Morning Lesson December 18, 2022 Transcription
Transcription is made from simultaneous translation which leaves a possibility for differences in the audio
Part 1:
Zohar for All. "Introduction of The Book of Zohar". The Rose (Mirrors of the Sulam [Ladder)
https://kabbalahmedia.info/sources/nbXRIizB
1. Rav’s Introduction: Yes, as it is said Rabash told me that the introduction to the book of Zohar in terms of its power contains the whole of the book of Zohar so this is how we are studying the main part of the book of Zohar. We need to try to both feel and understand and remember what we are reading so that we will be impressed by it, be incorporated in it so it will influence us, the light that passes through us, through this whole system.
This way we will be able to feel it, approach it and also understand how it operates, how it works. It operates on us through several channels, through the feeling, through the intellect, through understanding and feeling in every possible way; this is how the upper light penetrates us and we begin to feel how it works. We are different in our structures, each of us. Some are more emotional, some more intellectual, some yearn more to understand and connect things, some want only to feel how it works without understandinge, each one according to his own nature. So when we connect we complement each other, so let's start.
Reading Item 3 (02:42)
2. R. (03:00) In the Torah there is a story about the work of creation which is what the Creator did in order to elicit this entire system and in this story there are 42 letters.
Reading on (03:18)
3. R. (05:23) In other words this Sefira Tifferet which is Hesed, Gevura, Tifferet divides into several parts, and this is the main thing.
Reading on (05:42)
4. R. (07:45) It’s not so important how much we understand or don’t understand. We want to be incorporated in it we want to know these things and then they gradually work on us. They build those vessels and then we begin to discover for ourselves where they exist in us, because in each of us there are all those 10 Sefirot and this structure and we need to discover these things, where they are in us.
Reading on (08:29)
5. S. (11:03) What is special about the Sefira of Tifferet that everything revolves around it?
R. Tifferet is a Sefira that passes all the light from Keter, Hochma, Bina and then Hesed, Gevura. It contains within it everything that exists below it and this is why it’s important. Tifferet contains within it all the upper light that is intended for Malchut and she passes it down to Malchut. She uses all the Sefirot that are around her and this is why she’s so important. We will learn at lot about it, it will appear almost in every sentence.
S. What does it mean that a Kabbalist attains the Sefira of Tifferet? Who attains it, is it in relation to Malchut or what?
R. It’s in relation to a person's desire, that the more one learns the more one becomes incorporated in these qualities of the spiritual vessels and receives the influence from them. And then one’s will to receive although it’s initially corrupt, it begins to come closer in its nature to the will to bestow of these Sefirot. And then a person begins to feel, begins to equalise between him and these Sefirot; he begins to feel them, begins to incorporate in them and then he begins to be a part of the system. And then when he changes himself to a certain extent he changes himself in a controlled way, in a way that he decides what to do.
By this he already operates within this spiritual system, the upper system and becomes himself a part of that entire system. This is the purpose of the study, and by changing the system through his own participation in it he also corrects himself and corrects the entire world. Likewise each and everyone of us, men and women they all in the end connect and come to be in one vessel, as it says to be as one man with one heart.
S. In this Kli that the Kabbalists achieve consciously, can he decide that now let's say as a ten we rise to Tifferet for instance?
R. Of course. They feel where they are and what they can do for now.
S. I would like to understand the quality of the Tifferet in their work let's say, what is that, some stronger level of connection between them?
R. Of course, they constantly try to adjust themselves to a special spiritual quality and every moment they see that they're in this, in that way and they can receive more upper light from above and pass it onto all of creation.
6. S. (15:44) What’s the difference in saying that the ten Sefirot are stages that the Malchut goes through until she attains Keter and that there’s incorporation between the Sefirot?
R. The incorporation between the Sefirot is the work of the Sefirot. It’s when each wants to be incorporated in the other, in the group, and this is how we work. In what way do we see that we can become incorporated more? By this we open a way for the light to stream through us to all of creation because below us, underneath the souls of people there are also the souls of the animate, vegetative and still, all of creation. So we will also see that we pass light to everyone.
