Sharing The Public’s Grief Is The Key To The Revelation Of The Creator

Baal HaSulam, “Fruits of Wisdom,” “He who Shares the Public’s Grief”: “A person is measured to the extent that he measures,” that is, according to the size of the vessels, according to the container and its interior part. The same deficiency will always be full, no more no less.

Therefore, God’s servant who doesn’t share the public’s grief, but only feels his own private deficiency has a container for the abundance that isn’t big enough, and therefore will not be able to receive the general revelation of Godliness in the secret of the public’s consolation, because he has not prepared a vessel to receive this general phase but only his private phase.

But if he shares the public’s grief and feels the troubles of the general as his own private trouble, he is rewarded with seeing the complete phase of the revelation of the Shechina, meaning the consolation of all of Israel, because his deficiency is a general deficiency and therefore the abundance of holiness is also general.

You should thus understand the meaning of “the righteous have no rest,” which means that because the abundance is blessed according to the level of deficiency and the longings of the righteous, to the same extent, no more no less, they always make efforts to deepen and to expand their vessel because the one who bestows has no measure, only the one who receives. Thus, their only goal in life is to grow stronger and to yearn to make in them a vessel and thus cause contentment in expanding the borders of holiness.

The vessel of receiving is limited and the vessel of bestowal is unlimited. It all depends on a person. To the extent that he tries to expand his vessel of bestowal, he receives help from above. If he is really interested in correction and uses all the means he has, he can always increase the vessel, which means increasing his deficiency for bestowal. The Light that Reforms operates on him according to these efforts and corrects his vessel, prepares it, and then fills it. Therefore it is said “the righteous have no rest, neither in this world nor in the next world,” which means neither on the current level nor on the next level, and they will always be able to advance.

The key and the basis for advancement is to share the public’s grief, which means that the additional deficiencies and the need for bestowal can only be acquired from the environment. There is no other place; the environment is the only place where one can draw from it unlimitedly and advance as a result.

We can thus immediately assess how a person sees this advancement in the spiritual life. Today it already refers to everyone, both men and women. It depends if a person isolates himself and thinks that he will advance only thanks to his studies, or whether he participates in dissemination and in community life, connecting to the group with all his might. If he doesn’t do that, he cannot accumulate a deficiency for bestowal, of course, reach a prayer, and receive a readymade vessel. The Light is in abundance, and it will therefore immediately fill the vessel the moment it is ready.

Baal HaSulam wrote: “A person is measured to the extent that he measures.” After all, a person can only measure the extent that he yearns to be in the vessels of bestowal and to be filled with Light. Everything depends only on him, on the preparation of his vessel. Sharing the public’s grief is the key for the revelation of the Creator.

In his article “The Giving of the Torah,” Baal HaSulam wrote that when the children of Israel were in Egypt they became one nation that suffered the enslavement and the hard labor together the moment they began to mutually share their grief. Pharaoh brought the children of Israel closer to the Creator and enforced increasingly greater afflictions upon them, and as a result, forced them to connect.They realized that only thanks to the connection between them could they be saved and come out of Egypt. This is how a person receives the right deficiency.

It turns out that we have unlimited opportunities to advance because the whole world already needs correction. We will always have a chance to influence the public and to engage in dissemination more and more without limits; we will receive the deficiencies from people and advance before them each time in order to be their teachers and to serve them. This is how we will advance towards increasingly greater vessels of bestowal.

All the grief should be aimed at only one thing: how to absorb additional deficiencies from the close environment or from an increasingly wider environment, until the whole world is included in my vessel. This is the purpose of the shattering, which means the keeping of the commandments. Only building a deficiency for bestowal fulfills everything.

Nowadays we see that the whole world, including us, is already arranged for the revelation of the deficiency for mutual bestowal. This is how we build the place for the revelation of the Creator in order to cause Him contentment. All this will happen before our very eyes.
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From the Preparation for the Convention 2/25/14

Preparing A Place For Bestowal To Reign

Question: Why does Baal HaSulam write that a person must give contentment to his Creator? Does each one have his own Creator?

