The transcript has been transcribed and edited from English simultaneous interpretation, thus there may be potential semantic inaccuracies within it.
Daily Lesson (Morning) November 30, 2024.
Part 1: Baal HaSulam. A Speech for the Completion of The Zohar
Reader: Hello, we are reading in Baal HaSulam’s A Speech for the Completion of The Zohar. The study material is in Sviva Tova, bloggroup.info and Arvut system, you can ask questions on those platforms. Anyone who's asking questions here in the hall, please stand up, hold the mic close to your mouth and speak loudly and clearly. Baal HaSulam, A Speech for the Completion of The Zohar. We're starting from this paragraph that starts with, This is the meaning of what Rabbi Meir said.
Reading: (00:44) This is the meaning of what Rabbi Meir said: “Anyone who learns Torah Lishma is granted many things. The secrets and flavors of Torah are revealed to him, and he becomes like an ever-flowing spring.” As we have said, through engagement in Torah Lishma, meaning by aiming to bring contentment to his Maker through his engagement in the Torah, and not at all for his own benefit, he is guaranteed to cling to the Creator. This means that he will achieve equivalence of form, and all his actions will be to benefit others and not himself at all, just like the Creator, whose every action is only to bestow and to benefit others.
By this, one returns to Dvekut with the Creator as was the soul prior to its creation. Hence, he is granted many things and is rewarded with the secrets and the flavors of the Torah. Because he has reconnected with the Creator, he knows once more the thoughts of the Creator like the allegory about the organ that has been reattached to the body. The thoughts of the Creator are called “secrets and flavors of the Torah.” Thus, one who learns Torah Lishma is rewarded with the secrets and flavors of Torah being revealed to him, and he becomes like an ever-flowing spring due to the removal of the partitions that separated him from the Creator, so he has become one with Him again, as before one was created.
Indeed, the whole Torah, revealed and concealed, is the thoughts of the Creator, without any difference. Yet, it is like a person drowning in the river, whose friend throws him a rope to save him. If the drowning person catches the rope in its near part, his friend can save him and pull him out of the river.
So is the Torah: Being entirely the thoughts of the Creator, it is like a rope that the Creator throws to people to save them and pull them out of the Klipot [shells]. The end of the rope, which is near to all the people, is the revealed Torah, which requires no intention or thought. Moreover, even when there is a faulty thought in the Mitzvot, the Creator still accepts it, as it is written, “One must always engage in Torah and Mitzvot Lo Lishma [not for Her sake], since from Lo Lishma he will come to Lishma [for Her sake].”
Hence, the Torah and Mitzvot are the end of the rope, and there is not a person in the world who cannot grip it. If one tightly grips it, meaning is rewarded with engaging in Torah and Mitzvot Lishma, to bring contentment to one’s Maker and not to oneself, the Torah and Mitzvot lead one to equivalence of form with the Creator. This is the meaning of “and to adhere to Him.”
At that time, one will be rewarded with attaining all the thoughts of the Creator, called “secrets of the Torah” and “flavors of the Torah,” which are the rest of the rope. However, one is awarded it only after one has achieved complete Dvekut.
The reason we compare the Creator’s thoughts, meaning the secrets of the Torah and the flavors of the Torah, to a rope is that there are many degrees in the equivalence of form with the Creator. Hence, there are many degrees in the rope in attaining the secrets of the Torah. One’s measure of attainment of the secrets of the Torah, of knowing His thoughts, is as the measure of equivalence of form with the Creator.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (06:37) A little bit of a context: Earlier in the article we learned that the Creator does not think about Himself, whether He exists or not, and one who wants to attain equivalence of form is forbidden to think about those things. And afterwards, in the first paragraph here, it says, the Creator gave man Torah and Mitzvot, where he needs to engage in bestowing contentment to the Creator. And if not, so then he doesn't. Then on page 473, in the paragraph we started from, it says through the engagement in Torah Lishma, meaning that he aims at bringing contentment to his Maker through his engagement in the Torah, so then it is guaranteed to him. So, it seems as if this key is this direction, where during the time of Torah and Mitzvot, he aims at bringing contentment to the Creator. So, my question is what does it mean to direct if he is still not in Lishma, he has no true intention; so, what does it mean to direct?
M. Laitman: That he aims that he will go out to Lishma and then all of his actions will be for the sake of the Creator.
Student: So, now he has Torah and Mitzvot before him, all kinds of actions that he understands that he needs to do. And there is this condition where now, I need to aim. What does it mean that before the action, I aim?
