The transcript has been transcribed and edited from English simultaneous interpretation, thus there may be potential semantic inaccuracies within it.
Daily Lesson (Morning), October 19, 2024.
Part 1: Baal HaSulam. Shamati, Number 8 – What is the Difference Between a Shade of Kedusha and a Shade of Sitra Achra?
Reader: Hello, we are reading from Baal HaSulam, we are reading the Shamati article, article number 8. What is the Difference Between a Shade of Kedusha and a Shade of Sitra Achra? You can find the study materials in the study materials tab in the Arvut system. If you ask a question here in the hall, make sure you have a microphone, put it close to your mouth and ask loud and clearly. We're reading from Shamati, article number 8. What is the Difference Between a Shade of Kedusha and a Shade of Sitra Achra?
Reading: (00:43) 8. What Is the Difference between a Shade of Kedusha and a Shade of Sitra Achra? I heard on July 1944
It is written (Song of Songs, 2), “Until the day breathes, and the shadows flee away.” We must understand what are shadows in the work and what are two shadows. The thing is that when one does not feel His guidance, that He leads the world in a manner of “The Good Who Does Good,” it is regarded as a shadow that hides the sun.
In other words, as the corporeal shadow that hides the sun does not change the sun in any way, and the sun shines in all its power, so one who does not feel the existence of His guidance does not induce any change above. Rather, there is no change above, as it is written, “I the Lord did not change.”
Instead, all the changes are in the receivers. We must observe two discernments in this shade, meaning in this concealment:
When one still has the ability to overcome the darkness and concealments that one feels, justify the Creator, and pray to the Creator that the Creator will open his eyes to see that all the concealments that he feels come from the Creator, meaning that the Creator does all this to him so he may find his prayer and yearn to adhere to Him.
This is so because only through the suffering that one receives from Him, wishing to break free from the trouble and flee from the torments, then he does everything he can. Hence, when receiving the concealments and afflictions, he is certain to take the known cure—to do much praying for the Creator to help him out of the state he is in. In that state, he still believes in His Providence.
When one comes to a state where he can no longer overcome and say that all the suffering and pains he feels are because the Creator sent them to him so as to have a reason to ascend in degree, he comes to a state of heresy, since he cannot believe in His guidance. Naturally, at that time, he cannot pray.
It follows that there are two kinds of shadows, and this is the meaning of “and the shadows flee away,” meaning that the shadows will pass away from the world.
The shade of Klipa [shell] is called “Another god is sterile and does not bear fruit.” In Kedusha [holiness], however, it is called “Under its shadow I coveted to sit, and its fruit was sweet to my palate.” In other words, he says that all the concealments and afflictions he feels are because the Creator has sent him these states so he would have a place for work above reason.
When one has the strength to say this—that the Creator causes him all this—it is to one’s benefit. This means that through this he can come to work in order to bestow and not for his own sake. At that time, one realizes, meaning believes that the Creator enjoys specifically this work, which is built entirely on above reason.
It follows that at that time, one does not pray to the Creator that the shadows will flee from the world. Rather, he says, “I see that the Creator wants me to serve Him in this manner, entirely above reason.” Thus, in everything he does he says, “The Creator certainly enjoys this work, so why should I care if I am working in a state of concealment of the face?”
Because one wants to work in order to bestow, meaning that the Creator will enjoy, he feels no lowliness in this work, meaning a sensation that he is in a state of concealment of the face, that the Creator does not enjoy this work. Instead, one agrees to the leadership of the Creator, meaning however the Creator wants him to feel the existence of the Creator during the work, he agrees wholeheartedly. This is so because one does not consider what can please him, but what can please the Creator. Thus, this shade brings him life.
This is called “Under its shadow I coveted,” meaning one covets such a state where he can make some overcoming above reason. It follows that if one does not exert in a state of concealment, when there is still room to pray for the Creator to bring him closer, and he is negligent in this, for this reason, he is sent a second concealment in which one cannot even pray. This is because of the sin of not exerting with all one’s might to pray to the Creator. For this reason, one comes to a state of such lowliness.
However, after one comes to that state, he is pitied from above and is given another awakening from above. The same order begins anew until finally he strengthens in prayer, the Creator hears his prayer, brings him near, and reforms him.
M. Laitman: Short and to the point, this article. Questions, please.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (10:29) If the Creator enjoys the person's work in the shadow when he works under a concealment above reason, accepting the conditions the way they are, then why does he need revelation of the face?
M. Laitman: If he can overcome during the time of concealment and bring himself closer to the Creator, then that's all fine, and well, he's successful. But, if he can't, then comes the prayer, search, prayers of all kinds, and ultimately, he sees that nothing can help him other than the Creator, and he prays.
Student: If I coveted to sit under His shadow, meaning he receives, one receives fulfillment in that shadow in the concealment, agrees with all the conditions, so what's missing? It's a kind of revelation in that state.
M. Laitman: Relative, yes. He still interprets the shadow as assistance from above.
Student: He agrees to all the conditions in this state.
M. Laitman: No, if he agrees, then he has nothing to ask for.
Student: Exactly.
M. Laitman: No, he disagrees with the state itself. He disagrees.
Student: So, what does he agree with, and what he doesn't?
M. Laitman: He agrees that it comes from the Creator, and he doesn't agree that it comes as concealment.
Student: So, he demands to come out of the state of shade.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: How does the person know that the Creator enjoyed the concealment?
M. Laitman: How does the Creator know?
Student: How does man know that the Creator enjoys the concealment He gave the person?
M. Laitman: It's according to how one feels, according to the person's sensation.
Student: He writes here, a person doesn't look at what he can enjoy, he looks at what the Creator can enjoy. So, how does he know? Based on feeling, he knows if the Creator enjoys from him or not.
