Afternoon Lesson October 24, 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 213. Acknowledging the Desire
1. Rav’s Introduction: Yes, this is the primary thing. That someone who receives a deficiency for spirituality somehow reaches spirituality he's being led. This person is already connected in some way to the revelation of the Creator through the revelation of this deficiency and this is how we should see ourselves. If a revelation of the deficiency towards spirituality, towards the Creator, appears in someone towards the wisdom of Kabbalah, then he is truly a special person. Usually, in people, this is a rare thing, and we need to try to help such people to move on and get closer and see them as our precious friends. So, acknowledging the desire. So, let's see.
Reading Article: (01:40) Baal HaSulam. Shamati, 213. “Acknowledging the Desire.”
2. R. (02:03) That a person who feels that he has some kind of deficiency towards spirituality towards the revelation of the Creator, he should try to understand that this is only the beginning, this is how he's being awakened from the heavens. They want to build him through increasing this deficiency and here the person must make efforts in order to increase this desire; upon this, he builds his spirituality.
Reading Continues: (02:44) “And the strength of the building is measured....”
3. R. (02:50) As much as he has a greater, stronger, broader deficiency, and higher deficiency so it will ultimately, his spiritual structure will be built.
Reading Continues: (03:04) “Many things compel one to labor....”
4. R. (03:19) We labor in many things in our life and each one learns these things from others of the world, from whatever is turning around us. This still doesn't tell us anything, we can remain ordinary people whereas if we receive a true desire for spirituality then we have to cultivate it, we have to try to develop it, and so many things compel one to labor but they do not aim at the goal. Therefore.
Reading Continues: (04:10) “Therefore, the foundation impairs the whole….”
5. R. (04:14) It depends on what kind of foundation the deficiency has, accordingly if we cultivate it then we grow, and we may grow not in the right direction.
Reading Continues: (04:27) “Although from Lo Lishma we come to Lishma, but still....”
6. R. (04:42) This means that it could be that we will go in all kinds of directions that will not exactly bring us to Lishma, and we therefore must see how do we grow, which direction, by which means, and what exactly is our purpose?
Reading Continued: (05:05) “Therefore, one must see that the goal is always”
7. R. (05:12) As much as possible we should try to see the right goal and establish the right goal before us. This is how we will advance.
Reading Continued: (05:25) “As it is written in Shulchan Aruch....”
8. R. (05:35) That as much as we want to see the Creator, that He is truly before us, and we are yearning towards Him and nothing else, not to the right, not to the left, then we will reach quickly and in a short and correct way to the revelation of the Creator.
Reading Continued: (05:56) “And one who stays home is unlike one who stands....”
9. R. (06:34) This is what a person should see, is he depicting to himself that he is opposite the King, the Creator, and he constantly wants to bow his head towards Him to take upon himself all of the Creator’s desires and to realize them, to implement them, accordingly he gets closer to Him.
Reading Continued: (07:05) “Just as we see in corporality, that he who....”
10. R. (07:32) Meaning, as much as the person sees these deeds, and those deeds that can bring them closer to the Creator, he immediately implements them.
Reading Continued: (07:43) “And it does not require a great mind since....”
11. R. (08:46) Meaning this is how we should feel in such a way that we must be directed towards the Creator, that He is truly before us on a straight line, and we constantly want more, and more, and more to draw closer to Him. And until we attain Him, we do not rest. We do not pull ourselves in any direction, to the right, or to the left, but only directed towards Him.
Reading Continued: (09:17) “Thus, whoever feels, as it is written in Shulchan Aruch...”
12. R. (09:57) That he’s constantly directed towards the Creator, and he doesn’t move himself in any direction even though he certainly has other thoughts and problems in his life and all kinds of questions. However, he doesn't want to dedicate more time to them than what is necessary at any moment, not more than that, and therefore a person should see that servitude is first and foremost.
Reading Continued: (10:32) “One must regret not having sufficient faith....”
13. R. (10:40) Which means that he doesn't feel the Creator. That He's truly so much before him, that he begins to be in adhesion with Him, with the Creator, like a child to his mother.
Reading Continued: (10:52) “As the lack of faith of his foundation….”
14. R. (11:00) That he's constantly with the deficiency that he hasn't yet reached adhesion.
Reading Continues: (11:00) “And he should pray for labor and desire to feel....”
15. R. (11:20) That he will have more, and more, and more feeling of the desire, the deficiency for adhesion with the Creator, still lacking, and still lacking, and it's still lacking like a baby who has no better place except when he's attached to his mother.
Reading Continues: (11:41) “For if he has no lack it means he has no Kli to receive....”
