Morning Lesson January 2, 2022, Transcription
Transcription is made from simultaneous translation which leaves a possibility for differences in the audio
Part 1: Preparation for convention “Rising Above Ourselves”
Lesson 6: Working in Mutual Responsibility
1.Rav’s Introduction: This is the main topic of working in Arvut, mutual responsibility. We learn that also from the articles of Matan Torah and the Arvut by Baal HaSulam, that the whole shattering in the whole correction, depends on the revelation of the Arvut. This is why the shattering occurred, in order to reveal the connection between everyone, the revelation of the gap the disconnection that exists in the original vessel of Adam HaRishon, and the correction of this gap which is done through Arvut or mutual responsibility so Arvut is that multiplication by 620 times that was done in the connection between the parts that were prior to the shattering, and the parts that will be following the correction. That by the shattering and the correction of the shattering, we discover the intensity and the power of the connection. Specifically, the power of the connection between the parts following the correction is what brings us the Creator, his state, his degree, his level, what does it mean unity, connection? That we that has created beings can attain it only through something and its opposite, being totally disconnected from each other, opposites, contradictory, and we reach connection and complete unity. Attaining the unity is actually our entire purpose because unity, one, that's the Creator, that attainment cannot be in the created being so unless it is through something and it's opposite and therefore everything that the Creator has labored to do and most importantly it is the shattering.
We can perform the actions as much as it is given to us, and attain through the degrees of ascent, what is unity, connection, mutual guarantee, out of the state of the broken Kli. This is why there are also all kinds of articles about it and slogans by the Kabbalists, as it says tears fell off from him because he did not know how when the person can reach his wholeness, but when it became revealed to him that the broken state will be revealed, then he understood it already that he has before him a way how to reach wholeness, the Creator. By raising higher and higher above the shattering to connection. In this way he will obtain the degree of the Creator. Therefore the mutual responsibility it is not just to be nicely connected, it's not some kind of social act sociology or philosophy, it is a connection of the broken parts in the spiritual vessel, that when we begin above our ego in contradiction to it, to connect, to even come closer, then by that we begin to attain from afar what does it mean spirituality on top of corporeality and on that we will have the attainment of the Creator from something and its opposite.
In this way we become both more created beings, we feel who we are, relative to the Creator, and we also attain the Creator relative to us, come and see. Therefore, the mutual responsibility that we have to achieve meaning the complete connection in the system of Adam HaRishon, the power of the connection, the essence of the connection, as much as we become guarantors for the entire system that each one attains the entire system by that he multiplies the power of the system 620 times more This is actually our work, this is what we have ahead of us. It's truly a wonderful future, wonderful attainment of wholeness and eternity, this is what we have before us. We can also add to it, that pretty much our work should be clear to us from that, how much each one cares for everyone and not for himself. By that he actually performs the action of mutual responsibility. As it tells us about the two in the boat with that example.
That there is nothing else for us to do if each one thinks for the others and does not think of himself. Meaning he restricts himself and for the others, he opens his heart in order to give them a place to enter his heart and to connect them inside of it by that we truly reach a state of the vessel that the Creator created and he gave it for us to attain. I'm asking you to relate to this emotionally as much as possible, let your heart open itself so that the friends will operate on the friends, their heart on our heart. Because this is actually the most important as much as the person on one hand liberates himself from concern for himself and how much instead of that he opens up to concern for the connection of others. This actually is our correction.
Excerpt 1 RABASH. Article No. 5 (1991), “What Is, 'The Good Deeds of the Righteous Are the Generations,' in the Work?" (08:20 ) Twice
2. WSQ: (10:00) What does it mean that each one is pleased with his friend? What does it mean that each one pleases his friend or is pleased with his friend?
3. R. (12:28) We heard a few opinions now from the focus group and indeed they are all correct, and we have to connect all of them together into a single relation, attitude from each friend to all of the friends. Then it will be called mutual responsibility.
4. S. (12:57) What does it mean to attain the Creator from a thing and it's opposite in relation to the Arvut?
R. The attainment of the Creator is the attainment of the connection, the essence of the connection that we discover through the connection between us, we have no possibility to attain him above that but only out of the fact that He created the will to receive, existence from absence until it will have a great volume called Adam, similar to the Creator, and then he broke it. When we put it back together, the shattering out of us, because we are the parts of Adam HaRishon, we are called Bnei Adam, sons of Adam or literally human beings, when we come closer to the building of Adam HaRishon by that we attain the Creator through actions of bestowal, from your actions we know you as we call it, through actions of bestowal, actions of connection that ultimately are all called the state of Arvut. When each one is connected with the others and he corrects everyone and he performs actions for everyone, then by that each one attains the essence of Adam HaRishon which is the Creator this is why from your actions we know you, this is how we do it. This is why we need to understand the essence of the shattering, the essence of the distance in between us, how much these things even though they're opposite, how much they are necessary also for our spiritual development. Through that, through this connection, we feel the mutual responsibility, the eternity, the wholeness and the essence of the Creator. This is why this concept is called come and see.
6. S. (15:21) In this short excerpt I think the whole method exists, he writes that there is no difference of desire between them and they are all Incorporated in one desire, the upper desire, how do we go through such a process in the ten?
R. Each one, if he tries to come out of his own desires and to keep or help their friends, and connection, and these are all inner states, that each one has to check himself, monitor himself and direct himself, then in such a way we can act in an inner network between us. The essence of that internet work between us is the Creator and this is how we attain him. As much as we establish the connection between us, we begin to feel all of those currents, commands, qualities, that pass through the network. The network is us, it's our desires when we are directed towards each other, then we give the Creator a place to be revealed in the connection between us. Because we need to put together the network itself, it is like connecting wires, and inside these wires what we call inner-light we discover the actions of the Creator. With respect to us with respect to the entire system, this is how we reach connection with him. When we start to discover the essence of the Creator that is flowing through us, and inside these wires what we call inner-light we discover the actions of the Creator. With respect to us, with respect to the entire system this is how we reach connection with him when we start to discover the essence of the Creator that is flowing through us. Then we begin to shift to mutual actions between us and the Creator it's a different kind of attainment where it is truly I to my beloved and my beloved to me. We will reach all of those stages.
S. What are the acts of the Creator that we discover between us in those connections?
R. NRNHY, the more we connect upon above our coarseness where the coarseness that grows gives us the possibility to connect with a quality and quantity as much as we try to connect between us. Accordingly, the force of unity flows between us, mutual guarantee, unity which is actually the inner light, this is actually the revelation of the Creator. There are further degrees in that as we discover the root, the whole purpose, the Creator's intentions, this is already his clothing in us. Wow can we even further under high special degrees, with the small essential things, how can we bestow or influence our connection, mutual work starts which is called “I to my beloved and my beloved to me” that is much as we act with all kinds of tiny details seemingly but specifically in them, there is a revelation of a higher exalted essence. We will reach that.
