Woe To The One Who Asks For Himself

First, only one vessel was created that was shattered into many pieces, and we are these pieces. The fragments that must be collected first and then help all the other pieces gather are called Israel, Yashar El (straight to the Creator).

Baal HaSulam tells us about it in a very internal, emotional manner in his article, “Not the Time For Gathering the Herd,” in A Sage’s Fruit (Pri Hacham): In The Book of Zohar is a parable about two people who are floating in a boat, (since all of mankind are in one boat), and one of them drilled beneath himself. His friend reprimanded him, “Why are you drilling,” and the foolish one answered, “What do you care? After all, I am drilling under myself”—as if he weren’t part of the others and was harming only himself. How can he understand that he depends on everyone and that everyone depends on him if he doesn’t feel it?

All the parts of creation: the still, vegetative, and animate nature are connected to one another and sustain this connection instinctively, either by supporting one another or by eating one another. The forms they connect by make no difference, but there is harmony among them and the right, natural communication. However, among Israel it isn’t so, and neither is it among the rest of humanity. We don’t understand that at the moment, and it seems that everyone is drilling a hole only underneath himself. But, in fact, one person can destroy all goodness in general, and even because of one person, all of humanity can descend lower and lower.

In every generation, we feel that we are more and more divided and detached because our ego grows. We don’t care about others and we are even proud of being individualists, how special we are,  and how inconsiderate of others we are. By that, of course, we bring about the general deterioration.

This is the secret of the praying in the society: The individual cannot differ, but actually always feel himself as part of the general, as an inseparable part of the cogwheels in this machine, and it is impossible to ask for oneself, even if it is from a desire to delight the Creator, unless it is for the general.

By asking to be able to bestow unto the Creator by himself, he brings about the corruption of himself and of everyone else. It is impossible for the individual to raise a prayer, a request, a deficiency, even if it is in order to delight the Creator, since it is the wrong appeal, which is not only futile but actually corrupts the whole structure of the general vessel.

This means that it is impossible to ask to delight the Creator before you ask that you should be able to delight the general. It is only when you are incorporated in everyone and in the desires of the general that you can raise a deficiency and ask.

This is since one who separates from the society and asks for himself individually doesn’t build but actually brings about the destruction of his soul. A person really wants correction and wants to bestow unto everyone, but he asks for himself individually. He doesn’t ask for himself in contrast to others, but actually wants to help others and to serve them. However, as long as he feels that he is an individual and not part of the general, melting among them, his prayer is invalid and is even harmful for his soul.

It is only by complete incorporation in the society, when there is no difference between him and the collective, that he can raise a prayer to the Creator. It is clear since the Upper Light that fills the general is the Creator, and so you cannot be in contact with Him if you are not incorporated in the society by disappearing into it.

This is because he who is proud, says the Creator, cannot dwell with Me in the same place. Why be proud because you cannot be an exception without being dressed in pride. The Creator says that anyone who is proud cannot dwell with Him in the same place, and woe to the one who brings about the destruction of his soul.

If you are different from others in any way, you are already in a state of destruction, and, if you raise a prayer to the Creator from the state in which you are different from others, although you want to be incorporated in everyone, you bring about destruction through that. All the requests can be only by incorporation. Even if I ask, “Help me be incorporated in everyone,” it is also pride and a prayer of the individual. We may pray to the Creator only for the society wherever we are and in whichever state we are.

Also, during the work, when a person prays individually, he separates himself from the general unwillingly and destroys his soul. Therefore, no individual of the children of Israel should awaken and demand anything for himself as each individual lacks nothing since they should not feel themselves as individuals. The “children of Israel” is the society in which no one feels himself, but only the general as a whole.

Therefore, there is the prayer of many, the prayer of the public, since there is only one soul, and there is no me or others, and this is their power to exit Egypt strong-handed, when everyone feels themselves as one asking to exit.