16. R. (12:01) This is what we need to feel, that we want to draw closer to the Creator to adhere to Him, so much so, that it will be felt in us like how a little child, or a baby is physically attached to its mother, then he's certain that he's in the best place, in the best state.
17. S. (12:36) If now I raise a prayer for my friends with all my strength to the Creator, how can I check my action so that I'll pray more and better for the sake of my friends?
R. Ask from the Creator that he will teach you. You have no one else to ask, but rather maybe in between the words of Baal HaSulam and Rabash you may find something, but actually it's best to raise the request to the Creator, that He will teach you how to come closer to Him, how to love Him and how to reach adhesion.
S. The Creator in the state where He’s teaching me, He's giving me an example without words, or can I also see it through the voice?
R. It seems to me that without words is better. However, it depends on the character of the person and the preparation. Could be that you will feel better expressing yourself with words.
18. S. (14:17) How can I grow the spiritual spark of desire that awakens within us in a positive way at every moment to turn it into a true deficiency?
R. The fact that you have a little bit of a deficiency towards the Creator, towards spirituality, the Creator gives you that, He brings the deficiency down to you. This means that He wants you and then it is a sign that you want him, so, first of all, there should be a feeling of joy, a feeling of reciprocity, that you are drawn to Him, try to develop this feeling, the Creator understands without words, try and you will see how special this thing is.
19. S. (15:36) I want to give a small example. As a small child, stuttering and I didn't quite understand my mom and dad. I still feel a certain pain in that state. How can a person explain his deficiency to the Creator?
R. To the Creator we don't need to explain deficiency, it's enough what we feel. However, just try to delve deeper into this dispute and this is enough instead of all the words what you feel, the Creator feels.
20. S. (16:39) It's written in the article, that the building is built with this certain foundation, and the strength of it is measured by that foundation. Can you explain what is that foundation?
R. It's our inclination towards adhesion with the Creator that we feel a little bit in our hearts. Sometimes we're not even aware of it and we need to try nevertheless to reach a state where we are drawn to Him. Imagine to yourself that you are not so close to the Creator, but He is pulling you, drawing you in some way towards Him. There's a tiny thread between you and He's pulling you towards Him and you have to respond to it. So, you also have to pull yourself towards Him and see how do you get closer to Him a bit more, and a bit more, and a bit more, truly from within your heart, from your soul.
Usually, we say the soul is here, this is how we feel, well here we have the lungs and the heart, so this is how we feel towards Him. We want to adhere to Him; we want to feel Him. This is actually what we need to increase and to get closer so much so that we will begin to feel that we are in contact with Him. It's not physical contact, but it is internal contact. This is what we need, this is called the revelation of the deficiency or acknowledging the desire, that this deficiency that we have, we develop, and we increase it more and more. We feel this deficiency is revealed so much that in it we feel we are connected; that we have contact with the Creator.
S. Is it correct to make our deficiencies even greater, to make our deficiencies from the Creator is it correct to ask for the Creator to make our deficiencies even greater than they are now, would it be a correct prayer?
R. It is a correct prayer, certainly. The more deficiency we will have, the more we will feel the Creator, we will understand Him more and we will be more able to express deficiency towards Him.
21. S. (21:29) Lately I hear that with each and everything we need to turn to the Creator, so I was asked what to do and how to do it with everything. The question is: How does the ten enter into this dialogue with the Creator?
R. That you are connected and each one passes their own deficiency to the others, and this is how you roll this deficiency enough that it becomes one deficiency for everyone.
S. What does it mean that we're connected, how do we know that we are connected as one?
R. This is something that you should already receive this guidance from our articles, from our study, to connect between you, you're not connected, and you can't reach anything.
S. Rav, it is speaking truly about a dialogue 24/7 with these questions to the Creator. How do I pass this dialogue through the ten, how do we do it? I don't quite understand it.
R. Let it be not 24 hours only 12 hours, that's enough.
S. Still 12 hours how do we have this conversation with the Creator through the ten? Not during the workshop but just like that throughout the day when we're doing all sorts of things.
R. That you are in a desire to constantly connect with them.
S. I can’t imagine the ten...
R. I don't want to argue with you. I am telling you what you need to do. This argument shouldn't be at the expense of others. Sorry, enough.
22. S. (23:44) Like a child and a mother, but sometimes I feel like I'm within this system that reveals to me deficiencies and shattering’s, and if I don’t respond to them quickly then there are blows. I feel it throws me into certain fear. Is it not this warm connection that I want to feel?
R. Well, this warm connection doesn't always come, but nevertheless it does aim you towards a good connection.
S. And then when I feel that I'm not responding correctly, I feel like it also depends on my connection with the friends.