6. S. (19:41) What does it mean to keep the Torah?
R. To observe or keep the Torah means actually to keep the Arvut, the Torah means all of the essence of the system, which is entirely interconnected, and it receives light within it according to the equivalence of form between the will to bestow on its side and the will to bestow of the Creator, then in such a way they are together. The upper light and also the plea from below, they reach equivalence on some level, so each time we should try to keep this connection between the Kli so that it will resemble the light and the light that will come in and fill the vessel, this is called studying the Torah. Meaning, all the light that enters the vessel, for the time being on each and every degree of course, is called torah, light. The vessel that reveals this light is called either Adam or Arvut. This is the desire that the Creator had created there for all of the created beings as much as they tried to connect so that each one will care for the others. This is the condition of the mutual responsibility to the extent that one cares for the others then he keeps the condition of the mutual responsibility and by that he becomes qualified to receive the Torah. This is why we say, with simple words, and this is also how they explain it to us. That the condition for the acceptance of the Torah is achieving Arvut, what does it mean Arvut? This is something we already have to obtain from within us. That each one restricts himself and he operates only for the benefit of the connection among everyone. In this form we attain this correct, corrected vessel and then the upper light according to the equivalence of the intention with us can clothe in this vessel and can be revealed and can unite us, this is called to reach adhesion with the Creator
7. S. (22:48) If a person comes to such a feeling or he doesn't see any deficiencies in the friends, rather he sees each one in a whole way, is it that moment where for the first time he feels desires not like his but he can serve them?
R. This happens to us on each and every degree, this is the first condition that I want to reach a state where I have no complaints against the friends but rather my whole purpose is to reach love towards them. As much as I can imagine it for now. Of course, what I ever imagined is only according to my conditions, to the next degree it will seem to me that the love that I had wasn't really love, it was hatred. This is how we discover hatred on a higher level out of the love that was revealed on the previous degree. From love to hatred, from love to hatred this is how we rise and therefore we need to realize that each time our work is love covers all crimes, the crimes are revealed, hatred is revealed and all the more so one who is greater than his friend, his inclination is greater. This is how we rise on the degrees, left and right with both legs, this is how we rise from stage to stage. That's it
8. S. (24:44) What is simply incorporation and when does it begin in practice?
R. Incorporation starts to happen in practice when I care that my friend instead of me, will reach the attainment of the Creator.
S. What changes in the friend's behavior when he is incorporated with the rest of the friends?
R. There could be some change on the outside that we can identify, but really, it's not necessary. Therefore the whole wisdom of Kabbalah is also called the hidden wisdom because we cannot discover it according to behavior or actions of people. How much they are on high spiritual degrees, on the contrary, to the contrary. Students of Rabbi Shimon who wanted to kill one another will you be able to see according to their behavior that they are great and along with that there are on the degrees of love, but rather intermittently they are in ascents or descents and then it depends on how you can detect, maybe it would be impossible to see it. On Rabash, you could not see anything, nothing. Later on I saw already such external indications that the body would seemingly respond instinctively so that he himself wouldn't even feel that he has this phenomena. But no, no. If a person doesn't want it, you will not see anything.
S. So how can you give an example if he doesn't see?
R. You give an example not that you feel but that you have to show others in order to promote them. This is something entirely different, it may be that I am in a very bad state but I know that I have an obligation and I have to function properly and then I do my work, in that I awaken the others.
S. A friend who comes to some activities of the ten sometimes he comes with an open heart and sometimes he just brings the bodies, that he is sometimes incorporated with them and sometimes not?
R. You should check that by yourself.
9. S. (28:09) You said in the beginning that we can attain the Creator 620 times more. How does it happen?
R. It's when we become incorporated with each other and each one attains the desires of everyone. Because he wants to incorporate in them in order to help them to fill them to be a guarantor for them. This is why he attains the entire general vessel. Each one attains the entire general vessel of Adam HaRishon, it's not a matter of connection, quantitative connection, it is a qualitative connection.
Excerpt 2: Baal HaSulam, "Matan Torah" [The Giving of the Torah], Letter 15 (29:12)
10. R. (30:13)That is the condition, it is a simple one and it's clear, of course it's very difficult, that each one must not think about himself. But rather truly he should throw himself into the others and become dissolved in there, immersed there. By that he actually reaches wholeness.
11. S. (30:45) It's not clear what's the condition, what comes before what love your friend is yourself or the mutual responsibility?
R. No, Arvut is already connection, after each one annuls himself, his own desire, whatever he must have for his existence is not part of this calculation, this is what we call not to be praised or condemned. I was created in this form by the Creator and therefore whatever I receive for my own sake in order to exist it's not considered that I am receiving. Because this is the animate degree. Therefore each and everything which is beyond that, I have to receive it in the form of Adam, similar to the Creator meaning only for the sake of keeping the system and this is how I should exist.
S. In the article of Matan Torah it says he can't come to love your friend as yourself but for this you have the Arvut, only then can you keep love your friend is yourself and here he says you have to engage in love with your friend as yourself then the mutual responsibility takes place. So what precedes, what comes before what the Arvut or love your friend is yourself?
R. I would say it's impossible to have one without the other. Until we reach love your friend as yourself, we cannot keep the Arvut because the Arvut means that I am for everyone, I think for everyone, I'm supplying everyone with everything that I can. This is possible only if I have relations of love on my part towards them. Therefore I would say that love your friend as yourself is the action and Arvut is the result, the complete mutual responsibility. Also love yourself as your friend exists on different degrees, different degrees of bestowing. This is how I would think.
S. But how can you get to love your friend as yourself unless you receive the Arvut from the society?
R. We don't receive Arvut from the society, if we have to keep love your friend as yourself, then by that reach love the Lord your God, then we simply receive it, we get it by the society even though it's any kinds of society like the students of Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma, even if they're like that, the most important is the person himself. Eventually a person discovers that he is standing opposite to the Creator and there's not that many people here, this great public, but rather that he is standing opposite the Creator.
S. So should he receive mutual responsibility for the society or is it ready for him?
R. He must not think that this is a condition and otherwise he will not reach wholeness but rather he should say that I should say that everything depends on me and the fact that I see the friends in all kinds of different forms, in the way that they respond to me, this is all really a projection of what I do and whatever the Creator wants me to receive. There is a certain confusion here on the side of people, usually when they reach these degrees, is it me or the society or the Creator, there's a certain triangle here. Eventually we need to say that there is None Else Besides Him and not to inject on what I need to receive from the environment. I always receive whatever I need in order to keep the condition of Arvut.
S. So just to summarize, if I'm trying to work and love your friend as yourself, I discover that everyone is already in it, in mutual responsibility towards me?
