imagine it since there is nothing in us that belongs to bestowal, to giving. Whatever we consider bestowal is not bestowal at all.

Therefore, it says: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Acquiring a second nature is called birth, redemption, as it it written: “I have seen an opposite world.” The force of bestowal is attained from Above. Only when the Reforming Light comes do we feel and understand what it is by starting to work with it to some extent.

Our first impression of the Light that Reforms is a certain feeling of freedom, of being independent of the desire to receive, of the desire to fill myself, of worrying about myself, of the constant feeling of my vessel, of the deficiency, of looking for something else that can fill me. Once we experience the first feeling of freedom, we also have a feeling of confidence. We stop examining and checking our vessel, how full it is and to what extent it needs a filling, and measuring everything with regard to myself.

We stop asking, “What have I got?” and begin to ask, “What can I give?” or at least try to do so. We receive the Light that Reforms that raises us and brings us to a level on which we become independent of our desire to receive. This means that one acquires confidence. The more we can restrict ourselves and the higher we raise the Returning Light by wanting to fulfill bestowal by ourselves, the more we acquire the force of confidence and the Light of Hassadim in which we can reveal the Creator.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/27/13, Shamati #72 “Confidence Is the Clothing for the Light”

The Union Of The Points In The Heart

It is desirable for the word “Arvut (mutual guarantee)” and all the terms of this concept to became closer and as clear to us as possible. Therefore, we must begin to work on this more and reveal the connection it assumes between us.

Everyone should be above the others in order to take care of them and set the right example. Everyone should feel below others in order to get an awakening and inspiration from them because a person will not have the strength to advance without this. And everyone should be concerned that we are absolutely equal, no more and no less—absolutely equal!

On this path, we will start to feel each other internally. I will not see a friend as a material body. I’ll suddenly cease to distinguish his face; it will disappear. I will not notice his clothes and external features. Then, I will even stop seeing his qualities, his character, the habits which first constituted his image for me. I will not relate to an external image, not to his character, behavior, and qualities derived from birth or acquired throughout life.

I will not see his clothes, his physical body, or character traits, but only the innermost point that is called the opposite side of the holy soul. Of course it is still uncorrected, but yet it wants very much to draw itself to the Surrounding Light so that it becomes corrected.

This point is called the point in the heart. The connection between our points, the mutual guarantee, is the means for drawing the Light. This is how we need to see every friend instead of bodies, character traits, or demeanor. All of this is given to a friend from Above and makes him act in this way, or I see him like this “to the extent of my own flaws.” But the main thing is to see the inner point and the desire to unite with it.

The connection of these points into one whole is called a Minyan. It is a union of points in the heart that are ready to act and apply all possible efforts in order to achieve similarity with the Upper Light. It begins to shine on them to the extent of their similarity and yearning for the property of the Light. The Lights always exists; the movements occur only inside the desire.

Everything depends on the connection of the inner points in the heart that attract the Light, on its strength and quality, the reason why we want to connect, and how we overcome obstacles. As soon as we fulfill the required measure of efforts (Seah), we obtain a sufficiently strong desire to unite; the Light completes our first action of unity and brings us to the first adhesion (Zivug), the first contact with the Creator.

Thus we realize our mutual guarantee; that is, we are “together,” so much in guarantee for each other that we turn into one whole. This is the first spiritual degree in which we reveal the upper world, the upper force, the true reality that is above the one in which we are now. This world appears illusory to us like in a dream.

The first correct attitude is to exit oneself from one’s body and garments, all egoistic desires, thoughts, and habits, all innate or acquired qualities. I feel only the point in the heart and want to glue it to the friends. This means that I am going towards the mutual guarantee, the first point of unity.

Thus connected by the Upper Light, we reach the first vessel. All our points are opposite to unity, but our pressure, the tension created between these points reveals to us how much we are inherently not able to connect, and at the same time we want to.