R. That's right.
S. Also there I feel helpless because I don't control what's happening there. I depend on my friends. How do we deal with it?
R. Excellent that you depend on your friends, and you depend on the Creator. This dependency you need to express this correctly, your connection with the friends and your connection with the Creator, so search for how to do it. The most important is that it will be a heartfelt connection.
23. S. (25:05) I believe in the reality of the Creator as being Good Who Does Good, but how can we rise above reason when all sorts of natural disasters and wars happen and see that it's coming from the Creator and see that it's good and from the one who does good. How do we rise above reason?
R. In all the different kinds of troubles that come to us the Creator is actually promoting us, advancing us towards him more so than at any other time so we have to understand. Therefore, when troubles and problems come, all kinds of suffering, we need to regret the fact that we did not correct them previously and this is why they come. That's on the one hand, on the other hand, we should try to rise above them and correct them in an even better state.
24. S. (26:27) What are the correct reasons we should obligate us to make efforts, and which reasons aim for the goal?
R. It's that you lack to feel the Creator in your soul, it's a deficiency in the soul, and it is what advances you towards the goal.
25. S. (27:07) Who's to blame? Who allows us to stand in front of the Creator in that state when we're standing in front of the Creator?
R. The Creator Himself arranges all of these things for us, only the Creator.
26. S. (27:50) Can we pray such that the Creator will increase the deficiency of the friend or is this the inner work?
R. We can ask, we can ask for others.
27. S. (28:16) In the article it says, “First of all we need to regret not having sufficient faith,” what is that correct faith?
R. This is something that you need to discover soon. We don't know yet.
28. S. (28:39) How do we clarify if our deficiency is true for spirituality or not?
R. It is possible to scrutinize it only according to my attitude towards the group, the moment that I realize that I depend on the group, already I have the correct deficiency.
S. Can I continue? We said we need to grow this deficiency; how do we examine if we're growing it correctly?
R. This is possible to reveal only according to how we relate to the group, as much as I feel myself more and more dependent on the group.
29. S. (29:35) I already see that I cannot change anything and there's this great need for the Creator, not for my own sake but for all the friends in the world Kli, and I simply conceded my place to the Creator, and I say, “Come and do whatever You want.” I just cancel myself; this is what's in my strength to do, but further what else can I do?
R. Nothing, gather your friends and together relate to the Creator in this way.
30. S. (30:26) How do we hold onto the concept of the Creator? Sometimes it feels like there's an ideal contact, I hear Him, He hears me; there's mutual understanding.
R. Only through the group. Gather the entire group, and then you will have a connection with the Creator, otherwise, you will never have it.
31. S. (31:03) What happened here to the nation of Israel 18 days ago really touched me really hard in the heart and it stems from the situation. What should I do with this situation?
R. To turn to the Creator and pray.
S. Another question on the topic of dissemination if possible? Question: two days ago, you said that we lack to spread the materials that are printed. Question: is it the right time now in light of this great event that's happening to make a newspaper and spread it as much as possible?
R. Turn to the management and talk to them.
32. S. (32:11) When we study to work on how to work with the middle line are we in more adhesion with the Creator?
R. Yes, specifically on the middle line we discover the Creator.
33. S. (32:47) If the deficiency for spirituality is already there for years only twenty years ago, yesterday, today, also there's this deficiency for spirituality but unfortunately, it's just taken for granted. The fact that I'm here today, also with another deficiency’s thanks to the Creator, and if I wasn’t here now, question: what is the importance of gratitude that I still have a deficiency? What is the importance of the fear and trepidation that tomorrow you could be disconnected and lose this deficiency? How do we balance gratitude and fear?
R. Tie everything to the Creator, thank Him, and pray.
34. S. (33:58) In a natural way I have a great deficiency for the Creator but it's completely egoistic. Do I always need to examine in what direction I want the Creator?
R. It doesn't really matter, even if it is egoistic, still turn to him egoistically. Nevertheless, it is the connection, maybe it's not a connection face-to-face, but face-to-back, but still, this is the connection.
35. S. (34:39) In the morning we put together a prayer. In the meantime, she sees that she's not in the prayer. Does it mean that the deficiency was not true or what happens?
