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Light On The Surface Of A Page

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How was Abraham able to unite a nation back in his time if there was no Torah that united them yet?

Answer: The Torah is not a book or words, but the Light that reforms, the force that becomes revealed on the condition that we perform special actions. But all physical objects and words are just symbols.

The science of Kabbalah is called the true Torah, its inner part. But a Kabbalah book by itself is still not Kabbalah. A person can use it to gain the notion called the wisdom of Kabbalah. Everything depends on one’s approach: If he wants to use this wisdom for his own sake, then for him this is abstract information. But if he wants to use it to attain love for the neighbor, it is called Torah.

And this does not even depend on the book so much. Other books, such as the Talmud, Torah, and Psalms also contain the Light that reforms. But the Light contained in Kabbalistic books is closer to us, stands out more, and is much easier to extract. That is why we should use precisely these books.

By virtue of these books, even modern people like us who are small and confused, having no understanding, can imagine that we are coming closer to another state, to a different, new world. The author intentionally placed Light that is close to us into the book.

In contrast, the Light contained in other books, such as the Torah and Talmud, is contained deep inside. But in Kabbalistic books, it shines as if from the very surface since it is closest to you.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/2/11, “The Love for the Creator and Love for the Created Beings”

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Kabbalists About The Soul And Commandments, Part 4

The entire Torah (correction of our egoism) serves a single purpose: to help us merge with the Creator. The purpose of positive commandments is to merge with the Creator through them. And all negative commandments relate to what separates us from the Creator.
- Avodat Israel, Pirkei Avot, Chapter 3

It is said (The Torah, Exodus 27:20): “And you shall command….”  The word “command” (Tetzaveh) comes from the word “unity” (Tzavta). When you unite, you will become the head, and the Light of reason will be revealed in you.
- Pninei RAAM
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Each commandment entails another commandment. A commandment (Mitzvah) means merger and union, and derives from the words “single joining, togetherness” (Tzavta Hada). And this is the essence of commandment, that is, adhesion with the Creator on one occasion brings about another commandment, meaning an even greater adhesion. [The entire correction amounts to an increasingly greater unity of the entire humanity.]
- Moshe Chaim Ephraim, Degel Machaneh Efraim, Chapter “Korach

The 613 commandments and seven commandments of the sages constitute 620 sparks of the Light. Baal Shem Tov said that a commandment (Mitzvah) derives from the word “joining” (Tzavta). It means that when we fulfill a commandment (unify), we merge with the Light of the Creator.
- Tzror HaChaim, 38
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I asked the Messiah: “When will my Lord come?” And he answered: “Know that when your teaching becomes known and reveals itself to the world and when your sources spread outside to the extent that they, too, will be able to unite and to ascend, then all evil forces will vanish, and there will be a time of desire and redemption.
- Baal Shem Tov’s letter, Mekor Maim Chaim, Chapter “Noah”

Man’s soul is the Creator’s candle. In other words, commandments (corrections) attract the Light into the soul. Hence, the word “commandments” (Mitzvot) derives from the word “unity” (Tzavta). [That is, all our corrections come down to unity].
- Zfat Emet, Dvarim (Deuteronomy), Chapter “Titzeh
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Kabbalists About The Soul And Commandments, Part 1

Keter surrounds the head as a circle, and its name “Keter” derives from the words “circle” (Igul) and circumference (Sivuv). Keter includes all 613 parts (desires) of the Partzuf (soul): 248 organs (GE) and 365 ligaments (AHP). Their correction is called a “commandment.” Altogether there are 613 commandments (corrections).

Also, there are seven commandments “de Rabanan,” from the word “big”—the upper degree. Since 613 commandments represent organs (parts) of the Partzuf and all their elements that are needed to achieve correction and revelation of the worlds, whereas seven commandments are the crowns hidden in the Torah.

Overall, there are 620 desires, 620 letters of ten sayings (major commandments) that correspond to 620 commandments (that explain ten major commandments) inherited by Israel at Mount Sinai.
- I. Chaver, Pitchei Shearim, Chapter “Netiv Gadlut de ZA,” Item 3
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Why Is The Creator Concealed?

Dr. Michael LaitmanWhy did the Creator create the soul in a perfect and eternal state, but later had to “empty the vessel,” leaving it without the Light and concealing Himself?

If the purpose of the creation of the worlds is to delight His creatures, then why did He create this corporeal, turbid, and tormented world? Without it, He could certainly delight the souls as much as He wanted; why did He bring the soul into such a foul and filthy body?

The sages explained it with the verse, “One who eats that which is not one’s own, is afraid to look upon one’s face.” It means there is a flaw of shame in any free gift. In order to spare the souls this blemish, He has created this world, where there is work. They will therefore enjoy their labor for they take their pay from the Whole, in return for their work, and are thus spared the blemish of shame.
- Baal HaSulam, The Study of the Ten Sefirot, Part 1, “Inner Reflection,” Chapter 1, Item 6
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You Have All The Keys

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: I’ve been trying to place materials from your blog into the Facebook network, but I see that they don’t get through to people….

Answer: Look at how Baal HaSulam wrote the newspaper, “The Nation.” Is it something you can place in social networks? But a newspaper has to be close to people. In reality, he writes deeply and clearly. If you read it closely, you will simply be struck by his analysis and will truly enjoy it. However, he intends it for a specific level, for people who think and understand.

That is how I am built as well: I cannot lower my explanations completely. Others will do that. I am simply incapable of less. My blog is based on lesson and lecture materials, so don’t wait for anything extraordinary to appear here. This is your work. I have done my job by conveying to you the science of Kabbalah and all the principles of activity in the conditions of the modern world. You have all the keys. With time, as changes take place, I will add more, but in principle, you have already received everything.

