The transcript has been transcribed and edited from English simultaneous interpretation, thus there may be potential semantic inaccuracies within it.

Daily Lesson (Morning) December 15, 2024.

Part 1: Baal HaSulam. One Commandment

Reader: Hello, we are reading in the Writings of Baal HaSulam. The article, “One Commandment”, the study material is on Sviva Tova and the Arvut. You can send questions live through the sites. Anyone asking a question in the study hall should stand up, hold the microphone close to his mouth, and speak loudly and clearly. 

One Commandment

Reading: (00:38) “If he performs one Mitzva [commandment], he is happy, for he has sentenced himself and the whole world to the side of merit.”

There is no serving the Creator and observing the Mitzvot [commandments] except Lishma [for Her sake]—meaning to bring contentment to one’s Maker. Yet, our sages have already instructed to engage in Torah and Mitzvot even Lo Lishma [not for Her sake], since “from Lo Lishma he will come to Lishma”… I say that the first and only Mitzva that guarantees the achievement of the aspiration to attain Lishma is to resolve not to work for oneself, apart for the necessary works—merely to provide for one’s sustenance. In the rest of the time, he will work for the public: to save the oppressed, and every being in the world that needs salvation and benefit. 

M. Laitman: There’s nothing to add. It’s truly… it’s closed. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (02:39) Where do we see that when he works only for the satisfaction of his needs, it's clear that everyone calculates for himself? What exactly is, what he needs for his sustenance? But where do we see that we work to save the oppressed, every being in the world? 

M. Laitman: You don't see that because it belongs to a person and what he decides within, for what he's doing it, what he's doing. We do not see.

Student: Is this what a Kabbalist aims internally, to save all the oppressed? 

M. Laitman: He wants the whole world to be like that because that's the will of the Creator. And the fact that we don't see that it's being realized in our eyes we don't see, then, it's truly correct that we have to complete the thought of the Creator towards the created beings.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (04:16) He writes here: “to take upon himself not to work for his own need”. What does it mean to work? 

M. Laitman: To supply that self-need.

Student: So, exactly to the satisfaction of his existence. Sometimes, you say the person who doesn't exist in spirituality, doesn't exist. 

M. Laitman: I don't know how that is associated with it.

Student: Is he talking about physical existence, or is this something spiritual?

M. Laitman: Also physical. 

Student: So, is it only physical or is it also spiritual? You're saying, it doesn't exist. Sometimes you tell a student “you don't exist”. Is this what he means?

M. Laitman: He means it in a simple way, without being wise here. Where we have to eventually come to a state where each will have what he needs according to one's body.

Student: This is how I've been reading it all the years, as you say. Is the body the desire or physical body? 

M. Laitman: Yes, without philosophizing about it. 

Student: So, it's completely physical? 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (05:50) Usually, we learn that the one commandment is to love your friend as yourself, to love the Creator. Maybe as a result, the person comes to the conclusion that he has to give the body only the necessity. Here it sounds the opposite, as if the commandment is to... 

M. Laitman: I read the article as is, and during the article, I start to understand also according to his explanation, what he wants to say.

Student: I understand.

M. Laitman: There isn't here much to add from myself.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (06:36) He calls it “one commandment”. The importance of the commandment, the aspiration to reach Lishma, or is it something quantitative? He calls it “one commandment”. 

M. Laitman: One commandment is that he himself exists in order to bring to the world all the goodness that is missing in the world. That's it. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (07:23) When he says to provide for his own necessity, does it also mean his family?

M. Laitman: Yes, probably, yes.

Student: Because it seems here that there is some sort of a mix-up here. Because the person might say, I don't need anything. I'm fine with very little, but my family has all kinds of needs and demands and all kinds of things. To what extent should we get into restrictions and stuff, or should we simply provide for their needs? 

M. Laitman: A person must feel what he's lacking, and his family, and all together, and feel the other factions around him, all the other circles around him, and this is associated with his needs. 

Question (Petah Tikva 31): (08:39) What actions are we required to do beyond the necessity?

M. Laitman: To each what could be. 

Student: At the end of the excerpt we read, he says, the rest of the time we should work for the public to save the oppressed and every being that needs salvation and benefit. What does he mean by that? 

