Afternoon Lesson October 27, 2023, Transcription

Transcription is made from simultaneous translation which leaves a possibility for differences in the audio.

 

Part One:

Lesson on the Topic of 

Baal HaSulam. Shamati 30. “The Most Important Is to Want Only to Bestow”

1. Rav’s Introduction: Yes, let's read, we have two short articles and certainly you will have many questions. Well, we will try. We will try to understand what Baal HaSulam thought about this. So, please.

Reading Article. (00:52) “The most important is not to want anything....” Twice.

2. R. (08:36) Meaning in truth acts of bestowal for that, the Creator supplies forces. He gives us the force of faith and that's enough for us in order to perform acts of bestowal whereas, if we want to receive something for ourselves from this then we are done. All the force in our action is basically wasted, it dissipates, and nothing remains for us.

3. S. (09:25) How to check that all our work is not going towards a passing guest, but remains for eternity and what's the difference in the pleasures between those two states?

R. If you are not thinking about yourself and the fact that you want to receive something everything works out properly, and if you are constantly thinking where my reward is, where is my profit, then nothing remains for you, it all simply evaporates.

S. If a person feels some kind of pleasure in his body is this a sign that we’re in the matter of a passing guest or does it say anything?

R. No, the purpose of creation is to delight his created beings, that's what the Creator wants. He wants to delight his creatures with great true pleasures, meaning eternal, endless, and unlimited. That's the whole matter. That's why we need to attain a state in which we are willing to rise above our egos and think only of how we could receive unlimitedly and bestow unlimitedly to expand our vessels. And then you merit the right attitude from the Creator and the upper nature.

4. S. (11:58) How not to go down into the pleasure itself and what’s the difference between the feeling of what is felt in others and how is that different from the pleasure that I receive for myself? The feeling of pleasure that a person receives from giving to others, he also feels the pleasure inside of himself so how is that different to the pleasure that is called a passing guest?

R. Know not to fall into that state of pleasure for myself. The difference is huge because through your intention you can move from reception to yourself to receiving in order to bestow and to move from one world in this way an egoistic one to an altruistic one of bestowal.

5. S. (13:07) What helps us strengthen in faith and not come down to doubts? How can we support one another in the ten in this matter?  

R. In the ten first and foremost you have to connect, moreover connecting such a way that there will be no questions about whether we are helping one another or not, or supporting one another or not, meaning these questions will be resolved we are completely certain that we are connected between us in a mutual way and from the connection between us we are connected to the Creator.

6. S. (14:05) The article says that in order to overcome reception we need the other extreme of bestowal. There are only these two extremes or is there something in between? 

R. No, together we can't be in two poles, too extremes, we want from those two sides we need to examine which side we are on first of all reception or bestowal. Whether this feeling of mine is correct of reception or bestowal. How I can in some manner aim myself correctly in order to be owning bestowal, that's why the article is called that the main thing is to want just to bestow. Then in this direction, not only do I find it, but where it truly comes to implementation then I can think of how to implement it.

7. S. (15:31) We have several questions about the matter of faith. What faith does a person need to have in order to receive the quality of bestowal? Do I understand correctly to be above doubt that a measure of faith can resolve the doubts?

R. That's first, and second, it's not quite as important, this is not quite as important as the fact that you want to have the feeling of faith. Meaning do you want to completely relate to the Creator the way he relates to you? That's the main thing. I want to bestow to the Creator all that I have and in such a situation it's not important to me how much I receive or what he gives me.

8. S. (16:38) We must all desire bestowal to be closer to his greatness. How does this assure us that our action is right?

R. If I constantly just think about bestowal as much as possible, if I constantly expect my actions to bring me a result from bestowal that I will truly bestow in return to the Creator just like He, to begin with wants to bestow to me, if I am aimed in such a way then for sure with certainty it will open up for me gradually and I will feel that me and the Creator are operating in the same line.  

9. S. (18:01) It is written limited guest or eternal body. Why is it called the first guest and the second body?

R. One is corporeal and one is spiritual. A spiritual desire is unlimited. The corporeal desire is always limited. That's the difference between them. 

