Morning Lesson Transcription is made from simultaneous translation which leaves possibility for errors.
Morning Lesson November 15, 2020
Preparation passage before TES - Nov. 15, 2020 (00:01 - 01:43)
RABASH, Article No. 12 (1988), "What Are Torah and Work in the Way of the Creator?"
A person must make a great effort before he comes to learn so that his learning will bear fruit and good results, meaning so the learning will bring him the light of Torah, by which it will be possible to reform him. Then, through the Torah, he becomes a wise disciple.
What is a “wise disciple”? Baal HaSulam said that it is a student who learns from the wise. That is, the Creator is called “wise,” and a person who learns from Him is called a “disciple of the wise.” What should one learn from the Creator? He said that a person should learn only one thing from the Creator. It is known that the Creator wishes only to bestow. Likewise, man should learn from Him to be a giver. This is called a “wise disciple.”
33. R. (01:49) We are now beginning to study Talmud Eser Sephirot, Kabbalists have no other choice but to write about spirituality the way they did. It is either they write about it in the style of Psalms or prayers or poems, things like that, the Torah or as it is written in the Talmud, the Babylonian and Yerushalayim, where they talk about what exists as if it exist in corporeality but they are actually intending and mean spirituality. In the study of TES we don't talk about something that exists in this world in that we need to imagine how it works in our world, but like in the language of the branches that we learn from the first part of TES. Right now we are talking about spirituality in the sense and style of geometry, circle triangle square and they will be much more of that. So what I recommend and truly ask you is not to describe this as much as you can, not to describe this geometrically even though there really is no choice as we perceive it like that at first, but try to translate these geometric terms to spiritual qualities. Where they are either from end to beginning are beginning to end or above downwards and down words, from below upwards is bestowal and reception or when something is circular or around, then what is that and so on. Try as much as you can not to envision a circle but it's quality, not to envision the line but it's quality and in this way we will move faster towards the spiritual perception. To study TES is through the language to study the spiritual qualities and as much as possible to reach them and too long to feel them within a person, this is the main thing. This is what will make us truly wiser and not just smart in the sense of remembering a lot of pages. Knowing what is written in the pages without understanding the true essence of what is written. So this is why it is says, it is not the smart one who learns, rather specifically those who yearn to discover spiritual discernment and this is possible to discover only within the person, they are the people who reach true wisdom.
Baal HaSulam. "Study of the Ten Sefirot" (TES). Part 2. Ari #6 ("The Kav connects all the Igulim together")
Reader “The Kav connects all the Igulim together” (05:31 - 06:51)
34. R. Like what we just read for instance, how can we describe emotionally, fundamentally, truthfully that the line goes through all of the circles and binds them together? How does it bind them? With what? How does it cross through all of the circles, how does it come from the outer circle all the way to the inner center of all the circles, if we translate that into the emotional shape according to spiritual laws not geometry, then we will understand what is happening here between the relation between the Creator and the created beings. How they take on different shapes and how the Creator bestows to them and why it is he connects them with the line through the circles that it will be studying the wisdom of Kabbalah in a more internal and fundamental way. We shouldn't be quick to see it as a drawing but rather to perceive the essence of it.
35. S. (08:22) How do I transfer it from this drawing to inner qualities, how do I not make a mistake out of it?
R. Even when you make mistakes how do you know if you make mistakes, you can have that question anywhere the problem is not making mistakes, the problem is that the effort needs to be in the right direction and that is why I awaken you towards this. To make it more emotional to shift it to a more emotional understanding and not keep it in your mind that there is a line that goes through circles. This is completely totally an external shape that has nothing to do with spiritual discernments, but if we know that the first circle is the greatest bestowal, Keter, from this unbounded influence symbolized by a circle then comes a line which is a very narrow and restricted influence into another circle, another influence of the Creator and even though it's another circle that is equal from all of its sides it is still exists as a result of the initial influence and it is a part of it. So try to describe these things in their essence and not their drawing.
36. S. (10:16) What is the difference between a line and the circle, what connects them, in the end do they become one?
R. It's not written about it so I don't talk about.
S. So what the difference between a line and a circle?
R. The difference is the line means, the circle is the quality of bestowal in all directions and the line means in a single direction from above downwards, where the will to receive determines restrictions of the light through the line and when the light comes and passes through these restrictions it actually expands from above downwards. So the discernments are already from above downward that is the Kav, the line and the circles are discernments only in that space
S. What action to connects them?
R. They adjust to each other there is the general providence in the circle and the personal Providence in the line, we will talk about it more these are two ways so Creator relates to the created things in order to bring them into identification with him.