M. Laitman: He means that, that which you can discover that you, that we must, or need, that humanity needs, you have to supply to them as well. 

Question (Merkaz 1): (09:30) What characterizes necessity?

M. Laitman: What they think, what they feel they're lacking. It's a very kind of obscured, foggy kind of things, but we have to scrutinize what he means. 

Serving People According to the Commandment of the Creator

Reading: (10:15) There are two advantages to this Mitzva: 1) Each one will understand that he is working because this work is approved and agreeable to all the people in the world. 2) This Mitzva may better qualify him to observe Torah and Mitzvot Lishma, since the preparation is part of the goal. This is so because by accustoming oneself to serving people, one benefits others and not oneself. Thus, one gradually becomes fit to observe the Mitzvot of the Creator under the required condition—to benefit the Creator and not himself. Naturally, the intention should be to observe the Mitzvot of the Creator. 

M. Laitman: This first condition that's written, truly becomes the plan that's laid out before every person, where he must be concerned with the well-being of the world. For the whole world to have the desirable, needed things for everyone. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (12:24) Why is this commandment to care for other people? Why is this only a preparation for working for the sake of the Creator? Why is it not the same? A person no longer cares for himself, so naturally, it turns out that he is outside of himself, there is only the Creator. Why is it only a preparation? 

M. Laitman: Because his entire concern needs to be outside of him, and this turns out that it's for the sake of the created beings or for the world, as he writes. And this is actually the intention with which he needs to hold on to within him during this work. 

Student: And what's the next phase? What should change if he's already come out of himself? He cares for the world, why is it not regarded as doing it for the Creator?

M. Laitman: We will see, I don't know. If he doesn't write about it clearly, I usually wait.

The Part of the Torah Concerning Relations between Man and Man

Reading: (13:59) There are two parts to the Torah: one concerns man and the Creator, and the other concerns man and man. And I call upon you, at any rate, to engage and assume that which concerns man and man, for by this you will also learn the part that concerns man and the Creator. 

M. Laitman: Meaning, what the Creator demands is for a person to work outside of himself, for his friends and also for all the humanity altogether. After he decides that, he already continues with observing the act itself.

Speech, Thought, and Action

Reading: (15:42) Work, of any kind, should include thought, speech, and action.

We have already explained the “practical” part of the one Mitzva: One should agree to dedicate all of one’s free time to benefit the people in the world. The aspect of “thought” is more imperative in this Mitzva than in Mitzvot relating to man and the Creator since in Mitzvot between man and the Creator, the “act” in itself testifies that the intention is to benefit one’s Maker, as there is no other room for such an action but Him.

Yet, with what concerns man and man, they are justified in and of themselves, since human conscience necessitates them. However, if one performs them from this perspective, he has not done a thing. In others words, these actions will not bring him closer to the Creator and to actual work Lishma.

Thus, each person should think that he is doing all this only to bring contentment to his Maker and to resemble His ways: As He is merciful, so I am merciful, and as He always imparts good, so do I. This image, coupled with good deeds, will bring him closer to the Creator in a way that will equalize his form with spirituality and with Kedusha [holiness], and he will become like a seal, fit to receive the true Higher Abundance.

The “speech” refers to the prayer in the mouth—during the work and in fixed times—for the Creator to turn one’s heart from reception to bestowal. Also, it is contemplating the Torah and matters that promote achieving it. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (19:03) What is the human conscience? He says, if I work according to the human conscience, it's not enough. What does that mean? 

M. Laitman: Well, what's acceptable is human consciousness in all of humanity. A person is an animal, which first is concerned with itself, as we can see from the moment he's born. Now, he doesn't understand anything happening around him but demands to be supplied with what would be good for him. And he stands, guarding his own benefit, yells, cries, until you can certainly see that in man's nature, that he demands from the world to be filled with all his needs. That’s it.

Student: So, in the correction, we learn here, the correction where we don't want to work according to the conscience of the whole world but are truly aiming for a different intention, a truer one, not for myself, right? 

M. Laitman: I don't know yet, I just started reading the article.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (20:51) Why is it that when I work for the Creator, the intention automatically falls into place, as he writes here? 

M. Laitman: I don't know, we'll see his explanation. I didn't yet get any explanation, I only saw that a person really must, he owes everyone.