S. What makes it eternal?

R.  What makes him eternal is that I want to remain in eternity and that I want to remain in the act of giving bestowal only.

10. S. (19:41) It is written in the article that if a person wants to use faith upon reception, then faith is not enough for him, meaning that he has doubts about his faith and this is because reception is not real, and is not true. What does it mean that reception is not truth?

R. It means that I cannot use the force of reception for eternity. That's it. The force of reception is always limited.

11. S. (20:58) Similar to a person who can build a complete country but builds a shack. This feeling that chases you when you are given more possibilities and what came out is only a shack, what do we need to pay attention to in these states that are chasing us all the time? 

R. That's when you stop thinking about yourself then you give up your shack and you can build what you want. You will have everything, time and the materials and what you need and what you want. The main thing is not to think about yourself.

S. Not to think about myself in relation to what I could build meaning because I want to build for myself that's what?

R. Yes, that's exactly it. For yourself, the difference between spiritual building and corporeal building.

12. S. (22:33) What makes you feel that you don't have the strength to build for others?  

R. Well at least you know the truth, okay.

13. S. (22:47) We feel that throughout the prayer we are like the owners of the foundation of our prayer. How can we constantly stay in prayer to remain in faith and get stronger?  

R. Only in the connection between us where each holds onto everyone, and each praise for everyone for the whole group, and then the Creator will build you in one group and give you forces to constantly rise higher.

14. S. (23:53) Today I feel that I lack the strength of faith to do the things that I am doing now. How to find out exactly what qualities I am now aiming for my own benefit?

R. Try to find with which qualities exactly you are falling from the spiritual to the corporeal, and you will see a little more than before. You can't, without such states. 

S. And if I didn't do that scrutiny there's no point in raising the prayer, it means I didn't want it enough?

R. You can pray for yourself to be capable to bestow. You care for the friends so that you'll be able to care for them, so that you'll be able to ask the Creator to connect you all.

S. Do we do these scrutinies the ten or on my own with certain qualities?

R. If you have time then in the ten.

15. S. (25:26) In addition to our common prayer I have also been trying for several months now my personal prayer. I am praying for my friends, for the group, for everything around me, and still, I have this state of lack of faith. Is that a normal state or am I doing something incorrectly? If I'm doing something incorrectly then what?

R. No, you simply need to continue persistently.

16. S. (26:07) Is the force of faith also the force of bestowal?

R. Yes.

S. So why does he write in the text that we need to use faith in order to receive. It's not clear what the definition of faith is here.

R. Faith is the force of bestowal to the Creator.

17. S. (26:56) I am constantly trying in the ten to build this building, something real, but each time I discover that I'm building this shack. I understand that I can't stop building, but it turns out that the intention is not right. Then can it be that I'm building this shack, I am building it and building it, and then the Creator makes it a castle, this shack? When do we need to stop and not do anything? 

R. By no means to stop, only to build and strengthen, build, and strengthen.

S. I see that is something that is just falling apart more, and it's not ready for anything.

R. That's not important you are praying to the Creator and asking him to strengthen you.

18. S. (28:08) What devotion does there need to be towards the ten and towards the Creator, in order to reach this degree of one who is eternal?

R. As much as you are capable of. There are no boundaries in this, as much as you are capable of doing, with all your forces being in devotion in soul devotion total soul devotion.

19. S. (28:54) We hear the Kabbalists, and we can assume that the act of bestowal even the smallest is much more powerful and stronger and powerful than the biggest act of reception that a person does, and nevertheless, we have this illusion that the ego is painting to us that we have to receive. How can we help one another free ourselves from this illusion in order to truly act in the direction of an act of bestowal?

R. Pray together to the Creator.

20. S. (29:39) How can we strengthen this spiritual need that we have in the ten, so that it will truly be a need? 

R. If we don't connect to one another and don’t connect to the Creator, then we have no chance to reach the force of bestowal towards spirituality. This is why connecting between us and connecting with the Creator and receiving from the Creator acts of forces of bestowal is the only thing that we must do.

