Daily Lesson March 1, 2024 (Afternoon)

Part 1 Baal HaSulam. Shamati, 202. 

In the Sweat of Your Face Shall You Eat Bread – 2

Hello everyone, we are reading from Baal HaSulam, Article 202, I heard, In the Sweat of Your Face, Shall You Eat Bread? You can find study material in Siluat HaVa and Arvut, and you can send questions through their websites. 

R. So please, let's read first.

Reading Article. (00:27) “Diminishing the light is its correction…”

That is, nothing is achieved without an effort because it is impossible to obtain the complete light in utter clarity. The advice is to diminish the light. In this way, it is possible to obtain it with a little effort that the lower one can make.

This is similar to one who wishes to move a big building. Of course, this is impossible. So what does he do? He takes the building apart into small bricks, and he can move each piece. So, it is here, through diminishing the light, one can make a small effort.

R. (01:41) Meaning, this is the way to move it from one place to another, in order to draw the light from the authority of the Creator to the authority of the created being. Meaning that he can give forth his exertion in order to bestow in small portions. That which he is capable of doing. And then it turns out that all the light will eventually be received in order to bestow. Questions? 

S. (02:23) Tbilisi. Good day, dear Rav, dear beloved Rav. Tell me, please. Now, before the lesson, I checked my mind, my heart, I tuned it to the Creator, to the friends, and afterwards I blessed, and I thanked the Creator for the light that He is giving me, and I asked Him that this light, which I don't want to receive, I want to bestow this light to my friends, and through the friends to bring it back to Him. Do I do an action of bestow? 

R. Yes. If you constantly think, at least now, during the lesson, about such action on your behalf, then you are truly bestowing to them, and through them to the Creator. 

S. Question, dear Rav. I'm sure that my friends will join. I would like, we would like, to thank the Creator for you, and to return all this light to the Creator, and again, thank you so much for you. 

R. Thank you very much, but you should know that I do what I have to do, and congratulations for all that you do. 

S. Question, we also need to do that, we want to become like you.

R. I understand you, but in essence, I do not expect some thanks from you or expect some gratitude from you. I simply do what I must do. 

S. But you want us to bestow to the Creator.

R. Yes, that's why I'm doing it, for you to bestow to the Creator. 

S. I love you very much, dear Rav. 

R. Yes, we're doing it for one intention, the question is, and yes, love you very much, thank you.

R. That's it, no one else wants to ask? Well, we'll read it again. Read once more, please.

Reading Article Again. (04:55) “Diminishing the light is its correction…”

In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, who diminishing the light is its correction. That is, nothing is achieved without an effort. Because it is impossible to obtain a complete light in neutral clarity. The advice is to diminish the light. In this way, it is possible to obtain it with the little effort that the lower one can make. 

This is similar to one who wishes to move a big building. Of course, this is impossible. So, what does he do? He takes the building apart into small bricks, and he can move each piece. So, it is here, through diminishing the light, one can make a small effort. 

S. (06:18) Turkey 2. Shalom, Rav Yakar. Rav Yakar, how and from where a person can receive the strength to bestow? 

R. Of course, from the Creator. The Creator is the center of everything. If we want to receive something, certainly we turn to the Creator. Yes?

S. Rav Yakar.

R. Yes.

S. So, what is the center of the Creator? What is the center of the Creator? 

R. The center of the Creator is the Creator Himself. There is no center there, or peripheral, or something that is more important or less important. Rather, the Creator is the point in the heart, in our heart, in which we place above everything, in the center of everyone.

S. Thank you, Rav. Beautiful.

R. Thank you.

S. (07:50) Woman Brazil. When we are not in equivalence of form with the Creator, this state won't let us receive life or to receive the light of Hochma. How can we receive the mercy from the Creator so that He can change our egoistic nature? 

R. We try, despite everything, to be as close as possible to the Creator. And, just as He writes here in this small, short article, in the sweat of your face, shall you eat bread? So, it's written that He breaks the building into small pieces, and that's the way He can move each piece. Yes? So, it is here. Through the diminishing of the light that one receives from above, the great light, He can take it and divide it into small pieces, and then He can give a small effort, as He has the forces to do that effort, and that's what enables Him to give forth that effort and receive light.

