The transcript has been transcribed and edited from English simultaneous interpretation, thus there may be potential semantic inaccuracies within it.
Daily Lesson (Afternoon) Jul 19, 2024.
Part 1: Lesson on the topic of “Connecting into One Soul.”
Reader: Hello, the subject of our lesson is “Connecting into One Soul,” and we will read a few excerpts from the sources. This lesson is dedicated to the graduates of MAK. We will find the study material in Arvut and Sviva Tova and you can ask questions live or through the website. Anyone that is asking in the hall, please stand up and speak loud and clear.
Reading Excerpt 1: (00:55) Baal HaSulam, "Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot", Item 2.
If we set our hearts to answer but one very famous question, [...] meaning this indignant question that the whole world asks, namely, “What is the meaning of my life?” In other words, these numbered years of our life that cost us so heavily, and the numerous pains and torments that we suffer for them, to complete them to the fullest, who is it who enjoys them? Or even more precisely, whom do I delight?
It is indeed true that historians have grown weary contemplating it, and particularly in our generation, no one even wishes to consider it. Yet the question stands as bitterly and as vehemently as ever. Sometimes it meets us uninvited, pecks at our minds and degrades us to the ground before we find the famous ploy of flowing mindlessly in the currents of life as always.
M. Laitman: (02:41) This is actually what Baal HaSulam writes about the essence of life, the meaning of life. So, that's what he tells us. And we need to try and understand these words.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (03:26) That force, this force of the disparity, the soul is getting lost. How to use this situation?
M. Laitman: We need to receive from the wisdom of Kabbalah that we're studying, answers for these questions. And these questions are strong. They truly determine our fate, and we have to see what Baal HaSulam is saying here. That if we set our hearts to answer the very, most famous question, why we're alive, then we will be able to answer it, which is that we live in order to observe the laws of creation, and that as a result of the study of these laws, we will rise upwards to the root of our soul, to the root of creation, and from there we will be able to receive forces in order to open for ourselves all the secrets of creation. And thus we will understand where we live, for what, why, and that's it.
Student: That means that this way we need to go through, and with the help of the Kabbalah we will understand this great force, that this is the force of disparity, and it's a huge force, that the Creator is advancing us with this force.
M. Laitman: Okay, talking in every direction, does everyone understand Russian? Simply, if you're asking in Russian, it's almost more comfortable for me to answer in Russian. So again, what was the question?
Student: The force of disparity is a huge force, it is tearing our hearts and our souls. The question is, where does the Creator aim us with this force? What can I do with this force? How can I work with this force?
M. Laitman: That's exactly what we're scrutinizing in the process of the study of the wisdom of the Kabbalah. We try to learn the Creator, and to scrutinize what we're supposed to do in this world, why He created us in this world, and how we can correctly reach the resolving of the question of our existence. Meaning, so it will truly be rewarding. And that is what we need to do. And for that, all the conditions exist, and this is what the wisdom of the Kabbalah helps us with.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (07:33) The words in the first excerpt are very strong, and they're penetrating our hearts, and I can understand the disparity and the pain. The reason for the man to come to this question, why do I even live?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: The question is, how to build this internal bridge, with the internal feelings, and to heal to the state, until the state that we can go with the current of life?
M. Laitman: Yes, that's usually what we do. We go through the flows of life, the streams of life, just like yesterday, the day before yesterday, like that every day, until one day, we start to ask, we start to hear, we stumble upon a certain source of knowledge that is ready to explain to us why we're alive. That's actually the question. For what are we alive? And then the wisdom of Kabbalah explains to us why we're living, for what we're living, how we can answer that question.