M. Laitman: Yes, according to feeling. And he wants, in such states, to show the Creator his inclination to adhesion.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (13:44) About the same point, he says here, the person agrees with the leadership of the Creator, how the Creator wants him to feel. The person agrees because the person doesn't look at what he can enjoy, but what the Creator can enjoy.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: It turns out that this shade brings him life.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, what does he pray for here? He receives the ability to see the reality from the Creator's perspective, justify the Creator, be happy about the shade the Creator brings him. So, what's to add?
M. Laitman: Justifying the Creator in action. Where even though he feels darkness, he nevertheless adheres to the Creator and wants to attribute himself to the Creator, to affiliate with Him, let's say, and so to remain more and more adhered to the Creator and those states that the Creator brings to him. That's what he wants.
Student: What's more than that?
M. Laitman: More?
Student: It sounds like a state of being whole with the Creator, in that state. The Creator gives him a concealment, he says, as long as there's connection with the Creator, he feels the Creator enjoys that, and still, you say that if in that state he doesn't add, he will fall to double concealment. So, what's the add here?
M. Laitman: Adhesion. A person reaches a state where he sees that he is in darkness, and within that darkness, to the best of his ability, he adheres to the Creator. So, there's more to add here. It's still not a corrected state.
Student: Add why? Bring the Creator more joy?
M. Laitman: Yes, of course. He has no other goal.
Student: So, he has to feel that the Creator doesn't enjoy his state sufficiently?
M. Laitman: According to a person's sensation, feelings, he can't say that the Creator doesn't enjoy him enough.
Student: So that's his motive to add?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (16:30) A bit more on top of what our friend read, it continues with, this is called, until I coveted its shadow, meaning he coveted such a state where he can make some overcoming above reason. It follows that if one does not exert in a state of concealment, where there is still room to pray for the Creator to bring him closer, and he's negligent in this, for this reason he is sent a second concealment in which one cannot even pray. See, I wanted to get specific here. A person in this point, he checks if he can overcome above reason?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Meaning there's a Creator?
M. Laitman: There's the Creator, there's the concealment, there's the person who feels that concealment, and who says that he agrees to remain in adhesion with the Creator even during the concealment. He only asks the Creator to give him the power to overcome the concealment.
Student: Overcoming the concealment above reason is a point that a person is happy about? because he can…
M. Laitman: He can be adhered even during the concealment.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (18:17) The Baal HaSulam says, a god that is sterile and doesn't bear fruit, as opposed to, until its shadow I coveted, and then he writes that a person doesn't pray for the shade to go away from the world, therefore in everything he says, in everything he does, he says, certainly the Creator enjoys this work. So, a person doesn't even say, I need to pray to the Creator now. So, what is the overcoming above reason? What's the action?
M. Laitman: If he has nothing to pray for, then there is no prayer. There is no overcoming.
Student: So, he's happy about this concealment, and he says, “I’ll work here, and the Creator enjoys this work. And then he writes, in His shadow I coveted, meaning he covets such a state where he can make some overcoming above reason.
M. Laitman: In a state of concealment.
Student: Yes. But he says, later on he says that in a state of concealment, he has room to pray to the Creator, but at first he says you don't need to pray, because the Creator enjoys me staying in that state. And then on the other hand, he says that you do need to pray, so… With regards to the shade of Kedusha.
M. Laitman: In the shadow of holiness, the person feels that shadow. He feels the distance between himself and the Creator, and he tries to close the distance. And that's what he prays for, to the Creator.
Student: To close the gap, but he doesn't mind staying in that state?
M. Laitman: No, he doesn't think that his state is a good one, because from this state he can pray and come closer to the Creator.
Student: So, he covets that state only in order to be able to pray more and get closer?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (20:48) Speaking of the shade, shade means there's no feeling?
M. Laitman: There's a feeling of the shade.
Student: Feeling of the shade. So, a person, even let's say sitting now at the lesson, not feeling the Creator, understanding that he doesn't feel the Creator, but wanting to bring him contentment. Wanting to feel him, to bring him contentment, this is called shade?
M. Laitman: Not yet.
Student: What's missing?
M. Laitman: What's missing is the feeling of the shade.
Student: What does it mean that he'll have the feeling of shade? What else needs to be there?
M. Laitman: There is some obstacle between him and the Creator, not allowing him to feel the Creator directly.
Student: Okay, so a person needs to feel that there is this screen that prevents him from feeling the Creator?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: And let's say that a person can feel this thing that bothers, that prevents him from feeling the Creator. What does he pray for then?
M. Laitman: Then, despite this barrier, when he adheres to the Creator, by that he doubles his measure of adhesion. The force of the concealment and the rejection he had before becomes connection. This is called under its shade, I sat. Is that it?
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (23:03) He writes that Kedusha means I sat in His shadow and His fruit was sweet to my palate. So, he feels that all the suffering is because the Creator sent him these states to be able to work above reason. And when he can say that, meaning that the Creator gives him these circumstances, that it's for man's benefit, because by that he can come to work in order to bestow and not for himself. Then a person comes to the realization that he knows the Creator enjoys this work specifically, which is built entirely on above reason.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Then he comes to the recognition that what it's based on, that a person can just say that he believes and that's it.
M. Laitman: That's what he feels.
Student: So, there's a feeling of that too, yes, there's a feeling of suffering on the one hand, but it's not an actual feeling in his organs, so where does he feel that?
M. Laitman: I don't know. I couldn't tell you.
Student: He has an additional vessel?
M. Laitman: No. Where does he feel? He feels within those desires where he could have adhered, but he has not yet adhered. And in them he receives, let's say, surrounding light.
Student: So, he only has an external vessel where he receives surrounding light?