37. S. What is effort in spirituality?
R. Effort in spirituality is that I try to detect what spirituality is, that it is bestowal, the love of others, all above my ego, then I clarify these things and try to get closer to them.
38. S. (12:17) The ten works both in a line and a circle?
R. We'll talk about it for now, it is not Kav or Igul for now.
39. S. (12:33) How to portray it emotionally the line and the circle?
R. We can describe the circle in our work to the extent that we are in a circle, there is no greater and lower or first and last, rather we are all completely equal and we are adding to each other we all depend upon each other equally. In the circle you don't have an up-or-down everyone bows to the center of the circle where is essentially the common force in the common desire, the Creator. However, the line is already to the degrees of how each and everyone is different from the other and each and everyone can be integrated with the other to become a Sephirah. If I am not included in the ten then I am nothing and the will to receive just like before, just like what I received from the Creator I have not done any correction upon myself. So all of my work is to integrate with the friends. Articles of Rabash.
S. So I am trying to work inside the common circle Then I discovered in this work a line?
R. If I connect all the friends to the center of the ten to be as one, then you could begin to feel that from the circle to your center, passes the line and you can identify with that line and in that line you begin to discover the Holy Names meaning all sorts of phenomena that this is how the Creator wants to appear in you and you will begin to feel among you and the connection between you, not anywhere else, not somewhere or anywhere. You will feel there's a connection within you and in that connection you will start feeling CHGTNHY, first you attain the connection then you obtain the manners of the connection, so there is no game that you can play here either you have it or you won't, it is laws of nature.
S. What he writes here that the line connects the circles, does this mean that each time you reach a new degree of connection as a result of this work?
R. We will discover both those circles and the line that connects both of them, what is the relationship between both of them.
40. S. (15:48) What is the difference between the essence of the circles?
R. The essence of the circles is how much there is power of bestowal in each and every circle as he receives from the line. Let's put it like this, you have ten mothers and every mother truly wants to bestow everything that it has to her children and then there is the Kav, line which divides one to the first mother the second the third according to that line that goes down, the higher it is the more it gives and the less the less it gives and all the 10 mothers are standing there to receive from the line. So, the mother gives her children, each gives from all of her heart but how much you can give is how much you receives from the line.
41. S. (17:04) Why only the line connects the circles?
R. The line connects the circles.
42. S. (17:19) Can we say that the line is full of dots of little states that we go through and each state determines the quality or direction of the line?
R. Yes.
43. S. (17:41) We have learned that the method of Kabbalah is implemented and realized in the group to say that the line comes in a compressed way and then opens up and becomes a circle?
R. Correct yes you can say that.
44. S. (18:06) There are the circles and the lines connected to the four phases of direct light?
R. It is the result of the four phases of direct light, yes.
45. S. (18:28) I hope I am describing it correctly when we connect between us in our integration, we are climbing back up the same line?
R. Let's say so but I don't like these questions, ask what we are studying and not what you feel like accordingly.
46. S. (18:54) The circle there is no motion, it is sort of wholeness, what makes the circle extend the line?
R....
S.....
R. The upper desire that created, after the Restriction it continues with the desire to express the desire through lines and circles and the whole reality is through lines and circles.
Reader Ohr Pnimi 3. “You have already learned that there is....”(20:00 - 22:39)
47. R. We have the Igul, circle of Keter the Igul, circle of Bina, the circle of Hochma and what connects between the circle is the Yosher, straight line, the three Sephirot connects to the seven Sephirot of the Igulim and seven lower Sephirot is connected to the Yosher, straight line and they communicate the light to the Circle of Hochma to the 10 Sephirot of Hochma of the circle so this is how it works we have those three attributes of GAR of Yosher which is an equivalence with the circles and then we have those ZAT of Yosher which is only connecting between the upper circle to the lower circle.
48. S. (23:51) What is the feeling and how can I discern between a feeling, the regular feeling or the feeling after TES?