Student: But he says here that if I perform a commandment between the Creator and the person, the intention is kind of obvious. The act itself proves the intention.

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: It's incorrect, what does it mean if I perform an act for the sake of the Creator, what is called “between man and the Creator”? That's it, my intention is fine, it's all good. I'll do only these commandments, and that's it, I achieved Lishma, it's great, fine, and dandy. So, it's not clear what he writes here that the intention is obvious.

M. Laitman: I too don't know what he means. The main thing for us is not to attack the questions in the air like that, but rather let's try and connect them and bring them to the correct order, and from this find the Creator's commandments towards people.

Bringing Contentment to One’s Maker Inadvertently

Reading: (22:44) It is hopeless to wait for a time when a solution is found that enables one to begin the work of the Creator in Lishma. As in the past, so is now, and so will it be: Every servant of the Creator must begin the work in Lo Lishma, and from that achieve Lishma.

The way to achieve this degree is not limited by time, but by his qualifiers, and by the measure of one’s control over one’s heart. Hence, many have fallen and will fall in the field of working Lo Lishma, and will die without wisdom. Yet, their reward is nevertheless great, since one’s mind cannot appreciate the true merit and value of bringing contentment to one’s Maker. Even if one works not under this condition, since one is not worthy of another way, one still brings contentment to one’s Maker. This is called “unintentionally.” 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (24:36) He writes that the way to reach this degree is not limited by time but by its qualifiers, to the extent of one's control over one's heart. Can we understand that a person can actually come to control his heart? 

Student: Probably yes.

Reader: Reading again heading Bringing Contentment to One’s Maker Inadvertently

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (27:44) What's the difference between commandments between man and man, and man and the Creator? Because it says the minute a person comes to perform commandments between man and the Creator, it's clear that he does it for the sake of the Creator. How to distinguish between the two kinds of commandments?

M. Laitman: You can't understand that from what we read. Meaning, that the commandments between man and the Creator, meaning to the place, they need to be whole like the Creator, and aimed directly to Him. I don't know. 

Student: Because he writes it clearly. I'll just read, Because the commandments between man and the Creator, the act itself proves the intention.

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: How does the act prove the intention? It's something external, how does a person detect it?

M. Laitman: It can't be explained, I don't know. We could say something that stems from what we do, but the commandments between a person and the Creator are actions that need to be eternal and whole like the Creator. That's why you can see how many have fallen on this engagement of Lo Lishma.

Student: How not to fall in this work? Because he says that most of us can fall in this. How do we not fall in this? 

M. Laitman: I can only say that for the time being, we see almost everyone if not everyone falls. We don't know if those holy ones that were throughout the generations in the people of Israel, but in truth their number is great.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (31:15) On what do the many fall? 

M. Laitman: On the engagement in which they're not whole in Lishma. 

Student: What does that mean? 

M. Laitman: Just like we read, we can connect to the Creator only in a state of Lishma, which is outside of one's desire, above the desire of a person, and a person can start, as it's written, with Lo Lishma, but from it he needs to see, to be ready to reach Lishma.

Student: But why do they fall? Did they fail in something? Did the Creator fail them?

M. Laitman: No, they failed. 

Student: Where was their mistake that made them fall?

M. Laitman: With their intention to reach the benefit of the Creator. 

Student: I hear that everyone falls as you say except for those holy ones in previous generations. It sounds hopeless. 

M. Laitman: Okay, nevertheless there are these, and there are those. 

Student: So, why does he take everyone through this process? Let him tend to the holy ones and forget about the rest.

M. Laitman: That claim is not for us already.

Student: I'm trying to understand this system. What's the point of taking a person through a process and then dropping him? 

M. Laitman: The system is built in order to bring a person to Lishma, to a connection with the Creator, so they understand, and check, and see, and feel that they are in one heart, in one feeling. And certainly, not all of us are ready for that, but we think that even those that are, seemingly, that the Creator gave them some thought of Lishma, nevertheless they too don't get there. And that is the question. 

Student: Is there something special about our generation? A different ability? A different understanding?

M. Laitman: In our generation, there are people amongst us with those desires that the Creator gave them, they can reach Lishma, but after all, they're not capable at the moment. Not everyone, I don't know. So, we will see.