R. She needs to scrutinize it. How do I know?
36. S. (35:35) What does it mean that I always picture the Creator in front of me? What is that state?
R. It means that the Creator is always ready for a connection with you, always.
S. How do we always hold on to that state?
R. Well, if you have a reason for it, if you need the Creator, He needs you.
S. What is that reason and without a reason we can't turn to Him, right? There needs to be a good reason.
R. Of course, justify the worthy reason that the Creator is necessary for you. What for? It is what you should express.
37. S. (36:40) If the Creator is always pushing you away from the group?
R. Pushing you away from the group? This means that he wants to push you to the group from the other side.
S. How do we understand that?
R. Apparently, you're not relating to the group in the right way, that's it.
38. S. (37:21) You said when sorrows and all sorts of troubles come, we need to be sorry for them that we didn't correct them beforehand. What exactly didn't we correct beforehand?
R. Well, then a person begins to see how much she has more things that you need to correct, it didn't correct before because now she would have been a lot closer to the Creator.
39. S. (37:55) When you feel yourself as standing before the King, the Creator, then you want to share your deficiencies with Rav, the whole world, and with the Creator, but when I try to formulate it in the form of a prayer, with words or to write it on a piece of paper, then it all seems empty to me. Why does that happen to me?
R. It means that you don't know how to write, you don't know how to express your thoughts and you also don't need to try so hard. The Creator understands everything and everything is registered in Him, so this is not what you should be concerned about but only on having a pure clean thought and desire in your heart.
40. S. (39:00) The Creator gives us the deficiency, is it when He sees that we deviate from the goal or it's the opposite thanks to our efforts, when we're coming closer to the Creator?
R. Yes, close to our efforts.
41. S. (39:28) If I could ask a question about the methodology. The point of the study is the reforming light as a big part of the study for the primary sources. How do we use these ninety minutes of the lesson, it could be 40 minutes of the study of The Ten Sefirot, or the Zohar. How do we divide it properly so that we'll have more of the reforming light?
R. I don't engage in such calculations. Anytime that a person can dedicate himself to the study, he should dedicate it to the study with the group.
S. What about the format of the study, which is better format?
R. I don't know what you mean.
S. With ninety minutes we can workshop for ninety minutes, or we can read for thirty minutes or sixty minutes, what do you recommend?
R. Well, decide between you and you can also turn to the management.
S. On what foundation do we make this decision what’s better, what’s worse?
R. Well, if you have a group there are different views, so first of all, you should decide between you, and from that turn to management.
42. S. (41:06) You answered my friend in the ten previously that we didn't correct certain things and then as if these things that we see come to us as questions which I understand the correction if it's with me, or with a ten, we need to ask for the correction. In this truly we should know what to correct and what do we turn to the Creator to correct. Now I heard that maybe I'm erring, but maybe we can proceed with these corrections?
R. Make corrections before we see where to correct it. No, no.
43. S. (41:57) How does our ego influence our deficiency for spirituality? Does it serve it or does it help?
R. In principle the ego helps us, refines us, it shows us how far we are from the Creator and what else we have to correct so, that the ego is in fact our assistant.
44. S. (42:49) The Creator is the reason that awakens you, so you turn to Him. Is this the right form of connection with the Creator or am I not doing something right?
R. All correct.
45. S. (43:09) I wanted to continue the friend’s question, for the Creator as being necessary for us? It turns out I must always turn to the Creator; it could be a prayer for the friend. If I have a reason can, they be empty, or do they need to be important, or any of my requests is a good appeal to the Creator?
R. Any request you have.
46. S. (43:47) A prayer for greater connection in the ten often seems to lead to often greater disconnection and disagreements. Is the best response to go against my personal ego in these situations even if it feels intellectually wrong?
R. Yes, yes.
47. S. (44:27) There's a great fear for the kids, for parents, and for wars. How do we replace that with trepidation into the Creator, how do we cover this fear and go into trepidation?
R. We ask the Creator that everything will be good. Good luck.
S. I'm replacing one fear with another toward the Creator, but this shadow of doubt does not go away, it's not leading me away, it’s not leaving.
R. Don't worry, even whatever you can't explain with words the Creator will understand it and he will do whatever is necessary. We don't have to be in such confused thoughts and desires, truly not.
S. How do we do these things without fear?
R. Only through the connection in the group, only through a common prayer to the Creator that can connect all of you and direct you and tie you to the Creator. Then everything will be good, the only thing that the whole world needs, and feel the whole world will reach that. Until we're all connected between them and with the Creator, in a reciprocal manner there will be no peace in the world.
48. S. (46:39) When we reveal our deficiency, we need to turn it to the Creator. What does this ability to turn to the Creator depend on, and how do we make it easier?
R. It only depends on us how much we will want to express our deficiency towards the Creator together and to direct it towards the Creator Himself.
49. S. (47:20) There's a question that the Creator wouldn't give us blows if we had to do something and then you said that we need more unity. The question is: Why don't we hear that everything is inside unity?
