Kabbalists On Spiritual Work In The Group, Part 10
Dear Friends, please ask questions about these passages from the great Kabbalists. The commentaries in brackets are mine.
The Power of Bonding
If one does not have any desire and craving for spirituality, if he is among people who have a desire for spirituality, if he likes these people, he, too, will become imbued with their desires, and…he will receive new aspirations and powers.
– Baal HaSulam, Shamati (I Heard), Article No. 99, “He Did Not Say Wicked or Righteous”
The advice for one to be able to increase his strength in the rule, “Love thy friend,” is love of friends. If every one is nullified before his friend and mingles with him, they become one mass, where all the little parts that want the love of others unite in a collective force that consists of many parts. And when he has great strength, he can execute the love of others. And then he can achieve the love of the Creator.
– The Rabash, Rabash—the Social Writings, “According to What Is Explained Concerning ‘Love Thy Friend as Thyself’”
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Related Material:
Kabbalists On Spiritual Work In The Group, Part 9
Kabbalists On Spiritual Work In The Group, Part 8
Kabbalists On Spiritual Work In The Group, Part 7
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When I was a kid, we didn’t see many Jews where we lived, but when we did see them my parents would always say things about them. I remember driving by a group of Jews who were dressed all in black with black hats and walking, and my parents said to me “they think they are so special and better than others, I hate them.” I was so ashamed my parents were like this. I was thinking to myself “at least they don’t beat their children and are being good, you are just jealous. What have they done to you? You don’t even know them and you are making assumptions about who they are?” I would have been physically beaten for talking back to them if I had said that. Now, that I am older, I would never mind saying something like that, and they would be scared of me. But, I also remember admiring them and how good they were. I thought it was great, despite all the fighting and pettiness in the world that they could be kind and good above it. At least, that is how I saw things when I was younger, even if I didn’t really know anything about Judaism or Jews.
I think it’s important, even as adults to look up to others who are spiritually above us. I think it’s important for me to do that. And, I think what is said here is right. That a person has to want to be around people who are trying to aspire to great things spiritually in order to be like that.