Afternoon Lesson September 18, 2023 Transcription

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

Part 1: “On Merits of Silence” - Selected Excerpts from the Sources.

1. Rav Intro: (00:19) A lot is written about silence. Since truly this quality is very good. We will soon read about it and then we'll understand why it is so that the wise ones, the Kabbalists, they all respected, very much so. They really value silence when a person silences oneself. Let's see what's written about it.

Reading Excerpt 1. (01:13) Makor Mayim Chaim about The Baal Shem Tov – Twice

2. R. (01:32) Meaning when a person is silent, he can go through a lot of thoughts to connect in silence through a lot of topics and matters. People and people's thoughts and in this way, he can raise himself more than anything. Since in silence, he awakens the deepest things that are in his heart, and in this way, because of that, we value silence more than anything else. This is why silence is very valuable, in silence one can think of His greatness of the Creator, and bond oneself with him more than one bonds oneself through speaking. Meaning the best is to think and to do actions, spiritual ones, specifically in silence, within oneself. Let's see what Women Turkey 7 wants to ask.

3. S. (03:11) How can we create the power of silence mentioned in the text in our internality?

R. We want to send what's in each heart to the heart of the friend. That he will feel it from heart to heart. Without the tongue or through the air, through speech, but directly. If we want to do as such we will reach a deeper sensation with whoever is talking with us through silence more so than someone who is talking to us through words.

4. S. (04:27) What is the power in the sensor of silence?

R. Heart, the heart that we want to pass something from one to another so that within our silence is at the center of it, is the heart.

S. How can I transcend from my heart to my friend's heart? How can I pass it?

R. You try to hear what the friend's heart is saying and then you will hear him. Suddenly you'll see that you can speak from heart to heart just by each one hearing the heart of the friend. Try, and you will see that it's possible. We don't need to speak, we don't need to bring something out through the mouth, but only through the heart. If you want to pass what you have in your heart, send it to your friend, and in that same way in return, you will hear what he wants to tell you in his heart.

5. S. (06:36) I want to check if this silence, this deep repose, this sense of being which is when I feel closest to my true self, there's no one, nobody to show off to, there's no talk, it's just a profound and utter yearning to attain this, it's overwhelming at times, and I just need to let it flow. Does this sound correct? Does it sound like the right thing to do?

R. Yes. Yes, this is called opening up the heart to the friend, and expecting that the friend will also open his heart, and then you will speak from heart to heart. We're not passing it through sounds, words, or sentences. That's how it is.

6. S. (07:52) What will help us to get on to one wave so that we can hear the heart of each other, each other's heart?

R. To reveal what's within the heart to the friends, and if we want to do it such in the ten we will suddenly start to feel that the heart is speaking to the other heart.

S. How through silence, do we open the hearts to the friends?

R. Specifically through silence we open up others' hearts.

7. S. (08:47) How are those scrutinies that happen in the heart and then they pass into the intellect, how do we return it into the heart for it to be spiritual action in the work of the heart and not with the intellect?

R. We do not want to speak otherwise than from the heart. And therefore our friends will listen to us, understand us, and we will also understand them. From heart to heart.

8. S. (09:39) How is it possible to silence to hear the heart?

R. You listen to the heart of the friends, and you will hear it. You'll hear in that silence what the heart wants to express. When there's silence, when you aren't speaking through other means then you can hear the heart.

9. S. (10:36) I depicted to myself how to realize what you're saying right now because in our workshops and our meeting in the tens are based upon speech, we read and then we speak. How do we do so without chewing over the article? Is this a new degree that you're aiming us at, to speak less, or am I simply not understanding it? How to combine it with our meetings and actions because they're really focused on a lot of speech?

R. This is a more internal connection between us, from heart to heart. Without opening up our mouths, we’re not writing, we’re not singing, just through the inner feeling that is in each and everyone towards the friends. If we open up our hearts in such a way, for sure we will feel a more internal connection between us and also will find such a connection with the Creator.