Every person should gather all his power in the society of Israel as a whole, in all the appeals to the Creator, in prayer and in the work, and should include himself in the root of Israel, and then all the herds shall drink from the well, from one source, since one receives from One. This is because the previous limit that was in the feeling of the individual will be removed from all the souls of Israel, both below it and above it, both in purifying and in attaining Aviut (thickness), and the general of holiness will greatly expand, even to parts that previously didn’t belong to Israel and are now connected to its unity. This is because the Light will be revealed from the Chazeh (chest) down where there were previously vessels of receiving that couldn’t connect into one, into bestowal that is the attribute of the vessels from the Chazeh (chest) up. This is because this is the nature of the general Light that dwells in the individual that is annulled with regard to the individual and doesn’t feel itself. This means that one is incorporated in the general Israel and ceases to feel his individuality.

Therefore, there is nothing that we can engage in but to learn and teach others how to attain the concept of Israel. This is the state that the created being must reach in order to get closer to adhesion with the Creator, to the goal of creation.
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From the Preparation for the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/10/14

A Picture Of Reality Not Distorted By The Ego

We don’t see all of the reality that is in front of us only because we don’t want to see it. So, how can we acquire such a desire if we don’t have it? In front of me now are billions of people, but I only want to figure out what I can get from them, if it is useful or harmful, and other than that, they don’t interest me at all. If it is possible to exploit them somehow, then I will do it. But, if I see that they may harm me somehow, then I remove myself from the danger or eliminate it. That is all that interests me.

However, this way, I don’t recognize people. I don’t see them and don’t discover them. Around me is a whole universe, but who knows what is in it? Surely, I don’t understand it and don’t pay attention to it.

However, there is a more correct perception of reality that the wisdom of Kabbalahteaches, a science for perceiving the world that makes it possible to feel all of reality. For this, I must change my feelings. Instead of being concerned about myself (if it is good for me or bad for me, harmful or useful to me), I go outside of myself to the outer world and begin to be concerned about it.

That is, I am searching for how I can serve its benefit or, at least, not harm it.

Because of this, I acquire a sixth sense. In addition to seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and touching, I begin to feel what is happening outside of me. So, I feel what is really happening, without any interference from my side. I no longer insert all the information inside, process it, and adjust it to fit my interests, as now we look at everything from the point of view of the benefit or harm that it brings to us.

However, if I go outside of myself, then I will see the outer world as it is. I develop the external sense independent of my feelings. If we learn to develop this sense organ, then we reveal the world in which we already exist today but don’t see. Of all of reality, we perceive only a tiny portion called “this world.”

When we just expand our physical senses and produce more developed telescopes and microscopes, it doesn’t change the picture significantly. After all these sensations is the same small, limited egoistic desire. Instead of a desire to receive, I must acquire a desire to bestow that acts for the good of the world outside.

If I act for the good of the other, then I always am absorbing desire from the outside, from all of the still, vegetative, and animate nature, and people, and from all the spiritual forces that are not yet unknown to me: Malachim (angels), Heichalot (palaces), ChayotHaKodesh (sacred animals) and the corrected souls of the great Kabbalists. I take all of the desire from them in order to bestow to them, and, in this way, I increase my Kli in height, width, depth, and intensity; and that is how I encompass all of creation.
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From KabTV’s “The Meeting of Worlds” 6/20/14

So That All Are Well

Question: We conducted ten meetings on the subject of the wisdom of connection (Integral Education). As a result of them, five to seven active members were participating in the circles every time. They tried to conduct meetings like this by themselves, but they didn’t succeed. So, they understood that they couldn’t do anything without us. What else can be done for them?

Answer: You must teach them the method of integral education and information, and thewisdom of Kabbalah. Then, they won’t have problems. It is necessary to give them basic information about how the Upper Light manages the world: through Tzimtzum Aleph (the first restriction), a Masach (screen), five worlds, Partzufim, and Sefirot.

Question: But they don’t want to study Kabbalah. They simply want things to be good for them at home and at work.

Answer: Kabbalah speaks about how to realize the desire of the Creator, which is to give pleasure to His creatures, for He is good and does good, and providing benefit for people means raising them to His level.

Things will not be good for us as long as we haven’t attained the upper Light. And, in the system Kabbalah speaks of, all five worlds are what are found between us and the upper Light. Until we create a structure within us that includes them, until we correct our whole internal mess, all the division and fragmentation, so that there will be one straight line between us and the upper Light in all five levels, five worlds, five levels of Aviut; we will not feel well.