Student: So, on the one hand, they have the desire to reach Lishma. On the other hand, why should they not fall?

M. Laitman: I don't know why, but when they want to reach Lishma, I also don't know if they understand what it is to come to Lishma.

Student: What does it mean to reach Lishma? 

M. Laitman: That is something we will see soon.

Student: What I hear is that there is no certainty, no certainty. 

M. Laitman: Certainty in what?

Student: In reaching spirituality.

M. Laitman: Of course not. That is in accordance with one's work. 

Student: But he doesn't know what Lishma is, what desires he has. Many have fallen, there is no certainty. Today you're here, tomorrow you're not.

M. Laitman: No, it's not enough to say that and leave the purpose of creation. Rather, we need to try to all come to reach that. And, eventually, we all do reach that. 

Student: What does it mean by bringing contentment to the Creator unintentionally or inadvertently? 

M. Laitman: That even those who are clear that they're still in their egoistic desires, somewhat even, even in a partial percentage of it, nevertheless, that's how they think. But in truth, he could say that everyone operates towards Lishma, but a person doesn't see, doesn't understand what's happening with him. 

Student: So what is new? The attainment that we are already in Lishma? 

M. Laitman: We don't exactly know what the depth of a person's examining himself is. 

Student: From your experience, what guarantees that a person will reach Lishma?

M. Laitman: I have no experience. It's a field in which, whoever's in it, he understands that he doesn't have any certainty, any confidence. 

Student: So, how does one acquire certainty, or maybe not acquire certainty but performs actions that will lead him to the goal? 

M. Laitman: We're not in that now, so there's nothing to talk about it right now.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (38:10) In working for the sake of the friends, for the sake of others, we have to exert. The main thing is to make an effort that it will be for the sake of the Creator. 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: If we are rewarded with this in everything we do for the friends, we think that it will also benefit the Creator, do we increase the intensity, the power of the connection between us by this? 

M. Laitman: Probably yes. 

Student: Do we qualify ourselves by this to work for the sake of the Creator? 

M. Laitman: Probably yes. That's according to my intellect, what I'm saying.

Student: So, that's the first thing we have to do, is that for sure? 

M. Laitman: First and foremost, we are obliged to reach Lishma. 

Student: Without the benefit of others?

M. Laitman: Without?

Student: I’m asking if we have to have the benefit of others being together with the intention to the Creator, always. 

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Student: This is all of our qualification, basically.

M. Laitman: Yes.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (39:31) You said that the system is built in such a way that we will come to one feeling. What does it mean to be in one feeling? 

M. Laitman: I don't know, we have to find out. About feelings, you have nothing to say. Those who feel it, feel it, those who still don't, don't.

Student: Is there a connection between the feeling with a friend, the feeling of one heart, and advancement towards Lishma? 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: What's the connection? 

M. Laitman: The connection between the friends from heart to heart brings a person to being connected in the heart with others. 

Student: Meaning, we have nothing to really scrutinize in the actions themselves when it comes to deeds. Only what feeling we develop from those actions. 

M. Laitman: The actions are an introduction to it. 

Student: Because we live in a world where we can do many actions.

M. Laitman: No, he doesn't mean many actions in this world. He means that if we perform actions that through them we will tend to our intentions, this will be correct.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (41:27) He writes that even if he doesn't appreciate what it is to bring contentment to his Maker, then too his reward will be great. So, what is he talking about here? About a spiritual reward?

M. Laitman: That he nevertheless exerts, but still hasn't come to spiritual success. But still, by this, he comes closer to the friends, to the Creator. He performs all kinds of actions that lead him on the path to Lishma. 

Student: He says it inadvertently or unintentionally, but that's already the beginning of Lishma? Is there something in that?

M. Laitman: No, no. Beginning or not beginning, I don't divide it this way.

Student: He says that he learns it with wisdom, but… 

M. Laitman: Mister, it's not written this way. What do you want from me?

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (42:51) Nevertheless, what is special about those who did succeed? Is there something special about them? They have something special? You can say the soul and these, but nevertheless, what is special about them that they do succeed to reach Lishma?

M. Laitman: A blessing from the Creator.

Student: Can you attain such a thing? The blessing of the Creator, or is it from above? 