M. Laitman: I'm not saying only an external vessel, but yes.
Student: Where does he feel the suffering and torment that he has to overcome above reason? That's in his regular vessel, the will to receive, like in this world?
M. Laitman: No, within that vessel, within that desire, where he now has some contact with the Creator during the time of concealment, in that he feels how distant he is to the Creator, and that gives him a place in which to develop more motivation towards the Creator.
Student: From that he has joy, the joy of Sukkot is that? That he can add more in his urge?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (26:10) What’s special that when we work above reason it brings this joy to the Creator? He says the greatest joy, is for the Creator, is that we work above reason. What is special about this? Why does it bring the Creator so much joy?
M. Laitman: When we see that the purpose of creation follows those lines precisely, distance, concealment, and then adhesion, closeness.
Student: So, this work we're talking about above reason is actually the law of faith, that it doesn't matter what I feel in my vessels, I know the Creator governs us as Good That Does Good, but how can you say it with faith and only above reason really? It's where you can give changes in your inner vessels and get closer to the Creator, it doesn't matter what the situation is.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Another question, in the meal yesterday was a very happy meal, and also in the Ten we had a meeting inside the Sukkah, and also now in the lesson preparation the Tens on duty made a great lesson preparation. You feel joy, you feel something special in the air. What should we conclude from this? What do we need to tell ourselves now? You also said yesterday that it's a special time, the holiday of Sukkot. What should we take from what we feel now to really bring ourselves higher and stronger in the connection between us?
M. Laitman: Try, try it. Everything that you feel, try to develop it to the point where you yearn to achieve very tight contact with the Creator, very close contact between all of you and the Creator.
Student: What should we try when you say try, what should we try?
M. Laitman: Connect together on the next level as much as possible and advance towards the Creator another step forward.
Student: He also says here that prayer, specifically this time, is very special. The Creator answers these prayers more than in other times. So how to aim our prayer now so that we truly feel that we're getting closer and closer to the Creator from between us?
M. Laitman: The closer you get to each other in the Ten, to that extent you also come closer to the Creator who is at the center of the Ten.
Question (Haifa 1): (29:52) How is it correct to relate to the situation of double concealment to extract spiritual benefit out of it?
M. Laitman: All concealments I want to bring towards revelation. I'm using them in order to be more and more connected to my group.
Student: What state is more advanced, regular concealment, double concealment, and if so, then why?
M. Laitman: Actually, the state of double concealment is, you could say, advanced, but it makes things much more difficult for the person.
Question (Women PT 23): (30:56) Are two shades a necessary state to bring contentment to the Creator, or one first shade is enough?
M. Laitman: No, we need the shadows.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (31:15) It seems like there's a turning point that all the questions are about. He says here, in everything he does, he says, certainly the Creator enjoys this work, so why do I care if I'm in a state of concealment of the face, if I were to work in order to bestow? So, there's two pieces of data here, what I feel and then what the Creator enjoys.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Now, we always say, from love of the created beings to the love of the Creator, how do we shift the feeling from feeling the Ten, how much the Ten enjoys the friends, to the feeling of the Creator, where we can say the Creator enjoys or not?
M. Laitman: We simply turn to Him, we direct towards Him our general sensation from the Ten, and that's what He receives from us.
Student: We turn to Him together?
M. Laitman: That's best.
Student: And then what do we ask exactly?
M. Laitman: Closeness, adhesion, connection, incorporation.
Student: That He'll bring His presence to the mutual feeling or incorporation that we have in the Ten?
M. Laitman: Correct.
Student: And then we have some comparison. We can say this, the Creator enjoys or not, and then man is on the other hand?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: And it's a condition to enter that first concealment?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (33:05) Why does the Creator get the person accustomed to working above reason? He wants us to bring Him contentment by working above reason? What's the whole point?
M. Laitman: The Creator wants the person to want to be above all states in adhesion with Him.
Student: And what does it give to the Creator? What does He want to achieve by that?
M. Laitman: The person receives the same qualities which the Creator has. And in that way, they come closer together and adhere to each other.
Student: I didn't understand what are the Creator's qualities above reason? The Creator also works above reason?
M. Laitman: No.
Student: So, what does it mean that we're not working above reason?
M. Laitman: By working above reason, you come closer to the Creator.
Student: Why?
M. Laitman: His entire nature is above your reason.
Student: The nature of the Creator is above reason. It's towards the created being. It's above reason?
M. Laitman: You're not hearing what I'm saying. The Creator acts upon the person to bring the person closer to Him. And so, then the person has to act accordingly towards the Creator. And from the person's side, this means that he's working above reason.
Student: Yes, I understood the person works above reason towards the Creator, but where does it lead then when I work above reason? What does it give?
M. Laitman: It leads him towards the quality of faith above reason.
Student: Faith above reason, okay.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (35:35) Baal HaSulam describes here a state of second concealment. He writes that a person receives such a state where even to pray he can't. We recently read about second concealment, where he writes that a person doesn't feel the posterior or the face of the Creator. But I think what he describes here is that a person feels the posterior of the Creator. He feels it's coming from the Creator. He just doesn't have the strength to pray. So that is to his double concealment?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: But then does he feel the posterior in that state we read about?
M. Laitman: Maybe so.
Student: So, it's not exactly the same second concealment he writes about in his introduction, right?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (36:353) He describes here two states of shade, Kedusha and Sitra Achra. Are these the only states of shade that exist?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: What we talk about shade of Sukkot, it's these states of what?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: When we feel shade, it's always a state of Sukkot?
M. Laitman: No, it's a state of concealment.
Student: So, what's the difference between the shade of Sukkot and other shade?
M. Laitman: The shade of Sukkot is a very special kind of shade, shadow. The person wants this shadow. He works to create this shadow and he enjoys it.
Student: And not in Sukkot?