It cannot be otherwise! Even if people start another war, it will not solve anything. So, it is necessary to tell them about the inner structure of the world, but in the meantime, using other words. Tell them about the ego, about the possibility of fulfilling it. Conduct integral circles. Without them, it is impossible to disseminate our method.

People need to understand why our unity works. Because it has a power that doesn’t exist in our world; it is much higher.

Question: But a need is created in people to conduct the circles by themselves.

Answer: It doesn’t matter! In children, as with apes, there is always a need to imitate the adults. The child looks at what his father is doing and tries to repeat it by himself.

There are objective laws in nature that cannot be bypassed. If there isn’t any internal connection of the active members that you mentioned before with us and with you with the other groups, then nothing will come of this either. Only this connection works. This is because we also cannot do anything without our groups. Everyone must be together. So, those people who want to work must feel that they are a part of us.

Question: Does this mean that we are above them, that we will never be equal?

Answer: Never. The hierarchy will remain a hierarchy forever. Your Reshimo will be discovered before theirs, and so this chain reaction is permanent. I always will get spiritual advancement from my teacher Rabash, and you will get it from me. However, my connection with you produces a circle. I don’t have one student. Rather, there is a central circle. It is amazing how everything is happening in our generation.
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From the Sochi Convention 6/09/14, Discussion on the Conclusions from the Activity in Sochi

If There Is No Communication, There Is No Peace

We are accustomed to perceive everything through the mind, rational proof, and explanations. Even if we are still inconcealment, but there are some fragments between which there is something still unclear, it is already possible to assemble a picture and live with it. However, the general public does not need such explanations. Its perception is more emotional.

You just need to build on our history. Israel is a people organized by Abraham and Moses as a special community of people, living as one man with one heart, according to the laws of love for one’s neighbor as oneself. It is the condition in which the nation of Israel exists. If we fall from this level to unfounded hatred, then we come to destruction of the people and go into exile.

Now, by performing all the necessary conditions, we need again to strengthen our unityand become one man with one heart. Then, we will be called the people of Israel in the land of Israel.

Everything that happens around us does not matter. It comes only in order to compel us to fulfill this condition. All this should be brought gradually to people in sensation, through the heart. In essence, we explain on what conditions we can continue to exist.

All this is strange, illogical, and irrational. The people of Israel are a strange phenomenon in this world, and everyone knows that. However, this irrational community is more robust and stable than all the other nations that ever existed in history.

All this must be announced immediately and completely openly, without any breaks. People are ready for this, and every day their conditions will worsen. The new trend is that, today, the main control is in the broad public. The main weapon is a broad world view that requires each country to act according to it, and not otherwise.

In this way, the Creator governs us through parts of humanity. The force of weapons solves nothing now. The war is going to another level: the confrontation of opinions. In fact, this is a media war. Everything is determined by who rules in the media and what type they are. As a result, we need to understand that if there is no communication between people, there is no peace!
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/17/14, Shamati #68

What The Study Of The Ten Sefirot Is Talking About

Question: Right now we are studying The Study of the Ten Sefirot (TES), Part 2, “The Connection Between Ability and Intention.” I cannot concentrate and relate this to myself and understand it.

Answer: We are a desire to receive pleasure, and the intellect is developed only to serve desire. So as long as you haven’t begun to feel within you what is described, you cannot use these parameters of desire. Will it be possible to use it and with what intention?

But there are people who have the ability to learn, not inside themselves, within the desire, but by constructing a model in the mind. They learn the Talmud “theoretically” without using it on themselves. Unfortunately, that is how everyone is learning today!

But the Torah specifically requires “practical” learning (sensory, within the desire), i.e., on ourselves, on our desire. And as long as it isn’t, as long as you cannot go through this state in sensation, you don’t understand what the Talmud is saying.
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Kabbalah Is A System Of Laws of Nature

Question: According to what I have understood, every person must reach the wisdom of Kabbalah. But if, for example, he falls into another stream when searching for the spiritual way, does God punish him for this? And when a person enters into the spiritual way, why do events even worse than before happen to him?

Answer: Different things happen to a person all the time in order to push him towards the right goal. If he behaves correctly, he goes forward according to the laws of nature; so things are good for him. If not, then this system of forces influences him negatively.