S. What is that connection? How to truly connect into the heart of the friends that will always be?

R. Embrace a hug.

S. To give warmth to the friend a good attitude that's the embrace?

R. Let's say yes.

21. S. (30:44) When we go in faith above reason and above the different disturbances we try to rise above, could we say that this is how we show the Creator how precious he is to us, how important to us, and then he reveals to us the opposite world, the world of unlimited love?

R. Yes, very correct and very precise.

22. S. (31:24) The desire to receive is limited according to its nature. Whereas in the reflected light there is no such quality?  

R. Correct.

S. In the reflected light the connection with the Creator is eternal, it never disconnects?

R. It is constantly changing in order to help us strengthen in our ways and each time rise upwards, and upwards. You understand?

23. S. (32:15) I don't want to serve my corporeal body that is limited to this life. How can I serve the eternal life? 

R. Only by turning to the Creator and asking him for the forces of bestowal and with these forces together with your friends you go back to the Creator and want to bestow to him.

24. S. (33:00) When someone builds wars it's hard to understand bestowal because they see this differently than we do. My question is, in what way can we strengthen connection and bestowal in this generation?

R. I don't know what to say, there’s is a force of reception and there's a force of bestowal and then I turn to the Creator, and I ask him to help us. To work in the force of mutual bestowal to one another.

S. Is persistence important?

R. Persistence is very important, persistence is very important.

25. S. (34:25) How to use the pleasures that we receive in order to bestow?  

R. Simply use, we want to give to the Creator and through him to all our humanity, to our friends, and then to all of humanity, all that we are capable of. That's it.

26. S. (35:12) I feel that my desire to bestow is very weak. When I see that my friends in the ten really, really want this, they really want not to think about themselves, they really want to aim towards the benefit of the Creator. How can I help them? 

R. Embrace together, hug each other, hold on together, and everything will work out.

S. What does that mean to hug internally?

R. To hug means that each wants to help the other reach the general force, the general common force of bestowal.

S. Can I do that in thought?

R. In thought and desire.

27. S. (36:13) Do I understand correctly that we are working in the quality of reception, meaning in the matter of a passing guest and the Creator still gives us the forces in the form of a thin candle, but thanks to the force of faith we work in bestowal, so the Creator gives us back all of our forces. How is that possible? 

R. That's not up to you, it just happens, how could you understand how this happens? You use what the Kabbalists explain to us, and maybe later it will be clarified for you.

28. S. (37:13) It's written that if a person wants to use faith in the form of reception, then faith will not suffice, meaning that he has doubts and then he says therefore he's doubts are these foreign thoughts that rise in his body with true claims, what does it mean? 

R. That a person needs to attempt to rise as much as possible above his nature to bestow to his friends, to the friends more, and more, and more and then after several such drills he will start to feel that yes this is possible.

S. What are these true claims? Is that not something that contradicts in order to bestow?

R. Through claims are always claims of a person, they're always real arguments, a person always thinks that he is right and that he has a true claim.

29. S. (38:33) In the state that we are entering every day at 6 pm Israeli time with the Israeli Kli, I want to do a little scrutiny. It has been following me for a long time, if the whole Kli can join us, it's kind of like missing for me, our world Kli together, and every day at 6 this social meeting that we have. Is it right or wrong? 

R. Everything will work out, it will be okay. The main thing is to just think that we are all together as one man in one heart.

30. S. (39:22) According to the article a person can either be in reception or bestowal. So, what is this state of receiving in order to bestow? 

R. That is the state of bestowal because although he is receiving, he is receiving in order to bestow. Meaning his calculation is for bestowal. Try to find articles about this certainly, your friends know about this and read more.

31. S. (40:12) What does it mean that if he remains in Kedusha, that all his forces remain in eternity? 

R. If you remain in Kedusha then all his forces he entered into the force of bestowal. That's an eternal force, whereas the force of reception is the force that comes and goes, and nothing remains of it. That we need to not forget, that only forces of bestowal are eternal ones because they have the nature of the Creator in them.

