Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 17

What Preparation Is Required for the Reception of the Torah?

The preparation for the reception of the Torah involves overcoming the many doubts that arise in us. We each have our own doubts, despairs, helplessness, indifference, a decline in the importance of attaining Godliness, and so on. We thus require substantial and varied efforts to overcome such doubts. We need to surround ourselves with supportive resources: a society, books, daily routines, and family. Doing so takes a long time and all such endeavors constitute preparation for the reception of the Torah. Ultimately, the main goal is to overcome the doubts and uncertainties that confront us.

Many people come to learn, but as soon as they face some difficulties or even a slight decrease in the desire that they initially received, which was meant to be strengthened from below by the effort they put in, they lose interest in learning. Then they resist the study and leave. Such people lack a deep enough need to feel that it is “better to die than to live.” In other words, they can still find sufficient satisfaction in various worldly pleasures: money, honor, knowledge, sex, food, and sports. However, this is also part of the preparation—there is no other way.

Spirituality is wholeness. What is wholeness? It requires a whole desire. If a person’s desire is well aligned with receiving the Torah, with the revelation of light and Godliness, then we receive the Torah. If not, we are still incomplete in our preparations.

Related Material:
Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 16
Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 15
Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 14

Question: We are trying to conceal our desire to receive in order to connect with our friends in the ten. How can we achieve revelation in our work with the help of the screen?

Answer: I want to receive the upper light on my egoism, which, by elevating me above the ego, will help me connect with my friends and, from our connection, turn to the Creator.

The essence of the screen is that with its help I work with my egoism and transform it into the quality of bestowal in order to connect with my friends and with the Creator. In response, the Creator gives us the strength to accomplish this.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/18/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot”

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Question: Are mutual incorporation and unity the same property?

Answer: They are the same property.

Question: Will the world reach a state where the desire to be mutually incorporated awakens in it?

Answer: It must, of course. The whole development of the world is moving toward compelling us to come closer.

We influence humanity with our desire to rise above our own qualities because we see how these qualities jeopardize the attainment of the ultimate goal.

Question: Will people be happy when they feel that mutual incorporation brings them the joy of life?

Answer: The connection between us ensures exactly this; it grants us ease and a sense of elevation.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/17/24, Writings of Rabash “Abraham Arose”

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Question: What does “he should take a wife specifically from his family” mean in spirituality?

Answer: It refers to the connection between souls—closer and more distant ones. Our forefathers and foremothers were, in a sense, relatives. This is written about in the Torah.

From a spiritual perspective, a “wife” represents a person’s connection with the Creator, which helps them reveal the upper.

Question: Am I correct in understanding that we must have a desire to receive for the sake of bestowal? Is that what “from his family” means?

Answer: Yes, any reception must be for the sake of bestowal. It develops from our soul.

Help your friends with what they need, and you will see that in doing so, your own desire to receive for yourself will fade.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/19/24, Writings of Rabash “The Discernment of ‘In Everything’”

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