The difficulty of our work lies in the fact that as we advance toward entering spirituality, or exiting this world, “Egypt” (this world is called “Egypt,” and the spiritual is “the Land of Israel”), we encounter a major problem: This entire process does not unfold according to our reason and this greatly weakens us.
Right now, many people are sitting here, and each of them once “burned” with a desire for the goal, but over time, they have calmed down. They settled into their place, fell asleep, and weakened. Why does this happen?
According to reason and feeling, a person does not receive what they expect. One wants to advance in such a way that there will be clear results within the desire to receive. A person is built so that moving forward means understanding more, gaining experience and strength, acquiring wisdom, and being better prepared for each new stage.
But here it seems the opposite happens. The more a person advances (yet does not see their progress), the weaker they become, the less they understand, and the more they fear what may happen to them. They have already experienced unpleasant states, and therefore are afraid, they don’t know what awaits them ahead, and they give up in advance.
The main thing here is to rely on reason. When we read the story of the exodus from Egypt, it seems beautiful to us. But when it happens within us, “and the children of Israel cried out from the work,” each time it becomes harder with fewer visible results, and a person raises their hands. They are tired and exhausted. What should be done?
Therefore, one who does not constantly work on building a system of support for themselves cannot advance. For example, how do miners work? They go underground, drill tunnels, and install supports. These are not simple tasks. To move forward even one more meter, one must install another support, and another, not just dig and move on.
So it is with us, if a person advances and wants everything they have done not to collapse upon them with such weight that they cannot rise, justify it in their heart or mind, or turn to the Creator, then they must maintain themselves in a certain state.
If there are disturbances against reason, they turn to feeling. If there are disturbances against feeling, they go according to reason. And if there are disturbances in both, what then? Then one immerses oneself in reading, in the articles; and if that does not help, the friends obligate them, and this is already a more advanced state.
Therefore, in order to advance, one must constantly sustain oneself by building a system of support so that there is truly a guarantee, a confidence that one will not fall. This is not just something that keeps a person on the path, these guarantees are built within the soul through work and study. One constructs them as if proving to oneself, to the parts of one’s soul, preparing its entire structure. This is very important work.
This is necessary not only in order to be able to advance and not fall, this structure remains forever.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/22/26, Rabash, “What Is the ‘Bread of an Evil-Eyed Man’ in the Work?”
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