S. So would you recommend that we make changes in the workshop? Our workshops so they'll be more directed toward what you're recommending to us.

R. Yes, yes of course. Let's hear what the sages are saying.

Reading Excerpt 2. (12:13) Masechet Avot, 1:17 – Twice

10. S. (12:54) Silence, is simply to be silent and close one's mouth? Is that the intention?

R. Yes, yes, not to speak. It's not to speak, but to want to say it from the heart.

S. So what is it to say from the heart to speak? Why is it I'm silent, let's say, I'm going into such a phase where I'm not speaking with anyone, but just to myself. Why does it ensure this new direction within me since it's the ego that's within me that's going to awaken, why would it direct me towards something else, what is it within the silence that directs me towards something else?

R. We will read a bit more and we will understand what they are saying, you're asking correctly and strongly.

11. S. (13:50) Can a prayer also be out of the silence, from its deficiency to be in the connection in silence?

R. Yes.

Reading Excerpt 3. (14:23) RABASH, Article No. 9, "A Hedge for Wisdom….” - Twice

12. R. (15:32) Meaning, as much as we can be silent despite having what to say, and even against the Creator whether we agree with him or not, the strongest is that we are silent. We accept what's happening and we accept it even with love. Okay? So, let's continue.

Reading Excerpt 4. (16:11) RABASH, Article No. 31 (1989), "What Is the Prohibition to Teach Torah to Idol-Worshipers in the Work?” - Twice

13. R.(17:14) Yes, it's known that the one who stops himself, restraints himself during the feud, meaning when a person obligates himself to be silent when he's being attacked or someone's telling him something or cursing him, by that he's actually making the world exist. We shouldn't forget that. Okay?

14. S. (17:46) How do we find the balance between speaking and being silent in a concrete way in our relations in the tens?

R. The most correct is to speak only about things that can bring people closer to each other.

15. S. (18:20) At a certain point we are taught that to give back after meetings we need to do so through Bnei Baruch and after each meeting comes as silence we try to pass everything back that we received. Is it possible to have such minutes of silence during the congress, since we're all getting fulfilled? Also during the lesson, we received quite a bit. If we can have these minutes of silence because Bnei Baruch can give us so much with this power if we all just take a minute of silence to pray?

R. That's correct. Try, each and every one.

16. S. (19:30) During the silence do I enter the Creator there? Enter the feeling into the thought?

R. Yes, that's correct. During the silence, we enter the feeling into the thought.

Reading Excerpt 5. (19:59) RABASH, Article No. 292, "One Who Restrains Himself in Strife" - Twice

17. R. (21:48) Meaning, if a person is capable of guarding himself in silence, and lack of a response, that's the highest thing. This is the highest thing.

18. S. (22:06) How does a person hold himself back? It's like putting the brakes on the ego, how?

R. It is specifically from working inside oneself. So he stops himself during the time of strife.

S. The silence, is a connection between opening and closing the mouth, or is this an inner silence?

R. Inner Silence.

S. What is the inner silence?

R. That I don't want to enter into a dispute, a fight with the other. That I want to receive a direct attitude with him. Whatever will be to justify him and to connect ourselves in a good nice way.

S. And where do I insist on my own opinion on a position?

R. You put it aside.

S. Why, because we spoke previously about a dispute and each one needs to bring his own opinion, why do we need to be silent, isn’t it in suppressing oneself?

R. I need to take a call. Read again and start the document from the beginning.

Reading Excerpt 1. (23:44) Makor Mayim Chaim about The Baal Shem Tov – Twice

Reading Excerpt 2. (24:16) Masechet Avot, 1:17 – Twice

Reading Excerpt 3. (24:52) RABASH, Article No. 9, "A Hedge for Wisdom – Silence – 1" - Twice

Reading Excerpt 4. (26:04) RABASH, Article No. 31 (1989), "What Is the Prohibition to Teach Torah to Idol-Worshipers in the Work?”