So, Baal HaSulam explains to us, Rabash and other Kabbalists, throughout history there were many Kabbalists, that we're alive specifically in order to answer that question. Because as we study the wisdom of Kabbalah, we connect closer and closer each time to the Creator, and more and more we organize ourselves in Tens, in order to be even organizationally similar to the Creator. And with every lesson, with every excerpt, with every verse, we become closer to Him, we begin to feel Him, to understand Him, so much so that we truly feel Him as the source of our life. And from this we come to a personal connection with Him, meaning us and Him becoming like one.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (10:47) I have a question about this subject. We learn how to connect in the group, in our Tens. So the question is, do we need to connect with God and to feel it inside, and then we will be able to connect with the Ten in a spiritual manner?
M. Laitman: Yes, good question. In order to connect to the Creator, we first need to connect between us. According to the rule, from the love of the created beings to the love of the Creator. And that's why we do it this way. We connect, build a Ten, several Tens, and then we come to a state in which we have a connection with the Creator, to such an extent that we start to feel Him in this connection in a very personal manner, a very direct manner. And this is how we advance. We understand more and more what He wants from us, in what way we can each help the others in the Ten and we advance from this. We start to feel Him more and more.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (12:44) We went through a mutual preparation with all kinds of questions that have been asked, and there's a question: What is the real pleasure in life?
M. Laitman: The attainment of the Creator. The meaning of life, the taste of life, the attaining of the goal, says this is the highest pleasure we can achieve or attain. Well, there's nothing above that. That's how we were created, that's how we are constructed. That light of pleasure which we absorb from the Creator, what we call His revelation, so that is the most exalted, the highest pleasure. There's nothing beyond that.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (13:56) With everything that is happening outside, it's like a mirror of my internal world. The border that I see in the external world is the borders of my internal world. Do we need to destroy those borders?
M. Laitman: You don't need to destroy or break anything or concern at all whether you're breaking, you're constructing, you don't have to relate to such things.
Student: The internal borders and the external borders that I see, they don't let me live?
M, Laitman: Well, it needs to be scrutinized, but in essence, the study of the wisdom of Kabbalah, in that you can create for yourself such a framework in which with certainty and in a correct way, you will feel the Creator's creation, and it will be pleasant for you, comfortable for you.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (15:19) How to live in a way that we don't need to repeat the question of what's the point of life?
M. Laitman: That's a question that will recur in you several times a day, many times. Without that question, we cannot advance. That's why the Creator sends us that question, what's the meaning of life, what is it that we're living our lives for, etc.. But when we answer that question, each time we feel it differently. We feel this question differently, deeper, higher, etc.. So, the question: What is the meaning of our lives, we need to ask ourselves in such a way, perform actions, attempts to rise up.
Student: How can we, in our connection, awaken this? Another question, in other people that don't study Kabbalah, is it throughout dissemination or through the Ten?
M. Laitman: Partially, yes, but to a very small extent. In essence, the main thing is the study. Studying, just as you're being taught, others have to be taught, and gradually, slowly, slowly, a big group of people is embroidered, that can teach, explain, and answer questions. And it's such a society, this internal society of itself will radiate certain qualities, the qualities of the Creator, the qualities of creation. So, continue to study, and the main thing is to be connected to one another. Because even the most exalted knowledge will not give anything if it's not connected to others. That is, the quality of the Ten, it specifically is what reaches beyond the borders of nature, and expands. It expands in every direction.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (18:36) During the study we have faith in the friends through our actions but we are afraid that we work in a way that it's enough. How can we go with confidence?
M. Laitman: I don't know, how long are you studying? Five years, you? And all together? Is there someone here who is studying much less?
Reader: Yes, there are new students and a bit more veterans.
M. Laitman: Understood.
Reader: There are students here from 2024 and they have been studying for fifteen weeks and they have finished the study now.