Here, Baal HaSulam is giving us a method of how to receive the light. As we divide our desire into many desires and ask to just fill the small desire for us, and for it, we can pay, we can give. Just like in a store.

I went to the store, and I saw that there was this big cake there. I smell something really good and nice, but I can't receive it all. What do I do? I ask for a small slice. And then the shopkeeper gives it to me, a little piece, and I'm willing to pay for that.

That's how we need to do it with the Creator. We can't receive all the light and fill all our vessels. We can ask for just a small piece and pay. The money that we already have, a little. That's it.

S. (11:17) Woman Kyiv 7. In the Ten, in practice, what is the action of lowering the light? Diminishing the light. 

R. If we all ask, then we're asking in a manner that each will receive a portion of the whole light. And that will be enough for us in order to receive, in order to bestow.

S. Do we also need to diminish it somehow? 

R. That could be. It could be that we're doing that, the dimming of the light, so that it will be less. Or it could be that we're simply a lot of people who can reveal Him completely and divide Him between us.

S. Can we ask another question, please? What is this building that we built with bricks? What is this building in the world of the end of the world? 

R. We're building a building in which the Creator will be. Okay? 

S. (13:03) Moscow 6. In the article, it's written to achieve the light, and then we need to diminish the light. In one of the parts in the morning, you said you need to find in the next degree. How can we look at our state from the next degree?

R. For the time being, you don't need to think about that. It will just confuse us. Very simply, we need to attain the Creator in such a state in which we can ask Him to give us a small portion of His light, which we can carry, which we can bear, in order to receive for Him, in order to bestow.

S. (14:14) Women MAK 30. If we can, we have two questions. First question. We are egoistic. Can we learn to control our ego that wants everything right here, right now, and to be fulfilled with just a little? 

R. That's how we gradually find our way to the Creator, in the ten, not alone. And many such actions that we do, and we ask the Creator for many requests. Each request returns to us. And in such a way, we divide what we receive from the Creator into small pieces. And in this manner, we gradually receive for Him.

S. Another question from a friend. What does it mean to transfer a big building, to move a big building? 

R. What does it mean to move a big building? You can depict yourself. Imagine to yourself that the Creator wants to give you some form of reward, some prize. Let's say it weighs fifty kilos. You can carry it and pass it and transfer it. So, because of that, He gives it to you in smaller portions. In smaller portions, you can take it and transfer it, take it and pass it on, until in your place you will collect all that you received from the Creator.

S. One more question. What action can we do in the ten to draw the light? 

R. I didn't understand. 

S. What type of action should we do in the ten to draw more light? 

R. Only the connection, the more connection between you. 

S. (16:42) Woman Turkey 1. I'm making an effort, but sometimes it feels like I'm wasting my time. How can I check if I'm channeling the effort in the right place?

R. You need to feel it. You need to feel. Let's say, you really want to do, to perform some action towards the Creator. So, you need to connect with several of your friends, just like you have right now, five or six, yes? And in such a way that you connect together, just as in place of six friends, there's one woman, one big strong woman, and you turn to the Creator for everyone, for all six, and the Creator answers you. And then it turns out that you enter into connection with the Creator, six against the Creator. And you'll feel the extent in which the Creator wants to fill all of you. Okay? 

S. I'm spending effort, but at one point, I feel like I could have done better, I can do better, why can't I add something more? And this is what makes me very upset. 

R. So, you don't need to remain in such a state. Why didn't I do, or I did do? Did I do it right, or a little right only? Or not at all? You need to move on, to continue. To continue. In the same state, with the same conditions, you're wiser now, and you're advancing more to the Creator. And you want even more to receive from Him, what you wanted to receive earlier. And this way, until you succeed. It is possible. Try and see. What else do we have? 

S. (20:31) Woman English 1. World Kli, Rav, according to the article, would it be proper to think of the light as this great puzzle, with many, many, many pieces, and we just take the... and we just think, take piece by piece, and put it together into this great puzzle? 

R. Yes, you can think about it that way. And you can relate this way to the general great light, as we relate to it in the pieces, and receive it in pieces, and attain Him through these pieces. And through these pieces, He enters us, and we gradually come to a state, in which we will all be full with the whole light. 