The wisdom of Kabbalah talks about how nature is built, not about a God who supposedly sits and thinks about how to punish someone. Only the laws of nature exist (call them God the Creator, it makes no difference)! So there is no reward and there is no punishment.

Kabbalah is not a religion; it speaks only about the force that develops us, that we should get to know and comprehend. If we attain it, then we develop quickly and easily and reach the correct goal that was determined before this force.

But this does not mean that if I open a Kabbalah book today things will immediately be better for me. What are you talking about? Do I know how to behave correctly, how to use the laws of nature correctly?

It is is like it is in physics, like in any science! If I know how to use the laws correctly, then I benefit from it. But if I opened a book but still don’t know how to use the laws that are recorded there, I cannot claim that I won’t make a mistake. There is nothing miraculous here. There is a system of laws we are learning to be able to use correctly.

So it is impossible to relate to the wisdom of Kabbalah as to some religion or magic or sorcery, where I apparently began to learn it and in spite of it all, things are bad for me. The idea is that you still don’t know how to use it. And when you learn, then to that degree, things will be good for you. This is as it is in every enterprise. This is clear materialistic knowledge.
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From the International Summer Camp In Bulgaria “Day Two” 7/12/14, Lesson 4

It Isn’t Too Late To Get On The Right Path

Question: In recent years the situation of a state of emergency and rocket attacks have repeated several times and we constantly speak about the need to connect and to unite, but no one wants to listen to us. What is the problem here? Is it that people aren’t ready yet or that we don’t know how to explain things?

Answer: I cannot blame our enemies for wanting to destroy us and I cannot blame thepeople of Israel for not understanding what is happening and why this situation reoccurs again and again. The only ones to blame are the people who know how to perform the correction but are too lazy to do their job and are in no rush to use all the means that they have to bring the method of correction to the people, not only to the nation of Israel but to the whole world too.

Since we are in the era of the end of correction, we can tell everyone about it, including our enemies. We will feel that they understand it and acknowledge it. They will find out what the source of their anti-Semitism is, their deadly hatred of the Jews, and why fate keeps us in a continuous conflict that also brings about great suffering and wars to the Arabs themselves.

They are also in a bad position, and although they are proud of their power, they actually suffer. So they should understand the reason for their suffering.

It is clear that nothing will help there. We can destroy all the terrorists, but the next day new ones will come along. Our enemies have enough people and missiles to bomb every centimeter of our territory. There isn’t a piece of land in Israel that would be safe from missiles and where people could live in peace.

Both we and the Arabs are well aware of this. But this confrontation is held on a certain border because the people of  Israel is obliged to fulfill  its mission and in the meantime, we are given some time to do so, in order to fulfill it in the good, right way of the Light, in the way of I will hasten it (Achishena). If we don’t do so, we are about to experience the terrible times described by the prophets.
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From KabTV’s “The Mission of the People of Israel,” 7/8/14

Is The War Against Terrorists Or Concealment?

Question: If the current war is a struggle between different ideologies, what is the current war between ideologies in Israel?

Answer: First, we have to understand that we are managed by the upper force, by the thought of creation, and by that we can use theLight that Reforms in order to save ourselves and to win. But how should we win?

This whole war is not in order to defeat some hostile terrorist organization but in order to defeat the concealment that is all over the world.

We must remove it, at least to some extent, and then we will see what world we are living in, what is happening to us, to all of the created beings, and what the upper force wants of us. By the way, this is not contrary to the Islamic perspective at all. It requires explanation and nothing more.

War is a conflict between two opinions. The essence of this war is that every side wants to win by using its ego. But we should understand that today there is no room for this kind of war. This war has become something else: We are required to remove the concealment. We are sent an obstacle that forces us to think that we are seemingly fighting terrorists over some territory, some domination, or some political ideology.

But, in fact, it is a totally different battle that takes place only so that by this situation we will be able realize that it is the upper force that puts us in these acute situations so that we will be able to reveal it.

We can only reveal it by massive dissemination of the message that everything comes from this force in order to reveal it and reach equivalence of form with it. It is because this equivalence of form is the means to reveal it.

Equivalence of form with the upper force requires us to fulfill the condition of love thy friend as thyself and to turn one’s enemy into one’s lover, which means to turn the enemies into friends and the external enemies into internal ones.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/17/14, Writings of Baal HaSulam