M. Laitman: Well what am I trying to say, in essence it's not so important how long a person studies. Of course, there is a certain meaning, the number of years and the forces that were exerted in the search. All of that has a meaning, but... I don't know. I don't think that it's that serious. Seriously, it could be a self-limitation, meaning, the more we connect between us, those who know more and those who know less, those who have more of a desire and those who have less of a desire, all together we create a common Kli that has a common desire, common yearning, common questions and all of this leads to you advancing, eventually everyone advances, such that it doesn't really matter. At the end of the day, you will all balance out. Those who are studying five years, those who are studying five months, as a result, you come to a state in which you will think and deepen in the material in an identical manner.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (21:25) I heard that the love of the Creator needs to be revealed through the friend. So my question, I'm from spring 2024, and before I came to the wisdom of Kabbalah, I had this true outcry of my soul. My question is, to what Creator was I crying out then? Is it correct that first I need to build my relation with the Creator? Meaning, I believed that I needed an answer and the Creator brought me here. So how does faith above reason that I had, how do I pass this to the friends? How do I see this love in the friends? Help me understand, please. After all, I already had faith above reason. I was crying out. I had that outcry.
M. Laitman: It's like a baby that's crying out. It wasn't yet conscious. It wasn't without direction. It was with no specific direction. It was still the seeds of the true desire. It will all come. It's good that you're seeing these things already. I see that you're trying from these initial questions to enter deeper into the wisdom of Kabbalah, into the answers. It's very good. But take into account that one way or another, it is all going to settle in place, dissolve, dissipate, return, and you will see to what extent this wisdom explains to you altogether everything that exists. And you will have no problems of how to connect the wisdom of Kabbalah with life, family, study, with everything. And to summarize matters, how should we say this? In the end, you will see that everything comes into place in your life. Well, let's move forward.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (24:41) There is generation X, Y, all kinds of generations, and now the new generation, the alpha generation. How to create such a material, such a matter, a material that will be interesting for them? Do we need to search the previous generations, their talk, their slang, what are they interested in, and to create the same language, and to get deeper in the study of Kabbalah, and Baal HaSulam, and your suggestion, and your clips to make it interesting for them? Maybe to look for characters, animation characters, or all kinds of musical culture, or by these examples to bring them the importance of connection and love, and joy, that we share your worry with someone, and to pass it on to them through the Internet, through the books?
M. Laitman: I think that the main thing for you guys is to study the wisdom of Kabbalah itself, to deepen in it, to try and connect it. To the questions that you receive from the world. The main thing is to try and be connected to the friends, so that from the connection with the friends, the correct answers will come to you for all the questions. Meaning, you would feel that from going deeper into the connection with the friends, you feel that there, there is a certain fulfillment that fills you and explains everything to you. That's what we need to attain. When you reach that state, then you will already have the correct foundation, the correct base to advance with.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (27:41) It is written in the article, that there is a yearning to get to know the spiritual or to contradict it. And why there is a desire to contradict and what is this thing?
M. Laitman: Because both the one and the other give advancement in nearing to the Creator. I try to be closer to Him, to understand Him, or it awakens some rejection in me, it doesn't matter. In truth, the main thing is for it to touch me, and for me to somewhat try to respond to it. That's why, you can see why, I don't know if you can see this so easily, but there are materials of Kabbalists, where it's actually a little angry, or cursing the Creator. There are many matters of this world, maybe not cursing, but at least growling at, and this can impact their advancement and pushes them.
Student: There is a big fear from the Ten, but there is a question from the Ten. Our society of MAK Israel, connected through the language and the area, some of us are connected in Israel, and some just moved not long ago. We mostly talk in Russian, and we are studying in MAK. Do you think we should study Hebrew, and to come closer to the Hebrew friends in Israel?
M. Laitman: With no doubt, yes. You won't get too far with the Russian language, because all the material, all the language is in Hebrew, what was written several generations ago, and several decades, and hundreds of years, it's all in Hebrew. Sometimes you can meet sources, in Arabic, you find sources in Russian but it's really very few things, and no one really engages in it, to see whether it's translated to Hebrew. In short, you should know Hebrew. So that there's nothing you can do about it. We teach all kinds of languages. As you know, our academy exists in many countries, and we teach in several languages.
Reader: More than thirty, at least.
Student: The question that you've been asked, should we ask in Russian?
M. Laitman: During this lesson of ours?
Student: In general, in all lessons.