7. S. (16:57) Throughout the study of the Zohar we are experiencing very powerful emotions. We study with an intense desire and true hunger to understand in and outside of the lesson what it’s about. And we also run into great difficulties trying to clothe the terms that we read about in the Zohar into our emotions and we think it is has to do with the barriers of culture and language. Is it correct for us to ask for additional Zohar lessons from our instructors to overcome this problem?
R. This is not the reason. First of all of course you can ask for it, perhaps the instructors as well from your own angle can decide to have another lesson. As far as I'm concerned there is no problem as long as there are instructors and students. But I don’t think that’s the point. It’s just that it takes time.
We will learn and learn and learn, another week and another month and you will see how these things become closer and closer to you and you will feel and begin to get used to them. You will begin to know them by yourselves just as we get to know many things in life because I don’t really know how they work, how things operate, all the things around me in this world. But by being next to them I begin to feel and understand what’s happening with them. The same will happen with us, we simply need to continue, the main thing is to continue each and every day.
8. S. (19:31) I heard you say that we should try to feel internally what we are reading. Should we also try to feel what we are reading between us in the ten?
R. Yes and no. We need to read and to try to understand what we are reading. As much as we can understand fine, and if we cannot that is also not terrible because it repeats itself. And gradually the Zohar opens up for us ways, more internal ways from the light and we begin to understand not through the intellect but through the feeling, through the operations of the light in us.
9. S. (20:45) What is a mirror in Kabbalistic terminology?
R. We will get to this.
10. S. (21:08) In Tifferet it looks like the light of Hassadim is very potent, there's 5 of them. Is there some way we can make, use that bounty?
R. I’m asking that you wait a little, don’t jump. Just from the few words that you have heard you already want to calculate what it’s about. Let's read, become incorporated in what we are reading, absorb it and in that way advance.
11. S. (22:03) I understand correctly that ZA is the Creator's will and the Malchut is the created being’s desire and everything that happens in the worlds is for the right connection of the ZON. That everything that happens is for that sake.
R. Correct. ZA comes from the Creator, Malchut comes from the created being and the connection between them indicates passing of lights, bestowals from the Creator to the created beings.
Reading 2.b. (22:46)
12. S. (31:52) It says that in every Partzuf that belongs to the world of ABYA there is only ZA, Bina and Malchut. We should understand that there are only three vessels towards all the desires we know?
R. Keter and Hochma are Sefirot through which the light passes when the light splits but their receivers, the vessels that receive are ZAT of Bina, the lower part of Bina, ZA and Malchut, these are the receiving vessels. Therefore in every place we can perform the division into Rosh, head and Guf, body. What shapes the light which is Keter, Hochma and GAR of Bina and what receives the light which is ZAT of Bina, ZA and Malchut.
S. Afterwards he writes that Bina, ZA and Malchut divide into 10 Sefirot and in each of them there are three lines.
R. I cannot explain this to you right now, it’s too much but we will go over all this, we’ll study it and understand all of it, don’t worry.
13. S. (33:57) I don't understand the last sentence. Why did the 13 Sefirot connect to the light of Hochma and not 10 Sefirot?
R. The 13 Sefirot, we just count them this way in order to emphasize that there is work here with the Sefirot of GAR, the first three. That’s what he’s telling us. The number 13 indicates extension of light of Hochma. So were it not for the extension of Hochma we would have counted 10 Sefirot. Sometimes we count them as 7 Sefirot, HGT NH or 5 Sefirot but if we’re talking about 13 it’s a sign that we are drawing illumination of Hochma. Just accept it for now and later we’ll understand in what way and in what circumstances it happens.
14. S. (35:28) The 10 Sefirot that divide into different portions here is that attained in the ten as something complete and right away or in pieces?
R. In all the different combinations between them, all the possibilities of connection between them, in all of them we discover the 10 Sefirot in all the forms. Like this, like that because it all depends on how connected they are and this is what’s important for us, later we will see it. It’s like having in our world, in technology and other things you sometimes have a small number of elements in a system but their incorporation always builds new qualities.
S. Many times we compare the ten or these elements to the 10 Sefirot but the 10 friends is still the 10 Sefirot or not?
R. When you begin to connect and accordingly the upper light begins to influence them then they approach, they come closer to the functioning of the 10 Sefirot.