M. Laitman: We'll see. We'll see afterwards, we'll see. We still don't understand what this condition is. The fact that it's outside of our nature, that's for sure. It is completely to bestow and of our own, so to speak. We'll see.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (44:02) The words are written that from Lo Lishma, you will come to Lishma, and that's the way to reach it. And the way to reach it, I agree, is not limited by time, but those who are by his qualifiers and the measure of his control over his heart. Is this only from the intention, or is this also the work with desires?

M. Laitman: It is probably the work to the full extent on the desires, which are all in man's heart. 

Student: Meaning, this is work with desires? 

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (44:54) At the end of the excerpt it's written that this too brings contentment to one's Maker. Meaning, even the Lo Lishma brings contentment? 

M. Laitman: Yes. Every effort that a person makes in order to come from Lo Lishma to Lishma is desirable in the eyes of the Creator.

Student: And this contentment is to the same measure of a person who believes in attainment? Is the Creator happy from this too? 

M. Laitman: Let's say, it's like a baby who does something for the mother. It can be the silliest thing and something that will not really help her. Still, it's certainly pleasant for her.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (45:54) I wanted to ask about the matter of the speech and praying, is a prayer in the mouth, in regular times. It brings a person to work in Lishma. By which one can... What in the work we do in regular times, how does this advance us to Lishma in comparison to, let's say... 

M. Laitman: We don't know anything that we need to do. This is why we open the book and read what the Kabbalists wrote for us, and take it upon ourselves wholeheartedly.

Student: After the lesson, is it better to pray for the two hours that we absorbed in the lesson, or these words of prayer? How do you work with the prayer at the end of the lesson? 

M. Laitman: We'll see. Maybe he writes about that too.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (47:02) To work for the sake of the public, for anyone who needs benefit and salvation. Is that mostly the work in thought?

M. Laitman: In action too. 

Student: And later on he writes that all his free time will be devoted to the benefit of the people in the world, and that thought is the main thing in this commandment.

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: That means prayer, intention, request for Him?

M. Laitman: Both, and both, and both.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (47:45) And what's beyond the thought, what the friend asked? What actions are we talking about for the sake of others? 

M. Laitman: Anything you... Give him candy.

Student: In a corporeal manner, do actions for the people of Israel?

M. Laitman: Even in this way, even if you give him something. Something that's good for him, that by this he will perhaps advance some more in what is important for him. 

Student: I'm trying to make my spiritual work more efficient. I can do actions for the Ten, for the society, for dissemination. 

M. Laitman: Yes, correct.

Student: I can do actions in the nation because through that also they also will reach it.

M. Laitman: That too.

Student: What's the best advice for a person to arrange himself in this? 

M. Laitman: We'll see. We've only just begun to read.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (48:53) Earlier you said to a friend that we need to do actions that take care of the intention. What's an action that takes care of the intention? What do I need to do in an action that will care for my intention?

M. Laitman: Come from Lo Lishma to Lishma.

Student: How is this expressed in our daily lives? What do I need to do? Check my intention? 

M. Laitman: I check, examine my actions in which I thought I was performing corrections, my corrections. And, gradually, I see that in all those actions, I am thinking in order to receive, and I'm not thinking about others - not about the people, or humanity, or anything. So certainly, my actions do not bring a person to correction. None of them, basically. 

Student: Meaning, before the action I do for the sake of the friend, I need, first of all, in my intention aim it so that every action will be for the sake of the Creator? 

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Student: Is that what he talks about here, to control the heart? Is that to control the heart? 

M. Laitman: Probably yes. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (50:27) We're going towards a convention whose purpose is to enter Lishma. It's a couple months ahead, but that's our direction. On the other hand, we hear that most of the people don't reach Lishma, many fall. Do we need to expect Lishma to continue with our work without expecting any reward? 

M. Laitman: No, without any reward. We all want to reach Lishma. And if there are such who fall along the way, as it's called, who do not reach Lishma, so they won't reach it. He writes that the reward is still great, because we cannot imagine what it means in the eyes of the Creator, what is Lishma and what is Lo Lishma. That person wanted to reach Lishma, but it didn't work out for him for some reason.

Student: And how to relate to someone who falls, the fallen along the way? 