R. Yes of course and along with that it depends on whom you are clothing in, let's say there were people who would reach their individual end of correction and we'll discover that love your friend as yourself exists and the mutual responsibility exists and the Creator is there, None Else Besides Him, good and doing good, one, unique and unified. All of these conditions are becoming realized in their vessels this is how they discover it, inside of the vessel, and along with that, they will discover how much the vessel is broken and it requires correction and in what form it is possible to reach the correction to promote the method of correction and this is how they are operating and writing about it one is not related to the other. There is individual correction where we do not have the general end of correction. This is why Kabbalists, along with the fact that they attain the final state along with that, also realize what state the spiritual vessel is in. You can see that on Baal HaSulam.
12. S. (37:05) I always felt that I am uniting the ten through concern towards them. Is it true and what is the importance of concern over the ten?
R. You are giving an example to the others by that, to the extent that each one in the ten as much as possible, as much as they are together with you in the same disposition towards Arvut because if you're in a single boat you cannot be responsible for the whole entire boat. You need to turn them on, connect them as much as possible, and to connect along with them, in the connection between you which is called Arvut until out of the Arvut which is the vessel, you discover the Creator which is the light.
13. S. (38:26) What is the correct attitude in the work towards love your friend as yourself?
R. That I must see that as the goal on each degree, each state of mind, this is the spiritual state and besides that all the other states are physical states and even shells. I have nothing else that I can say because this condition, love your friend as yourself, talks about the unification of the vessel of Adam HaRishon, we have to correct it, we have to bring it to a state where it will be whole and then the Creator will be revealed in full.
14. S. (39:16) It's felt that there is some heaviness in the ten, what should I do to raise their mood, their spirits?
R. Show them your inspiration, your excitement from spirituality, from unity as much as you can elevate each one of the friends, sometimes this is worthwhile doing, sometimes not. You will see that according to the situation.
S. Why is it important to be in happiness so the Creator will be revealed between us?
R. Happiness is the result of good deeds meaning even if we reveal joy out of our work, it's a sign that our work is correct.
R. Correct, yes.
Excerpt 3: Baal HaSulam, "Not The Time For The Livestock To Be Gathered" 40:34) Twice
16. R. (40:56) This is what is important here, not even to bring contentment to one’s maker if you tried to do it by yourself it is a Klipa, a true shell. It is the opposite of what it has to be, therefore first we have to achieve connection with the friends, an inner connection as much as possible even the smallest one but even if out of the small connection, you elevate this action towards the Creator, that is sanctity. If it's without connection with the friends it is a Klipa. Therefore, look at what he writes. One must not exclude himself from the public and ask for himself not even to bring contentment to one’s maker, it is forbidden to turn to the Creator and say give me the power to give you contentment. No. It has to be that I have to want to receive it from you, please give me the strength to be in connection with the friends, together in one vessel, in one heart as much as possible, so that there we annul before each other and then out of our unification, we from our collective, we will reach out to you. Only in such a way, only through the public this is why the prayer has to be from the public.
Excerpt 3 . Baal HaSulam, "Not The Time For The Livestock To Be Gathered" (42:26)
17. R. (43:05) Look how severe this is, these words are, the words of Baal HaSulam.
Reads segment again
R. Meaning we have to search, how do we enter the public, the collective, the ten. Most importantly how do we remain there in the ten and we don't want to run away and start thinking about ourselves and calculating only for ourselves. But rather constantly, this is the most important, to enter that not so much of a problem but to remain there all of the time, all of the time to renew the connection, my connection with the ten, with the group. Constantly, constantly stay in that. This is considered that one must not exclude oneself from the public.
Reader continues: (44:15) “since one who departs from the public…”
18. S. (44:44) What if he has personal problems then he shouldn't ask for himself or if a friend has health problems or general problems?
R. Yes, this is possible but it's only because later on we'll be able to reach a connection between us. All of these things we need to understand that they come from a single source, from that same Creator, and we have to learn how to do it. The most important is connection, the connection should actually correct and heal everything.
19. S. (45:37) What does it mean, brings ruin to his soul, what is that ruin if I don't ask for the friend?
R. You disconnect from the general vessel of Adam HaRishon and you fall to the Klipot.
S. It says here he who has an attire of pride, he cannot be retiring from the public unless with an attire of pride.
R. Only pride disconnects the person, meaning the personal feeling of himself when he's not incorporated, he is not annulled before the group, this disconnects him from the group, it disconnects him from spirituality. Spirituality always exists in the group even if we don't discover it and it doesn't seem like that, it says I dwell among my own people.
20. S. (46:46) The Klipa is something that exists in spirituality, only if he turns to the Creator personally it's a shell, but if he prepares for the Congress, he opens a text, reads the Preface even alone?
R. Of course, he can read alone but his intention is to reach the congress in order to be connected there with everyone, so there will be the special spirit, special intention, special forces of connection and this is why he comes there.
S. What is the difference between asking from the Creator for the collective and asking instead of a shell? Instead of a shell to ask the Creator through the collective or through the shell?
R. When it's through the shell you move away from the vessel by that you become opposite the Creator, the Creator is revealed in the general collective vessel.
21. S. (48:09) Love is both a deficiency and a filling and thanks to what does the deficiency grow each time towards the love of others?
R. The deficiency is always revealed more and more because the vessel grows. Because of the revelation of the desire that occurs more and more the upper light constantly adds, adds and adds and by that we see that humanity on its lowest degree, the way it is advancing, whether it wants to or not humanity is constantly rolling forward. Through all kinds of different phenomena and likewise we can see it in spirituality but it is on the condition that we adapt ourselves to spirituality. Then also by that we also roll forward and advance.
S. So the deficiency itself becomes fulfillment?
R. The deficiency can be fulfillment and indeed later on the deficiency will be the feeling but it's a deficiency, a lack of love, lack of forgiving, this is how I feel myself. This is called in the beginning torments of love and later on it's the love itself. That as much as it seems to me that I have a deficiency, eventually I discover that this disposition, this yearning, longing for love of others and through them to the Creator, that this is actually the fulfillment.
22. S. (50:22) What is the difference between prayer before prayer and prayer for myself?
R. Prayer for myself is a shell prayer before a prayer is a prayer for connection, it is sanctity.
Excerpt 4: Noam Elimelech, Likutei Shoshana (50:49 ) Twice
23. R. (52:40) This means that in that we truly have the Arvut, that no one can correct himself, no one can promote himself, but it's only through the others. And this is how it is in the group. And this is also what we learned from Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma that only through the group in which each one cares for the others then by that they advance. They enter Arvut, prayers, each one praying for the others and in this way, they get help from the Creator. This is clear?
24. S. (53:45) How can I feel what each one of their friends need right now in order to support her fully on the path and turn more precisely to the Creator?
R. I don't have to feel what some friend cares about. One is concerned about a dress and another about her shoes and another about her makeup or hairdo or God forbid, she has some problems at home or her child is sick or something else. I care along with them about where we are connected in the ten. The ten means we're not connected in our bodies but rather we are connected in our desires to connect and direct them to the Creator. This is called a ten. It is not bodies or corporeal concerns, none of that. Leave all of that down below, in this world. But rather we have an inclination towards the Creator. So let's connect on the level of that inclination in each and every one of us to a common inclination between us. This is how we should be concerned. Out of that everyone will have the right inclination, a strong inclination as much as we are able to connect them to a single inclination and direct it to the Creator.