S. Are we talking about our common forces in the ten, in the mutual bestowing of our ten?

R. That too, yes.

32. S. (41:08) The desire for connection between us in the ten, I don't know how to implement it besides praying for it. And I feel that it is not enough, meaning all the work, the change, the processes are happening in me, from within, but outwards I don't feel that besides praying I know what to do or if I succeed or if I can?  

R. You also don't need more than that. If you have the possibility to pray you need to be happy, you have to be giddy, you have to be above your head in joy that you truly merit support from the Creator that he enables you to bestow and enjoy it.

S. Is that the prayer?

R. It's not all of it, but now in your state, it is the truth, and it is enough.

33. S. (42:18) We didn't manage to be straight with the Creator at the beginning of creation and we shattered. The vessels of bestowal are opposite to our nature. 

R. That was guided that way by the Creator. It was his intention for us to error and to shatter and to not be able to build the Kli, and then we will have the sin and the shattering so that now, today we will be able to come to corrections.

S. How we can be honest now towards one another to acquire vessels of bestowal without shattering?

R. We need to help one another constantly remain under the forces of bestowal. That's called one will help his friend. 

S. What does it mean the power of bestowal, I cannot understand this in my desire?

R. That's correct, that's actually correct and good, because you couldn't be in bestowal yet and therefore what you are discovering you are discovering that you are still under the forces of reception, it's not too bad as long as it's the truth.

34. S. (44:39) You said to the friend from Kyiv to try and scrutinize what qualities you drop from spirituality to corporeality, and I wanted to ask, are there certain qualities that you can seemingly work within the ten and in prayer and there are qualities that are truly light leeches, they eat us, and we can't do anything with them. Do we need to do something with those qualities?

R. No, you don't need to do anything with them for the time being advance in what you can and those qualities with which you cannot work out things for the time being, they themselves, they will dwindle off and disappear.

35. S. (45:39) It's written that we need to be cautious not to rely on ourselves, but on faith only, what does that mean? What is the help that we receive from the Torah and from faith? If you could explain.

R. We don't need this yet. We don't need that yet. It has nothing to do with us, it belongs to religious people.

36. S. (46:26) The article speaks about the work in order to receive has no essence, it's like that shack that is ruined, and even though we have experienced it several times we always fall back to self-reception. What do we need to do to come out of that loop?

R. Continue, continue, that’s it.

37. S. (47:10) What's the sign that the desire to bestow is out of his greatness? 

R. What's the sign that the desire to bestow comes due to his greatness? That's very good that you want to bestow to the Creator because he appears in your eyes as greater than all.

38. S. (47:45) To bestow in order to bestow a person is delighted what he has, and he feels eternal. What happens in receiving in order to bestow, does he ask to limit his forces towards the ability to make vessels of reception into vessels of bestowal?

R. No, to receive in order to bestow is where he wants to work in all his forces, also in the vessels of reception also in the vessels of bestowal in order to bestow.

39. S. (48:31) This allegory of a person who can build a whole country, but he builds a shack. It feels that it's an allegory about the state, the state of Israel. We could have built a whole country, but we discovered that is just a shack and the wind comes, and things are crumbling?

R. We didn't build, we didn't build anything. We only built a place to argue between us. That's not called building.

S. What is building, what does it mean?

R. Building is considered connection, building is called connection between everyone, and we didn't build it in connection. We are all in an argument with one another over who is smarter and who is more successful.

S. It seems like there is some kind of gradual thing from a shack to a real building. How can we advance gradually?

R. To advance is first to understand what we are building and continue to build in such a way, we are not building. Even that shack that we built, we also are ruining it with our hands. Let's hope that all that we go through now gradually opens up with our neighbors with everyone will straighten us and aim us correctly to the purpose of creation.

S. What you are describing sounds like the revelation of evil, correct?

R. Yes of course.

S. Is it a necessary stage?

R. It's necessary. I must reveal that I am the bad one and the others relatively are not. And then I will have the ability to build something correct and good. Our state is terrible on the one hand, but on the other hand, it can be very good that we are finally coming to the recognition of evil.

40. S. (41:40) Is it right to think that the force of bestowal is where I take something from a friend or from the Rav and pass it onwards, and is adding for myself good or is it already immersed with reception? 

