The spiritual path is not simple, and it consists of many ascents and descents. It is not a smooth, paved road; it has one pothole after another. Until you move forward, you will be jumping in place for a long time as you deal with various problems and obstacles. At every step along the way some complications and mishaps occur:  first a flat tire, next a dead engine, then you’re out of gas, next you fall asleep behind the wheel, and so on. But what can we do? Such is our path.

Suddenly your donkey (the Hebrew word “donkey,” "Hamor," is from the word "Homer," matter, egoistic material) stands in the middle of the road and blocks the path. You will need to move it out of the way. But how do you move a donkey? You smack it, but it doesn’t move. You lure it with a carrot, but it still doesn’t follow; it needs stronger bait. Until you hoist your donkey onto your back and carry it out of the way, or punch it in its teeth as Kabbalists advise, you will not move ahead.

In this manner, new problems constantly arise until the tree of life falls across your path. Then you will need to pull over and go around it, at which point, a cloud will descend onto the road, creating a thick fog, making you unable to see where you’re going or whether or not there is even a path in front of you.

This type of work is special. It is very difficult and chosen only for the person who wants to attain the level of a human being, for one who truly wants to be human. It is the path selected for chosen people.

From the Evening Zohar Lesson 6/14/10

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The Upper One is in a constant state of perfection, it needs nothing but bestowal. It is not something that senses or changes its mood. Rather, it is a system, an unchanging law that has been set in place. To the extent that you align yourself with this law, it influences you positively.

But if you don’t abide by it, if you are not similar to it, it acts upon you negatively. Our initial and ultimate states in creation are predetermined, and they have to become completely realized regardless of whether you are going along with or resist it, understand it or not.

The lower one (you) has only one good opportunity: to participate in this process consciously and pass the desire for it to the Upper One. This desire is what we need to reach; we need nothing but the desire! We also need to know how to “raise” this desire in order to pass it to the Upper One. The Upper One is in a state of perfection; it is always ready to give everything required to the lower one.

The lower one is a collection of all the souls, while the Upper One is one: one Light, one Thought of Creation, or one Force. If the lower one wishes to resemble the Upper One (meaning it is willing to unite and become as one), it is able to raise its desire to the Upper One. The Upper One hears no other requests but this one. This is what is called a prayer, MAN, that is, a desire to become a single whole.

From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/23/10, “Preface to the Sulam Commentary”

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Let us remind each other of and get inspired by the greatness of the spiritual goal and the environment that aspires to it; let us appreciate the unique opportunity for free choice that we have been presented with. How many people in the world can act freely? If everybody is blindly following the commands of their nature, then nobody truly “acts.” If I’m completely governed from Above, then “I” don’t exist, as it is said, “I came and there is no one.”

There are billions of people in the world, but they don’t exist, as it were, since none of them are free in their actions. Without a person with free will there are no worlds; there is nothing but the World of Infinity. With regards to the Creator, nothing else exists. Only a person who carries out a free action does. Imagine this picture of the world: total emptiness. Only a few desires that arose and are capable of performing free actions protrude into it.

You, too, have an opportunity to acquire freedom and become Human. May we recognize the greatness of this unique opportunity.

From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/23/10, Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot

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Dear Friends, please ask questions about these passages from the great Kabbalists. I promise to answer them. Commentaries in brackets are mine.

What Is the Purpose of Creation?

…what was the purpose for which the Creator created this lot? Indeed, it is to elevate him to a Higher and more important degree, to feel his God like the human sensation, which is already given to him. And as one knows and feels one’s friend’s wishes, so will he learn the words of the Creator….
- Baal HaSulam, Article "The Teaching of the Kabbalah and Its Essence"

…the aim of the Creator from the time He created His Creation is to reveal His Godliness to others. This is because the revelation of His Godliness reaches the creature as pleasant bounty that is ever growing until it reaches the desired measure.

And by that, the lowly rise with true recognition and become a chariot to Him, and cleave unto Him, until they reach their final completion: “Neither has the eye seen a God beside thee”….
- Baal HaSulam, Article "Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah)," Item 6

Man is created to raise the heavens… [from himself, the lower central point, to fill the empty restricted space by the property of bestowal, the Light, thus raising its boundary to the World of Infinity].
– Rabbi Menahem Mendl of Kotzk

…the purpose of creation is invaluable because a tiny spark such as a person’s soul can rise in its attainment higher than the ministering angels [the forces of bestowal that have no independent will, like animals in our world]….

– Baal HaSulam, Article "The Handmaid That is Heir to Her Mistress"

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Question: Can a Kabbalist determine who’s going to cross the Machsom (barrier to spirituality) and who is not? Can this be determined based on a student’s body language or by “seeing” his desire?