25. S. (55:28) It says Torah and Mitzvot can be kept only on the basis of Arvut. Does it mean that my friends can advance only according to how much I attain and vice-versa, I advance according to the friends efforts?
R. Of course. Each one should realize and understand that the advancement depends only on the friends. If they want to, I will advance, if they don't want to, I will not advance, truly so. It's because we are connected in a single system and that's how it is built, and therefore if we activate this connection between us in a positive way then we succeed.
26. S. (56:22) What comes first, an attempt to come to a Arvut based on love the friends or attempting to love the friends which brings you to Arvut?
R. The inclination towards Arvut, that there is no choice, and we start to work on each other, this brings us to love.
27. S. (56:53) Does the fate of the friend in my hands mean to be in Arvut is when I can protect the friend from her own evil inclination?
R. I can help the friend with my desires, this is called “each one shall help his friend,” and I can help her to come out of her evil inclination. And this is what each one can do for the others, certainly. And no one can save himself from imprisonment, but only the friends can do that.
28. S. (57:34) In what is the ten a guarantor for each friend and in what is one a guarantor for the ten?
R. The entire ten should be responsible or a guarantor for everyone, for all the participants in it. And this is on the condition that each one is in devotion, in Arvut towards the ten. The general and the particular are equal.
29. S. (58:16) What is the advice to be in Arvut, to keep the Arvut and not to fall from the Arvut towards the friends?
R. It’s the thought of everyone, the desire of everyone, the inclination of everyone, the example of each and everyone.
30. S. (58:35) Is it correct to ask for the correct connection between the friends or to heal the connection between the friends?
R. Yes.
31. S. (58:49) In what each one can influence the group and on what does the group depend on me?
R. The group depends on each and every one totally, 100%. There is no little or partial in spirituality. If something is missing, it is missing, and then there is already a disconnection there. And therefore even one who is not in the connection with the others, it is a disaster. We truly have to reach a state where everyone is in Arvut, in the inclination towards connection.
32. S. (59:45) Can I exchange my pride with pride for the friend and for the Creator?
R. Certainly, this is what we can do. By becoming incorporated in the society so all of our negative dispositions gradually become neutral and later on good ones.
Excerpt 5: Baal HaSulam, "The Arvut [Mutual Guarantee]" Item 17 (01:00:13) Twice
33. S. (01:02:24) Should we check the Arvut in the ten? IF so, how do we do it correctly while I nevertheless see my flaws in the ten?
R. It’s a good question. How can I check myself in the ten and the ten that I am incorporated in? How do we work if each one judges according to his own flaws and I cannot see things that are outside of me, only through my ego, therefore everything is corrupt and distorted? How can I truly check it? We can check it or test it, only above reason when we try to imagine what is the system of Arvut, the correct system of mutual responsibility, and how can I rise above myself and then be incorporated in it. When we speak about it between us, we try in our efforts to rise above ourselves and then we come to a state of the true Arvut for the time being according to this degree. But this is worthwhile to do, to pursue.
S. Is it possible to say correctly that it's upon us to create between us each time the image of the Arvut to help each other?
R. Correct.
34. S. (01:04:31) When you understand and feel that you are the source of all problems for the friends in the ten, how not to despair and actually how to use it for the sake of advancement?
R. First of all I'm happy that you are asking. There's nothing to be despaired about with regard to these states because each and every state is a state of advancement. We saw that after the despair comes a better degree, greater understanding, greater deeper feeling, and that's how we climb. So we can't despair of each and every state when it's clear to us that although each state that comes is stronger or more intense compared to the other states, and that it is certain that we will fall, but as Kabbalists write we need to fall only for a moment. That's the meaning of as if he was petrified, like a pinprick, that's it. And immediately to get up and to continue adding up the forces of bestowal, that's how we need to advance. We fall, it's a must. Otherwise how can we receive additional egoistic desire? How can we rise higher without such a desire?
35. S. (01:06:45) You said now that we all ask for the advancement of the friends. On the other hand we see the friends as corrected, so what should we ask for?
R. That's for you. Later you discover that you had no friends, neither friends nor group nor anything. It was all a demonstration of the Creator before you. The world was created for me so I will correct myself against this form, against this template of the world.
S. So from your perspective the best request for the friends. What is it?
R. I want all of them to reach the end of correction and I'm willing to dedicate my entire life to it.
S. Including the fact that the reward for my work will go to them?
R. Of course, otherwise you enter a Klipot, a shell. I am helping them in order to profit off of them, so it's better if you don't even start.
36. S. (01:08:19) Is Arvut a means to reach adhesion with the Creator or is it the goal itself? Meaning Arvut and adhesion with the Creator, is that the same?
R. No, Arvut, it’s the vessel and with this vessel that exists in Arvut we come in contact with the Creator, revelation of the Creator, adhesion with the Creator. Everything is obtained in the vessel of the Arvut. Read the article of the Arvut by Baal HaSulam. I think we have it in all languages. It is worthwhile to do it before the Congress.
37. S. (01:09:26) In the context of Arvut, how can we use the time we have left before Congress in order to reach the first spiritual degree?
R. How can we use the time we have left until the Congress to reach the correct preparation for it, meaning the Arvut between us, the mutual guarantee. You truly need to decide, it should not be me who is telling you. If I tell you, it doesn't mean it's going to happen, but when you speak about it, the mere conversation about it is already a good kind of influence. I think we have to have a workshop on it. Write down the question and send it to our organizers who can prepare a workshop for everyone later. Let's move on. There are a few things here that we have to get to before the Congress, but in general you see that we are starting to grasp this principle, the heart of the problem, to hold on to it with our collective hand.
38. S. (01:11:03) What kind of Arvut should we be in, in order to exit from Egypt?
R. Only with the desire for Arvut is it possible to exit Egypt, just to start to have the disposition towards Arvut it is enough for us to escape Egypt. Of course on the border of Egypt we have the Red Sea, all kinds of special phenomena, an escape from our ego, which is the army of the Pharaoh pursuing us, and also those bleeding hearts that are chasing us, which are a malfunction for Israel as we call it. But this is already happening at the border, on the boundary between the places.
39. S. (01:12:27) How should the ten behave in the case where a friend never asks for help? How can we work in Arvut toward him?
R. We must take everyone, even if he's sitting silently between you, he's mute. You need to take him into consideration and work for him, it doesn't matter how well he is reacting or not. He’s considered part of the group and the group must work for him. He too will awaken when the time is right and he will give the forces to the group. You should do what is required of you. Don't look at him, why he's not responding, why he's not doing what’s needed. We must give and justify the others whom the Creator did not allow to awaken. It is a sign they're heavier in their egoistic desires and that is why when they wake up, they will actually have greater production compared to everyone else. Because the vessels are corrected and they enter the work from the lighter vessel to the heavier vessel. So each and every generation that comes is wiser and more successful compared to the previous generations, closer to the Creator, and can perform better spiritual work.