M. Laitman: All the lessons are in Hebrew. Here you can do whatever you want, I understand you. But in essence, you should know Hebrew.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (32:16) In Israel, the Russian speakers, and our role as Hebrew speakers, Russian, what is the influence of the Israeli society, community that speaks Russian? Should we continue disseminating Russian?
M. Laitman: I think that the Russian-speaking circle of people in Israel is very big as you know. It's also very popular around the world outside of Israel. And we publish and disseminate many books in the Russian language, and we see that it's necessary, such that from time to time we publish more and disseminate more. I don't think it will disappear. But rather, we nevertheless will continue to teach and print books in the Russian language and not just in Russian. In the last few years, I think we have several other languages from the Russian area. Well, what to do? If you want to reach people, we need to write in the language they understand.
Student: The Israelis that speak Russian, can you see any difference or advancement that we as Israelis speak Russian, any relation with the correction in the Israeli community?
M. Laitman: I don't think. I once had much greater hopes for the Russian-speaking immigrants. But with time, they become regular Israelis and nothing else interests them, other than engaging in their daily lives and themselves, so that I also don't see in the future some special development, specifically in the work with the Russian-speaking audiences. There are many people who are interested in the wisdom of Kabbalah amongst them, but that's how it is, yes.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (35:22) I wanted to ask you this question for a while, and in this excerpt it says that the question about the meaning of life is from generation to generation, it gets stronger. And the question is: Israel, the Israeli nation, once you said that Israel is in relation to other nations, it's a very small portion, a very small part, and until final correction, this attitude will stay the same, and then eventually everyone will turn into Israel.
M. Laitman: Quantitatively, according to the quantity, of course we are few, but inside of Israel, just as you can feel, what to do with it, I don't know. I don't know. The more time you live here, and I'm living here, what, some 30, 40 years, the longer you live here, the more you feel to what extent, in principle, there's no essential difference between the Hebrew speakers, the Russian speakers, and all together, those who speak any other language. There is a certain kind of melting pot of how we all melt together into some one. So I don't think that in the future either the Russian speakers who have come here will have a more meaningful or bigger role, only if many of them will come, and many of them are not coming.
Student: I'm asking again, I repeat, I ask not specifically about the Russian speakers, in general, the Israel, in final correction, does everyone turn into a state of Israel, or is there a part, like a connection between other nations and Creator, like the role of Israel?
M. Laitman: Until the end of correction, it is for sure like that, but in the end of correction, after the end of correction, it may change. But for the time being, and for some time, it will be like that, yes.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (39:03) It is written in the article that a man needs to reveal his Master's secrets. What does it mean?
M. Laitman: Well, if it's a secret, how can I talk about it?
Student: It is written that a man needs to know and to look into his Master's secrets.
M. Laitman: Yes, that's the secret of the Creator.
Reader: We can read excerpt number 2 if we want. Excerpt number 2, Baal HaSulam.
Reading Excerpt 2: (39:46) Baal HaSulam. “Introduction to the Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah”, Item 9.
All the worlds, upper and lower and everything within them, were created only for man. [...] In the beginning, they were restricted and hung down degree by degree and world after world, down to our material world, to bring the soul into a body of this world, which is entirely to receive and not to bestow,[...]. In that state, one is regarded as the complete opposite of Him, and there is no greater remoteness than this. Afterward, through the soul that clothes within one, he engages in Torah and Mitzvot. Gradually and slowly, from below upward, he obtains the same form of bestowal as his Maker, through all those qualities that hung down from above downward, which are but degrees and measures in the form of the desire to bestow. [...] In the end, one is awarded being entirely to bestow and not to receive anything for himself. At that time, one is completed with true Dvekut with Him, for man was created only for this.