M. Laitman: First of all, I'm not sure you'll see who fell and who didn't, because a person still continues. And don't believe in yourself until your day of death. So, we continue, everyone.

Student: I didn't understand what it could be that a person falls and he continues, but is he already deceased within him? 

M. Laitman: Yes, a person already knows that he will probably not reach Lishma. He doesn't have the strength for it, the desire for it, and he's fallen internally. But it doesn't mean anything, we still have to continue. 

Student: Okay, and if he continues, is there a chance for him to rise again? 

M. Laitman: Probably yes. 

Student: And what exactly helps a person reach Lishma?

M. Laitman: Help from above, the upper light.

Student: What's from below?

M. Laitman: From below is that he is in the right group, in the right Ten, where each one helps the others in the Ten, maintain alertness and advance. 

Student: You can sit here in the lesson with a strong Ten. I don't know where my heart is and if it's aimed in the right direction. 

M. Laitman: Correct. 

Student: That's what I'm asking, how can I aim my heart to that direction, not to bring this body to sit here now?

M. Laitman: You have to see that at least according to external signs, all your friends are ready to burst into Lishma. 

Student: Can we compel the Creator to give us this gift, this blessing? Do we even have such a room, any room to demand that from Him?

M. Laitman: Yes.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (54:39) It seems like Lishma is to reach prayer, reach a whole prayer. 

M. Laitman: Lishma is a state, and you reach that state also through a complete prayer.

Student: When Kabbalists write that the prayer without an intention is like a body without a soul, how do we put into our prayer the soul? 

M. Laitman: We should probably find out. A person should dig into himself and scrutinize where this cork is, that doesn't let his prayer reach the right place. 

Student: That's not quite understood.

M. Laitman: What's not understood? 

Student: It feels as if it's not with me. 

M. Laitman: So, look deeper and you'll see that you come to a state where it is called, that it is yours. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (56:21) We talked about the confidence in which we do actions that will bring us to Lishma. If a person has confidence, he has no need for the Creator. Does a person need to be confident that he's doing the right actions? 

M. Laitman: No. We are talking about confidence in our connection with the Creator, not just confidence in the air, kind of, or in some government or something.

Student: No, of course, if we're seeking confidence in our actions that we perform, looking for things that will bring us to Lishma, can there be before in Lo Lishma, can there be that kind of confidence in this? 

M. Laitman: No. You might say, that if I have such actions in which I know that they do lead me to Lishma, then I'll have some confidence in this. But it is written about it, don't believe in yourself until your day of death. Until the moment where the will to receive dies, the egoistic will to receive, don't believe that you can rise above it. 

Student: Yes, that's on one hand. On the other hand, Baal HaSulam writes, that you get qualified in the engagement of a friend and his friend, a person and his friend, and that will bring you to a connection with the Creator. He gives you the confidence that if you do these correct actions, it will bring you to the right intention. In the work with connection with the friends, to higher degrees, will we have the confidence in the connection that we should have with the Creator? Does the Ten give such a confidence? And does the connection between friends give the confidence that, give this confidence, even though a person is not supposed to have this confidence? Does this give that? 

M. Laitman: Here is a question. To what extent a person can believe? And to what extent a person who is in Lo Lishma feels his state, so to speak, in Lishma? There are several questions here. 

Student: Yes, the precise question is, were there also in a state of Lo Lishma, but in a connection between friends? Does a person feel confidence as if he's already in Lishma? Because the feeling is, that we're searching for a way that the Ten will supply us with kind of this stable step that we can always lean upon and work?

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: What is the connection with the Ten here that always gives us something that we can lean on? What is that? 

M. Laitman: I cannot say that it is a spiritual state, but because corresponding to that state, as you say, we have a spiritual state, which shines on that state, that the Ten can be in, and shines on it with some feeling of confidence. So, it turns out, that we are drawn to that state of a connection between us that will bring us the feeling of complete confidence.

Student: Here he said: to the extent of his control over his heart. 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: Do you think that what you had before you came to Rabash, you had some advantage of the measure of control over your heart that maybe others, that you had such a thing from your nature that really gave you, or is it something that simply develops from engaging in the Torah? 

M. Laitman: Only through engagement in the Torah. 

Student: So that actually develops with the work of the soul.