40. S. (01:14:21) What is the connection between these two states? For instance, my action will make the connection in the ten fall, but I need the ten because without them I cannot advance. How are they connected?
R. You just need to annul before the ten. Whatever they say they do. This is the right thing for sure, it doesn't matter what. Through all your actions cause connection between them. Again, through all your actions causes connection between them, that’s it. Do not think about anything besides this.
41. S. (01:15:31) In excerpt number 5 he writes that the guarantors are from the good or from the bad and then he says that from the bad it causes someone to be immersed in self-love. Aren’t those two states supposed to complete each other?
R. We will see that later from experience. Don't go into it intellectually. Try to get into it with your emotions and then ask.
42. S. (01:16:13) I hope I'm asking correctly. On the negative he says it's part of the nation to not want to keep the Arvut but to wallow in self-love because the rest of the nation will be immersed in their filth. What can we do to that part that is in their filth and preventing everybody from advancing? We have a lot of examples.
R. It is happening in all of humanity and in all the groups, in each and every group and even in each and every person. There are parts that disagree with the spiritual work of course. What can you do with them? Keep working. Let's hope that after the Congress we will see these things a lot less than we do now.
S. Yesterday in the lesson you said those that don't want and are not signing up for the Congress, ignore them, don’t let them connect. Even though it's not like that in spirituality we have no choice, to strike the ego. That’s where that question came from.
R. I understand you, but it's like having a child who doesn't want to study. So you just have to agree that he will be thrown out of school, he will be kicked out of school, so he doesn't go to study. So will that be better in the end for the child? Or do you have to understand that you will not do wisely if you if you kick him out of school? This is why in the end we agree with him, we tolerate them, but the fact that they're not in mutual guarantee with all of us, in Arvut, by this they lose and they will not advance in spirituality. They will be hearing all the lessons but inside they won't change, within them there won't be any changes because inner changes depend on the equivalence, on the participation with others, on connection with others. So those that don't register, those that don't appreciate the approaches of the congress management and so on, these are opportunities for us to be connected more and more. So then a person can see where he stops and doesn't participate. Thus far and no more. If filling out a form is already the limit beyond which I'm not participating so according to this you determine.
S. But am I not harming my Arvut toward the friend by doing this?
R. No. In the group it’s different because in the group if I don’t participate then I’m hurting the whole ten, it’s true. But in the end the most important is that person because we are still not incorporated in such an Arvut, a mutual responsibility, where truly everyone influences everyone else.
43. S. (01:20:04) You said today that if the friends won’t want it, so you won't reveal?
R. Of course, how can it be otherwise? if I don't get support from the friends, I have no chance of achieving spirituality, entering spirituality; only in the ten when we are in a connection of mutual responsibility on the first level, initial level.
S. So the question is how to check, how can I check myself whether I really want the friends to reveal the Creator?
R. With your concern for them, how much you exert in them, invest in them, how much you want it to happen. You are incorporated in them, with them, that's the way it is. There should be heart and soul in it.
44. S. (01:22:00) Could there be a state that I am praying in the wrong way for a friend and that can harm her, or does the Creator just not hear such a prayer?
R. Of course. In better or in worse I am doing harm but I’m doing harm to myself, not to the friend, that is the way it is. When we achieve mutual guarantee, when we are connected to each other and each one is instead of the others, then we can do that. But in the meantime, it is all only in my direction. To what extent I am connected correctly or incorrectly, and because of it I can win or lose, gain or lose.
45. S. (01:23:06) What are we actually asking from the Creator when praying for the friends?
R. To help them. Let's say I want, each one or everyone together, everyone together is already towards the Creator, but if we haven't come to it then we ask the Creator to build, establish among us such connection that we will be as one. And then from this connection as one we turn to the Creator. We want to present Him with this connection so He will feel it and enjoy our work. We don't want anything besides that, only that He will enjoy, the fact that He has a place to be revealed before the created beings and we don't want to receive anything for ourselves. We won’t even want to have any pleasure. We only enjoy being able to give Him this opportunity to be revealed and to enjoy.
46. S. (01:24:31) How can I make sure that my prayer is really for the friends and not coming back to me?
R. I think that for a woman these thoughts and intentions are easier than for a man. A woman is more able to contribute, to sacrifice herself, to extract from herself than a man. Although she's more egoistic on one hand, on the other hand in her life she has many such activities from which she can learn how to perform an act of bestowal. A woman suffers in her life much more from being hurt and all kinds of states, so towards spirituality a woman is different than a man. I wouldn't say it's easier but emotionally she is closer.
47. S. (01:26:01) Can we support each other corporeally so we won't fall into it instead of being concerned of spirituality?
R. Yes, on one hand the woman is more egoistic, closed within herself a lot more than a man. On the other hand she has more developed instruments to feel others, to sympathize with them, she is better capable of sympathizing and feeling others. So in the end according to the woman's mind and heart we can advance quickly, and a lot. This is why the children of Israel were redeemed from Egypt thanks to righteous women; because emerging from the ego and achieving Arvut, mutual responsibility specifically women if they develop their qualities by this, they can give us tools, finer tools that are more refined. Through the refinement of women who raised themselves above their ego, thanks to them men too will be able to emerge from the ego and rise to spirituality.
48. S. (01:27:38) In our ten only a small part come to the morning lesson. Does it mean that the others are taking themselves out of the common Arvut of the ten?
R. We spoke about it a thousand times. The one who is asking is probably also not coming to the morning lesson and that’s why she didn’t hear it. A woman has no issue with coming to all the lessons. She can listen to the lessons but she must listen to the lessons, to all our lessons, but at a time that life permits her, at a different time.
S. She’s asking if a small part of the ten come to a lesson but a bigger part don’t come to the lesson…
R. Even if they don’t come at all or only a small part comes, it doesn’t matter. But in the end the whole ten must listen to the lesson, not together but each one whatever she can. And then it will work out. But the whole lesson, including questions and answers, everything.
49. S. (01:28:55) What does it mean to help a friend come out of her evil inclination?
R. It means that in every way I can give her importance and greatness of Arvut, mutual responsibility, with words and examples, everything. Importance and greatness of mutual responsibility.
Excerpt 6: RABASH, Letter 24 (01:29:30) Twice
50. S. (01:31:32) It is not the first time I'm hearing this excerpt, if we could explain it, what does it mean “day to day utters speak and night to night-to-night expresses knowledge”?
R. We can enjoy, meaning advance, in a state that is called ‘day’ or ‘night,’ the important thing is how we use the day and the night. There is nothing that the Creator created needlessly; all our states come from the perfect states, from the vessel, and therefore we need to try only to use them correctly, so the day and the night are both required and necessary.