Answer: Sometimes, we only say “Creator,” sometimes “your Creator,” and sometimes we say the plural, “Creators.” That is how the lower level perceives the higher. There are a multitude of higher Partzufim (Israel Saba ve Tvuna, Abba ve Ima), a multitude of forces that take care of the Tachtonim (Lower Ones). But all of them have one intention and one goal.

The person doesn’t turn to an abstract upper force but to that level to which he is directly connected now. So he can call these higher levels by the name, Creators.

The Creator has no defined image. It is forbidden in any way or manner to describe Him as something static that exists outside of us. There is no such thing, even though it is very difficult for a person to accept this. However, this is a problem that exists only in our uncorrected perception.

It is up to us to see ourselves as a property of reception. Who am I? I am this quality of reception, and the Creator is the quality of bestowal. There is nothing more than these two properties, and I want to become like the quality of bestowal.

A property is something abstract that has no physical image. The property receives a form only when it dresses in something concrete. So, the best way to protect oneself from making a mistake is to refrain from describing the upper force as some kind of permanent form or image. This is very important for clarification and the right attitude.

After all, what is the Elyon (Upper One)? This is something that is above that now fills me. A filling of reception is wanting only to receive everything, to feel good, to be healthy, to know, to understand, to attain, to control in some way. All of this belongs to the property of reception that is directed entirely toward self-benefit.

But there is an opposite property above me, meaning that I attribute it to spirituality and value it. It is above me and I want to attain it. If this higher property would clothe me, I would stop being concerned about myself, acting only for my personal benefit. But what would I think then? Would I think about anything? What kind of form will my property of bestowal have? How will it fill me instead of the property of reception that fills me now?

Therefore, we attain a Kli, the reason, the preparation for the property of bestowal, a place in which it must be clothed. To do this, we must prepare Arvut (Mutual Guarantee), the attitude toward your neighbor in which bestowal is clothed.

This is very practical, and it is up to us to try to bring them into our sensations. If everyone thinks about this, if there is general agreement, general thought, if we are ready to pay attention to this for a long time and not just a few minutes from time to time, then we will be strongly influenced by each other in the best way and we precisely clarify this attitude toward the Creator. This is our only work: to try to more clearly imagine His property and focus on the Creator.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/24/14, Question and Answers with Dr. Laitman

Sukkot: Adhesion With A Single “Embrace”

The Torah, “Leviticus,” 23:33 – 23:36: And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work.

Seven days ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the LORD; on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the LORD; it is a day of solemn assembly; ye shall do no manner of servile work.

The Sukkot holiday continues for seven days; in each one of them an ascent is carried out to the spiritual levels of Hesed, Gevura, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod, and Malchut.

And on the eighth day a special gathering happens when a person receives filling by the Light of Hassadim (Mercy), the light of love, friendship, happiness, compassion, partnership, and mercy. This is called “embracing from the right side,” as it is said: “His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me” (Song of Songs 8:3).

This means that Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are “His left hand should be under my head,” and Sukkot is “and his right hand should embrace me.” And on the last day, on the eighth day of the Sukkot holiday, a partial coupling of the male and female parts of the Kli happens.

At this time, the desire of the person transmits illumination through the Upper Light, and so throughout all the days of the festival, the revelation of the greatness of the Light of Hassadim and great adhesion of the male and female parts of the desire to “embrace” one are expected.

So every day of the festival of Sukkot is important, those that are spent in a Sukkah that is specially built under the dome of heaven where a sacred gathering and feast are arranged.

A person who is in a Sukkah for seven days seemingly receives all the corrected OhrotHa Makifim (Surrounding Lights), filling and pushing him toward discovery, connection, and contact with the Creator.

And this happens on the eighth day upon leaving the Sukkah, so the eighth day is called Simcha Torah. Torah is the Light that corrects the person and fills him with happiness.