M. Laitman: You aim that the action you're going to perform will bring contentment to the Creator.
Student: Meaning, before the action, I need to place such a goal?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: But the person still has no true goal, so what does it mean that he does that?
M. Laitman: So, he aims for it, he intends to have.
Student: What, it's possible through the mind to pressure the heart?
M. Laitman: Kind of like that.
Student: That's the action?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, he says that he needs to develop a deficiency in that direction?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Through all these experiments of his, experiences of his?
M. Laitman: Through what's written: That you have to do whatever the Torah demands in order to bring contentment to the Creator.
Student: And where are the friends here?
M. Laitman: Along the way their friends are there too, sure.
Student: How can we in the Ten strengthen that aim so that everyone will make that effort?
M. Laitman: That's a different question already. We want to connect between us so that in our collective strength in the Ten we can aim ourselves correctly, powerfully, to the benefit of the Creator.
Student: So, now I know that the friends in my Ten also make such an effort, which is that it's also important to them. But it's not as important as much as he demands it to be.
M. Laitman: That's the whole path.
Student: So, what does it mean for each one of us to connect? In our inclinations we need to connect?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: How?
M. Laitman: That in each and every action that we aim to do, we aim it, as much as possible, more and more to the Creator.
Student: Each one can think in this personal way, that's one thing and we can also think about it together. So, what's the difference?
M. Laitman: Together.
Student: What is together, what is that difference?
M. Laitman: That everyone's thinking.
Student: Each one thinks by himself that I have such an inclination. So, what does it mean that he's aiming at connection?
M. Laitman: No but, first of all, you wish to be together in the Ten. You want to have this one thought, one desire, one intention, one goal. And as a result of that you come to one action, that you're truly coming to bring contentment to the Creator.
Student: Here, there is a matter of Arvut?
M. Laitman: That, too.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (11:49) It's written that the one who studies Torah Lishma is revealed the secrets and flavors of Torah and becomes as an ever-flowing spring and removes all the boundaries from him due to the removal of the partitions that separated him from the Creator, so he's become one with Him again. How was he with Him before he was created?
M. Laitman: “Was created” doesn't mean that man was created. Rather, the will to receive was created which separates man from the Creator actually.
Student: So, what was beforehand?
M. Laitman: Before that we don't know, but there was no separation. There was no man which is cut off from the Creator, separately.
Student: What can we learn from that?
M. Laitman: That we have to reconnect.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (13:07) He writes here that what we imagine as the thoughts of the Creator, meaning the secrets and flavors of the Torah as a rope, it's because there are many degrees, etc. What does it mean to know the thoughts of the Creator?
M. Laitman: Just as you know your friend's thoughts. So, some you do – some you don't – but what you do, that makes you, puts you together with him.
Student: What does it mean to know the thoughts of the friend?
M. Laitman: What he wants, what he cares for, how he lives.
Student: A person often doesn't know his own thoughts and what he knows of his friend's thoughts. He usually, he doesn't recognize that they could be his friend's thoughts.
M. Laitman: Let's say it's from within himself.
Student: So, it's a matter of degrees from the beginning? There's this general tendency and then there's more and more resolution to know the friend's thoughts and the Creator's thoughts?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: And that is the rope that we need to grab hold of? How do we grab hold of it and not let it go, this rope?
M. Laitman: By always thinking and trying to connect more and get closer, more and more.
Student: When we say to know the center of the Ten, the thoughts of the Ten, the feeling of the Ten. Is that also the edge of the rope, meaning everything that pulls a person out of himself
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (15:13) When a person returns to the same place, does that same place have an addition? Or does the place remain the same place, meaning that the person stays there?
M. Laitman: Man attains each time more and more proximity to the Creator, that's it. That's what works on him, on his actions.
Student: The place remains the same place, but the person just comes to it.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (15:53) Why, through the study of the Torah, does a person reveal his own intentions, more than if he would not engage in the Torah?
M. Laitman: Because the Torah speaks of the Creator, and a person who studies Torah, the Torah awakens in him thoughts and desires which he sees that are his and outside of the Tora. And that's when he discovers how far he is from the Creator; and here in fact, he has room for prayer, by which he can get closer to the Creator and adhere to Him, what didn't happen before.
Student: What are the partitions, here, in the work; the partitions that separate him from adhering with the Creator?
M. Laitman: All kinds of thoughts, habits, desires of sorts, which are not aimed, not intended to get closer to the Creator.
