Morning Lesson November 17, 2023
Transcription is made from simultaneous translation, which leaves a possibility for differences in the audio.
Part 3:
Baal HaSulam. A Speech for the Completion of The Zohar
Reading Article: (00:22) “It is known that the desired purpose....”
1. S. (07:40) “He is merciful, you are merciful.” What does it mean to be merciful and compassionate in the work?
R. These are the Creator's qualities that we will feel him and understand what is merciful and compassionate and we will see whether we can be like Him.
S. So we have to feel it in order to be like him.
R. Yes, certainly it is all a matter of the feeling.
2. S. (08:18) Are two that have equivalence of qualities adhering by equivalence or do they also have to intend it towards one another?
R. Yes, they also need to have this intention towards each other to have this closeness to each other.
3. S. (08:54) If the disparity of form is small, they are distant in a bit. If the disparity of form is big so they are very far from one another. What does it mean a small or large disparity of form?
R. Disparity of qualities of desires.
S. So what is equivalence of form? What is form?
R. Form means how we see it, how we feel it, sense it, and how it appears to others.
S. You mean the quality of bestowal that they are speaking about here?
R. Yes.
4. S. (09:44) He writes that disparity of form; we find that this disparity of form acts in spirituality like an ax that is separating in corporeality. This ax we feel very well now in our time. Now we are also rewarded with coming back to the lesson, coming to the center, to the meals. How does that help us, that feeling, in order to reach equivalence of form, with that separation?
R. That we need to depict to ourselves that we are as one man with one heart. That is all. It is written in another place that needs to be in place and each and everyone needs to yearn for that.
5. S. (10:48) Where can I get an example so that I will be like the Creator? I don’t feel him.
R. You cannot feel him until you will be like him at least to a certain extent.
S. But how can I get an example?
R. You will not get such an example. Do you understand? You will not get any such example. You need to think for yourself. What does that mean? For that reason, you have your qualities and within them build a true picture. Afterward, you can ask for it.
6. S. (11:55) Explain to us what the difference is between being like the Creator and being adhered to him. To be like Him and to be adhered to Him? What is the difference?
R. I don't know. It is according to equivalence of form. The more a person is like the Creator and closer to him, so accordingly he can be adhered to.
S. That is adhesion, to be close to him in actions and deeds and thought.
R. In thought, speech, and action.
S. By that I am equal to Him, and by that I can see him, and perceive Him?
R. Yes, that is right.
7. S. (12:42) Adhesion between friends, it is written that he loves what his friend loves so do we have to love something in common or do we have to love each other?
R. We need to love each other and all of us together need together yearn for the Creator.
8. S. (13:18) He wrote that the Creator is merciful and compassionate, and we need to adhere to Him, but in our vessels sometimes it is attained that, and sometimes it is opposite. So how can I learn to be like Him or adhere to him?
R. I don't know. You can solve those things on the way. I cannot just serve you everything up in this clear way.
Continues Reading: (13:56) “There is a discernment of mind and a discernment….”
9. S. (19:46) He writes that in equivalence of heart of form, there is mind and heart, and engaging in Torah and Mitzvah is equivalence in mind. What? The heart is corrupted, or the mind is corrupted. What is this equivalence of form in mind and thought? Just like the Creator isn’t thinking of himself so man isn’t thinking of himself, that’s clear.
R. Yes.
S. But we say on the other hand, our work is on our hearts, that the Creator wants our hearts, and the heart is corrupted, and the thought serves the heart, the desire. The thought isn't corrupted, it is a result of a broken heart. So why is he saying that equivalence of form is in the mind?
R. Because we have no other thing we can start from. We work in the mind in order to correct the heart.
S. So let us say that we learn. What should be the work in our thought?
R. I want to be like him in something, like a small one, like a child among an adult.
S. So again that is work in prayer actually and the person has like an inner talking.
R. That too.
S. Because it's not exactly clear what the thought is that has to be.
R. That the prayer is thought.
S. The prayer is in the mind not the heart.
R. Okay, but in order to direct your heart you need to know how to direct and come closer, you need to work with your mind.
S. One second, I want to also talk about TES, because we are studying that. It is very hard at least for me to establish those two streams of thought. On the one hand, to try to understand what is written. Baal HaSulam says to put it in the box like the friend asked. On the other hand, to be constantly working with the heart and asking for the light to come and correct and think of the friends.
R. That is the intention that needs to always be there.
S. How can he organize it?
R. You will see that those go together. You will see that this is how it will turn out.
10. S. (22:58) The heart is a desire. It was given to us. So, is the mind the intention? Is the mind the intention that we clothe on the desire?
R. Yes.
S. It means that the correction is that we are able to put the intention on a desire that we receive from the Creator?
R. Yes.
S. So maybe we can understand it in this way that the correction is in the mind and not the heart that we have to work on our intention during the studies and that is what has to be corrected?
R. Yes.
11. S. (23:50) Baal HaSulam warns us that our work should be for studying Torah and Mitzvot, Lishma.
R. Yes.
S. If we deviate, the will to receive in order to receive will knock us down. How will we remain cautious? What are the actions we must take in order not to deviate?
R. We need to hold onto each other. I cannot check myself and criticize myself and be certain that I am going on the direct path, but if I am connected to others, to the friends then it doesn’t matter how much we are mistaken but we have this certainty that we have the Creator holding us, protecting us.