Baal HaSulam describes this state in “Letter 19” in the example of the relationship between a man and a woman who deliberately separate and cannot connect, but at the same time, feel a great desire to be together. As a result, this leads to an explosion of the connecting force overcoming the force of separation, and then we reach unity. “And his seed is for the good,” this is our first spiritual state called birth. In our world, children are born as a result of the connection between a man and a woman, and in the spiritual world, the result of our adhesion is the birth of a new state.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/31/13, Preparation for the Convention

Exceeding Human Powers

Efforts that are required for our advancement are beyond human powers because the desire to enjoy alone cannot free itself fromegoism. However, we can act in a way that we move towards correction to the best of our ability in the circumstances that were prepared for us by the Light.

So far, our exertions are associated with our current level; that is, they are at still, vegetative, and animate levels. However, if we make all the necessary efforts at an animate level, the Upper Light will start influencing and changing us. The quantity of efforts needed will be breached and the Upper Light will finish the work as it is said: “applied efforts and found…”

However, if the Light rules everything there is and influences our desires, how can we possibly make any efforts, even the tiniest moves? There is nothing but the Light and the desire that opposes it. The third, additional force that allows us to act is a result of theshattering of the desire.

It means that there are multiple splinters of the desire around us that are detached from each other because of their egoistic nature. If we acted at our “level” and tried to become closer together with others, we would “change” under the influence of the Light. This world is the last and the lowest step in the Universe that allows us to act against our own will. That’s why one is able to unite with one’s friend as if they were brought closer together by the Light. This isn’t really real; desires do not change because of our actions, and yet our impact on the Light does change and that’s why the system works.

The miracle happens at the level of this world that is so low and minor that it is completely opposite to spirituality. On one hand, this world is totally detached from the spiritual realm; on the other hand, it presents to us a wonderful chance that allows us, through physical and external convergence and false actions to influence our internal desires. Our internal desires impact the Light that Reforms, which in its turn begins secretly influencing us until it truly changes our desire.

It means that even though we dwell in this world and have not advanced too far beyond monkeys, we still have an internal possibility to grab the end of a thread that is extended to us from Above, which will pull us out into the world of the Upper Light. If we use the remedies that are given to us and if we understand that they are granted to us from Above, we will trigger the vital awakening from below (itaruta de-letata) that will in its turn elicit the awakening from Above (itaruta de-leila).

To achieve it, all we need is a clear understanding of the sequence of work to be done: what exactly we have to achieve and what the Light actually is. This kind of understanding will protect us from making mistakes and from false expectations about salvation coming without our preliminary exertions and thinking that with time everything will be organized all by itself. One should never be misled to think that there are people who can easily overcome all stages, and who do not have to go through the “four hundred (400) years of exile.” They just don’t exist. We should keep in mind that we have to do everything ourselves and work hard to build a group, attain unity, and mutual guaranteeand reveal the power of connection between us.

If we realize that we are given every possible remedy to achieve the result we aspire for, to implement the purpose of our life, we will not be despaired; rather, we will proceed with our work and achieve success. Besides, after all calculations are done, we will have to rise above the results and understand that the mere opportunity to apply efforts is in fact the reward we seek!
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah lesson 11/27/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

There Is No Evil Without Goodness

When we advance in our work, we first have to accept that there is no evil without goodness and that there is no goodness without evil. We have to reach the final state in which all of the evil is revealed and in against it all the goodness; one sustains the other as “the advantage of the Light in the darkness.” The greater the darkness, the better chance we have to discover a greater Light in contrast to it.

This is how the creation is arranged because we always find in it two forces, two parts, two attributes, which are basically the Creator and the created being.

So if we want to advance, we have to know in advance that we can do so only by increasing the negative force and the positive force in contrast to it. But the negative force grows first; as it says: “And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” So they keep appearing alternately, the negative force and the positive force, negative and positive.

Our role is to find the place for the middle line in which we can exist and determine our balanced states. This balance is possible only if we unite and connect. Then each one adds his own state to everyone else, and thus we bring everyone to a state of balance.

