Preparation for the Lesson
Rare excerpts from the lessons of kabbalist Baruch Shalom Ashlag, with commentaries of his student and successor Dr. Michael Laitman
RABASH: He asks there, and brings the words of Rav Chaim Vital, what he says, it is Gemarah: “One who does not see a good sign in three years, will not see.” So he asks, “What should he do, stop studying Torah? … No. How is it permitted? He asks. He is asking a simple question. Nevertheless, he will not see. So what should he do, stop studying?
Rav: Why not?
RABASH: There is a written law: “It is forbidden to stop during the study of Torah.” This is what is written, “And you will speak of them, and not of trifling matters.” Thus, we should study the Torah, as it is written, “And you will contemplate it day and night.” There are no conditions written there, a sign, no sign, where are signs written in the Torah?
Rav: Fine, so he continues.
RABASH: 1. He asks there, I say…
Rav: Except I don’t know what for…
RABASH: The fact that it is written, it is also written, in general, what is a sign? What, what is a blessing? A blessing—a person should reach Lishma [for Her sake], for the sake of the Creator. If he does not reach for the sake of the Creator, he has to change the road he has been walking on thus far. Or a different guide, a different teacher, a different class, a different seminary. He should do things that will help him. If he does not want here, let him go elsewhere.
Except, he says one other thing: When can one say that he did not see, that in three years, he has not seen a sign of blessing? When he met the conditions required for learning Lo Lishma [not for Her sake].
A person studies Lo Lishma, and says, “I am studying Lo Lishma but I want my study to bring will be Lishma.” Then he says, a person, in the beginning of his study, he should always remember that he is learning Torah, that this act will bring him Lishma.