Comment: It is thought that every evening members of the Ushpizin (guests), visitors, arrive at the Sukkah according to the order: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and David.

Answer: All of these visitors symbolize the Lights of correction in seven spiritual levels. They are not historical figures but spiritual states. Each one of the levels possesses a unique character, and only when a person passes through them, meaning that he corrects himself in seven different states, does he become ready for the revelation of the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 6/18/15

The Best Healer

Question: Nine years ago, you suggested that we don’t talk about our states. We have grown gradually, and now we are allowed to speak about them in workshops.

Answer: But I think you will talk only about what is beneficial for the group and not just spill out all of your states. After all, you have to be responsible for the group and raise it, even contrarily to what you feel at that specific time.

You can come to the group and ask your friends to sit with you, “Guys, I feel bad, but I don’t understand why.” The group is like a doctor. It can help you clarify things inside you, It must include you inside it and diagnose you and why you feel bad. There should be no secrets. No one is asking us to share intimate details. We are talking about spiritual details, and we are leaving all the corporeality aside.

When we advance neither the corporeal problems nor the spiritual ones affect our spiritual advancement. In that case, we must discuss them with the friends. We must clarify this so that we can be connected on a spiritual level.

You don’t have to tell others what is deep in your heart. You keep that only for the Creator. But you can discuss certain doubts, problems and descents in the group, and the friends will support you, cheer you up, awaken and raise you.

When the friends feel that you are not in a very good state, they must carry you in their arms like a child, rock you a little, calm you down, give you some pacifier, sit together and talk.

Your states are not yours. You must feel the state that the group is in and whether you are in it with the group. Align in this direction, according to this inclination, and don’t think about anything else. Try to worry about the group and think about it all day long. How are they getting along? Are they holding on to one another? Can I help them in any way? Should I call them? Should I do something? Try to get used to this state of worrying about the group as a mother worries about her children.

This is how you remove all the negative influences from yourself. Why should the Creator send them to you for you to uncover the ego if you are ahead of the ego looking for a way to be more connected to the friends? After all, the ego awakens in us only with regard to greater cooperation and stronger connection with the group, and you are headed toward such a connection and cooperation anyway. So, you never will feel any negative influences. You are looking for it yourself like an old man bent over who dropped something in the street.

Try to cultivate this state among you and you will see how suddenly everything goes smoothly. Turn you head away from all the other problems as much as you can and begin engaging only in this one worry, and 99% of your problems will be solved.
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From the World Zohar Week “Integral Education Convention” Day Three 2/4/14, Workshop 5

The Life Of A Person Who Has A Sixth Sense

Question: How will my life change when I attain a sixth sense? What will I feel?

Answer: The sixth sense is the attribute of bestowal that also is divided into five types of senses. We feel this world through five physical senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.

The wisdom of Kabbalah, on the other hand, enables us to develop an additional sense that also is divided into sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch, but on a spiritual level.

This additional sense enables me to feel the upper reality, a broader scope surrounding our world. Then, I can feel how I mutually participate with the upper force and understand the reason for everything that happens in our world.

I understand why the upper force turns to me or to others, and how I should respond to it properly in order to avoid the negative development of events and even to change things for the better and correct them.

By using the sixth sense, the attribute of bestowal, I discover the root of different phenomena that dress in matter before they reach our world.

Question: Will I become a different person then? How will it affect the life of my children and my nearby environment?

Answer: I can explain that by giving an example from our world. Suppose you are a psychologist, but you are also a mother and have a family and children. You understand people’s behavior and all the calculations and actions they make and the reason for the relationships among the family members.

In that case, you respond to what is happening not like an ordinary woman, but you can explain many things, understand, and justify them. This means that you feel life on a much deeper level.

This is exactly how a Kabbalist feels life, but much more deeply. Besides that, unlike a psychologist who only can explain the reason for what happens, a Kabbalist also actually can change our lives.