51. S. (01:32:34) Rabash writes here that “you must stand guard, day and night,” so it is not so clear how to stand guard. It is clear how to do it in the day when you're in the awakening but how in the night?
R. When you feel “at night,” you have to go to a state of Hassadim, Katnut, smallness or infancy, and be that way. “And there was evening and there was morning,” darkness and light, these are all the states we go through in general. This is why “a state of night,” we have to use it in order to build a vessel, in order to correct it, to prepare it; and then in a vessel where darkness is felt, where are we bring the upper light through our prayers and the light corrects the vessel, the vessels are corrected from “midnight to the morning,” that is the time the vessels are correct. And then comes “the day,” this is called that “the light is revealed in the corrected vessels.” That is the process. It is not as it happens with us, the darkness and light means that you can switch on the light in the room or to go to the sunlight. Ian spirituality we, according to our vessels, feel darkness or light. If we have only the will to receive, we feel darkness, if we feel up the will to receive with the power of bestowal, the light of Mercy, and according to the light of Mercy, the light of Hochma, the wisdom, is revealed with the light of Mercy and this is called “the light, the day.”
S. In the sentence before last, Rabash writes that “you must awaken the hearts of friends until the flame rises by itself.” What is that state that the hearts of their friends connect to such an extent?
R. Through the connection, when they connect so much that they upper light can grip on to that connection, to the extent of the connection between the friends, to the expense of mutual responsibility between them, the upper light feels them and switches them on, ignites them, enlightens them; and then they're connected by themselves but it's all according to the measure of mutual responsibility between them.
Excerpt # 7 (01:36:10)
52. R. (01:36:39) And by himself, he cannot do it. If he, does it himself, it's a sign he wasn’t in a fall, it was all a lie, the descent and ascent. Meaning from a real descent, only someone else, a friend, several friends can pick you up. But alone, no, because he is falling so from where does he get the strength?
Reader continues twice (01:38:07)
53. S. (01:38:42) If a friend leaves the path, is it a fault of the ten? Have we not done our job in the ten?
R. It is hard to say, it’s hard to say. Until we enter spirituality and go through the first several degrees in the states of Katnut, smallness, we can’t say it is our fault, basically it came down from above. We have to try everything that is up to us and what happens beyond it, to accept it, that this is how it came from above.
54. S. (01:40:21) If I pray for my friends but the friend isn’t praying back for me, can I come out of slavery?
R. It doesn’t matter what the friends are doing, it matters what you are doing, you understand? What matters is what you are doing. Are you investing yourself in helping them, do you want to truly dissolve in them, that is what is important and not what they do toward you.
55. S. (01:41:16) During the lesson you said that I will not receive joy for myself from the revelation of the Creator, I will only receive joy from the joy of the Creator. And it seems something too hard but even, let’s say, in my intention I have 99% that I want to receive joy from the Creator’s joy but there is 1% that wants to receive joy for myself, so how can I arrange this?
R. It will work out through the influence of the upper light, we cannot sort this thing's how much we do and how much we don't and when, so only through the influence of the upper light will it fall into place. Continue and you will see how you will gradually see how things fall into place. Many things we do will only awaken the upper light by them and it does it, we must not forget that the Creator is our partner and it is not for you to finish the work, you only need to awaken the Creator and give Him room to work and we are the vessels, Nukva, the female, expecting His work, His action.
S. But He's also the one who awakens me to awaken Him?
R. Correct, correct, it is written about Him, “I am the first and I am the last” but in between we constantly have to see how we give Him a place to work.
S. I have a small choice, right? Between the first action of the Creator and the last acti0on of the Creator, in between, I have a small, small action, I think?
R. Yes, it is not a small action, it's a prayer. When you ask the Creator to give you a mind, a heart, all the discernments you need to be the right vessel for Him. The Creator needs to be revealed in us, we're like the clay in the hands of the potter, and that is what we need to do.
S. So Rav, you have mentioned that we are talking about Arvut between friends and through this how will we reach Arvut between me and the Creator? So how can I make a covenant between me and the Creator like Abraham?
R. You discovered this in your connection between you and the friends because the Creator is the result of what you build with the friends, just as when you rise from Malchut through all the Sephirot to Keter, up to the Creator. So you have vessels of bestowal after the restriction, vessels of receiving in order to bestow until you come to Keter and that is already the desire of the upper one. And that's what we will come to: in each degree from Malchut to Keter you also have 10 degrees where you must determine your Arvut, mutual responsibility and the connection with the Creator and come to present the Creator toward that degree, which is particular Keter of that degree, that stage. That way we rise, it will be okay.
56. S. (01:45:52) How can we take a friend out of imprisonment if he decides to go on a vacation for a week, he completely disconnects and when he comes back, he wants to share opinion and take decisions in the ten?
R. To participate in the decisions of the ten you have to be loyal to the ten and when all the ten, the whole ten unanimously agrees that he will be in the committee of the ten, this is number one; of course, if he goes against the desire of the ten then when he comes back, there is no way that he's like everyone else. This you need to decide but still you need to give everyone their ability to return and participate in our advancement.
57. S. (01:47:10) So I’m going a bit backwards because I couldn’t ask, but about “pride”, what do you think, is there a state: a person cannot work on himself, right? I cannot correct myself but how can the ten, what can they do, how can they help a friend come out of pride and come back to them?
R. The ten should give examples to that friend as much as possible from every direction but gently. Because if you give them this direct example, straight to his face, he will run away, his ego won't let him subjugate himself, bow his head. And then he will have no choice, we will lose the friend, so we need to very, very gently try each time for each of the friends to give him a different example, a few senses here and there but still it takes time. I am telling you from personal experience, I am very proud, arrogant, very stubborn, more than anyone, until I feel that I've made some improvement, it takes a long time, every time. What the mind doesn't do, time does, it doesn't matter how smart a person is, it is just this is our way.
S. Which proud people are we even talking about if our whole work is to build the friend as perfect?
R. You're not working in this? Are you disconnecting from yourself by this?
S. Yes, I work in it.
R. Okay and in this, do you feel that you have work, criticism, thinking about yourself, others, etc.? You are speaking as if it didn't work.
S. I have no problem about perceiving my friends, on the contrary, the more they express themselves I think it is great.
R. Fine, fine.
S. Then I can justify.
R. We will talk some more, there will be other states.
58. S. (01:50:35) Man himself, when he's proud that moment, he cannot acknowledge it? And he doesn't get the influence of the environment, he doesn't feel he says, “go away.”