R. You mean a feeling that stands out?
S. What is the feeling in the text you said it is a basis for the feelings?
R. So continue with it keep thinking about it what is the Igulim what is the Yosher, what is the connection between the circles and the straight line, the straight line is limited according to the , Masach, screen and the restriction and the reflected light to the extent that it can be equal to the upper light and the circle comes equally to everyone, so how does the Creator bestow? He bestows equally to everyone, from the 10 Sephirot of the Igulim or from the GAR of the Yosher and then from the straight line is bestowal, comes down in a way that is divided and restricted in accordance with the lower ones. Think about it and then it becomes and turns from a diagram into a presentation of the manifestation of the Creator to the created beings.
49. S. (25:42) The friends desires are the circles and if one can feel the friend that's the line?
R. We have to try to relate to one another as in the circles without any difference between us, in bestowal, upon each other and by this we become similar to the Creator and then we will discover that there are differences between us, but those differences out of the inner nature that exist in each one which is how the Creator created it but each one wants to relate to the others like the Creator in a uniform way. Now you can understand where the circle and the straight line is.
50. S. (27:01) You said that every line that enters a circle of the Sephirot has some kind of value, what does it mean that the line enters the circle and that it reaches the qualities of an opposite state?
R. We haven't talked about it yet, we will, what does it mean that it enters? It's not physics, penetrates, enters, punctures a hole in the circles, we have to understand what this means in spirituality. Didn't spirituality all of the operations occur only to the equivalence of qualities.
51. S. (28:01) The line is Created from the ZAT, is there some kind of freedom here?
R. No, I don't want to answer any more questions we just need to keep going in the study. You're asking questions that you will soon start talking about, I don't want to put the horses ahead of the carriage.
Reader Item 4 Ohr Pnimi “The Kav, which is a He’arah of Yosher,....”(28:45 - 33:55)
52. S. He says that there was no absence in spirituality, what does that mean?
R. Spirituality, which is in order to bestow never disappears, it is the qualities of the Creator.
S. How is it connected to the one studying Kabbalah?
R. It is not included at all, the student studies that's where he is, if he is already in spirituality, to the extent he is in spirituality has eternity, to the extent that he's not he doesn't.
S. So I have to reveal it?
R. Yes of course.
53. S. (34:49) What does it mean that the line is Ruach and the line is Nefesh?
R. The light of Nefesh means it's resting it doesn't move from itself completely the light of the line depends on restrictions and screens and reflected light and direct light it depends on the work of the lower one that is why it is called Ruach it's not like it doesn't have more, as compared to the light in the circles which is Nefesh the light of the line is Ruach means it has all of the NRNCHY.
S. Do we belong to Ruach or Nefesh?
R. We belong to nothing.
S To the world I meant?
R. Not with respect to the world or nothing You're asking meaningless questions, there is no such thing, just learn what is written and where it is written and don't be a philosopher. What are we compared to the world, Ruach or Nefesh, there are no such questions because these discernments don't exist in spirituality.
54. S. (36:08) What is in the circle prior to the light of the line filling them?
R. The circles before the light of the line are the circles of Ein Sof, where Malchut of Ein Sof before the Restriction this is how she receives all of the light that spreads to her, so these are the circles. Afterwards when she feels shame and must equalize herself with the light, she performs the restriction and then as the ARI writes know that before the emanated beings were emanated and the creatures were created, where he writes it, then from Ein Sof one line stretched out.
55. S. (37:15) The light of the Igulim, circles and between the circles where are BB?
R. We are in the circles and we are expecting the light of the line, but for this we have to be connected as a line, meaning to have a connection between us, such a connection that we will be similar to the line. In the meantime, we are rated by the circles.
56. S. (37:57) It's written in the text that the light of the line doesn't come in contact with the circle so where do the circles have the light of their own?
R. There is light that comes from above, outside of the circles and outside of a line, the light passes through the line and fills the circles this is what we read.
S. What's the difference in the quality between the two lights?
R. The light of the circles is the Nefesh that doesn't move from itself, it is apathetic, it is filled and exists and a light of the line is light that comes by the intensification of the desires in the line and this is why it governs and dominates. You have this apathetic desire which is the desire of the circles and an active desire which is the desire of the line.
57. S. (39:39) If the line touches the circle somewhere that means that their qualities are equal and what does it mean that at the same time it doesn't touch the circle?
R. I can't explain it right away, soon we will learn how the light enters the circles, how it penetrates and breaks through the circle to enter it.
