Afternoon Lesson September 22, 2023 Transcription

Transcription is made from simultaneous translation which leaves a possibility for differences in the audio.

Part 1: “On the Merits of Silence” - Selected Excerpts from the Sources.

1. Rav Introduction: (00:14) Yes, we are going to continue.

Reading Excerpt 10. (00:19) RABASH, Article No. 1, "Purpose of Society – 2" (Twice)

2. S (03:29) Does this mean that even while in the world, at every moment of our life we hold on to the intention for connection?

R. Be sure to try to be in the right direction of your thoughts all the time and in no case, on the other hand, show your thoughts to others.

S. Is it necessary to keep the direction of uniting with people or with the Creator through people? 

R. Hold on to the connection, the Creator through people from your group. If it's not people from your group all together only in the direction of the Creator.

3 S. (04:26) It's written that it's supposed to be serious. What is spiritual seriousness?

R. Spiritual seriousness is that I am constantly aimed at the Creator through the friends and to the purpose of creation through the Creator; meaning I through the friends to the Creator to the purpose of creation. If I am in my thoughts in that direction then it's considered that I am serious.

4. S. (05:21) Tomorrow we have a women's gathering of friends and a special broadcast before that there's half an hour of a gathering where we're having nourishment's and all kinds of connection. How can we keep the seriousness of thought and keep us in speech in that time during the assembly to support our inner work of the friends before the Global Women’s event?

R. First you need to talk between you and summarize between you that you are serious. As much as you are in one direction and everyone all together accordingly you will be in a certain intensity the correct one to reach the goal and let's hope you will be able to carry this out. Are you talking about our lesson tomorrow?

S. Yes

R. You're talking about our lesson tomorrow?

S. Yes

R. Okay I will also try to have that same intention as you and that same goal altogether.

S. Yesterday we already sent the study materials and the friends prepared just like you asked and now we're just getting ready.

5. S. (07:04) Baal HaSulam writes that the simple interpretation is also important. This matter of someone foreign coming in and we need to speak seriously, does it belong to our inner work in the ten? We don't have foreign people, we just work between us. Is there still such a state?

R. I didn't understand.

S. When this uninvited guest comes someone foreign, right? Is there such a state in the work between us or is it just talking about external people? In the inner work is there such a state?

R. No, if we gather and suddenly someone comes who doesn't belong to the ten in general to our path it's forbidden for us to talk about our path and our intention, but rather we need to talk about what interests everyone seemingly or people like him or maybe there's a few people like him therefore we need to be careful.

S. Can we translate this to the inner work?

R. What is it in the inner work?

S. I don't know, what is in the inner work?

R. If I'm together with people with whom there's a part of my group and there are a few that don't belong then I need to be with everyone meaning not within me but what's interesting to everyone. Let's say you're invited to a party, there are all sorts of people and also a part of your group. We need to be with everyone, not just what interests you and that part of your group.

6. S. (09:11) This clarification of when you can speak and how much when we're talking about how things are in a friend’s life we say how are things? How is business? How's the in-laws? We nonetheless talk about these things in certain places. Where can we speak about it and where is it forbidden to do so?

R. About our path, about our goal, about the lessons, and the connections between us, we can talk about it only when we are among ourselves.

S. What about the friend's materialistic issues and problems, in life, it's not recommended to talk about this at all?

R. It's not recommended to talk about what doesn't belong, to talk at all about things that don't belong to the group. If there are external people, talk about what's interesting to everyone.

S. But I mean when we're with the friends let's say we're making a meal with the friends and we have a certain deficiency. We were completely virtual for a few years already and then there's this shortcoming that's felt with the friends. So just talk about these simple matters that really bother us about the friends and let's say we have a meal and at that meal, we're talking about also these simple materialistic things and connecting it all and raising it all and reading excerpts and having a workshop is that okay to do?

R. Yes.

7. S. (11:05) Do we need to speak or is it better to be silent when you feel a certain shortcoming in the advancement of the group or do we need to just focus on ourselves?

R. It depends on the group. If you're connected between you and what concerns you is the quality of your connection then you can talk about it, but that's only if external people are not there.

8. S. (11:48) If suddenly this uninvited guest comes and we're continuing to talk about our topic, how do we need to behave in that way? I see that sometimes we don't pay attention to the common. How do we need to behave?

R. You need to feel this for it to be interesting to everyone but only according to the group that gathered.

S. But they don't feel that someone foreign comes and they continue to talk about our topics. How do I need to behave in such a case?

R. It is forbidden to talk about what belongs to the group, about the purpose of creation, about our study if there are foreign people around, period.

9. S. (13:07) In general, we're talking about among the friends, about actions of bestowal and here as far as I understand he's talking about showing the intent in one's heart, it's not clear.