My Answer: Everyone is ready to cross the Machsom and has freedom of will in this regard: either to cross on their own and quickly or under pressure and slowly.

Question: What is self-discipline according to Kabbalah?

My Answer: To aim every single minute of one’s time toward drawing closer to the Creator in one’s properties.

Question: You mentioned that doubt (temptation) follows a person around because of unfulfilled desire. What if one is constantly haunted by a partner’s romantic past and their own lack of one? What does this mean and is it possible to resolve?

My Answer: The studies will put everything into balance and provide the right attitude to the eternal spirituality and the transient corporeality.

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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “VaYetze (And Jacob Went Out),” Item 88
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, “Preface to the Sulam Commentary,” Item 22
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot, Item 76
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Rabash, Shlavei HaSulam, Article ”Make Yourself a Rav and Buy Yourself a Friend – 1,” Lesson 2
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A question I received: What should the Internet system of the future look like? You mentioned that it should transmit Bnei Baruch’s atmosphere.

My Answer: That’s incorrect. This system should transmit the atmosphere described by the Kabbalists, the system that has to rule over in the future society. Our plan is to create a virtual society that is free and open for everyone; a society that teaches a person to live in accordance with spiritual laws. It should be done in a natural and kind way. It has to include elements of educational games that teach people to gradually start sensing nature and understanding why it influences us in a certain way, why we feel bad because of our being opposite to it, and how we should alter ourselves in order to feel better.

It should be a sort of man’s “adaptation” to nature. We exist in nature but we have no idea how opposite we are to it; this is the reason for our constant suffering. We have to create a “buffer” or rather an “adapter” between us and nature. That’s what we really need.

Question cont’d: But should this be a unique system that will convey the information about Kabbalah in its entirety?

My Answer: It should be similar to how we teach children to adjust to reality in this world, how to succeed to the extent that they take over this world, and how to use it to its maximum capacity. Of course, they don’t use it in the right way, and as a result they suffer. But still, it is possible to teach a person.

You take a little “monkey” that doesn’t know or understand anything whatsoever and develop it into an “intelligent person” that is capable of navigating this world and adapting to it in accordance with his own needs. The same applies to “education” in the spiritual world.

For that purpose, we are given the wisdom of Kabbalah. We possess some knowledge of it because this is what we are commanded to do. We are commanded to build such a society. But do we know how to construct it? Let’s start building a model of it together.

Question conti’d: The main problem is finding a method of transferring the knowledge we possess into a new Internet system and implementing it accordingly. It’s so complicated to convey the information in its entirety! Let’s say a person visits our site. What does he encounter as the user? What kind of site should it be?

My Answer: It should be a welcoming site that teaches him goodness and reveals the method of establishing correct connections with other people in this world and with himself. Gradually he begins to realize how beneficial it is and begins to understand that this is the only correct solution that exists.

The site has to provide examples based upon life within nature and human society along with illustrations based on other systems at all levels: inanimate, vegetative, and animate. The examples should clearly demonstrate the type of relationship we have to build with others on a human level.

It’s not impossible. We simply have to start building this system step by step. We don’t have any choice; otherwise, we will be forced to advance through the “blows of destiny.” Can we be called Homo sapiens if we move forward this way?

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From the articles of Rabash: Malchut’s guidance is called “Chukat” (corpus juris/code of laws). But it is only the law of the Torah, not the Torah itself. This means that in order to attain the Torah, we have to accept the laws it bestows on us. Otherwise, it is impossible to receive the Torah. When a person accepts Malchut’s governance over him, he is called Israel.

We all are the desire to receive pleasure. This desire is similar to a mountain, hill, or a pile of sand that has no form. From this “sand,” with the help of water (Hassadim), we must build a shape in the likeness of the Creator much like we are able to shape the sand on the seashore.

This is our work, the process in which we build the correct form from shapeless “sand” as we study the qualities of the Creator, copy them, and mold ourselves from it – called “chukat” (the code of laws). The forms that we acquire ourselves are called “chukat.”

Ultimately, the cause, effect, and the forms of bestowal that we are building, one by one on the foundation of the will to receive, will all join together. Nothing disappears in spirituality; the foundation remains, and ultimately this construction will transform into an image of the Creator that we create by ourselves.

It follows that the creatures create the Creator. This is written in The Zohar. Therefore, all the great laws that we receive from the Light, along with the revelation of the Creator, exist for us to realize them on our own.

From the Evening Zohar Lesson 6/14/10

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