R. You’re right what can you do, you're asking and I'm asking you what can you do? That is the problem because there is a disconnection. The ego, our ego that is opposite of spirituality is disconnecting us, so what do we do? By connecting through the group the Creator prepared an alternative path that if we participate in the ten in a corporeal way then gradually from corporeal connection, we will reach a spiritual connection, that is an opportunity, that is an ability, that is what we have. And that is why we need to work on it and nothing but that. That is why in a direct way to tell a friend, “do this do that, do that”, it completely won't help, but through the group, the friends, also maybe not words but he should see how connected we are to one another, that we are in Arvut in the connection between us and envy, lust, and honor, those are the egoistic qualities but it is written that “envy, lust, and honor will take us out of this world” Not from a spiritual world, he’s not in it, he’s in the corporeal world. So envy, lust and honor, if we work on them correctly, it will help to come out, will help a person to come out from the lower world to a higher world, that is called “help against.”
S. If there is no unity in the ten and everyone thinks differently?
R. Pray for it, talk about it as much as possible, that’s it, there is no choice. You have a week before the Congress and then we must – not this weekend but next weekend, right, Friday we are already starting – so now you must organize all the things and be prepared to enter the Congress as one body.
.
59. S. (01:53:48) Asking about excerpt 7, when it says, “a person cannot deliver himself from imprisonment” and then it says that “he's friend raises his spirits so he can work. How frequently when these states happen, how frequently do we have to help the friends, and what should we do when a person goes through these states? How to help a person not to fall into these state?
R. We need to help the others so they help us and we always work in such a way and there's no advancement on your own, just as much as the others help you and as much as you help them, only in a mutual way. And if you remain alone, that you are not investing in the others and they’re not investing in you, so you are not advancing.
60. S. (01:54:53) How can I find the place of deficiency in the friends at the same time and see the friend as whole, complete?
R. Why are you searching for negative things? Maybe you mean how to help them? How to help the others? So you help them by supporting them and everything, as much as you can.
61. S. (01:55:47) Concerning helping a friend: yesterday or the day before I heard you say that to help the friend you have to go down to his state and be there with him. With what part do I connect to the state he is in and with what part do I pull him up?
R. These are things that we need to discuss in a different conversation. A different conversation.
S. Concerning the Congress: friends who have drifted away, should we bring them closer? Should we bring them to the Congress?
R. Yes, why not? Our Congress can be open to all of humanity because it is a Congress of connection that everybody has to reach. It is not a specific Congress that we are discussing some special things that are going in the world of Nekudim, or something specific about Kabbalah. That means we are speaking about the general, the one common only, main thing, the main rule in the Torah: love your friend as yourself. That is the existence of this, that’s what we’re talking about. That’s why this Congress should be brought open as much as possible to everybody, even those who never heard a word. The problem is they will not be able to understand or accept it but still let them have some entry, I am for everyone.
S. So when we are in the ten and we're working every day, how should we relate to friends who haven't been here for a long time but they join us for the Congress? How do we work with them at the Congress?
R. You do not accept them in the ten. I don’t know, we have to ask the organizers. The friends who come, not friends, people that come from outside, can they participate in the Congress or not? Yeah so, they don't have a ten, they don't have anything, you also can’t organize the ten for them, they don’t know what it is and how. But just let them hear, let them listen, listen to us, ask questions, listen to songs, let them be part of it. By that, we are already passing to them the reforming light.
S. We are talking about friends who are in the tenor were in the ten but have moved far, have moved away.
R. If they moved away, they can come back to the ten; if the ten decides to accept them then yes, accept them. We need to be concerned about the vessel getting broader, “the king's glory is in the multitude of the people,” by these we also relieve ourselves. It is easier to rise for the vessel, the broader it is, and I can ascend if it doesn't have a wide foundation, more and more. You know how you build a pyramid so you need a wide foundation. In spirituality it is simple because every time you add 10 Sephirot, you have to add all these spheres in the incorporation between them so it’s always a natural expansion and without you adding those extra spheres in all those foundations on all the stages you're going through so you can rise, the ascend is the result of incorporation of individual spheres in one another.
62. S. (02:00:33) How do we make this inversion “from me to we” every morning?
R. “From me to we,” that needs to be work in every moment and the easiest is f I am in the connection as much as I can, deep and long with my ten. That, even though it is not convenient and it is not good and I don't really want these connections in the middle of the day but I understand that it is the only form that can help me reach the purpose of life, what can I do?
63. S. (02:01:45) You said that even one who's not connected to others in the ten, it is a disaster but there are different levels of desire and . . . . , is it enough to advance?
R. Do as much as you can, whatever powers you have, the maximum you have, no more calculations.
64. S.(02:02:23) Is it possible to ask for the most necessary things for yourself if no one else is asking for me?
R. You can.
65. S. (02”02:329) Is it possible to ask for mutual responsibility for a friend who cannot deal with it, although he is making efforts?
R. You can.
66. S. (02:02:54) A friend from Iran writes: “I am very happy to participate in your lesson, you have many loving students in our country, we are asking you to pay attention to us.
R. I am aware of it, I think we have, even once I felt we have hundreds of students in Iran, 200 maybe it was a very high number, it was many years ago and then the connection stopped, I understand that it is difficult to be in connection, it's dangerous to be in the connection with us. That’s why I am asking them to not make contact if it is dangerous to them, I am really concerned about them. But it seems that the state will change and we will be able to sit together at one table and eat and drink together and sing together songs and that time will come. I am really expecting it. Iran is a very ancient culture and a special nation. As much as I know Iranians, they're very intelligent, very unique, and very gentle, especially gentle. And I think that we will find very, very quickly the closeness of the hearts.
67. S. (02:04:43) How does annulment before each other in the ten lead to Arvut, the mutual responsibility?
R. It doesn't bring annulment, yet. Annulment is annulment when you want to connect two things. So when each one annuls himself, it's not connection, it is just a willingness to connect. Afterwards there needs to be a connection so the connection is when each one penetrates the other and then between them there is really a connection, you see? Meaning the Arvut can’t be if there is no incorporation, there has to be incorporation, it has to be that each one takes the desires of the other and fills them and uses them as if it is his own. And this is the way we exist, that is why nobody takes care of himself, not on his qualities, not in anything. The main thing is to reach the others, to see what they need and then use all his own data in order to correct and fill the other, that is what we need. Then our correction will be quick, minimal and correct.
68. S. (02:06:30) How do I check that we reached mutual responsibility in the ten 100%?
R. By feeling everybody, that they are your vessel, and you're just like a point that holds them and aids them, and more than that, you don't have anything, that is it. More than that you don't want and in this is the vessel the Creator is revealed and you adhere to Him.
69. S. (02:07:12) If we are all egoists, how are the desires of heavy souls different from those of the people?
R. Before the correction, the egoistic desires that are revealed as corrupted are Earthly desires: food, sex, family, money honor and knowledge. The main thing is sex and honor, that is what we see in our world and correcting them is also only through the light that reforms. Our world does not have a correction but by connecting somehow that they can be organized and we’ll help in it. That they’ll extend the light that reforms and gradually understand what a crime it is to stay in such a state and that they're really stealing from themselves their good future.