M. Laitman: (41:50) Should I try to translate it, or is it understood to you? Should I explain it to you? To explain? All the worlds, the upper ones and the lower ones, and everything that's within them, were created only for man. In the beginning, they were restricted and cascaded down degree by degree. And world after world, until our material world, which is at the end of all these degrees, and why was this all created? In order to give the opportunity to these souls to rise from below upwards. And then they will be in a state in which they can bestow everything, and not receive, meaning in the opposite state to what they exist in.
And by this, a person becomes opposite to the Creator, where he is completely to receive, and that state is the most distant state from the Creator. And then, with the souls that clothe in him, with the soul that clothes in him, he goes and engages in Torah and Mitzvot and obtains the quality of bestowal, higher degrees from above, down, and ascends this way. And in such a manner, he changes himself in his qualities, until he achieves the quality of bestowal and frees himself from the quality of reception, from the desire to receive. And then, a person attains the complete adhesion with the Creator, he adheres to Him, in Dvekut, because that's why he was created.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (45:05) You said that the souls that clothe in us, what are those souls? What does it mean that the soul has been clothed with me?
M. Laitman: The desire you have today to understand why you exist is called soul. That desire is called the soul. And you exist in order to fulfill that desire; to satisfy it.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (45:53) How to work on myself that I won't fall into self-receiving.
M. Laitman: It's an ongoing, prolonged process of correction. We need to learn it and engage in it. It's a matter of training. This is spiritual training. It's all written in the articles, mostly Rabash's articles.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (46:39) Does a move to the country of Israel influence the spiritual advancement?
M. Laitman: Yes, without a doubt.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (46:58) I remember that the will to receive always stays. This is what we've learned. And here it says that we will never have a will to receive.
M. Laitman: No, it's refined. In its place comes the desire to bestow.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (47:35) As a matter of fact, in this article he is talking about the revelation of the evil. The revelation of the evil in the man that we need to understand where we actually are; where we are.
M. Laitman: Yes, now, excerpt 3.
Reading Excerpt 3: (48:02) Baal HaSulam. "600,000 Souls."
There is indeed only one soul in the world, [...]. That same soul exists [...] complete in each and every one, as in Adam HaRishon, since the spiritual is indivisible and cannot be cut—which is rather a trait of corporeal things.
Rather, saying that there are 600,000 souls and sparks of souls appears as though it is divided by the force of the body of each person.
M. Laitman: (48:45) Meaning that there is one soul altogether, only. That's what the Creator made. And all the parts that we say that each has some part, some soul, it's because we are in our egos. That's why each and every part of the general desire which he, which divides all the desire to parts. So each part is called a private soul. And we in our work need to reach a state in which we connect all the parts and go back to becoming one soul. As it was to begin with at the beginning of creation.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (50:28) Why the spiritual does not come in cuts and pieces?
M. Laitman: Because it is whole. It has no intentions or different actions. It's just towards coming closer and becoming similar to the Creator. As He is one, we, too, in our soul are one. Therefore the spiritual is whole.
Student: So how to understand that I came to study and I connect to the spiritual manner and I'm not moving with the ego, I'm just one part with spirituality.
M. Laitman: It's not important, you're incorporating everyone. It's just like in our world. In our world a child is born, he didn't do anything but he has a bed and food and medical care if he needs, etc., because he landed in this world.
Student: So if I'm in a group that are doing spiritual actions, there are forces that work on me, operate on me.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (52:00) The term 600,000 souls, it does not talk about amount of bodies. It is a quality of a state that is in relation to upper worlds.
M. Laitman: You're spinning it in a way that I don't understand. No, it's not like that. Every person carries within him a particle of the general soul. And that's why it was said in such a way that the general soul, the one soul is divided into several parts. Each of those parts are in us and therefore we're correcting it.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (53:03) I work with autistic children. What are these souls? I'm always asking myself, these souls are coming and also these souls. What do they want? We as educational people do we need to go through a correction? Did they come to correct us?
M. Laitman: No, no, no. They come in order to correct big flaws in creation that doesn't belong to you. It's not beyond what you can do with them. But altogether caring for people who are challenged or ill is a good thing for the soul.