S. They’re like something whole advancing toward the 10 Sefirot or each of them stands as a Sefira out of the 10?
R. Each one is receives in every case in every moment a different role and operates according to this role.
S. What is this role, some investment in the connection?
R. Of course, when each becomes incorporated in everybody else and connects to everyone else then through their connection they build 10 Sefirot in all kinds of ways, manners. And then the light passes through them from the Creator, from the source, from Keter through all 10 Sefirot to the lower ones.
S. How does it happen for the first time for Kabbalists? Do they immediately attain the ten and its complete 10 Sefirot?
R. Yes, each one receives it to the extent that he is incorporated with others and he functions like let's say a unique Sefira. And likewise each one in the group and in this way they pass the light in a way that they are connected between them. Through the connection between them they become similar to the 10 Sefirot. We need only try to connect between us and the rest the Creator does, the light. The Creator will finish for me as it is written.
15. S. (39:33) Do the friends all of a sudden rise as 10 Sefirot together or is it gradual?
R. Their relation to each other in this whole system constantly appears as their qualities and this is as Sefirot.
S. Is this a type of revelation or attainment?
R. Yes. Don’t be alarmed by it, it will become revealed gradually, we will start to feel it through life.
S. We discover all of a sudden that the friends become Sefirot in your eyes?
R. We will reveal it and understand, don’t jump.
16. S. (40:40) The question is about the correct study of the Zohar. What is the correct way to study the Zohar? Should we only read the texts or should we prepare questions? Is it appropriate for us to convene between us workshops on it, what is the right way to study the Zohar?
R. We’re studying as we are studying now, to get to know each and every part in the text and then perhaps you will have time and also be able to go over the text again so it would become more familiar to you. You won’t really know it but the words and other things will become more familiar superficially and in this way we will gradually come to a state that as we reveal the text the text will become closer. And to that extent it will convey more light from the Creator to us and we will begin from within to know its flavour.
The light that is spreads within the vessels is called Taamin, flavours or tastes and then we will begin to feel these flavours just like children who begin to know foods and become acquainted with food. So they begin to know this is sweet, that’s a little sour, this is hot, this is cold, etc. Likewise we will begin to identify in these lights that come to us, we will begin to feel in them all kinds of discernments and gradually we will get closer to them. The beginning is tough because nothing is understood anything. It's just like a baby who doesn't understand where he is, in what word he exists, what is happening to him, how he’s being tended to, he doesn't know anything. He's a little animal. But gradually he begins to somehow see himself in his world.
17. S. (43:49) Concerning the second item this operation through which the HGT come to the Partzuf there’s suddenly 13 Sefirot, the exit of Bina from Rosh of AA.
R. We haven’t gone through it and I'm asking you not ask these questions. Don't show anyone you’re smart.
S. I just want to understand what it means to go out, to exit. What does it mean that Bina exits the Rosh of AA?
R. This means that now she shines to ZAT.
Reading (44:45)
18. R. (51:26) OK, in such an illustrative way he explains to us what is the difference between Aba ve Ima and Yeshut, GAR of Hochma, ZAT of Hochma, what is the meaning of Avir and Avir that is filled with the upper light and so on. These are the things that we will hear about a little each time and over time we’ll get to know them. Just like in our life we hear something and see something and then a little bit more. The most important thing is the connection between the elements and this is how we gradually enter a new world. We are studying the entrance to a new reality so until we get closer to it and hear it this is how this acquaintance will happen to us.
19. S. (52:39) What should we think about when reading the Zohar?
R. The connection between us. That we want to connect in such a way that the upper light can be revealed in us and as a result of that we will understand everything.
20. S. (53:03) Tifferet is like a door that turns the upper light, it raises Malchut. So is the incorporation between us in the ten, is this a door to rising so we have access to the upper light?
R. This is the only way we can ascend, it’s the only way. We have no other way to do it otherwise.
21. S. (54:00) It is written that the quality of Bina is Avir, air, Hassadim. How can we lower ones also want to be in this Hassadim? How can we yearn for it and find this quality?