M. Laitman: Outside of Sukkot, no.
Student: So, these two states only exist in Sukkot when a person feels shade? Not in Sukkot if there is such a thing?
M. Laitman: Yes, of course.
Student: So how is that called? What is that shade called?
M. Laitman: Shadow.
Student: So, it's not the shade of Kedusha and the shade of Sitra Achra?
M. Laitman: Could be, but here it's a special kind of shadow.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (38:06) I didn't understand the friend’s question. These actions pertain only to Sukkot or does the person always do them?
M. Laitman: What actions?
Student: The actions of adhering during concealment, praying, it's not only in Sukkot.
M. Laitman: No.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (38:35) In a state of concealment, to the best of my understanding, the person has no, for the creation, the concealment gives him a lack to feel the Creator. Where does the person find more lack to bestow?
M. Laitman: He asks for it, he prays for it, and then he receives it.
Student: The additional lack always comes from prayer?
M. Laitman: It depends on the lack, but yes, from prayer, essentially.
Student: So, the question is, holding on to the Creator during the concealment, the fact that he holds on to the Creator, does that add also to the lack for bestowal?
M. Laitman: This is actually the light that he receives, a little bit of light from holding on to the Creator.
Student: Okay, so every kind of lack needs to start from a prayer to the Creator to add more lack for bestowal, and then he'll turn to the group, do something, but it starts with a prayer?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (40:12) So specifically about the state that our friend just described, where does a person bring joy from in that state where he discovers that he cannot maintain the right intention? And he very much wants to come close to the Creator, he very much wants to feel that correct, proper shadow, but he discovers that he doesn't have the right intention.
M. Laitman: What do you mean he doesn't have the right intention? He's moving towards it.
Student: Yes, but he discovers that ultimately it's for his own sake, he wants to act towards the Creator, but…
M. Laitman: No, he's not, it's not proper, he's not in contact with the Creator, but he yearns for Him, he does, and from that he derives joy.
Student: Okay, but when he calculates, when he does some introspection, he sees that inside he's working in order to receive.
M. Laitman: For the time being, yes, but from there he wants to take a step forward towards the Creator.
Student: So, from that joy will come, he needs to be joyous about that as well.
M. Laitman: Certainly, there is too, is light shining upon him, pulling him towards the Creator.
Student: It's a different light than the usual light a person feels every day, maybe, let's say.
M. Laitman: Well, yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (41:54) Is the shadow a reward? A person who receives a shadow, is he awarded with it?
M. Laitman: Yes, this is a reward.
Student: And he says that the shadows are driven off, and so on, maybe…
M. Laitman: The shadow of holiness.
Student: Shadow of holiness, and if a person is under His providence, then it's the shadow of holiness, but if he has no faith, it's the shadow of the Sitra Achra.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: But it's clear that the only thing missing in that state of the shade of the Sitra Achra is faith.
M. Laitman: Let's say, for the time being,
Student: So the Creator brings the person closer through the shadow, and the person's reaction to the shadow, if he reacts by praying, connecting with the friends, trying to bestow in spite feeling that shadow in the will to receive, that would be the correct action, and if he doesn't succeed in doing so, then I suppose he's not performing the right action, and then he has no faith, no feeling.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, I wanted to ask, what should a person do to be awarded with the shadow, because it sounds like a very sublime thing, if you're awarded with it, then you have the option of performing an act of bestowal without anything coming back to the will to receive, which is very desirable.
M. Laitman: No. The person needs actually to come close to the Creator, as close as he can, and to constantly be in prayer, and so he should live. That's his life.
Student: The power of his connection with the friends that he's acquired, can that help him in the state of the shadow, to take that step towards the Creator?
M. Laitman: Yes, that's what it's intended for.
Student: To understand that by himself he cannot continue this state?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, he assembles the friends, their desires, their yearnings, actually, and that's what he does. What does he collect there?
M. Laitman: He collects all of his tendencies to as much as possible tie them all to the Creator. And when he makes these efforts, then, as a result of these efforts, as a response to these efforts, the Creator gives him help.
Student: When you say to tie them to the Creator, you mean to tie them to the quality of bestowal?
M. Laitman: Let's say.
Student: I'm asking, is it so?
M. Laitman: No, here it's not what's important.
Student: So, in the state of shadow, I still don't understand, from where does he take the power? He needs to connect with the friends in some specific way so as to have power?
M. Laitman: Yes, he already did it before. Otherwise, he would not reach such a state.
Student: Okay, so the connection with the friends brought him to the state where he's awarded with the shadow. And now, again, he needs to align his desires towards the Creator?
M. Laitman: That's always the case. Yes.
Student: Okay, so it's still not clear. If he connected properly with the friends, then he's awarded with the shadow. What is the step forward here, from here?
M. Laitman: What's his goal?
Student: His goal is to perform an act of bestowal against his ego.
M. Laitman: For whom?
Student: For the Creator? Meaning, for the created beings?
M. Laitman: No, for the Creator.
Student: The desire of the Creator to be revealed in the created beings, for the purpose of creation.
M. Laitman: No, no, no, no. Don't turn it around. The Creator.
Student: The Creator Himself.
M. Laitman: Yes, that's it. This is his goal. This is one's goal. This is what he's now standing on. And that's what he's going to do.
Student: I'll think about it.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (47:07) The Creator wants us to make Him happy. From today's preparation for the lesson, Rabash says to settle for little, as that begets joy in us. I'm trying to tie together, what did Rabash mean when he said to settle for little? Is that a stage that begets joy?
M. Laitman: That a person will be as close as possible to the Creator in his vessels of reception.
Student: But despite having some desire, one shouldn't settle for little. I want to make the Creator happy.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: In order to make Him happy, I need to be in equivalence of form, and also myself, to be happy.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: And this joy, Rabash says, comes from me settling for little.