Student: Yes, it is very satisfying. It is very painful to see how they are so pure, they are so clean that there is nothing like them.
Question (Women Rus 3): (54:32) Each and every one of us has a small part of the general soul. I'm a will to receive for myself. I start to study the wisdom of Kabbalah and then slowly the intention starts to be developed. Who is born? Is it a new personality? Is it not me anymore? What is it?
M. Laitman: It's the Creator. It's the Creator.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (55:22) Since childhood we always had this feeling of guilt towards the parents, the kids. And after 60 years I understand that this was my feeling. I'd like to know how Kabbalah is related to it. If, let's say, I feel guilty because, let's say, I didn't study enough Kabbalah.
M. Laitman: All together there is no benefit beating yourself up or eating yourself up. You simply need to organize these things with the Creator. Meaning, thank Him for what He gives you, for what he awakens in you, corrects, and leads forward. That's it. As much as possible positive thoughts. And to come with complaints to the Creator, it won't help. Later you'll see that you were wrong.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (56:50) In the first excerpt we talked about the meaning of life. We come to the study of Kabbalah after lots of scrutiny. And now regarding the work in our Ten, the meaning of life is the meaning of our work that we are trying to search. The connection between us, what is the meaning of life? How can we scrutinize? Through our scrutiny or what kind of work? Is it work in intention and prayer or are there other actions? If this is called actions. So if we want to disseminate the wisdom of Kabbalah we start with, what is the meaning of life? Is this called dissemination in a simple language?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question Women Petah Tikva Center): (58:00) Now we feel that our soul through the state of the world is tearing into pieces, and it is very painful. How can we treat this pain?
M. Laitman: Connect as much as possible between us. Between all the people of Israel.
Student: In a prayer?
M. Laitman: In prayer, in feeling, in prayer to the Creator. Prayer to connect us. And this is what is going to help us and what we need.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (58:59) The men and the women become one soul in the final correction?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: How does it happen?
M. Laitman: I can't explain that to you.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (59:24) What is this feeling when I see the friends as complete and corrected? And is it the opposite when I see them not corrected?
M. Laitman: It means that you are uncorrected.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (01:00:08) Can we reach the Creator with joy and not in suffering?
M. Laitman: Of course, and even faster, yes.
Student: We talked about the feeling of guilt, and you answered partially. There are many sorrows around us and with me everything is good. I get up in the morning, I go to study. The only thing that is bothering me is that I have a lack of knowledge and I want more and more, even the descents, they are small and I know that in the future it's going to be better. Maybe I do something wrong, maybe I just simply satisfy myself. I think I am, I hope so.
M. Laitman: This is the main thing, not to exit the Ten.
Question (Women Petah Tikva Center): (01:01:28) When there was the descent of worlds into this world, do we have left the Malchut and the Bina? And the second question, with God's help, can we go through this ascent and then we will descend down, and then will our brain develop to 100%?
M. Laitman: No, no and no. We don't need to explain that but you need to go deeper into such thoughts that appear and seem to you that they are correct.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:02:32) I wanted to say that our MAK, we gathered here, Israel MAK, the Russian speaker, we want to say that we love you and appreciate you with no limits and we will be very happy if you can bless us and give us the force and a few words on our path.
M. Laitman: The main thing is to not separate, to gather together, women, men, and to try and to be more and more connected towards the goal. This is what I can say. What else? No, I think you are only at the beginning of the path. Of course, you are all together at the beginning of the path, and of course, there are many revelations and concealments before you, but you have good conditions, and you will succeed. You will be successful.
And sometimes, if you'll need, we have many teachers in Russian, Hebrew, and English, such that we are always at your service. That's it. That's it. That's what I can say. And for myself, I will add that it was very pleasant to meet you and if it's needed, I'm willing to be with you again, more than once, and then we will see how to grow. Thank you very much.
Reader: Thank you very much. Thanks to Rav and to the World Kli and of course to the MAK graduates.
Song: (01:06:04)