R. Very difficult to hear you.
S. In item three it says that Aba ve Ima is the quality of Hassadim, mercy and they don’t feel the deficiency, the lack for Hochma. How can we lower ones be in the quality of Hassadim and not yearn for something else, meaning not feel a deficiency in it, no lack in it, is it possible?
R. If we want to bestow to the upper one than we’re in the quality of Hassadim. If we can even bestow by receiving from the upper that’s a different, higher degree like in the host and the guest. So then we already receive from the upper one to bestow to Him and that’s already working with the light of Hochma.
S. Is this only with respect to the person and the Creator?
R. No, why only between the person and the Creator, also between people. There are people from whom I can hear something but I can’t actually receive something because it will obligate me, hurt me in some way. So it’s also between human beings.
S. And in the ten how is it revealed in the ten among the friends, the yearning to be in the quality of Hassadim?
R. In the ten if you connect in the ten then from the connection in the ten more or less in different aspects you will be able to understand what the text is about if you want to actualize it in the connection between you.
22. S. (57:18) What do we do with this very intense feeling that with awakens when we are reading the Zohar?
R. Pass it onto the mind.
S. What does that mean?
R. Meaning think, don’t just feel but think more.
Reading Item 4 (57:52)
23. R. (01:00:15) So here he talks about the lights that come to us from the Creator through the system of Atzilut…
Reader continues (01:00:27)
24. R. (01:05:30) Okay we read this part for the first time from the introduction of the Zohar. It's not simple, there are many details and certainly we only heard, that’s the good case scenario and the understanding will gradually come, just as how we get to know this world. Today we're like a baby who is born and doesn't know anything. He’s being taken care of by the upper one, by his parents and so they take care of them and bit by bit they let him taste more, understand more, hear more, feel more and that’s how he becomes incorporated with all the influences on him from the outside.
We see that in our life. And then gradually as he acquires within all sorts of impressions he begins to understand the connection between them, where they come from these impressions, what to do about them, how to respond to them. And a bit by bit he enters life. We see this from our life. So that’s how we also grow in getting to know the new world, the spiritual world, literally. It's just that in our life we don't really know these things on our flesh, we only see it on our babies. But when we enter the study of Kabbalah and by it begin to get to know the upper world, at least get closer to it, then we begin to learn how it actually happens and why the Creator shaped such processes, why we have to go through these steps of attainment, feeling, understanding, revealing the new world.
Bit by bit we will understand why it opens up to a person this way, why specifically this way one has to move towards the Creator, and that it's impossible otherwise. From the Creator’s desire to bestow and the created being’s desire to receive which are opposite to each other we start to understand how they get closer to each other, how the created being absorbes qualities of the Creator and becomes closer to the Creator, similar to the Creator. This is the word Adam from the word Domeh, similar to the Creator. So that’s impossible unless through this path that the Zohar describes.
Okay I understand that there aren’t too many questions because these portions are very incomprehensible but it’s very good that we heard that there is such such a matter in spirituality. And gradually just like in our life we will start putting things together and asking more about them and getting to know them better.
25. S. (01:09:45) Thank you so much for your last words, it made it a lot clearer. When we read Rabash we always try to measure it with did the love of friends increase between us. What should be the outcome of reading such an intense text?
R. That we will begin to hear, not understand but hear about these things that exist in spirituality. That we need to reach and somewhat connect to them. That’s all, not more than that.
26. S. (01:10:48) How do we influence friends who have a strong resistance to the Zohar?
R. Look, the Zohar is a very unique book. You can hear about it from every direction. I don't think there is any other book in Kabbalah that is better known. There is no book that is more precious to Kabbalists and over millennia this was The book, the Book of Zohar. If for all the rest of the people the book was the book of Torah, the Bible that everyone wrote about and spoke about and did whatever they did with it, so for Kabbalists it was only about the book of Zohar and that’s the book they would write about. Because it's a book that explains to us the system of connection between the Creator and the created beings.
27. S. (01:12:44) While studying the Zohar I can't think of the text or about Sefirot, etcetera, but I can think only about the friends in my ten. Is it correct this way?
R. It’s also good.