If we examine the balance point, we will discover HaVaYaH in it that is direct and opposite, the ten Sefirot of the Direct Light and the ten Sefirot of the Returning Light, which is a whole spiritual structure called a Partzuf. This is the structure that reaches a state of balance.

It is an elementary principle, two opposite forces that reach a state of balance and thus establish all of reality.
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From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/27/13

Genuine Creation

Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar“: And yet, we understand that according to the Thought of Creation, there was no need to create anything more than that will to receive. This is because this new creation is sufficient for Him to fulfill the entire Thought of Creation, which He had thought to bestow upon us. But all the filling in the Thought of Creation, all the benefits He had planned to render us, stem directly from His essence (Atzmuto), and He has no reason to recreate them, since they are already extracted, existence from existence, to the great will to receive in the souls. Thus we evidently see that all the substance in the generated creation, from beginning to end, is only the “will to receive.”

Baal HaSulam emphasizes that there is Atzmuto, the original root, from which the action originates. The action of the Creator is the created being. But created beings do not originate from the Creator Himself; He creates them out of nothing. What comes from Him is the decision, but the “material” from which they are created, is produced out of nothing. This is the act of creation. The Creator did only this.

We are unable to understand and do this. We reveal every thought, every decision, everything in which the attitude of Atzmuto to creation is expressed. This is what we do not know at all. However, we discover His attitude toward us. This is called the “thought of creation.”

Question: Do we create anything new that was not in creation? Otherwise, how do we become similar to the Creator?

Answer: No. We become similar to Him by the properties, but not by creation. Being His created beings, we cannot create anything new. We accumulate, combine forces, so that the likeness of the Creator is formed in us. However, this cannot be called a “new creation” because we use the forces and “materials” that have been created. We do not create.

Question: But the revelation of the Creator, isn’t it creation?

Answer: No. The concept of “creation” (Beria - בריאה) means something external, extending beyond the limits of the existing (Bar - בר), “existence out of absence.” We already use the existing means and carry out correction, imitating creation. We reveal what already exists and thus return to the world of Infinity.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/30/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

Characteristics Of Our Times

In our days a very great conflict is being created between the elites and the impoverished masses. With every passing day the gap between them grows and is acquiring threatening dimensions. The tension is growing in society. We see how nationalistic, fascists regimes are gradually rising in many countries as a natural reaction to what is happening.

The elites cannot part from the movement towards wealth. With each devaluation, they are becoming wealthier, while the masses become more and more impoverished and lack perspective. A serious problem is created in society. The tension and polarity reach very great dimensions and already begin to be felt in the developed nations.

The third world nations still live in poverty and it’s doubtful if their inhabitants will ever succeed in reaching a condition of wellbeing. A question about the future of the world is appearing: What can be done about all this? The wisdom of Kabbalah warned about the development of events like these. What we talked about 10 – 15 years ago is beginning to be realized now; moreover, this is being realized very rapidly.

We can expect to see conditions that will not be good for us. People feel this. The feeling of no escape can be seen in their lack of desire to raise families, to give birth to children. A tremendous number of people living in the western nations and in America (65 – 70%) suppose that it will be much worse for their future children than it is for them; therefore, they don’t want to give birth to them.

In such a complicated time like this, the wisdom of Kabbalah has appeared, a hidden method for changing the world, which has waited for this moment and which warned about it many years ago. We know that Baal HaSulam traveled to Poland to convince people of the need to change. He wrote to many leaders in the world trying to prevent the Second World War. For Kabbalah speaks about this, that according to the development of creation in four stages there may be four world wars.