Student: On one hand, he has all these external thoughts and desires that he reveals, and here in the Ten, he finds that he can grab hold of them and come to Lishma together with the Ten. How do we grab hold in this state of these Ten strongly? How do we grab hold of this matter of Lishma, strongly?
M. Laitman: We should envision to ourselves that all of our intentions, thoughts, expectations, there's like some collective center for them at the center of the Ten. And we wish to get closer to it and grab hold of it, all of us together, every Ten. And that this will be our goal, for now. And then, in strengthening in that middle point, that center that we have, we'll also get closer to the Creator.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (18:36) Knowing the thoughts of the Creator, does that mean attaining the thought of creation?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Internet): (18:52) It's written, everyone who studies the Torah Lishma is rewarded with many things.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, first, why is it written many and not everything?
M. Laitman: I don't know what's everything but, as the sages write, that's what we attain.
Student: What is the difference between secrets of the Torah and flavors of the Torah?
M. Laitman: Flavors of Torah is what we can reveal even in our state, and secrets of Torah is after the Creator opens each one's hearts and eyes.
Question (Internet): (19:44) What role does the Klipot play in spirituality according to what is written and how is that connected to the purpose of the Torah?
M. Laitman: Klipot are desires aimed at themselves, as we can now see more and more. And we have to take from them the big desires to receive that exist in the Klipot; correct them in order to bestow and raise them.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (20:30) To ask about the rope, he writes that the Creator throws the rope to the person and the edge of the rope is nearer to all the people, which is a revealed Torah, which requires no intention or thought. And afterwards he says that the edge of the rope, no one in the world can hold on to it. Firstly, what is the rope?
M. Laitman: Connection.
Student: The connection between who and who?
M. Laitman: Man, and the Creator.
Student: He writes that it's the secret of the revealed Torah, what is the revealed Torah?
M. Laitman: What we understand with our mind.
Student: Meaning, if I am in the Ten and in the group and do everything I understand in my mind in order to reach the goal. So, I grab hold of the rope?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: And that guarantees me, he writes in continuation, that it will bring me to Torah Lishma?
M. Laitman: If you wish to advance, yes.
Reading: (22:06) “...Overall, there are five degrees …”:
Overall, there are five degrees: Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Haya, Yechida, each of which consists of all of them. Also, each contains five degrees, and each of those contains at least twenty-five degrees.
They are also called “worlds,” as our sages said, “The Creator is destined to grant each righteous 310 worlds.” The reason why the degrees of attaining Him are called “worlds” is that the name Olam [world] has two meanings:
All those who come into that world have the same sensation, and everything that one sees, hears, and feels, all those who come into that world see, hear, and feel, as well.
All those who come into that “hidden” world cannot know or attain anything in another world.
These two degrees are also found in attainment:
Anyone who has been rewarded with a certain degree knows and attains in it everything that those who came to that degree attained in all the generations that were and that will be. He has common attainment with them as though they are in the same world.
All who come to that degree will not be able to know or attain what exists in another degree. It is like this world: They cannot know anything of what exists in the world of truth. This is why the degrees are called “worlds.”
For this reason, those with attainment can compose books and put their attainments in writing in intimations and allegories. They will be understood by all who have been rewarded with the degrees that the books describe, and they have common attainment with them. But those who have not been rewarded with the full measure of the degree as the authors will not be able to understand their intimations. It is even more so with those who have not been rewarded with any attainment; they will not understand a thing about them since they have no common attainments.
We have already said that the complete Dvekut and complete attainment is divided into 125 degrees overall. Accordingly, prior to the days of the Messiah, it is impossible to be granted all 125 degrees.
M. Laitman: Questions? So, it’s really clear to everyone?
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (25:54) If it is written where everyone who has been rewarded with a certain degree knows and attains in it everything that those who came to that degree attained in all the generations. If so, why does he need to write books or tell about something that was attained in a certain world?
M. Laitman: Help those who still don't attain; so that it will help them.
Student: To help another person who has attained?
M. Laitman: No, he doesn't attain, meaning, in order to help one attain more.
Student: Meaning, it's for someone who is not yet on the degree, to what? Develop a desire in him in order to attain it? And if a person reaches that degree that is written, he has no more need in it, meaning he already lives that, he attains it?
M. Laitman: Yes, yes.
Student: He really reaches a complete attainment that everything written in the book in that same degree, and that's all?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (27:13) What is a common attainment?
M. Laitman: Common attainment, just like in our world, where we have common attainment of what we see, what we experience.