58. S. (40:14) Are the 10 Sephirot 10 circles?
R. Yes, 10 Sephirot are 10 Igulim and you also have 10 Sephirot that are Sephirot of Yosher, your questions are ahead and this is why we will continue.
Reader Item 5, Item 6, Item 7, Item 7 ARI, Item 8 Ohr Pnimi, Item 9 Ohr Pnimi, “Any Hitpashtut of the Ohr Elyon to the Ne’etzal...”(40:33 - 51:30)
59. R. Every upper one surrounds the lower one below it from all sides without distinguishing of degrees, this is the meaning of the circles.
60. S. (51:44) The mechanics that they reflected light clothes the direct light he writes that the Malchut becomes the Keter how does this happen?
R. He doesn't want to receive anything like the guest who now wants to give to the host, without the guest receiving the host will not enjoy, so it turns out that the guest by doing the restriction begins to feel then he begins to feel what deficiency the host has for it and then he can work towards a deficiency of the host and in this way he rises back with his bestowal, back to the host. Therefore the 10 Sephirot of reflected light complement the 10 Sephirot of Ohr Yashar and in each and every Sephirot you have a part of the Ohr Yashar and a part of the Ohr Chozer, but there is always 10.
S. Malchut becomes Keter after it restricts itself.
R. Of course the Malchut has to feel that she's receiving and that there is someone who wants to fill her she has to restrict herself, she wants to give back and only after the Tzimtzum can she discover what he really wants to give me and how much she can calculate and give back to him by wanting to bestow. To give her a relation what is the 10 Sephirot of Ohr Chozer, it is a relation the created being can't get anything back to the Creator what can he receive from the created being? The Creator has no vessels of reception so it is only a relation, so if the created being wants like a baby smiling at his mother, he gives everything to the mother, the mother doesn't need anything else other than that he will smile at her. This is called the created being given contentment to the Creator, this is what he raises to the Creator, his desire to do good and then how much it receives or doesn't receive doesn't matter, what is important is the intention which determines everything.
S. If she becomes Keter then this is her first contact attempt to bestow to the Creator?
R. Now she is beginning to give back reflected Light by doing it in restriction she doesn't want to use her will to receive although she has a big desire and wants to receive but now she doesn't want to receive but on the contrary to receive only in order to give and then she begins to build her relation to the host in this way, to the Creator.
S. Afterwards she starts to bestow more and more, called that you continue Hochma?
R. Know whatever the Malchut decides is what happens, it's not that she comes to Hochma and performs another operation on Bina, know there is a decision below and out of that decision the light, the reflected light goes up and dresses over the direct light.
S. It's not so clear
R. We will learn it.
61. S. (55:46) It is not clear what he wrote in item 9 that the upper one surrounds the lower one and the difference between them, between the different circles?
R. That is what the circles are like, the bigger circle contains within it all of the subsequent circles that come after it because it causes their emergence.
62. S. (56:16) We say that all the changes are in the vessels that there are no changes in the light so it itself is 10 Sephirot without connection to the vessel, discuss first there's Keter, Hochma, Bina so there is qualities of the light itself?
R. Yes, you're right it is an appropriate question, there's a light which is called bestowal which can be in various measures and manners all depending upon the receiver. When I want to bestow, I have to know the recipient and what he enjoys and accordingly my bestowal can be in all kinds of ways. This is the nature of the upper light.
S. This means the Creator is working in all kinds of ways toward the created being according to his state?
R. Yes, the Creator created the created being and bestows upon him the nature of the created being at once and it comes and dresses and each desire of the created being in a specific way according to the desire..
63. S. (57:51) The mechanism of the relationships between the Creator and the created being expands through the still, vegetative and animal?
R. No, the relation of the Creator to the created beings is one-sided, he doesn't expect from them, from the restriction, the screen and the reflected light because they don't have the feeling of Godliness.
64. S. (58:29) What has to be our prayer when we read TES?
R. Only to be able to establish to build our desire to bestow from the Creator in our connection between us and then it will come with him as we learned a direct light with our reflected light, the circles, the straight lines.
S. I see when we read, I'm trying to understand what is written but I actually don't understand.
R. Don't try to understand, try to feel, try to imagine yourself instead of the light and instead of a Kav, instead of the Igul, instead of the Malchut, try to feel and that way you will start changing, your will to receive into all kinds of forms that you will come closer to feeling the light. The most important for us is not to understand, understanding is completely worthless, although we appreciate it so much, what is important for us is to feel.
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