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:02:05) Why do we need this confidence? Why not work and being rewarded? 

M. Laitman: Okay, very good. Continue working.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:02:30) How can we check whether a person is working for the public? Is there an advice, like a precise test that a person is working in that direction? 

M. Laitman: I don't know what is the exact test.

Student: Because anyone could say that he's working for the benefit of the public, even if he's not lying to himself. 

M. Laitman: Yes, but we are talking about people actually trying to work for the sake of the public, and their intentions are not quite accordingly, not quite for the sake of the public. And in this, they are mistaken and don't reach the goal.

Student: Right. So can a person examine whether he is not working for the sake of the public somehow?

M. Laitman: Is there a test, where a person understands that he's not working for the public? He should look into his heart. 

Student: Now, all the work that he writes here, that person needs to work, that's the only commandment, he's kind of like a revolutionary, says this is the only commandment to work for the benefit of others. Can we say that all this work is something we have to just aim in the Ten? Is it correct or is he talking about the public altogether of the whole world? What's a Ten, group, world Kli to suffice in that?

M. Laitman: If a person is in a Ten, and from within the Ten, he directs himself toward the center of the Ten and continues in this way, and he's probably aiming correctly.

Student: Meaning, it's enough that he writes here that I need to help those who need salvation, and I can restrict the public to begin with. I live for the Ten, and that's it. I take something for my sustenance just to exist, and all the rest is for the Ten. 

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Student: But then it comes to the group, the public, and then he starts seeking bigger groups, and more people. 

M. Laitman: Probably, probably so. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:05:37) We're dealing a lot now with the matter of Lishma, and sometimes a question arises in a person, why do you want to reach Lishma? He searches for a solution to this question, and doesn't really know how to answer. And the question is, whether it's really a matter of the evil inclination that is there to detain a person, or does he continue to seek a solution to this question? 

M. Laitman: A person who begins to study the wisdom of Kabbalah, and hears that its purpose is to bring him to Lishma, then he probably is looking for how to reach it. 

Student: Meaning, it's enough for him to hear that that's the goal, and he's trying to reach there. He doesn't have to look for some other reason for it, or intention for it. Meaning, because the word Lishma is a little… It loses a little of its meaning, I think, because a person doesn't really know what it is. He heard, that his whole entire should be to bring contentment to the Creator, but doesn't really feel it. And sometimes there's this question, why do you want to bestow contentment to the Creator? What's your true intention with it? He searches within him, what is it to look for the Creator, and he doesn't find a solution for this, for a long time. 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: So does he need to continue to search, or move that question aside and continue to work without that?

M. Laitman: So then, why does he continue?

Student: So, he has to continue to seek a solution to this question of why he wants to bring contentment to the Creator. 

M. Laitman: That's it, you answered.

Student: Yes, but I'm asking, is that the right way? 

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:07:59) Every gathering of ours is a convention, friends come, and each, according to what he understands, wants to reach Lishma, makes efforts as much as he's capable, starts to devote himself, and is there a state in which someone from that big gathering will attain and the others not? 

M. Laitman: That's a big question.

Student: But if all of us are one Kli, and we also learn that the finest of the vessels receives the first light, so everyone attains, but they just understand more or less. But can we say that someone needs to feel, to change, something will impact him anyway?

M. Laitman: Something will influence him, for sure. In some way, to some extent, he will change, for sure. The question is, is he really getting closer to Lishma? 

Student: Now, if a person feels that he's attained something, it could also be a falsehood, but if you give forth all your forces, and not anything else, they could be pure, and you continue to work, no? 

M. Laitman: No, no. There's an order of degrees, and he has to reach a desire that it's truly Lishma, for Lishma, and then when he passes it, he knows what happens afterwards. We will learn it. 

Student: The matter of confidence that the friends are asking, the fact that I exist with that rule that is aimed now to reach Lishma, is that enough or not? 

M. Laitman: The fact that now I belong to a collective that all of it yearns to reach Lishma, this should give me confidence and connection to them and that... I don't know what to say. I don't know what to say. 

Student: Do we feel some general illumination? All of us? 

M. Laitman: What general illumination? 

Student: Of confidence. The light of confidence? No, also Baal HaSulam writes that in the adhesion of the friends, if they connect, they attain a very important degree, more than the light of life.