19. S. (26:32) How can the correction be done in silence?

R. The general corrections don't pass through words, but through feelings, through the connection, the internal one between people, which is why the desires where they connect. From one desire to another, that's where the corrections take place. It's like whoever is silent they are speaking, there's no, there's not quite a difference between them. The difference is the person who's speaking that thinks that through the speech he can arrange things. But in truth, it's not so. We see also in our world, we cannot get along between us and speech. The main thing is like it's written whatever the mind doesn’t do, time will do, therefore it's better, silence is truly better because in the silence we allow our inner force that's between us to connect and arrange things. Try, and see how this is more beneficial.

20. S. (28:13) We are in an environment that is in a world of non-silence, there's a lot of speaking around us, there are a lot of workshops around us, we get a lot of thoughts, we have a lot of scrutinies, what is the silence in this non-silence?

R. If you let, if you give time to people to engage in silence, you see how they understand more and they get along with each other more.

S. Is there a method in Kabbalah, let’s say, to come to silence, how do we do that, how do I reach silence?

R. Simply, to be silent.

S. How do you do that when you're studying kabbalah? Which moments do you use in our study to have silence? In between the lessons or during the lessons?

R. I'll think about it, I'll speak about it. The matter is that silence it's also correct in a state of conflict between people, but if there is no conflict then silence does not help.

S. And sort of, I don't have the word for it, but is there a Kabbalistic meditation, concentration, or what do you call it?

R. No there's not quite this meditation in Kabbalah. Meditation is the closest to the word prayer. We can use it in order to advance people to bring them closer to each other.

21. S. (31:27) The thoughts that are awakening up in our head is this not called speech?

R. No, it's not speech until a person brings it out of the mouth in order for it to be for someone else to truly hear then it's not called speech.

22. S. (32:01) The great Kabbalists are people who are very direct. The question is, when do we, how do we know when to be silent and when to speak?

R. When to be silent when to speak, if it brings about connection between people then it's a course it's worthwhile to speak, or the opposite to be silent if it brings closeness to people. We're always thinking about closeness.

23. S. (32:56) Even though I don't speak with my mouth, I'm speaking in my head, but my friend doesn't hear it, how does it influence the study?

R. It does influence it. We're all connected nonetheless, even though we don't reveal it, but we're all connected in one connection therefore, from heart to heart, we pass on our message. it's very important what we think, and what we want to say without speaking.

24. S. (33:47) Sometimes in my ten we workshop, and at some point in the workshop silence comes about and it's a very warm sensation when there's just no words to be said and it feels as if we are connected, is this the silence that he speaks about in the heart, The Silence of the heart?

R. Yes. The silence that's in the heart. That I want to calm down the heart, not to speak since it's better if I express silence. There are a lot of things in it.

S. Because it seems to happen when we are inside of a state of praise, a state of prayer, and a state of gratitude all mixed together.

R. Yes.

25. S. (35:03) Is silence the state of annulling the ego and then surrendering to the Creator?

R. Yes, it's possible to say so. Yes.

26. S. (35:35) Emotions, can they disturb us? How do we look at these things from the side, if we are silent?

R. Specifically in that way, and look at it in order to grow.

S. How do we form that, where do we form that point?

R. In the heart with everyone. Try, it should work out for you.

27. S. (36:15) Question regarding the dispute, the question from the friend where he started, so the clarification is what is the connection between the dispute, the feud, and silence? Since we talked about it during the time of the dispute we don't suppress our opinion, where's it possible to say our opinion?

R. You are correct, it's a nice question. We need to try to rise above the dispute in silence. And when we reach silence then we'll start to see the next degree. The next degree, what it gives us. Why do they say that there's nothing better than silence? In silence specifically, we connect and the internality of our hearts, in each and every heart, in the most internal and spiritual way. We'll still speak about it some more. Thank you for your question.