R. That's right, correct, that's what it's all about.
50. S. (47:50) Can we ask from the friends’ what deficiencies they have to clarify in the ten, and based on that foundation build a prayer to the Creator?
R. You can, together. You can have such a gathering, scrutinize your main deficiencies towards the Creator and all of that together build a prayer, it's possible.
51. S. (48:34) During this war there's a feeling of great deficiency for adhesion with the Creator for salvation but there's also fear not to lose the deficiency for everything to just turn into routine. How do we guard that deficiency, in the same way as during these days, and not just turn it into a routine?
R. It's only by renewing the prayer and the renewal of the prayer depends on how much you renew it.
S. There's always this urge to write songs. Is that also possible?
R. Yes, songs are also a form of prayer from the bottom of the heart.
52. S. (49:31) Again, regarding the corrections, I think nobody wants to miss out on the corrections. We want every opportunity and use it in order to identify it when the Creator gives us this opportunity for correction. If for example, he gives us an opportunity in this external way and in an internal way. For example, externally there are lessons and tens meetings, and if I for example miss a lesson or workshop because I didn't set a reminder is that an opportunity and an internal one when the friend sends me thoughts and criticism of our friend and I don't ask for Him to correct that criticism but, on the opposite, I flow with it and justify it. Is this also an opportunity for corrections which we didn’t correct previously?
R. Everything is an opportunity, you can see for yourself that everything is an opportunity, but it will all be okay.
S. The dialogue with the Creator, is the dialogue with the Creator basically to reach the state where we're always drawn to connect our tendencies, to adhesion with Him, that's a dialogue?
R. Yes.
53. S. (51:38) Dear Rav, you answered a friend, how do we grow the deficiency, but isn’t it the Creator that's growing it, coming closer and further?
R. Of course, everything comes from the Creator, There's None Else Besides Him, however, we divide it into what comes from us versus what comes from Him, although in fact, everything comes from Him.
S. The difference, I can't differentiate it because, for me, everything's from the Creator, and the further you go the more you can understand that.
R. So just practice it, practice it, that's it.
54. S. (52:30) If you can help. After the Congress, I’m not succeeding in disseminating. I have everything but I just can't start, if you could help, please?
R. Of course force yourself. Tell yourself that you have to do that, many, many people everywhere depend on you.
S. But nonetheless something is lacking, some warmth and love and maybe something an obligation?
R. This commitment, this obligation, this is the best possible thing we feel, that you must do. It's actually very good then you're like a soldier, you have to do it.
55. S. (53:32) You said that without words the Creator understands, and the Creator feels what a person feels, but we also know that a person needs to raise MAN to the Creator, so can we say when I reveal, the Creator feels what I feel, I raise MAN, and this is a matter of faith?
R. Yes, yes, very nice, correct.
56. S. (54:25) What is the whole, correct, complete prayer from the ten? What is this one correct whole prayer from the ten?
R. That from the entire ten, only a single deficiency comes.
S. When we clarify what is the deficiency, that everyone comes to different answers, that's not good?
R. That's not good. It should be a single request from everyone and then this is the question, this is the prayer.
S. But what is that one prayer? If one has, for example, gratitude, another one wants adhesion with the Creator, and a third something else?
R. Well, tie it all together.
S. Yes, it's exactly in the same direction.
R. So, tie it all together and nevertheless it will be a single prayer.
57. S. (55:38) Is love the main deficiency that will be able to go on the path of the Creator?
R. Yes, there is nothing stronger and clearer than love, yes.
58. S. (56:22) How to make peace with the enemy that the Creator put in front of us? Every step that we take we see the picture of war and fighting which feels to me like the enemy that we need to make peace with. How to make peace fast with this enemy from us to the Creator?
R. I think that it's best to understand that this enemy, our enemies exist inside of the heart of each and every one, and if we relate in this way to these enemies that they exist inside our heart, that they’re our ego then by that, we will succeed and they will be inverted from enemies to lovers, to lovers.
S. Today I woke up and I was reading Psalm 103, and I cried with that Psalm because it shows how far we are from the qualities of mercy, compassion, and graciousness which I feel is the quality the Creator is trying to give to us by putting the enemies in front of us so that we make peace, but we need the quality of compassion, mercy, and graciousness?
R. Well what can we do? We're still far away, we will get closer, and we'll get closer more and more. I very much respect the fact that you know Psalms.
59. S. (59:31) Lately it's very bothering me, the fact that of what's happening in the whole world, and it evokes certain forces against the Creator, if I want to justify Him but since it's very difficult, I want to know how do we live with it, how do we use it for our advancement, thank you?
R. We need to connect together and ask of Him that He will invert and transform the rage into mercy. Let's do it together.