M. Laitman: We haven't reached it.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:11:25) I wanted to scrutinize how you switch a piece of knowledge to the goal. Because a person starts an action, each here in the world Kli knows that he's reaching the morning lesson and incorporates in this action. And when he wakes up from the bed, it's not necessarily that I arise, because my goal is to bring contentment to the Maker, to the Creator. But I do know, I'm certain that each, if I were to ask him, knows that in this action that's called the morning lesson, it brings contentment to the Creator. Meaning that there's a difference between the goal and knowing. And I wanted to ask, how do you reach, how do you, how can you bring closer that which has to do with awakening in me a desire to perform an action, and I don't do it because there's an agreement.

M. Laitman: I don't know if we can quite distinguish between desire and consent. A desire for an action, and consent or an agreeing to an action.

Student: An example came up to me about two children. One knows he's doing an action, and he knows that it brings contentment to his parents. On the other hand, there's another child that will do the action because he wants it to bring contentment to the parents.

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: There's an immense difference between these two. 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: And how do we reach that desire? How do you awaken desire? How do we cause it to make you see why you want that? 

M. Laitman: You awaken desire through a desire. And in order to awaken the desire, there are many means to do that. 

Student: But of course, it's correct that you have to do an action, want to come to the lesson, in order to bring contentment to the Creator.

M. Laitman: Yes. Yes..

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:14:31) We receive the Lishma from above, the Lo Lishma is our choice. In Lo Lishma, we're actually growing the vessel. I mean, our Kli, from the friends, our desire grows, our ego grows, everything grows. And then when we come to Lishma, when we receive the Lishma from the Creator, we come with a greater vessel. Can you look at it this way, where it's like this until the Creator decides, and meanwhile your vessel decides that it will support the Creator in a much more efficient way? 

M. Laitman: Okay.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:15:26) About free time that he says to call all that time like that. Oh, it's very foggy, you don't know when it's going to happen, you don't know what you've been through, you don't know if you're doing actions correct. There's things in which the grip is really clear and solid. How do we deal with the free time in such a way that we don't lie to ourselves?

M. Laitman: It depends on the environment. 

Student: Where will they tell me what my free time?

M. Laitman: Yes, you measure the times with respect to them.

Student: I think it's very important in another topic. If a person lives in this wild world, I know there's people that don't have free time. Is that right?

M. Laitman: Well, they don't know how to arrange their time.

Student: So it means that each one can... 

M. Laitman: Each one can arrange his schedule, his time in order to feel himself that he's using his time correctly. 

Question (PT31): (01:16:38) Regarding concern for the public, you said that when you started studying, you went out to the public to disseminate very quickly. Do you see us going out to the public as a condition for reaching Lishma?

M. Laitman: No, it could be the opposite. That they are giving you a false feeling of confidence, that you are already great, whole, etc. .

Student: And still, if you go out to the public, can you perhaps explain how a person should examine things before he goes to the public?

M. Laitman: No, it's irrelevant. It all depends on the person himself. His character, his integrity with himself and with the environment.

Question (KABU9): (01:17:37) What is the difference between working for the public and working for the Creator?

M. Laitman: The difference is in the goal. And the difference is in the work itself, in the effort itself. 

Question (Woman PT6): (01:18:03) What is the engagement in Torah which helps a person reach Lishma, enter Lishma? What should we invest in? 

M. Laitman: What should we invest in? We learn about it all the time. You don't have a single morning when we don't learn about it. In the first lesson, the second lesson. 

Question (Merkas 1): (01:18:29) Where is the main obstacle in terms of reaching Lishma?

M. Laitman: In man's heart. That is obvious.

Question (Woman PT 33): (01:18:44) You talked about arranging our schedule. So, how to arrange it such that there will be enough time for everything that's required? What is your suggestion? 

M. Laitman: It's not about the time itself. It is related to the way you relate to time.

Question (Australia): (01:19:11) What is the depth of the examination a person should conduct for himself all day long?

M. Laitman: The manner of the examination or?

Student: The depth of it. The depth of the examination that a person should examine himself.

M. Laitman: Well, that's not simple. It depends on the integrity of one's heart.

Song: (01:20:43)