28. S. (37:52) You spoke before that it's good to say the prayer out loud in the ten and personally as well, what is the importance there, and why is it better to pray silently?

R. When you say your prayer then you connect with your friends, and there's nothing closer. On the other hand, if you are not in connection with the friends, then it's better not to say it out loud. It's written about one's speech because when a person is speaking he is as if opens up his soul and this can cause him harm.

29. S. (39:10) I remember in myself and the friends and I analyze these things and in that moment I'm not thinking about silence and in the opposite, I’m thinking about the influence of the ego. What is it the guard here in the mine and in the heart that can save me? So I can be silent?

R. The best thing is silence as we read at the beginning of the lesson. There's nothing better than silence. There's nothing healthier for a person than to be silent, don't forget about that.

30. S. (40:05) The silence, means to nullify one's desire in order to connect to the friends’ desire?

R. Yes.

31. S. (40:42) How do we conclude silence with words of gratitude?

R. Yes.

32. S. (40:35) Does silence allow the opening of the heart the opening of spiritual senses, or is the opening of the heart what develops the senses?

R. Both this and that. Silence acts upon the senses and the senses act upon the silence.

33. S. (41:15) When we learn to be silent during fights, will it also help in our thoughts? Will we have a greater connection with the Creator in this way?

R. Yes. In the meantime, we can learn just to speak less.

34. S. (41:49) In faith purifies us, leading us to a new vision. How can the inner silence correct our Kli, the vessel, without any action?

R. What do you mean by how? The heart nonetheless continues to speak, the heart continues to act and even if we don't bring any sound out of our mouth, the heart still is always working. It's working in all of reality, and all of the network of forces in reality, and it doesn't matter whether I'm speaking or not, my heart is always working and influencing. If one's in the whole world, all of the Sefirot, Partzufim, the Worlds, and everything. This is why don't think that we are silent, we're basically never silent. Rather, nonetheless when we close our mouths, at least during the time of a dispute, when there's this crude external fight, nonetheless we make a great correction.

35. S. (43:38) If the heart does not stop speaking all the time, what exactly do we need to silence, is it even possible to silence it?

R. We can silence the heart by thinking about the friends, forcefully that we want to connect in love.

36. S. (44:10) What is the purpose of this speech in the heart?

R. The heart is the center of our desire, and we influence each other only through the desire. So, we need to arrange our hearts such that our heart, our general one, will be connected from all the hearts, and will yearn to be directed to the Creator.

S. And what is the speech in this whole process, why do we need it?

R. Speech is the expression of the heart, it's an expression of the heart.

S. So how do we direct the speech of the heart since it's always speaking, how do we use it for correction? What do we tell the friends in the heart?

R. Try to think about what your heart demands. Try to think how you want to correct the heart, to arrange it, and in this way, you'll arrange your heart with the heart of the friends. It's very important.

S. What does it mean, what do I tell them? In my heart is quite different with diverse demands. What do I tell them?

R. That you want to work in your heart according to their decision. That's it, pray, pray.

S. Can you?

R. I cannot. Everything is upon you.

37. S. (46:53) Last time I asked, you said that if I feel certain aggression during the time when I'm silent then it's giving in order to give, and if I'm able to work with love then it's receiving in order to bestow, but here it's written that silence is better than everything?.

R. No, silence is not better than everything. It's better if you accept closeness with the others, with your, let's say, enemy, and you want to raise your connection to the next degree.

S. So it turns out that silence is a means so that I can process all these things inside myself and turn to the Creator and the friends?

R. Yes, yes silence is not a correction it's simply an inner station.

S. Changing the conditions inside of our vessels, I can say that, I can share something that we had a situation in the ten and we found the strength to rise above the dispute and we decided that instead of fighting, we decided to prepare a meal for the ten. We made a really nice meal for the ten, and it was simply miraculous, I just wanted to share about such things that it is possible that you can cover it with love thanks to friends.