M. Laitman: Let's say.
Student: Okay, so exactly, that's what I wanted to scrutinize.
M. Laitman: Yes, scrutinize it.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (48:32) He writes here that if a person is in the first concealment, and he failed in prayer, then he's negligent. And he's thrown to the second, third state, and he doesn't have the power to pray anymore. And then mercy comes from above, and he's returned. So, what does that depend on? Can we, as friends, influence it so that when a friend is thrown into that second concealment, and has no power to pray, he can be brought back? What can we do to affect that state?
M. Laitman: A person needs to always look for the ability to bestow. It doesn't matter in what state he's in. It could even be that he doesn't even feel exactly where he's at. But the ability to bestow, that's more understandable to him. That he always yearns for.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (49:47) Again, regarding feeling the Creator, he writes that I see that the Creator wants me to feel this way, where everything is above reason, and if so, with everything he does, he says, certainly the Creator enjoys this work. Does the person feel directly if the Creator is enjoying his work or not?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: And where are the friends here, the Ten?
M. Laitman: That's in between, in the system of connection between man and the Creator.
Student: So, to understand that feeling, if a friend isn't pleased with how I work in the Ten, is it a sign that the Creator is displeased with me and my work? Can I project that from that, or if what I feel from the Creator is different to what I feel from the friend?
M. Laitman: No, there's a connection. There is some outcome from the Creator not enjoying you. You feel it through the friends.
Student: So I need to look for a way to please the friends, and that for me would be to please the Creator?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Another question. What does it mean to overcome the concealment? What does it mean to overcome concealment?
M. Laitman: From what state?
Student: From the states he describes here.
M. Laitman: Overcoming the concealment is that a person wants to be with the Creator in a reality that's open to them, that connects both of them. And then a person on his part and the Creator on His part work on the connection between them until they come through this area to Dvekut, adhesion between them.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (52:37) It seems that in the first concealment that the created being has contact with the Creator through prayer, even though it seems one-sided. The created being elevates some lack towards the Creator and he wouldn't have fallen to the second concealment. Rather, his prayer is taken away, and then he doesn't feel anymore. What does he not feel when the prayer is taken?
M. Laitman: That he has contact.
Student: So, the prayer creates contact with the Creator, and it's not a mutual thing?
M. Laitman: I don't understand that.
Student: In the first concealment, if I pray to the Creator, there's this feeling that it's one-sided. I'm under the concealment. I know that there's the Creator and there's concealment, and I now want to be connected to the Creator. I want to be close to Him, or rather, I want Him to bring me closer. And if I'm negligent, then the power of prayer is taken from me, and I fall to the second concealment. What is there in the prayer which keeps the created being in contact with the Creator? Maybe there's something mutual happening here. He needs to feel or not feel, because otherwise, in the second state, he's in concealment.
M. Laitman: Again, I didn't hear the question.
Student: In the first state, when he's under the concealment, he has the power to pray. He's in contact with the Creator through prayer. So, what is there to this prayer which maintains this mutual connection between the created being and the Creator in that state?
M. Laitman: I don't know. What is he asking for?
Student: He's asking for the Creator to bring him closer to Him, to be in contact.
M. Laitman: Okay, so he wants to get closer.
Student: Yes, he wants to get closer.
M. Laitman: That's great.
Student: But is there a response from the Creator to the created being? Because he feels that He's within him. He just can't...
M. Laitman: What's written there? What happens afterwards that the Creator, that the created being is asking for?
Student: If He doesn't ask properly, the Creator makes him fall to the second concealment.
M. Laitman: Okay, so He brings him to a state where a person wants to get closer, yes?
Student: So, what is there to prayer, the power of prayer, which keeps the person in contact with the Creator?
M. Laitman: The deficiency that the person unlocks, and by that he connects to the Creator.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (55:31) In the state of first minimal kind of contact with the Creator, when there's, let's say, one percent revelation, what happens with the other ninety nine percent which isn't in contact?
M. Laitman: They get some illumination from that, say, muscle that exists in contact.
Student: Is there a connection of prayer, a desire to be in revelation?
M. Laitman: I don't know. That is however it happens.
Student: Okay, but is there this image of the one hundred percent? Can the person imagine?
M. Laitman: No. In the created being in such a state that there's not yet such a feeling of the whole connection?
Student: And the part that isn't in that image of revelation, does he need to be in connection above reason, to believe that the Creator is in connection with him, but the person hasn't discovered it yet?
M. Laitman: There are many conditions here. But let's say it's the way you, say,
Student: Because then what happens is that on the next degree, there will be less of that part to be above reason over. Let's say he'll reach ten percent revelation, and then he'll have only ninety percent that he needs to be above reason with. That's what doesn't work for me.
M. Laitman: I don't think this is so.
Student: So, can you explain how to correctly look at this?
M. Laitman: It’s that a person wants to be adhered to the Creator in the present state.
Student: Is it composed? Is it made of what he?
M. Laitman: It doesn't matter to me. I wish to be bonded with Him.
Student: Is adhesion only in the state of revelation, or also with respect to what's still under concealment?
M. Laitman: We're not talking about concealment and revelation. We're talking about Dvekut, adhesion.
Student: But adhesion can be when there's something revealed, but also there's a part that's not revealed yet, and there also you need to be in adhesion.
M. Laitman: Yes, and over that too I want to be in adhesion.
Student: Okay, so in total, the sum total of the way a person relates to these two states, that's called adhesion?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, the more you advance, does it become easier to be in adhesion?
M. Laitman: On the one hand, yes.
Student: And on the other?