S. Thank you so much, Rav.

S. (21:47) Women Spain. Why, when we ask for a small portion, we cannot see what the Creator wants. We have lots of disturbances that stop us from seeing what the Creator wants from us.

R. The Creator wants to give us the light of Ein Sof, infinite light, everything. But we need to see the extent in which we need to receive in order to bring Him contentment from our work. 

S. (22:49) Woman ITA. Thank you, Rav. Good morning. A question from Estella. What is the difference between our face and the face of the Creator? And how does intention and effort intervene to achieve increased light?

R. Repeat ITA, repeat, please.

S. In fact, there are two questions. The first is, what is the difference between our face and the face of the Creator?

R. Excuse me, ITA. Face or faith? 

S. Faith.  

R. The face of the Creator is the light, the upper light, which is meant to fill our desire and to raise us, according to His filling, upwards. And that's the upper light. And our face is like we can see, the way we see each other.

S. The friend continues. How does the intention and effort intervene to achieve the increase in light?

R. Only through the effort and intention do we come to a state in which we are capable of receiving the upper light in order to bestow. 

S. (25:04) Woman MAK 113. Can we please understand that those little requests that we have that are connected to one prayer of the Ten, is that the same light that we return to the Creator? Is this the light that connects between us? 

R. There is no light that's between you and you're not giving back any light to the Creator. Rather, you're operating only in order to create from you one desire between you all that can receive a little of that light that the Creator wants to illuminate you with. And it you will be able to receive and with that delight the Creator.

S. Can we connect those requests to a mutual prayer?

R. It’s possible.

 S. (26:26) Women MAK 43. Question from a friend. The first break, is that a reward for us only when we want to have it?

R. Of course, of course.

S. (26:47) Women Lithuania 5. The sweat of your face, is this the exertion that we put in order and how to fulfill it?

R. Yes, that way too.

S. So, we are looking for spiritual actions so that we can do and we can make it. 

R. Yes.

S. (27:31) Women MAK 25. If we connect in our ten in order to come to the one desire, the right intention, does the light stop shining, and then we can receive it?

R. Yes, gradually like that.

S. (28:25) Women MAK 36. Maybe it's a simple question. When the light fulfills us and we feel the impressions from it, we're not supposed to stay in this joy. We need to pass it on and to share it with others. And here it's like I agree again to be empty and the spiritual work is right here that I'm actually participating in this process. Is that what we're talking about?

R. Joy for receiving from the Creator and passing through you to others.

S. But not that I'm getting fulfilled.

R. No. 

S. (29:22) Women Turkey 8. Can we say that just as the Creator will not give us pain, we cannot bear it, He will not allow us to suffer too much light?

R. Of course, yes. The Creator watches over us and wants us to succeed.

S. (29:55) A friend from Turkey was asking the same thing, but I'd like to be more precise. There is a feeling in the Ten that with the help of the desire we draw a bit of light, but we couldn't overcome. 

R. It will come again, don't worry.

S. (30:27) Moscow 5. How do we feel the light of the Creator in the Ten?

R. As a desire to do everything only for the benefit of the friends.

S. (30:48) German. The question is, how do we diminish the light because we cannot achieve the whole of the light?

R. Yes, of course, we receive from the upper light a very small portion of what the Creator sends, and we can receive it in order to bestow only very little. And that's called that we are bringing contentment to the Creator through that.

S. Is it something that happened on the conscience?

R. Yes, of course, I'm standing before the upper light, and I know that I'm not capable of receiving from it anything as He shines to me. But I can receive from Him, let's say, five percent. And upon those five percent, I'm willing to obligate myself and be assured that I will receive from myself, but only in order to fill the Creator, to bring Him contentment. That's how we do it.

 S. (32:45) English 1. Is it normal for the sensations that we get of being able to advance and work that sometimes go forward and sometimes you feel so far from it, and then other times you advance again? Is this normal, and will I go back to where I was before making progress? Is that normal for students? 

R. Yes, all these things we need to examine those upon ourselves, and this way we will see correctly our advancement. Forward, backwards, a little to here, a little to there. Yes, in all sorts of possibilities. 

S. (34:13) Women Moscow 8. When we integrate, in a deep integration with the friends, does the light make those bricks?

R. Yes.

S. So as a continuation, the main mission is not to disturb the builder to build the building.

R. Participate actively as much as I can.

S. By the prayer that I am raising?

R. Yes.

S. (35:02) Women MAK. Dear Rav, to be precise, if I understand right, the diminishing of the light is actually the restriction and the light that returns, and the bricks…?

