Part 2:
Morning Lesson November 18, 2021, Transcription
Transcription is made from simultaneous translation which leaves a possibility for differences from audio
Baal HaSulam. The Freedom (The Environment as a Factor)
Reader (0:18) “The Environment as a Factor”
1. R. Meaning, except for the right environment that has people that do want to be in connection and understand that we need to advance to a certain goal and they have a guide, then such an environment can come out of their Egypt. Meaning from their egoistic desire to organize correctly and reach a state where they can reach the goal. That there is no reward or punishment but it is only about building a group. In the group we constantly, by connecting more and more, we build such an environment that we want to establish the Creator in it. Come and see, Boreh. That is our work. That is our goal. That is how man gets reward or punishment for that. Only in that does a person have a choice. If we will advance and see our work in building our society, and as much as we need to try and be in this, then we can see that only according to that we get all the changes in life. Corporal and spiritual. Only in order to advance toward the connection in the group, in the ten. Everything depends on that.
2. S. (06:48) Sin and punishment that he speaks about in this article. He speaks about it as if there is no Creator behind it. That it is solely on the man. What does he mean?
R. Of course man determines. He is before the upper light, which is in complete rest, the light of the Ein Sof. As much as we come near it in the connection between us, that is our reward. As much as we move away from it, in hatred between us, that is the punishment. That is it. The rest is not even taken into account.
S. Does that mean that there are situations where a person should blame himself for the decisions that he made?
R. Man, each and every one and together with the group, under the influence of the group, and he influences it too, every time need to better their decisions towards connection and this concept of the Creator. As much as they establish themselves to a greater connection, until they start feeling what the Creator is, what the group is. What these degrees are that are constantly stabilizing, more and more, this concept of the group and the concept of the Creator.
3. S. (08:47) This sentence he says is not clear to me: ‘That is why the one that chooses a better environment.’ What does it mean? Do I need to change Bnei Baruch with a better group?
R. You can be with the same people but every time you want to change the connection between you to make it better every time. That is called that you are choosing a better environment.
S. Then he writes that ‘it is not because of his good thoughts or deeds that come to him without his choice.’ What does he mean?
R. That we can choose only in the connection between us. Not in our qualities, not in all kinds of other conditions on the way. Only every time, in whatever we are in, no matter what forms we are, to cause more connection between us.
4. S. (10:31) Is the only sin of a person not exerting enough to choose the right environment every time, more and more?
R. True. Correct. That is the only sin. That we are not trying to connect every time in the conditions that appear between us.
5. S. (10:57) It is clear that the 10 influence a person and it is a factor that you can choose, but why is it called ‘free choice’?
R. Because it is in our hands, either to connect or not. I'm looking at you now, now before me they're 50 faces of women. You have an opportunity, just one, an ability to reach the connection between you, each one in their 10 until you discover from the efforts of the connection that it is the Creator that is being revealed. You will not believe me but that is how He is revealed. This spiritual form, these spiritual laws, His qualities, it is revealed to the extent that you try to connect between you.
6. S. (12:13) How does a good environment look?
R. A good environment is one that is interested in connection, that does not know how they can be in connection but they can do all kinds of things just in order to better their state, meaning to be connected to such an extent until the Creator is revealed. Until the Creator is revealed.
7. S. (14:40) Our whole life is the cause and effect of the reason and the consequence and we have no choice. How does this chain break and there's an opportunity for free choice?
R. The opportunity is your own. The opportunity is just your own. How can you see the world and the process the world is going through in your personal way, in a clear way, the right way, more connected to the beginning and the end of the whole process? That is your choice. At the end of this whole process you discover the force that leads, that activates the process which is the Creator. Please, it is in your hands.
S. Why doesn't this choice doesn't depend on other causes, from the past?
R. It doesn't depend on anything. When you scrutinize these things for yourself, you are scrutinizing. You are also working on the whole chain of Souls and helping them also to advance to a Gmar Tikkun [the end of correction]. Here, I can't really explain it yet: as much as you only do it according to your observations and perception or as much as they are truly advancing by your work. There are a lot of different aspects.
S. Why is there no choice in the rest of the person's decisions but only this choice does not depend on anything?
R. You can only hasten time towards the final goal but not in any other access. Towards the final goal you can do it, only by causing an extra connection between all people or at least in your 10. You have no other way to bestow on reality, to influence it, that yes; thanks to the shattering that took place and the Creator that shines in it and gave you a 10 and is putting the hand on the good fortune and says, ‘take this for yourself’ and if you engage in it, you are already advance. That is why it says Or Chavrotah or Metutah [either together or death]: In the worst cases, that you just don't forget that's all you demanded to do is to participate in the group. Then everything happens differently.
8. S. (17:51) So it turns out that we need to judge our society, to examine it only according to what is concealed from the root of their soul?
R. We need to restrict ourselves to the ten. That is the main means to attain our soul. And after that we expand until the whole world will be in such a way, in such a connection, and the Creator will be revealed to all beings. But for now it is in the tens.