M. Laitman: On the other hand, it's difficult, let's say, to reach Dvekut. It's easier in terms of the place, and harder in terms of the scrutiny.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (59:11) He writes, we find that the person doesn't pray to the Creator to make the shadows pass from the world. Rather, then he says, I see that the Creator wants me to serve Him in this way, which is entirely above reason. Above reason here, does it mean above emotion and intellect or entirely in bestowal?
M. Laitman: Above reason is it’s above reason. You can't say with respect to the mind and heart.
Student: How to understand this? I now want to be above reason?
M. Laitman: Go ahead, be, pray, to wanting to be, being above reason.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:00:15) How to work above reason? How does working above reason, or rather, in order to work above reason. King David gives us advice to know how to pick the shadow of holiness over the shadow of the Sitra Achra. He said, the Lord is your shadow to your right, meaning in every state that I happen to be in, I need to attribute it to the Creator, who is good and benevolent. So, whether it's pleasant or not, on your right hand. So always think towards the right line.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:01:04) I'm trying to understand what the person expects of the person. Because a person's awakening towards the Creator is in the Creator's hands. He opens or shuts for the person the path, or the love for Him. And He says that the Creator makes all this happen to the person, so that the person wants to adhere to the Creator more. And this is because through the suffering that he receives, he wants to escape his troubles and flee the suffering. So, he's not allowed to advance through suffering, torment of love.
M. Laitman: What suffering of love at this point?
Student: Then he gets struck where it hurts most. He humiliates the person, the person drops to his knees, and he recognizes that there's a force much greater than him at work, a force which governs reality. But is that the proper way? Is that how providence advances the person?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: You could say it's sadistic.
M. Laitman: No, no, it's not sadistic. With respect to our will to receive, what can you do?
Student: It's as though, look, I'll hit you, and then you'll look for me.
M. Laitman: It's like the tale about this Jewish person that the landlord went away, and his deputy gave him beatings. So, then the landlord comes back, and for, in exchange for these beatings, he gives him 5,000 dinars of gold, let's say. And he says, why so little? He cries about it. If he beat me up more, then he would receive more. So, it all depends on how we relate to the reward and the punishment.
Student: So, exactly how can you expect the person to relate to some very painful thing he receives? How can you expect him to rise above reason and say, this is what the Creator gives me, so I come closer to Him? How can you expect that of a person?
M. Laitman: I don't know. But for now, he's not even thinking about the beatings. He's already thinking about the benefit.
Student: And the thought of creation, how all the shattering happened, because ultimately the person needs to discover all of this on his own, reach some kind of independence and choice.
M. Laitman: That's still far away.
Student: But here, there's no choice or anything. You just get beaten.
M. Laitman: In the meantime, you don't have such substance that you can go through with choice, with free choice. You don't have such possibilities yet. Your matter doesn't yet understand such turns.
Student: I'm sorry for the complaint, but why can't the Creator advance us through the suffering of love?
M. Laitman: Why did he create the evil inclination, you should ask?
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:05:00) In this holiday, we say how we need to raise the Sukkah, the thatch, as an adornment, not to wait for the blows, as our friend just mentioned. We don't want it to be harsh and painful. So, what allows this subtlety of the soul, gentleness of the soul, so as to look for adhesion, not through blows, but simply to, by our own initiative, to come closer and closer.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: What's the most essential element here in terms of following this path?
M. Laitman: Adornment. Adornment.
Student: Adornment. What is adornment?
M. Laitman: Adornment is... In the Sukkah, it's the thatch. That when you come out of the Sukkah you kiss the thatch. Meaning, you identify it as the most important, to that extent.
Student: Today, we have a very happy meeting of the Ten. We're very happy to have our friend here with us. We organized a very special get-together this evening. So how do we add adornment to the meeting of the Ten? Many Tens are getting together. So what's the most important thing when we get together to do? How do we kiss the thatch, exactly?
M. Laitman: I don't have what to suggest, only to read what Rabash writes to us. Baal HaSulam is more succinct and direct, and decisive. But Rabash writes in a softer way.
Student: When you meet with the Ten, where exactly is that adornment?
M. Laitman: The center of the heart of each and every one. Where could it be? We have to be connected to each other with all our hands and legs hugging everyone in the Ten, in a way that everyone is one body. There's no more.
Student: We always talk about connecting more, but maybe there's something specific for now regarding this adornment.
M. Laitman: All the rest is inner development.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:08:47) We heard Rabash speak, and he says that one who goes to the synagogue and cannot pray, or one who goes to the seminary and cannot study, still is rewarded for just walking there. And if he appreciates the smallest contact with the Creator, then he can climb all the highest degrees. So, on the one hand, it seems that in a very simple way, a person should appreciate even the smallest, most meager contact, just being in the Ten, even though he doesn't pray, he doesn't understand, he doesn't know. That's enough. But on the other hand, it's not clear how he can reach the highest degrees like that, because he needs to advance, he needs to develop a lack. If he settles for, oh I'm here, there's some contact with the Ten, with the Creator. This is good for me, I justify the Creator, I appreciate so much this, whatever little I have, that's enough for me, I settle for it. So how can you develop?
M. Laitman: You have to develop it, otherwise he's like a baby who has some little toy in his hand and it's enough for him.
Student: So why does Rabash say that this gives him more strength than all those who philosophize and confuse themselves? This allows him to ascend throughout all the degrees.
M. Laitman: As opposed to all these smart alecks, of course he has more, but still, he has to understand this is not all. There's more, there's much more, things that are hidden in the Torah that we still need to reveal.
Student: I'll try to be more precise with the question. If a person is in this, tries to be in this, he believes the Creator will bring him to a greater connection, or should he not wait for the Creator and make his own efforts?
M. Laitman: He has to make efforts and also expect the Creator, and these are two things that have to be in the person and thus advance.
All right. I don't have more to add. In terms of words, we've said everything.
Reader: We have some friends from the World Kli, with questions.