Student: Can you explain what could be an expression of a common attainment between us as friends?
M. Laitman: Talk about something that everyone can see, everyone understands, everyone knows. That's called mutual attainment.
Student: Let's say yesterday we had a meeting of friends, we read a Rabash article, everyone was inspired by it. Everyone felt that connection as if it's speaking about us and not about something external. Is that a certain expression of a common attainment?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: In the excerpts we now read, two or three times he says that they attain the same world but only in the same world. What does he want to say by that?
M. Laitman: That depending on the world we attain, we attain in it and not outside of it.
Student: But if we’re in the world of Yetzira, so he already attained what is in the world of Assiya?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Why is it only in the same place that he attains that he perceives?
M. Laitman: No, here we're talking about his mutual attainment between him and others.
Student: A common attainment is something we can already recognize and work with?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (29:05) Continuing the friend: In our world there's no such thing as common, everyone has their own perception, right?
M. Laitman: We all went to school, we all heard about some phenomena, so we all gained from that.
Student: But everyone saw it from their angle and saw it completely, subjectively.
M. Laitman: That we can't, that is something we can't compare, let's say.
Student: We cannot compare but it's clear that I see something and the friend sees something, and we seemingly don't see the same thing.
M. Laitman: Yes and no.
Student: The question is what in spirituality makes that common? Where you can certainly say that that is something that we perceive in a common way?
M. Laitman: That we join our vessels together, both the vessels where I perceive reality and his, they become mutual vessels.
Student: Is that the incorporation that we discussed that builds the common vessel?
M. Laitman: That, too, yes.
Student: That common vessel is that I connect to that common vessel and the friend connects to the common vessel. In any case, we know that it's common to us, it becomes our common opinion. Is there any example of that in our world?
M. Laitman: There is, there is, in our world, as well.
Student: Where we agree on an opinion.
M. Laitman: Yes, that I attain something and understand it, and you, and we discuss and we find some common ground.
Student: But in our world, there is no Creator in such a thing.
M. Laitman: What does that matter?
Student: What I'm asking is what's the addition in spirituality that turns it into truly being common?
M. Laitman: That in the spiritual, we attain the Creator; we attain the world in which the Creator dwells. He holds it, He transforms it.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (32:18) It's written that those who have attained were able to write books and to write down their attainments. And that these are intimations that are understood only by those who have reached those degrees. And those who have not reached those degrees so they cannot understand anything.
M. Laitman: Of course not.
Student: So, the question is why do they write intimations for those who attain those degrees because they, in any case, understand.
M. Laitman: No, they're probably writing such things that the rest do not attain, but in order to help them attain, that's what they write.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (33:18) I don't know how to measure but, it seems that there are friends in the group who really move forward in their attainment. Is that correct?
M. Laitman: Correct.
Student: Is it correct for me to see or for everyone to see and think that there are friends among us who very much advance but just me in my place, I don't see that.
M. Laitman: That is what preferably everyone should think.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (34:01) How do we increase our incorporation in the common attainment?
M. Laitman: That each one wants to connect to the other and connect what he has with what the other has. And this way each one and every one else.
Student: How does that process happen where I take from each one all their attainments, and I pass my attainments to them, and they all become included in one common thing where we mix it all together. How?
M. Laitman: Even in our world, we have such a thing.
Student: What? How we exchange all kinds of opinions and things we write down to each other?
M. Laitman: Yes and we connect with a common view.
Student: But in our world, I need to read until I can acquire their opinion.
M. Laitman: Also in spirituality, there's something of that nature.
Student: Also here, I can't speak with everyone, so now during the lesson, how can I absorb everyone into this vessel and increase this incorporation between us?
M. Laitman: Try to become incorporated with everyone.
Student: What should I do?
M. Laitman: Incorporate with everyone, no more to say; and see how the thoughts, intentions, desires, perception, that will move from them to you.
Student: So, what's the significant thing about incorporation, simply to think about everyone?
M. Laitman: Yes, you wish to incorporate with your friends and be with them in a single desire and intention.
Student: What does it mean to be included with everyone?
M. Laitman: That you open your heart to everyone, feel that they're with you. This way you're included in them and they're included in you.
Student: In the common attainment that we have with everyone in the vessel, what do we do in that common attainment, what was it made for?
M. Laitman: It was made for all of us to get closer to the Creator, to our root, one unique and unified.
Student: Is there something that one attains and the other doesn't attain?
M. Laitman: Yes, of course.
Student: What?