R. It's the same thing. It's forbidden for you to talk with foreign people if they don't belong to the group.

S. Between the friends?

R. Between the friends you can talk about what you agreed upon between you and what's permitted.

S. It's impossible to know what's in a friend's heart.

R. Which is why we can't talk about it.

10. S. (14:00) Sometimes it's very hard to understand a friend. Do we need to dive deeper and try to understand? Are there different points of cooperation? It's not important how a friend expresses her thoughts?

R. It's best in such a case to be quiet.

S. But will connection take place with a friend whom you don't understand?

R. It will, gradually it will come.

Reading Excerpt 11. (14:45) Baal HaSulam, “Disclosing a Potion, Covering Two” (Twice)

11. S. (17:11) When we gather in the women's circles we try to concentrate on the work, on the intention. Without knowing each other's work we start talking about these things. We talk about things that are joyful like our kids and grand-kids. Can we nonetheless include this a bit?

R. Of course you can, this allows people to be closer to each other so whatever brings people closer to each other you can use it, but the main thing is to not let go of the reason for your gathering and what is the purpose of your group.

12. S. (18:09) There is no need for a lot of explanations and when we express ourselves there's no need to express ourselves too much. What difference is there between saying it or teaching?

R. We need to gradually come closer to each other such that we won't have a need for a lot of redundant words. That we understand each other even without speech, if where it's written “If one word is a rock, meaning one coin, silence is worth two”. If people are silent in general they connect more, they enter into each other and connect In such a way more with each other.

13. S. (19:42) What is the value that the sages left all these secrets and their revelation?

R. They didn't leave any secrets in their talks but they only talked about things that were necessary in passing to each other and they held themselves back from unnecessary words. It's clear, yes.

14. S. (20:25) I realize that I don't have to show my deep thoughts to the outside. Does this mean the thoughts themselves lose focus and purpose?

R. Yes, that as well in general towards the outside we need to speak only to the point. Towards what we must like at work in all kinds of places it's like this, it's like that. When we're with friends, when we are together we can talk from our hearts.

15. S. (21:46) In the excerpt that we just read, there is a feeling that what's valuable you shouldn't express what's valuable, but in the second part it seems that you just don't need to say a lot of unnecessary words you just need to say what brings about benefit?

R. That is true, both of these things are true.

S. I have two Impressions here. What Is the meaning of what the Sages meant when they wrote these things?

R. Both this and that, to speak little and to the point. That's what was accepted between them.

S. A bit into the point this is what the second part of the excerpt is talking about, but the first part is as if the opposite, what's valuable then you shouldn't express at all, it's not expressing it's twice as valuable.

R. If you can hold back then stay quiet, if you're going to speak then think about saying things that are valuable to the world and to others, and then after that you can speak.

S. Can we read this excerpt again, specifically the first part? I guess I can't formulate my question. There it seems to say that whatever is valuable don't say it. 

R. There's an idiom among great sages when they come to disclose a profound matter they begin their words with “I am disclosing a portion and covering two portions”. Meaning even if I'm disclosing a portion together with that I'm covering two portions. Why? He continues that our sages took great care not to utter words needlessly, not even to say an unnecessary word as our sages instructed: “The word is a rock meaning on one coin and silence is worth two”. This means that if you have a priceless word whose worth is one rock, know that not saying it is worth two rocks. This refers to those who utter needless words without pertinent content or use except to decorate the style in the eyes of the reader; this was strictly forbidden in the eyes of our sages. Meaning that if you always want to say something you must say it with fewer words and for all the words to be more directed towards your goal. For people to understand with a few words that you take out of your mouth then they understand already this great matter.

16. S. (26:10) We learned that intellect is the tool that serves the desire and in general if the desire wants something it uses the mind in order to get what it wants. Are there states when the desire is in a certain direction and nonetheless, the mind is not equalizing there and then there's a certain opposition between the desire and the mind and in such a state what can we do because a lot of times such states happen in life?

R. The best thing is to be quiet until it ripens and then it will be clear for you what is worthwhile to say.

S. I mean things that I don't mean to say outwardly, but within myself, there's this inner war.

R. Also in that inner war, let these things calm down and enter into some kind of state where they connect and complete each other.

17. S. ( 28:07) Regarding disclosing a portion and covering two, when I reveal something I need to cover two portions is that how I cover my ego?

R. The best thing is silence. Let those things inside you ripen and it will be clear to you what's worthwhile for you to take out of your mouth.

18. S. (29:11) It's forbidden to speak but can we write and when writing to ourselves or to others is there also a problem there?

R. There is also a problem there because everything that you express in writing is even worse than what you express with your throat. In writing it's related to you personally and then to disconnect it from you it's impossible.

S. What about if these are personal notes?

R. I don't know, I don't recommend it.

S. But our teacher Baal HaSulam, got permission to write to the mass public. This is why He did and others didn't.

R. Yes, there is a reason for that.

19. S. (30:26) How do we help all the heavy hearts with good words if we don't use words how do you influence the stony heart?