70. S. (02:08:38) Is there a need to be aware of my correction, of my exertion in connection with my friends in the ten?
R. No, the investment I'm doing is my correction because my vessels are in others. I don't have vessels. I am restricting myself, so as much as I try to be in restriction and above it to bestow to them, in such a way, I advance. We need to just shut our eyes and perform these actions as much as possible and even though everything in me inside does not agree with it, so do it and you will see, “and the pallet will taste” what spirituality means. What to resemble the Creator means.
71. S. (02:09:45) In the preparations for the Congress, we were told to give a gift of love and we divided by area for preparing the clip. So some part of the vessel, the Kli, is sending a gift of love to the rest of the Kli. This evening at 6pm, we are meeting with the friends of the Israeli Kli to give them a message of love to vessel to give a message to the rest of the Kli.
R. Can I connect?
S. Yes, we will send you the link, of course.
R. Usually, it’s 6:30pm?
S. This is not a regular meal, this is an additional meeting that as part of preparation for the World Congress, the Bnei Baruch Israel is giving a gift to the world Kli. It is a task that the Preparation for the Congress team gave to all Bnei Baruch. Each region gives a gift to the world Kli and gives a message of love. So my question is: what should be the intention and thought with which we should come to the meeting so we give the right message to the world Kli?
R. We are performing connections, it doesn't matter from which degrees exactly, and in what ways. But the connection is in order to assemble the vessel, the general vessel of Adam, Adam HaRishon, the shattered one. To the extent we put this vessel together, no matter from side because it’s round, it’s a sphere, it’s circular. It doesn't matter where we come from as much as we participate, but our participation is the main thing, our Arvut is the main thing. That is why when we connect all these parts together each time it is a new revelation and it’s written down in our general vessel from our work, from our exertion. That remains forever and that is our asset so it is worth it to participate in everything possible. So quarter to 6 today?
S. Yes, and we want to take the opportunity to say that the world Kli is waiting for the gift so we will meet you in the Zoom for all the groups.
72. S. (02:12:47) It is written you must awaken the hearts of the friends until the flame rises by itself. Question: how do we add, join all the friends in my heart if I don't see them now in the morning lesson?
R. So the main thing is to see them? We are speaking about the heart and not the eyes. Right? So try and be connected.
73. S. (02:13:31) If the mutual responsibility is a state that is attained only in faith above reason, how do we help friends who are having a hard time seeing that the ten is already in mutual responsibility?
R. Try. Talk to them. The main thing is to speak, especially between the women.
74. S. (02:13:55) When I'm in a state of night I don't feel and I have no intellect. How can I nevertheless rise to love of friends and mutual responsibility towards them?
R. I have to make myself like that drop of seed in the womb, and go in there between them, and then I can develop. And this is how it is with each and every discernment that I want to develop. I have to be like the drop of seed in the womb.
75. S. (02:14:28) How can I liberate the friend from imprisonment if I myself am imprisoned?
R. That is called “man will help his friend.” That nobody can save himself and only the friends can help. Imprisonment in spirituality is that you’re an egoist and I’m an egoist but if we annul the ego between us and connect, we can both come out of prison.
76. S. (02:15:10) On one hand you say that no one can help himself, on the other hand you say it doesn't matter what the friends do but what I do. How do the two reconcile?
R. I do not look at the friends. As much as I hear a response from them or not it's not important for me. I do not want it to affect my work. I can hear them only in a way to add more in my work, to perform actions that are stronger for connection for their benefit, something. So I am willing to hear and open my ears but except for that I am entirely only in bestowing, only in connecting them and bringing them the importance of the Arvut.
77. S. (02:16:20) They're all kinds of levels of participation in the mutual responsibility in the lessons and duties. How can I maintain an equal relation to all the friends? Are there some friends where I have to be in more mutual responsibility or less because of their commitment?
R. I do not determine the extent of the Arvut. I do not know the extent of the Arvut, the measure of the Arvut because I do not feel the general vessel. I just have to open in everything I can, my abilities, in order to be like an adhesive between the friends.
78. S. (02:17:16) Can a woman be in mutual responsibility toward a man or only toward the friends? Is there such a thing of mutual responsibility among couples that are together on the path?
R. Arvut between couples has to be with Kabbalah and without Kabbalah. They need some type of Arvut between them that’s good, and work that they speak about. But what we have in the group is something completely different. It’s connection between different vessels.
79. S. (02:18:06) He begins to obtain life and confidence and happiness, what kind of happiness and confidence does he attain?
R. That it’s attained through connection. That they have nothing, no confidence, no wealth, no happiness, no force, nothing. We get everything…we don’t feel it yet because we’re only getting a small illumination that we hardly feel where it comes from. But afterwards we will feel that we’re receiving what we are, spiritual attainment, spiritual feeling, spiritual forces, spiritual connection, only through that pipeline which is the group. And from it we receive our forces and our understandings, in our mind and in our heart. And we will feel how it comes to us through this flow, through this pipeline of 10 Sefirot. And each one of us is the Malchut that receives from the first nine.
80. S. (02:19:27) Gratitude for the Arvut you give us every morning, thank you for giving us, explaining to us how to connect in the ten.
R. I also feel that we are opening a new degree and I thank-you very much, especially the women part of our Kli, they really strengthen us. We used to study without revealing the woman part and we see how much it helps to strengthen, to encourage us. I'm speaking on behalf of the men now, but also men and women will advance towards the Congress and will succeed.
Excerpt 8: RABASH, Letter No. 40 (02:20:20) Twice
81. R. (02:21:50) Meaning we're only dependent on the feeling of Arvut. I want to get rid of the ego? No chance. I need to get Arvut, this force from the group. To the extent that I receive this force from the group I uplift above my ego, meaning my spiritual degree lifts above my ego. It depends only on the Arvut of the group. The Arvut of the group only depends on the group, on the friends, and not on me. As much as we can understand that all of our spirituality, all of our future, everything we want so much, it all depends on the group, and not on anything else. If I could buy it with money, I would pay everyone as much as they want, from everything I have, everything, only to give me Arvut. That only in the force of the Arvut that I feel instead of my ego, I by that go from my ego to the force of Arvut, and then I am in the heavens. Because it is the force of Bina, connection, of unity, and then I do not depend on my egoistic will to receive anymore. I enter a different area, a new world and that is called the world of Arvut, the world of Bina, of bestowal, or mutuality above Malchut. That is why I don't need more than that. Only by acquiring the force of Arvut that the group can supply me, only then, that by this I can perform my spiritual ascent.
Excerpt 9: Likutey Torah, Nitzavim 44b (02:24:09)
82. R. (02:25:24) Now we understand why we need a covenant before the giving of the Torah, and how to use the Torah, the upper light, in order to strengthen the covenant, to keep it and to reach the Arvut. And in the Arvut then we'll be able to reveal the new vessel, our assent to the spiritual world, to the extent of the Arvut that we can keep. And in this way, we reach the corrections until the final correction.