M. Laitman: I don't know, there's many things, there's some that can't be explained. I'm now drinking black coffee, so anyone who would taste it will taste it, differently.
Student: And we need to incorporate with the spiritual flavors of each friend?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Meaning there's nothing in the end that remains only for the attainment of an individual that's unique to him?
M. Laitman: There is no single individual, we let go of our individuality and we wish to have mutual attainment.
Student: So, all the Kabbalists just to understand the system, all the Kabbalists are in this common attainment among themselves?
M. Laitman: No, not all of them and not completely but partially, at least.
Student: Meaning there's no attainment of Baal HaSulam and of Rabash, but there's this attainment of everyone as a system?
M. Laitman: No. There's also individual attainment of each of them and there's attainment of how they are included in one another. In the mutual attainment, there's this and there's that.
Student: What is there in personal attainment that there is not in the collective attainment?
M. Laitman: In one's personal attainment, he uses his personal vessels as much as he perceives, as much as he reveals. And in mutual attainment, he already becomes included in them and we all attain together.
Student: Why is there personal attainment? That there is an individual who attains something with his vessels? Why is it not something that belongs to everyone?
M. Laitman: It becomes public property to those who achieve it, attain it.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (39:17) Continuing the friend: It’s written that only in the generation of the Messiah can you attain all 125 degrees and not in the other generations. One who is in a certain generation comes to a full attainment of the 125 degrees but the question is, in the generation of the messiah does everyone reach that attainment?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: And there's no difference between one and another in that attainment?
M. Laitman: No.
Student: Let's say this, that if I or if there's one who attains the level of the end of Correction. So, on his behalf the reality he reveals is completely filled with the Creator. And then he sees that everyone is adhered and attaining?
M. Laitman: Maybe not, I don't know, everyone attains according to what he can achieve.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (40:31) We read earlier a paragraph that started with that they attain many things and become as an ever-flowing spring in that they get rid of the partitions that stood in their way of the Creator. What are the partitions that separate us from the Creator?
M. Laitman: Well, there are many partitions, meaning it's partitions of concealment. So, the Creator is hidden behind these concealments. And then bit by bit, through our work between us mostly, we cancel these partitions between us and the Creator.
Student: What are these partitions made of?
M. Laitman: These are forces that we still can't work with them in order to bestow, meaning, to nullify them.
Student: When a person succeeds to overcome these partitions so then he adheres with the Creator, and then he becomes as this ever-flowing spring.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: What does it mean to be an ever-flowing spring?
M. Laitman: Meaning that all that comes out of the Creator as the upper infinite light passes through the person to all created beings.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (42:18) In the matter of spiritual and mutual attainment to continue the friend on a practical level. There's the matter of not revealing one's heart. And throughout the day, we have many interactions of intimate discernments with respect to the Ten or the Creator, it's very intimate. Are we in a state where we should share our friends with personal discernments in our connection with the Creator? This is the question, how do we know what's possible, what we can?
M. Laitman: Only, generally, I can tell you that it can help everyone to make another few steps forward. So, it's forbidden for you to hold on to that. To help them, to reveal to them so that they can carry it out and also advance.
Student: Tell me if I get it right: Let's say I was awarded with some special impression about how the Creator works on the Ten, on the world and I'm inspired by that. I can come and share that with the friends so they too are inspired or impressed Or it can actually create the opposite?
M. Laitman: Maybe, it's worthwhile for you to tell them if you are more or less together.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (44:11) I want to continue the friends. You said that the partitions are behind the friends, the Creator hides behind the friends. He also says here that we need to make an effort and hold on to the rope?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: And I'm asking, these partitions that we wish to reveal behind every friend, how important really is the incorporation that we are doing, these scrutinies now between us in the lesson? How important is it to become incorporated and feel all the deficiencies that we raise here? Is this holding onto the rope here tightly in the lesson?
M. Laitman: Yes, we especially each day in the morning lesson hold on to and strengthen that grip on the rope.
Student: He says there's no person who can't hold on to the rope. I'm assuming he's talking about the friends who are here studying. How can we truly come here every lesson to truly hold on to the rope and not let it go in the lesson?
M. Laitman: That's what you come for.
Student: Okay but how do we make sure that all the friends in the Ten – everyone here in the hall – that no one lets go of the rope?
M. Laitman: In what you feel each other, in what you discuss. It could be that each day you need to renew the intention to grab hold of the rope. And to check it as much as it is there, strongly, and that you are on one side and the Creator is on the other side. That's how it is.