R. Use words and speak nicely with each other but in general about things that are necessary. What's necessary? I understand it's especially hard for women. Men in general, like to be quiet, and women because it's in their nature to take care of kids so they have a tendency to be more in speech not that God forbid they are to blame for something but this is how it is because nature arranged it as such. Don't pay attention to that, we are just talking about it so you will know how the wisdom of Kabbalah relates to words that come out of a person's mouth.

20. S. (32:13) In women's tens it is very important to pass emotions. It is very important for women to talk it out, there is such a nature. How do we correctly open the heart especially when taking into account a woman's nature?

R. Learn it. Learn it by yourself between you.

21. S. (32:55) For me to have this limitation because I'm an uncorrected egoist but I understand the limitation but the Kabbalists, why do they have such a limitation?

R. Simply because it's healthier to stay silent just like they write, there's nothing better than silence, and if you are already saying something then you speak to the point and only.

22. S. (33:36) Words of the greatness of the friends. Do they also need to take on a new form and speak only about what comes out of their heart about the greatness of the friends and not just a certain calculation?

R. Yes.

23. S. (34:09) A question from a few friends who are engaging in education that are in dissemination with us, who are writing and studying. Do they also need to hold back in expressing things verbally?

R. No, that belongs to their profession, it belongs to their work and therefore there is no limitation on that.

24. S. (34:43) Why is the Creator concealing with us? We want to hear him but he doesn't speak to us. When will the Creator break the silence?

R. When you start to speak out of the corrected heart, directly to him.

25. S. (35:22) To be quiet about one's inner concerns means not to deviate the friends from their way because they have their own concerns.

R. That could be correct but if you really want to say something to your friend then you can, but only in that case when it will help to reach a greater connection between you.

26.S. (36:07) Silence. Does it help internally to balance the male and female forces?

R. I didn't quite think about balancing the woman's and man's internal energy. I didn't think about that. I didn't hear about this anywhere. We need to try in general what we're learning about today to speak only to the point as much as possible. This doesn't belong to our profession. There are teachers here, parents, etc., so wherever we need to speak we open up our mouths but where we don't need to we try to stay quiet.

27. S. (36:56) Sometimes we share our points from the morning or noon lesson which particularly Inspire us so can we continue doing this because it's in writing and we posted in our ten chat?

R. Yes of course, of course, yes.

28. S. (37:32) Silence in the ten it's a reflection of my inner silence? How does it balance out here the silence with myself or in silence towards the Creator and also in relation to him I shouldn't say all sorts of nonsense?

R. Yes, but we nonetheless need to try not to be just completely silent but to speak and to support the connection with the friends and internally from heart to heart, and through verbal communication. Besides that for a person to be concerned to the extent he is connected with the friends in the group.

S. When the friends are gathering and sometimes standing there quietly with each other, that's what we need to reach in everyday life?

R. If you have the same feeling in the heart then it's really good.

Excerpt 12: (39:54) Zohar for All, “The Mother Lends Her Clothes to Her Daughter”

29. S. (39:57) A question about the previous excerpt. Ultimately the purpose of creation everything needs to be revealed so is it correct that when I disclose a portion and cover two, it serves just the process in order to get there?

R. That's true, that's correct because that's on the way towards the correction. We connect to such an extent that we won't need to speak. We will feel our connection from heart to heart.

30. S. (41:05) We wanted to ask about the word "Selah" rock, and what the Kabbalistic meaning of the word rock, Selah.

R. Selah is a measurement. Let's say, ten grams or 50 grams. It's the amount of weight, let's say, at a certain time, it used to be regarding money in that sense.

Reading Except 13: (41:59) Orchot Tzadikim, 21, “If one hears people….” (Twice)

31. S. (42:44) When we hear silence, could it cause us to be more concerned when someone is silent?

R. Yes.

Reading Except 14: (43:25) Orchot Tzadikim, 21, “It is said Death and life are…." (Twice)

32. S. (45:10) It's unclear if a person who's speaking is at the higher level and here it's as if something that is unnecessary that essentially he will stop speaking?

R. No, no, our mouth is not an unnecessary organ but we need to learn, we need to know how to work with it, which is why he writes here that if with a hand or with a sword you can harm one who is nearby to you. Whereas with a tongue you can reach people who are far. That is a special force that is there specifically in the person that can speak so we need to understand that when we open our mouths we can harm others.

S. It turns out that previously people didn't know how to speak and then as a form of evolution, we learned how to advance.

R. We are given all of our possibilities in order for us to rise above all of them our intellect and learn how to direct all these possibilities correctly. That's it.

33. S. (47:16) It says that silence is good, that we need to make efforts or do we need to be silent when you understand what's behind that silence?