R. It is not important what it’s mixed with. We can break what we build and rebuild it everything will be fine, the main thing is the intention, that's it.

41. S. (52:19) We the women are the desire to receive and when we work in the tens we try to work in bestowal, in mutual responsibility like we are taught. When we emerge beyond the limits the limitations of the ten in our spiritual work, we enter the corporeal world, and we are mothers’ wives and we enter some matter of reception?

R. Not true not true. There is no difference between a man and a woman, no difference. What we call the Nukva, the desire to receive or the male, desire to bestow, has no connection to our gender. It doesn't have to do with gender, our sexuality or to our sex. That's why this whole approach is not right and not good and stop thinking that way. Also, men and also women are all in the desire to receive, they are all in their desire to receive, they are all egoists, and we need to correct the desire the egoistic desire to receive in them period, nothing besides that.

S. We need to separate between the corporeal and spiritual lives.

R. You don't need to do anything like that nothing, and those specific egoistic desires that women and men have between men and women have nothing to do with spirituality. There is no point in talking about it right now, there is no time to prepare questions and we will move to that topic at some point.

42. S. (54:49) You said earlier that on the one hand, I assume you are talking about the people of Israel and on the one hand as the state is terrible and on the other hand, it could be very good. How do we make this decision correctly for the next step?

R. As it is written we give it to Jacob and from it we will be saved, meaning first it is the worst of the possible states that we can rise, to rise above, to grow, two strengthen, and succeed.

S. Historically Israel has known many times of need and sorrow and nothing good came out of it, so why would we succeed in rising this time?

R. Because we understand that there is no choice, we must rise and succeed, and the Creator will be with us.

S. What this time will cause a change for the people of Israel? In what will this blow cause us to, I don't know, open our eyes correctly, a head, here what will happen this time?

R. There are many cases in which we need to correct ourselves. There are many people among us that understand that we need to correct the force of shattering between us, and I hope that the recognition of evil here will help us rise up and rebuild and build.

S. Where are we Bnei Baruch the group of Kabbalists? How do we get involved in this?

R. Where are we? Sadly, not in such a good state, but nevertheless, I don't feel that I am in a state of how we should say this, of naked and lacking anything or everything no, our weapon is a connection between us and we didn't use it. And if we inevitably come to it and start using this force of connection then there is no one that can stand before us we will be able to bestow to the whole world the force of connection and the whole world will hear us.

S. How to awaken from this being passive, this passive?

R. Each of us needs to talk to himself, we are not allowed to give up, we are not allowed to agree with the fact that we are I've already lost everything, we didn't lose yet we didn't even begin the war. We haven't started yet. We need to move forward and succeed; we have no choice. And the Creator will obligate us nevertheless whether through the force of good or through the force of bad.

S. What is the war over?

R. The war is with our ego, there is no more than that, only with our ego the whole war. We are not allowed to agree with the fact that we don't want to fight because we are fighting not for ourselves, and not for our lives, we are actually battling with the Creator. We are soldiers of the Creator’s army, and the Creator shall win, and the force of bestowal shall win. That is what we need and that's how it will be.

S. What is we are fighting for the Creator? The force of bestowal is the force of the Creator.

R. Yes. Then we will clothe ourselves in the force of bestowal and we will succeed.

43. S. (01:00:13) How to move from connection, corporeal connection, that you see now in the Israeli society to a spiritual one?

R. We need to constantly think that our success depends only on the inner connection of our heart’s men, women, everyone, that is actually our weapon the force of connection.

S. We are the whole country?

R. Yes, correct of the whole country.

S. So what tools do we have to make that leap?

R. Just to want to be connected between us, we don't need anything besides that, and you will see how good it will be.

S. The question is correct, but the question is no one needs to wait until first of all Bnei Baruch will be connection and meaningful connection for this to impact everyone, or is it enough that in each and every one, in every citizen in Israel, will have this feeling that connection is the solution so that the feeling, the change will be felt?

R. It is desirable that every citizen in Israel will know that to the extent of the connection between us, we will succeed.

44. R. (01:02:05) We will conclude our lesson with this and until tomorrow.