And now you are coming to me with demands? I write my blog for those who are able to understand it, and for those who may possibly use it in a few years. You won’t receive anything more from me, not in the spiritual sense nor the corporeal. You have already received everything and the rest depends on how you use what you have received.

I convey to people what I can and how I can. This is what I received from my teacher Rabash and what I revealed with him and after his passing from the primary sources, which were mainly written by him and Baal HaSulam. Whoever wants to hear it hears it, and whoever doesn’t want to, doesn’t hear it. Anyone can come and listen, and anyone can leave without saying a word and never come back again.

This is how I act and this is my attitude. A person will perceive as much as he will. Let him come or leave. Let him carry out some of what he has heard, or let him not carry it out. I cannot control this and this is not my work. I let people have total freedom. And if anyone wants to work, whether for salary or for free, our dissemination system presents them with specific demands according to the work plan.

I am not planning to build anything besides this. If someone doesn’t understand what he has to do, it is his problem. I don’t have anything besides what I give at the morning lesson. Everything else is not my work.

You are sitting here and looking at me expectantly, and you can just keep looking. But I would not look in your place. A person has to come, receive the teaching, accept it as a mission or instruction, and carry it out. And this happens over and over again. Without the realization phase, one simply doesn’t advance but “bottles himself up.”

This is described by the verse, “More wisdom than deeds.” This kind of person has no future and his study only worsens the situation. It’s better for him to leave, and I am saying this with all seriousness. I prefer for that person not to be here. If a person does not realize himself as much as possible in dissemination and the world’s correction, then his leaving will benefit both him and me.

Therefore, I am not sorry when people leave and I don’t run after anyone. This is not done in spirituality. Everything depends on the environment that you build or fail to build. Everything depends on whether you are helping the world or not. My only task is to tell you about what you should be doing. But I am not meant to enact the realization.
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From the 5th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/27/11, “The Nation”

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An Easy Path Together With The Light, Part 2

Dr. Michael LaitmanI heard from the Admor from Kalushin that in the previous times, the attainment of the Creator had to be preceded by the study of all seven external sciences called “seven maids serving the king’s daughter” and terrible asceticism.

Despite all this, a few found grace in the eyes of the Creator. However, from the time we have merited the teaching of the Ari and the service of Baal Shem Tov, it is truly suitable for every person, and people no longer need the aforementioned preparation.
- Baal HaSulam, Fruit of the Wise - Letters, pg. 116, Letter 38
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The Day Man Was Created

Dr. Michael LaitmanYou have to check whether you hate your enemies and opponents, or you understand that they are controlled by the Creator, who is protecting you in this way by not letting your opinions coincide with regular people and the material world and helping you follow just the primary sources. That is how you have to purify yourself, checking everything that is happening to you. Don’t regret or be worried about anything besides the purity of the path, so the goal of your private life and the goal of creation come together in one focus.

It doesn’t matter if you see that until this moment, you were confused by various egoistic calculations. You should always know that everything you have gone through until now amounts to “There is none else besides Him.” However, from this moment on, “No one will help me but myself.” If you are between these two conditions, then you really can say that you have reached the beginning of the new year, a new beginning.

However, the final goal that is present as far back as the initial plan has to be the attainment of love for one’s neighbor. If you have personal problems with someone, then you are no longer moving in the right direction. If you wish to rise above others, to acquire knowledge and fulfillment, or even if you want to bestow, you should also check whether or not this bestowal is egoistic.

That way, your calculations will become purer and purer, until you finally reach the first day of the New Year, when man was created. Everything begins with creating yourself.

This will occur each and every time: There are four new years, each having its own calculation and a new beginning, until a person completes all of his corrections.

The verification is to check to what extent your inner judge is not bribed, how honest and sharp he is, like a brave warrior willing to rise above all of his personal calculations. And this is not easy. This requires one calculation after another, until reaching the entire depth that a person is allowed to delve into.

However, all of this is not intended for you to nag at yourself, but on the contrary, to aspire “to see the Light in the Light of the Creator.” One should try to see everything in the light of love for the neighbor, and check oneself in relation to this standard. And don’t pay attention to all of your collisions with others because this could be the Creator’s way of confusing you by making you see others in this way, or confusing them by setting them against you. It is written, “Don’t judge another person until you are in his shoes.” Maybe the other person is so much higher than you that you simply haven’t matured enough to understand him.

Just be loyal to the Creator at all times, and advance with this.

Therefore, if we have the teaching of the Rabash, his articles that explain how to unite into a group, as well as articles by Baal HaSulam and other Kabbalists, showing us the path and containing the Light that reforms, then the longer we check ourselves according to these primary sources, the more correctly we will advance. And the most important thing is not to be afraid of anything!

We shouldn’t be scared that the path is so difficult, burdened by so many doubts, which our ego awakens in us with its constant calculations. We shouldn’t look at this, but try to attain repentance as fast as possible, which is a spiritual calculation, and raise ourselves to the beginning of the new year, the new level. The goal is reached by one who gives up everything else for it.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/26/11, Writings of Rabash

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An Easy Path Together With The Light, Part 1

Dr. Michael LaitmanKabbalists have prepared for us an easy and simple way of attracting the Light that Reforms, in contrast to what used to be before.

We find and see in the words of the sages of the Talmud that they have made the path of Torah easier for us than the sages of the Mishnah. This is because they said, “One should always practice the Torah and Mitzvot (commandments), even Lo Lishma (for oneself),  and from Lo Lishma he will come to Lishma (for the sake of bestowal), because the Light in it reforms him.”

Thus, they have provided us with a new means instead of the penance presented in the above mentioned Mishnah, Avot: the “Light in the Torah.” It bears sufficient power to reform one and bring him to practice Torah and Mitzvot Lishma.
- Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot,” Item 11
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