R. No, we simply need to try and speak when it is necessary and not more than that.

S. If it's hard to hold back in silence, what to do then?

R. Speak about yourself in that case.

34. S. (48:09) How do we balance between speaking and silence and the excitement towards the Congress and that we will not forget about the joy during the silence?

R. No, no it doesn't belong to the Congress. The Congress when you come, then together we need to open up to everyone with a smile, a heart, and everything there is, and don't hold back.

S. Smile?

R. To smile and to speak.

S. Tomorrow we're coming, and there's going to be a gathering of friends and a lesson with you, in all the excitement we have prepared questions that are the most pertinent for the whole world Kli. What do we need to focus on in that inner preparation until tomorrow?

R. Out of us opening our hearts, we want to enter into it all of the friends. That's it, come tomorrow and we will learn how to do it together.

35. S. (49:47) What guarding does there need to be in singing?

R. In singing it's the same thing as in speech if there is a reason to it, the goal, connection, a certain belonging to the Creator. Please, you can sing. If you know how to sing the Psalms you can sing it together with your friends. It's quite respectable.

36. S. (50:39) In our physical meeting of the ten there are friends that don't speak at all. If you ask a workshop question they participate but not beyond that, and my feeling is that I don't know them at all. I don't know what their deficiency is. I don't feel their deficiency, I depict to myself that it is common but how should we relate to this regarding silence in speech?

R. It's not on purpose it's probably their character traits or something, check and clarify.

37. S. (51:26) Yesterday in the morning lesson we clarified that the point of restriction is where the screen is working with the tongue. Is that what we start our restriction from?

R. Yes.

38. S. (51:55) A lot of times it happens that we call a bus and in the bus, we're listening to all of our songs and things of that nature and we are going to a certain common place. The bus driver hears all of our songs and all of that. What do we do?

R. Don't worry, he's not listening. In order to hear us one needs to open up one's heart.

39. S. (52:37) Baal HaSulam writes about the voice and it's like the Messiah's shofar, that loud voice. It's that same system that out of silence we reach the correct speech?

R. Yes, that is absolutely correct.

40. S. (53:10) How can we speak through the intention without words since I feel the words as false and the intention is something true?

R. We will learn that way to speak gradually.

S. When will that be?

R. Everything will be okay.

41. S. (55:44) From our ten we have been trying to say it for a few days already all the warmth and love that is passing from you to us which we feel we don't want anything for ourselves we want to return it all to the Creator with great gratitude to you. Thank you very much for each one of your smiles.

R. To you as well, I feel it.

42. S. (54:19) A question regarding the tongue and the sword, is the tongue the beginning of loving others?

R. Yes.

S. The silence, if the falsehood is in this certain frequency then the silence is like an antenna to the Creator?

R. That's nice.

S. In this space that is created is that the same as the space the Creator made for the created beings?

R. Yes.

S. Basically when we speak with the Creator it's the true person that is speaking?

R. Yes.

S. Thank you Rav, we are very happy to see you in the Congress.

R. I too am looking forward to it.

43. S. (55:55) Tomorrow we have two events, a gathering of friends for women and a lesson with Rav and I heard a few things that men are really expecting a demand from the women. Can you explain to us what exactly they are expecting from us?

R. I don't know. I don't belong, not to the men, not to the women. I belong to being a teacher; therefore, I cannot relate myself, ascribe myself not to the men and not to the women, truly no. For you need to speak with the representatives of the men and the women to clarify these matters or let's say, tomorrow during the lesson you will get up and explain what's the problem?

S. What do you mean to get up and to explain what's the problem?

R. What do you want to hear?

44. S. (57:21) When people are cursing you stay silent. When another person can see everything you feel and how do we what do we do with that is that not considered?

R. It's not considered. It's above our opportunities, beyond them.

45. S. (57:57) I have such an impression that we are aimed at silence because not with the words, not the written form, we cannot pass our attainments?

R. No, that's not correct. You can sing without words, you can write, you can even speak, why not, just speaking about what's between us is the most important which directs us to the purpose of creation to the Creator.

46. S. (58:42) In the beginning of the lesson you said that even when you're not among those in the group, be just in the direction of the Creator. How to be directed towards the Creator if we're not with the group?

R. I don't know, people that are not in the group and to be directed to the Creator, I don't know why I said it. There were probably a few other sentences that were part of that, I don't know.

S. You said you need to always be in an intention even when we're not in meetings we need to be directed?

R. In general, a person needs to be directed through his friends to the Creator. This is our constant direction throughout all of life. Try to be in it to support each other in that.

47. S. (59:54) With all of the divisions and opinions, I can do it only during the lesson. What can I do to attain it during the day?

R. You have books, you have the internet, you can bring these things out again and again. You can see in our archive what happened 10-20 years ago. There's a lot of material. Good luck.