R. Yes this is good if beforehand you fought, you had a big fight beforehand.

S. Yes, that's how it was.

R. I envy you.

38. S. (49:20) How do we arrange our hearts as such that they will be able to connect with others? What helps us to connect?

R. To open up the heart. open it, and don't close it to anyone. I mean of course to those in the group, for those that are close. So, try to do so, and in general, now we are on the threshold of the Congress, yes? So try to prepare your heart for it to be open to other friends with whom you're trying to meet physically or not, but in that way, you will feel in your connection in order to how powerful it could be even in silence. Simply that you come closer that you connect, that there is contact between the hearts and you don't need anything else.

Reading Excerpt 5. (51:15) RABASH, Article No. 292, "One Who Restrains Himself….”

39. R. (52:12) This is the highest thing that can be. ‘Hangs the Earth on Nothing’. Nothing is called above reason, above rhyme and reason.

40. S. (52:34) Can we say that silence is the condition for yearning to the Creator? It seems like it's on the same level.

R. Yes.

S. So is that a condition for yearning to the Creator?

R. Yes.

41. S. (53:14) Once I heard you say, that as a result of sin it will enter and the inner dialogue stops between them?

R. We will clarify. It’s not important what they had. We’re talking about us now.

42. S. (53:56) It’s no secret that in the silence all sorts of unnecessary thoughts come into the head, and the desire to receive, during silence can we hear primary sources in Rav’s lesson?

R. And what did you need to do during silence?

S. Just to be silent.

R. Just to be silent? I didn't understand that, you simply want to disconnect yourself from all the others. I didn't expect you to say it like that.

43. S. (54:46) In order to make this choice, one wonders how to actually be silent. We need to attain that state otherwise each time we return to that same state, we justify ourselves. What helps us at that moment to choose to be silent, maybe it's an example from the friend that I need to see, or ask the Creator, and how in these few seconds do we make the right choice?

R. To close one's eyes, and to hide under him, under the Creator.

44. S. (55:36) What is the speaking degree? And why speak if it's a greater wisdom to be silent than silence?

R. The speaking degree is a very high degree of a person, but a silence that a person wants to raise oneself to an even higher degree, it's even higher than speaking. Okay?

45. S. (56:30) Silence is inner work that we carry out instead of the conflict in the ten?

R. No, that's just in this world, but in spirituality, we want to be in silence in order to rise to an even higher degree. a higher degree.

46. S. (57:18) In general we say that if egoist questions then we try to answer, but here there's nothing to answer

R. Yes.

S. How do we strengthen that state, how do we stop ourselves?

R. When I have no answer, so I'm silent. The one that stops oneself during times of strife, by that I win.

S. And then the same strength of the ego remains?

R. Whatever will be, but at least I don't fall.

Reading Excerpt 6. (58:15) Maimonides, Mishneh Torah – Twice

47. S. (59:39) In the previous excerpt, it's written to go above rhyme and reason, what does it mean to go above one’s flavors, and tastes?

R. It doesn't matter how it seems to you whether it's good or bad. You need to choose only according to the higher goal.

48. S. (01:00:21) When I speak with the friends inside, and I hear what she's answering me, do I need to be concerned for it to be consciously in this work, or does it just depend on me?

R. It depends on you and her. For she needs to reach an inner contact and then speak.

S. There are friends for whom it's easy for me to be silent with. How do I test my silence, and if through that we have a certain appeal to the Creator?

R. We still need to go through that.

49. S. (01:01:14) You've given us a story of what Rabash used to say, “Let it suffer”, where you would point to yourself and say, “Let it suffer”. When we are in the process of silence should we say let It suffer, because then the ego has been deliberately suppressed from us, so that it suffers, then in essence, the ego separates from us?

R. You're right, let it suffer.

50. S. (01:02:04) I have such a deep feeling that during the lesson you connect with the Creator and there's this prayer that you can please the Creator further.

R. That's what I hope will happen for us during the congress. I'm hugging you all until tomorrow's lesson.

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