If I Don’t Do It for Myself, Who Will Help Me?

Baal HaSulamBaal HaSulam – Letter from page 61

Before making an action, a person mustn’t think of private governance, but on the contrary, he must say: “If I don’t do it for myself, then no one will help me.” But once the action is completed, he must inquire and believe that he did not perform the action with his own force, but with the force of the Creator, who planned everything for him ahead of time and performed the action, and hence he was obligated to perform this action.

Hence, before he starts the day to earn his daily living, he must get rid of the thought of his private governance, and say: “If I don’t do it for myself, then no one will help me,” and then do everything necessary to make a living just like all the people.

But at night, when he comes home with the earnings, he mustn’t think that he earned them with his own efforts, but he should think that even if he had been idle all day long, he would still have them. It’s because the Creator planned this for him ahead of time, and hence it had to happen.

And even though our mind perceives this as a contradiction, and we can’t accept it in the heart and mind at the same time, man must believe that this is how the Creator has made the universe, and this is what the Kabbalists tell us about the Upper Governance, which exists above time, space, and development.

The source of this seeming contradiction lies in the singularity of the governance through two ways HaVaYaH and Elokim, where HaVaYaH means the private governance, that is to say, everything is done by the Creator and does not require any action or participation from man. Whereas Elokim means nature, when man acts according to the natural laws that the Creator has imprinted in our world, just like the other people, and at the same time he believes in the governance of HaVaYaH, private governance. And this way he combines both governances together in one Source, evoking joy in the Creator and Light in the worlds.

This corresponds to three states:

1. Bestowal—a spiritual place (pure),
2. Reception—an egoistic place (impure),
3. Neutral—a free place over which the pure and impure forces fight.

When man performs free actions and doesn’t connect them with the rule of the pure forces, then these desires (this place) fall under the rule of the impure forces. But when he unites them with his free effort, then he expands this place (these desires or forces) of bestowal (holiness).

It’s written: “A doctor has the right to treat,” even though of course the cure is in the Creator’s power, and no human efforts can cure a person. Yet it’s written: “The doctor shall cure,” which informs us about the possibility of freedom of action, a place where the forces of bestowal and reception collide in their fight over man.

This way man is given an opportunity to capture this desire on his own and place it under the rule of the pure forces. How can this be done?

When man goes to an experienced doctor, receives a tested medication from him, takes it and gets well, he must believe that even without the doctor, the Creator would have cured him. It’s because this was predetermined in advance. And instead of praising the doctor, he praises the Creator. And this way he captures the free desire, the place of choice, and places it under the rule of holiness.

Man does not feel that the Creator controls him like a horseman controls the horse. But if he is willing to make this action of bestowal and love, then the Creator will gradually reveal His governance to him, so man would see it and willingly agree with it. And this gradual agreement is what makes man into the image of the Creator.

One Comment

  1. Wow, I nearly got it…but it slipped away…this is an important article, please remind me to come back and read it again.  It contains  answers to many issues.

Discussion | Share Feedback | Ask a question




Laitman.com Comments RSS Feed