Question (Kyiv 1): (01:11:58) Today we're talking about how in the state of the first concealment we still need to ask the Creator for help. And also in the second concealment, you said that our lives should be constant prayer despite the concealment of the Creator. But this isn't the concealment we celebrate in Sukkot. Sukkot is where we ourselves create that cover, the thatch. We make the shadow ourselves. So, what's the difference between the second type of shadow and the shadow that we make in Sukkot by ourselves, hiding the Creator? We conceal Him.
M. Laitman: We lack material. I didn't want to get to that now. There's concealment that comes from above. That's according to how a person studies and lives. There's a concealment that comes from below. That's according to man's nature that keeps becoming revealed. And we've reached a state where we're at the threshold, at the border between this and that. I hope that we'll discover this whole Kli for revelation of Sukkot.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:13:43) I don't understand. What is the concealment from below?
M. Laitman: From people, from us.
Student: The entirety of the concealment comes from above. A person can maybe hide what we say, he can hide it with respect to his ego. But what is concealment from below? Can you add?
M. Laitman: We'll learn that later. We'll get to it.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:14:22) If a person is in the shade, and has to overcome above reason, which is seemingly the good state can the Ten share the burden of rising above reason, or is it, in the end, this work on the person himself, and the Ten can only support?
M. Laitman: Again.
Student: If a person is in the shadow, now he has to accept above reason, which is a situation he writes about. The Creator enjoys this work, but it can be a very difficult situation. Is this overcoming on the person to do, and the Ten can only support? Or can we, as a Ten, actually share this degree, and each one, let's say, should climb ten centimeters instead of him climbing a whole meter?
M. Laitman: But why to separate it? On the contrary, to be connected and then do it together.
Student: So, the whole Ten can climb one meter.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: But the effort will feel like each one is climbing ten centimeters, or we all see an opportunity to climb a meter, and now.
M. Laitman: We all ascend a whole meter.
Student: So, it depends on the Ten's decision. We agree that we're going into this battle together, and we want to take all of these?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:16:09) What is special about the shade that a person builds on Sukkot?
M. Laitman: That he himself makes that shade.
Student: But what is special about this shade?
M. Laitman: The fact that he grew the things in the barn and in the winery, took from it the waste that doesn't belong to human food, and from that he built the thatch, the Sukkah, that's between him and the Creator.
Student: And how does it bring him closer to the Creator, specifically this shade made of the waste of barn and winery? Why does that specifically bring him closer to the Creator?
M. Laitman: Because that's the way he wants to use it.
Student: But what is the material that makes him closer to the Creator? The waste of barn and winery, what is it?
M. Laitman: That belongs to the food of the beast and not the food of man.
Student: In other words, the fact that it belongs to the person's beast, he turns it into...
M. Laitman: He raises it to a higher degree.
Student: Raises it to the human degree.
M. Laitman: And even more, to use it for the connection between human and the Creator.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:18:08) In the beginning of the article, he writes that there is no change above, but rather all the changes are in the receivers. And then he brings all kinds of... The Creator sends him the states, turns the states around for him. If all the changes are in the receivers, and there are no changes in the Creator, what does it mean that the Creator does?
M. Laitman: The Creator sends him new states, and a person has to respond correctly upon them. Through that he can come closer to the purpose of creation.
Student: But if all the changes are in the receivers, and there are no changes in the Creator, then how is there a connection? Where is the connection between them?
M. Laitman: The connection is by the Creator changing all of reality, and the person responds upon all these changes.
Student: What does it mean that the Creator changes all of reality?
M. Laitman: He gives a change of perception the way humans perceive spiritual connections.
Student: What is that change of perception? Where does it happen in the created beings? I don't know how to ask.
M. Laitman: I understand, but it's a change of perception the way the created beings perceive the Creator. Let's say that.
Student: It's in relation to what you said before about this seam that there is. What is this in this seam? What's the material there?
M. Laitman: We'll learn that soon.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:20:34) I wanted to ask, he writes that the minute a person agrees to the guidance, leadership of the Creator, he begins to see the reality of the Creator, that the decisions are not whether I agree, but he makes all the decisions in relation to the Creator.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: How does the transition happen from a state where you calculate for yourself to when you begin to calculate in relation to the Creator?
M. Laitman: How, according to the inner states, my changing inner states, I invite those changes in the Creator?
Student: No, I'll ask again. He writes, a person doesn't look at what he can, what can bring him pleasure, but what can bring pleasure to the Creator. And accordingly, he decides what is his shade. So, the transition between calculating for yourself, how do you begin to calculate with respect to how the Creator relates to it, how He accepts it?
M. Laitman: That's how it happens in man, when he starts thinking what am I doing towards the Creator? Not that I'm receiving from Him, but in what am I responding to Him.
Student: In what am I responding to Him?
M. Laitman: In your relation towards the others, because through them you answer the Creator, you respond to the Creator.
Student: A person's ability to determine the Creator's governance of reality, on what does it depend?
M. Laitman: It depends on the person's soul and his connection with the other souls, that through the Creator he can influence that.
Student: I'm trying to practically understand what a person can do in order to crown the guidance of the Creator over him. How, practically, do we begin to live in a reality where we always go with the guidance of the Creator before you?
M. Laitman: Through prayer? I don't know.
Student: So, the whole ability to be above reason, to create that shade from below, it all comes only from prayers?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, why is the prayer not erupting? Even when you understand that that's the way, why doesn't it come out?
M. Laitman: First of all, we still didn't reach that outburst of prayer towards the Creator, and we still can't reveal what the force of prayer is, and how it helps us ascend, and how it conducts all of reality.
Student: So, how do we come to bursting in prayers and understanding that prayers guide our reality?