R. It's probably like that. I don't know what you're talking about exactly. I don't know what bricks you're talking about.

M. It says in the text that we are moving small bricks.

R. Yes.

S. (35:37) Women Rus.  Rav, if we understand correctly, the receiving of the light depends on our exertion and the quality of our connection. And the amount of light depends on…?

R. I think so. Even though I wouldn't say it that way. In such a manner, in such a sharp way of quantity and quality.

S. The amount of the light depends on the quality of our connection?

R. Yes.

S. (36:25) Women Ukraine 2. I hope I can express myself. It's about joy. We meet four times a day with the friends. I receive an impression, joy. I go out to the world, and everything just gets messed up again. Do I understand right that I can hold this state? To hold this joy only by thinking about the friends?

R. First of all, only in that way. And secondly, if you speak louder into the microphone, it would be better. 

S. I think it's been translated wrong. Everyone can do more, but her exertion… She can give more, but she feels like she cannot do anymore. And that makes her upset. And she's asking, how can a person use the most of his potential?

R. Simply, with all your might, work on the connection with the friends, and from the friends to the Creator.

S. With all our might, we feel that we can give everything, but at the end it comes up like little pieces.

R. No, no, it's not crumbs. It's sparks. It's small doses of the upper light. So, you need to appreciate it.

S. (38:28) Women PT 25. Everyone in the Ten has a special role, a potential to pass on the light in order to complete the vessel.

R. We don't quite talk about that yet, but it could be. I'm asking because it feels like every time a person makes an exertion, and he receives a little, and just in small portions, I feel that in the work in the Ten, some work the friends are doing, I can never do. And sometimes I can just feel them, or I don't know. Maybe it's the connection that I will never be able to be like it. 

R. Well?

S. The question is, is it something that a person needs to receive within himself, between himself and the Creator? 

R. Between him and the Creator, first of all, and then perform additional actions. It could be connection with others.

S. (39:54) Women PT 10. At the time of the preparation in the morning, we have a time of silent prayer, five minutes that we are in silence. At that time, she reads the prayer from the Siddur, let's say the 18th prayer. Is it good or to stop with it? 

R. No, no, no, it's fine.

S. Who diminishes the light, us or the Creator?

R. The diminishing of the Creator comes to us from the Creator. Just like all of the actions altogether with the light, and that helps us begin to receive Him in order to bestow.

S. So at the end, we want to raise the desire.

R. According to the ability, yes, according to the ability.

S. So the little bricks help us to raise the desire.

R. That’s usual, yes.

S. Can I also ask, please? Yes, who's that? You said that the desire that we feel the light of the Creator and to have a desire to do everything for the friends. How to help the friends?

R. Together, simply together.

S. (41:44) Women Rehovot 1. What does it mean: sweat of your face, what does it mean in spirituality? 

R. What is the question? 

S. The article starts with the sweat of your face. What does it mean in the spiritual meaning?

R. With great exertion. 

S. Great exertion, this is how to understand it in the Ten?

R. Yes.

S. Another question, please. Everything that happens in our life, this is the Creator who talks to us, the relation with the kids, with the husband. Is this always the Creator that pushes us and directs us correctly?

R. Yes. 

S. (42:32) Women MAK 21. It looks like that I give less exertion, not enough exertion.

R. No, no.

S. Then this burden falls on the Ten.

R. Well, yes, correct. 

S. That's correct because every day we're doing some exercises, but I feel like we're lifting something very heavy together. And once I lay off my hands, they have all the weight.

S. (43:22) With the example of the cake and the diminishing of the light, when someone has diabetes, how can he taste the cake that the Creator really wants to give him?

R.  Don't worry. The Creator won't give you something sweet in that case.

S. And yes, he will think about us.

R. Yes, he'll be considerate of us.

S. (43:53) MAK 27. There's a feeling that one friend has a desire to move this building, the other one wants to do it, the third one knows how to do it, the fourth one knows how to do it. How can we connect between all of us to turn to one strong engine?

R. That's your work.

S. So, in order to improve, is that an illusion? How can we direct ourselves, how to understand together to direct it to one point?