A Kabbalist sees the deepest reasons for what happens in our lives that are above time, motion, and place that stem from beyond the framework of our world.
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From the Israeli Radio Program 103FM 8/16/15

The Approaching Storm

Opinion (livejournal): “A series of steps are being taken in the world economy to return the dollars that are roaming the world to the United States. The collapse of the Chinese stock index is the way to be released from surpluses of the dollar mass itself, and the matter is correct even in Europe.

“After that the American indices will begin to dive. The moment that the speculative money market goes (meaning that it has the ability to move), it will be possible to approach the elimination of the debt market of the United States.

“And so we have arranged some brief summaries:

1. The beginning of the disintegration of the global financial system based upon the dollar has begun.
2. All money is returning to its place of origin.
3. Money that returns to the United States will be lost along with the debt market.
4. Money that returns to Japan will cover the loans.
5. Money that returns to Europe will be lost with the banks.
6. The debt market of Europe will collapse.

“The storm will begin when following stock indices the debt markets will collapse, then the value of gold and silver will soar.”

My Comment: It is not important, in principle, on what scenario the reorganization of the world will happen. We need to clarify our knowledge so that people will begin to understand the program of nature (the Creator), and in what manner we must follow it. It is not like in the past where we focused on commercial and financial relationships, rather we must specifically prepare new social relationships and connections as in one unified society. After that, from them we must build new connections in all the other areas of our activities.

That is, first must be a change in the person, and only after that can we build a new society. And we must not repeat the mistakes of the Bolsheviks who forcibly commanded people into communal apartments and collective farms. 

“And Remember All The Commandments Of The Lord”

The Torah, “Numbers,” 15:37 – 15:41: The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and you shall say to them that they shall make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments, throughout their generations, and they shall affix a thread of sky blue [wool] on the fringe of each corner. This shall be fringes for you, and when you see it, you will remember all the commandments of the Lord to perform them, and you shall not wander after your hearts and after your eyes after which you are going astray. So that you shall remember and perform all My commandments and you shall be holy to your God. I am the Lord, your God, Who took you out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the Lord, your God.

There have to be special fringes that are tied in a special way in all the four corners of every garment and every piece of clothing. These fringes symbolize the four parts of the spiritual vessel: Hochma, Bina, Zeir Anpin, and Malchut, which should all be corrected and added. This means that they are studied and absorbed by the help of 613 commandments, 613 desires a person has, so that he will always be aware of their correction.

A person covers himself with these clothes only during the day and it is called a “prayer shawl” because when he is in the Creator’s Light he has to constantly remember how to be adapted to the Light, to constantly yearn for it, and resemble it, but not at night.

The blanket with which we cover ourselves has to have fringes in its corners that have to be tied. If they are not tied, they have to be cut with scissors into one small end so that it can be rounded. All the corners of the rectangle (Hochma, Bina, Zeir Anpin, andMalchut) where the Parsa goes through from Malchut to Bina, symbolize the spiritual vessel that has to be fully adapted to the Creator’s attributes, which means to be totally corrected in all its 613 desires.

A person has to constantly see them before him as the place for his correction. Therefore the knots on his clothes remind him that he has to constantly be subordinate to them so that he will look at these fringes each time and think about his 613 desires. On the level of our world these are only physical actions, of course, while in the spiritual world they symbolize that a person is corrected. Being under the prayer shawl refers to a spiritual person.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 5/13/15

Compliance With The 613 Mitzvot (Commandments)

Question: What does compliance with the 613 Mitzvot mean?

Answer: There exist 613 egoistic desires in every person, which must be corrected for goodness and love.

Question: Do I need to constantly count them by myself?

Answer: No. The desires that can be corrected will arise automatically in a person in succession and in particular connections. It is enough for me to think that I must nullify myself towards others and connect with them.

This must be my only permanent movement, so that everything, one way or another, will approach realization of the general rule, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And this is called performing the 613 Mitzvot.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 5/13/15