M. Laitman: That's called the ones who knock on repentance, meaning we have to press more on the connection between us and the Creator.
Student: When that change happens, is it like the prayer becoming a mechanism that you always work with it? You begin to work out of prayers?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, how do you obtain this ability?
M. Laitman: Through the common work between us and the Creator. There is nothing else to say.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:25:13) It seems like everything depends on the state of this mutual embrace between us.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: You say it in all kinds of ways. That the whole purpose of our connection with the Creator is a result of the connection between us.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: What is the embrace? What does it mean to embrace everyone so we feel as one body?
M. Laitman: That we are connecting our desires, our intentions, our states, our goals, that everything will work as if we're all parts of one body.
Student: There is a feeling that any attempt to collect this thing into one place, it's like approaching hot metal.
M. Laitman: Say whatever you want, that's what we need.
Student: What should we overcome? How do we make this leap?
M. Laitman: In the heart. In your heart you can do external actions, but as something that comes previous to the connection between the hearts.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:26:54) How can we be at the same time an embrace and also separated?
M. Laitman: When we're separated it even increases our deficiency to be connected.
Student: And this is a natural state, to be in both these states.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: It's not an embrace that covers and completely blurs that desire.
M. Laitman: No, there is no such thing.
Student: How do we keep both states together, not run away from one of them, but to be in both?
M. Laitman: Prayer. Prayer from the group. From your big group that is really international and so big you can change worlds.
Student: What can we do in the world group?
M. Laitman: That everybody will pray. Write everybody what you're asking for, what you want to pray for. And everybody together on what.
Student: Okay, another question on the previous topic. What is a shade from below? Is there such a thing as shade from below?
M. Laitman: Well, that's what we say. Depends who's inviting that shade. The shade of holiness, the shade of the other side, the shade of the Creator, and the shade of the created being.
Student: Is it a person who makes the shade from below?
M. Laitman: No. Nature, our nature causes the shade.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:28:56) Just one more point on that topic. We always say that when a person gets an awakening, he should remember that it's not him, but he was awakened from above and be thankful for it. And that's where you begin to work from.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, that means that the awakening should always be attributed to the upper one, who shines, and then you begin to work. So, what does it mean, an awakening from below? How can we attribute anything to an awakening from below?0
M. Laitman: Because you are in some kind of relative separation from one another, if you want to connect you feel a lack of balance. Then you can take that, and from it, raise a prayer between the unbalanced state to the future supposedly balanced state, whatever you are depicting.
Student: And the feeling of imbalance, which you said is the beginning of the work.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: That feeling of imbalance, we should also be thankful for it and attribute it to the Creator. That too is an awakening. Not everyone on the street gets a feeling of imbalance.
M. Laitman: No, no, that is the awakening from below. That it needs to be born in us, and upon it we are building our prayer.
Student: An awakening from below comes from above, which causes us to wake up, to do something toward it, right?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:30:56) I don't come often, so a short question with your permission. Are we in the world of the Creator?
M. Laitman: I guess so.
Student: Because it's written, He created everything for His glory, and it's a question that constantly comes up in me. Are we in the world of the Creator, meaning, are we guests in this world?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:32:34) We build shadow; this must come from the Sitra Achra. Does this mean that the shadows that I build emanate from inside of me? And that is the light that I cause to create shadows? Does it make a difference for me to distinguish between the shadows created by the Creator or the shadows, the impediments, that I build in my own life?
M. Laitman: It's not important which you start from. The main thing is what you're drawn towards. That's it. That you want to reach a state that the shade will be between you and the Creator.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:33:41) The feeling of the result, of the connection between us, should that be our prayer all the time?
M. Laitman: Actually, yes.
Student: So, in the Ten, we constantly work to have this feeling that we will always have the feeling of the result.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: And you're saying we build it between us, this feeling?
M. Laitman: Yes.
We're done with this part. Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:34:25) You just said that we, the whole World Kli, should pray together. How shall we do that?
M. Laitman: We're studying the same material every day. So actually, by studying, by discussing it, by repeating the lessons. So, it turns out that we are incorporated, absorbing this one material for all of us, then it enters between us and helps us to be together, to know each other more, to connect more to one another, even if we don't attain the measure of adhesion between us yet. That connection still is a connection that already exists. We need to keep going. Soon it'll give us a result.
Student: How can we make one action of prayer out of this?
M. Laitman: That is what we have to get to.
Student: What is the next step to get there?
M. Laitman: That's the degree we're speaking about, how we're all connected. In the desires in our hearts, in our common heart, common desire to a common goal that we have, which is all of us adhering to the Creator.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:37:03) A question regarding the prayer itself. A person has not only one prayer to the Creator, there are all kinds of states. A state in the Ten, work with the friends, maybe a health situation, have a family of friends, have all the friends who are at war. There are so many pleas to the Creator. How do we prioritize to what to turn to the Creator, which is more important?
M. Laitman: That's not upon us. We're not the ones who have to organize the prayer. The prayer has to be from the heart, from our common heart, directed towards the Creator, and even if it'll be new every day.
Student: In other words, our work is more to direct the prayer, and however the heart aches, to maximize it?
M. Laitman: Yes, it'll open it.
Question (Women PT 23): (01:38:19) Women from the Israeli Kli are meeting for a prayer today, as you recommended before. What addition should we add to the prayer today because of the special time of Sukkot?
M. Laitman: We read about these things already. We want to be as one man with one heart, to the one Creator aiming this way, and there's nothing more. In the end it's a very simple, straightforward prayer.
Question (Women): (01:39:08) What's special of the prayer during the morning lesson?
M. Laitman: It's like the morning prayer. We want to direct them, direct those hearts that are coming into one connection toward the Creator.
Reader: We have selected excerpts about Sukkot.
M. Laitman: So, please.
Song (01:39:58)