R. You need to depict to yourself what stands before you and persistently implement it. The main thing is through the connection between you.

S. (44:50) Woman German. You answered the friend that we need to connect and talk to the Creator like a strong woman. What turns us to a strong woman? What kind of actions do we need to do in order to turn strong, to become strong? You said to the friend that we need to connect between us and to turn to the Creator as a strong woman. What makes us a strong woman and what type of actions?

R. Those in which you are together. When you're together, that's it. If you turn to the Creator when you're together, He will hear you for sure and for sure will go towards you.

S. (46:15) Women MAK 56. Can we say that the light is a revelation? Meaning, an understanding, an idea?

R. Yes. 

S. So, it turns out that we receive it by our exertion, the connection in the Ten. So, how practically I can pass it on?

R. Very simply, work together with the other friends.

S. Do I need to come to the Ten and tell them, this is how I revealed it?

R. No, you don't need to say anything.

S. So, I just pass it on from my heart to the Ten.

R. Yes.

S. (47:09) Latin 4. When we progress in spirituality, each and every step requires more conditions. He's asking if we don't have enough suffering, can we move to the next degree? And are we behind in the process?

R. It will take us longer, but we will nevertheless move forward.

S. They said to us in a different article that we need mercy. What should we do with the friends that can't keep up? Should we wrap them and take them with us?

R. Yes, so that they will be with us. Yes.

S. (48:52) Women Lithuania 5. When a person receives a piece of that delicious cake from the Creator, what is the price? 

R. Price or prize?

S. Price. Price. How much?

R. It costs as much as one is capable of paying.

S. (49:36) Women Azerbaijan. With the diminishing of the light, how can we direct the will to receive? 

R. We need to aim our desire to receive to the Creator. For Him to care for it, direct it, and fill it. But because we're not there yet, in that state, then it's enough that we all connect together and pray together, all of us, to the Creator. For Him to do this.

S. (50:41) Women Turkey 5. When we are not able to do something, how can we know it is not because of ego's excuses and we did all we can do?

R. I don't think that there's a big difference between this and that. We will nevertheless have to complete all our efforts eventually.

S. (51:35) Women Latin. I feel more and more that we are the vessel of the Creator. I have this feeling in my heart and there is this desire. I have this feeling that we have to pass it on in a constant way. How can we receive the light and to adhere to the Creator and to become the conduit that passes on the light in a constant way?

R. We cannot do anything, but we give forth our efforts in the connection between us and in a little of the connection with the Creator. We between us and with the Creator. And from this effort that we put forth; we receive the forces. The forces of ascent.

S. (53:00) Women MAK 36. If the corporeal life dragged me, but I'm still holding in spirituality, between those two surfaces, I feel shame and guilt that I don't do enough effort. What should I do?

R. Connect with the friends and pray.

S. I feel that I can give much more to the group, but I'm holding myself because I can't always hold the level of this exertion. Can I lower it a bit or just to make the max?

R. As much as possible.

S. (54:10) Women ITA. We are learning to always be grateful to the Creator. And there is no shortage of effort. Do they build in the dark or in the light, even if we see nothing? 

R. In any case, these efforts all enter into the construction. 

S. (54:46) ITA Men. How can we distinguish the little light that I can receive with, from what we cannot receive with? 

R. We need to start feeling that. When the light truly comes to us, we will know how to divide it into a part that is permissible to be used and the part that we're not allowed to use, that is prohibited for usage. That will come. That will come.

S. For example, take good food. I can eat good food or I can't.

R. You learn this when the time comes.

S. (56:26) Women MAK97. So, who breaks the building into small bricks, us or the Creator?

R. I didn't hear it well.

S. Who breaks the building, us or the Creator?

R. The Creator. 

S. (57:10) Tbilisi. I just think about the friends. Is that not right that before the lesson we need to be on the screen as a condition to enter the lesson?

R. Write it and we'll discuss it.

S. (57:52) Women Russia. The desire that the Creator corrected, can it break again? 

R. No.

S. (57:58) Women Spain. What is the most active form of a prayer in order to induce the work? 

R. There is no more. Prayer is the most powerful, most precise means and you could even say the only one.

Good luck to everyone. All the best till tomorrow.