Kabbalah begins to proclaim louder and louder that it has a means for helping the world that has no need for anything besides this. We see how the greatness and importance of scientists and philosophers has fallen, how the leaders of the nations are gradually impotent. This is the natural movement of evolution which cannot be stopped.
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From the Moscow Virtual Convention “Unity Without Boundaries” Day Three 12/15/13, Lesson 5

Weapon Of Envy Directed Against Oneself

Rabash, “Love of Friends”: The most important thing is to always remember the purpose of creation, which is known to be “to do good to His creations.”… In other words, the purpose of creation is not necessarily for a select group, rather the purpose of creation belongs to all creations without exception. It concerns not necessarily merely the strong and skillful, the brave people who can overcome, but all the people.

See the “Introduction to Talmud Eser Sefirot,” Item 21, Midrash Raba, Parashat“This is the Blessing”: The Creator said unto Israel: “Regard the whole wisdom and the whole Light are easy things. He who fears Me and does deeds of Torah, the entire wisdom and Light are in his heart.”…and do not despair mid-way and flee the campaign, but rather believe that the Lord can even help the person as low and ignoble as I am. It means that the Creator will bring me near Him and I will be able to attain adhesion with Him.

The main thing is patience, perseverance! Anything, just don’t run away, and eventually you will reach fear. Fear begins with the usual animal fear of blows. Gradually, it becomes more and more clarified. Thus, we come to the blows by our egoism, pride. Then there will be blows of envy, similar to those that we received yesterday when we heard about the extraordinary achievements of the group that is now working on the program ofintegral education.

This news deprived many of sleep, but it is useful because this helps us to make a good discernment. Now, we understand a bit better what envy means on the spiritual level. I just needed to turn this envy from “Why don’t I have this?” to the opposite, as much as it is possible, to push the friends forward to success. This is very difficult.

Everything depends on the concern, fear for the common well-being, to the highest states. Each of these experiences includes many feelings: fear, envy, greed, and ambition. At the beginning, they work as negative factors, but then it is necessary to take them from zero, to move them to the positive side.

There is a beautiful, positive form against any negative quality. But it is awakened in a person only accordingly to his love of friends. Thus we can turn malicious envy, poisonous hatred, into something constructive, for useful advancement, etc. One property exists against the other: nothing disappears. If a person is advancing correctly, then all the basics are constantly growing, continuing to burn in him more and more.

There is a type of hatred which is called “hatred in service of the Creator.” That is, I care about the success of the Creator’s army, all my friends. I do everything for their support, like a mother who is worried that her children are healthy, strong, steadfast, and loving each other. My heart aches for all of them.

I begin to distinguish between myself and my egoism. For the time being, my egoism still has its power; it helps me to fight for my connection with the group, for its support. This is our work until the end of correction. Our egoism will grow and prosper, helping us to reveal all fine details one against the other.

Otherwise, how can I find out? There must be positive jealousy, negative ego, and altruistic fear. Otherwise, I will lose the flavor. We cannot “just love” or “just envy,” we have no system of measurement if two points do not exist simultaneously.
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From the Preparation for the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/29/13

A New Type Of Ego

Question: You say that in our time a new type of ego is being discovered. Perhaps you can characterize it?

Answer: The new type of ego awakens in us the question: “Why does man exist?” It summons in us the need to discover the second positive force in nature so that it won’t swallow itself like a cancerous tumor that eats the entire surrounding space and therefore dies since it has nothing from which to be nourished.

Question: It follows that it appears from a lack of energy and therefore it needs the energy of the altruistic force.

Answer: Yes. But the idea is that in the past the ego had nourishment from which it grew and realized itself; whereas today, a stage has been reached in which the ego needs to develop together with its opposite power in order to create the next level.

In other words, the previous developmental stages were the still, vegetative, animate, and speaking nature. However, now it’s necessary to develop a new spiritual component. And when it appears, then with the right connection between egoism and altruism, some kind of means will be created from ourselves that is composed of the two forces. Within this useful tension between plus and minus, between the positive and negative force, we create what will be called “man.” Today we are becoming the mechanical executors of our inner egoistic force.
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From Kab TV’s “An Integral World” 10/24/13