Student: You said in the last lesson that we have to try to connect the intentions.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: How do we join the intentions in this way, that we're not letting go of the rope, that one shall help his friend, we pull each other by the rope. It feels to me like we're making the effort here to connect the intentions. How do we join the intentions in this action?
M. Laitman: That it's that it's clear to you what state you're now in, and what state you want to reach in the next stage. And that directs you from the current point to the next point.
Student: So, we need to see where we all are right now and determine where we want to go all together, tomorrow?
M. Laitman: Yes, you cannot say about tomorrow.
Student: Why, why can't we aim for tomorrow?
M. Laitman: You can imagine all kinds of things.
Student: To aim higher for tomorrow is to fantasize?
M. Laitman: I don't know how you're speaking about tomorrow.
Student: How do we strengthen the right desire in the connection between us?
M. Laitman: That connection between us will be stronger, higher, more powerful. That's what we can aim ourselves at. Not to escape from the current reality.
Student: How to not run away from this reality so we don't fantasize what doesn't exist?
M. Laitman: In this reality, we are in it with our desire and we wish to connect our desires between all of us and with that common desire. And in that common desire to hold on to the common Creator.
Student: So, that's in the mutual prayer every day together?
M. Laitman: That, too.
Student: What else can we do to hold on to it?
M. Laitman: Think.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (48:44) The mutual attainment depends on everyone's focus on grabbing onto the rope?
M. Laitman: Yes, mainly.
Student: So, let's say some friends in the lesson right now are sleepy and other friends are really inspired and alert. So, they're all in shared attainment right now, not in general?
M. Laitman: No, those who are sleepy are sleepy and those who are alert are alert. There is a difference.
Student: Our collective attainment depends on how many of us are focused on the action?
M. Laitman: Yes and in any case there will be those who are sleepy.
Student: Yes, I'm not judging them – if they're asleep, they're asleep. But those who are awake, they have a responsibility now for everyone, right?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Because, otherwise, no one will have mutual attainment.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (50:01) He writes that both the revealed and concealed Torah are thoughts of the Creator without any difference whatsoever. So, the state we are in, we feel, even the force of connection we're in and the state that we aspire to reach. What does it mean that there's no difference whatsoever if it's something that's hidden, concealed from me?
M. Laitman: So that reveals in your vessel of bestowal, and that is how you progress.
Student: My vessel of bestowal has to do with the power of connection between us?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: What does it mean that it's without any difference, that it's literally one opposite the other?
M. Laitman: That is exactly one against the other.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (51:08) You told the friend that one who is more alert in the lesson is responsible for everyone. What makes him responsible – about what? What does he have to do?
M. Laitman: He needs to care about them, about the complementing of the vessels.
Student: In what way, how can he do it in his thoughts?
M. Laitman: Even in his inner desire.
Student: He just needs to ask the Creator that they too will be alert, and so forth?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Turkiye 2): (52:07) How does the Torah influence man and change his inner states that he feels?
M. Laitman: The Torah explains to us the connections between the vessels – the spiritual ones. It explains to us how these vessels are connected and it awakens in us through the reforming light, which is the main thing. The light of the Torah, it awakens us and, accordingly, it progresses us to each other and to the Creator.
Question (Kyiv 1): (53:19) The mutual attainment of the Creator's thoughts in the Ten, what is it?
M. Laitman: The common attainment of the thoughts in the Ten is a common direction of all the thoughts of all the participants in the Ten, each one towards the others and from the center to the Creator.
Student: We've read that everyone can point to the Creator at the center of the Ten. When we get together, how do we do that so that from all our mutual feelings everyone can point with their finger at the force between us?
M. Laitman: It's good that this question appears in you, try! Maybe not at one time, but gradually, you'll succeed to direct your heart or your finger that guides you to the Creator.
Student: What is it, some awakening force?
M. Laitman: It is the center of your group. No less and no more than the center of your group.
Question (Tel Aviv 3): (55:25) What’s the difference between attaining something through the friend; and that me and the friend attain together in mutual awareness?
M. Laitman: It's a difference in vessels. Either you attain alone, and your friend attains alone, separately. Or you connect your vessels and you attain together.
Student: In regards to contentment to the Creator, when we attain together, it increases contentment?
M. Laitman: Yes, certainly.
Question (Moscow): (56:38) Can we say that the world is a kind of mutual perception that we have of how we today feel the Creator?
M. Laitman: Yes, inside you.
Student: Do I need to aspire along with my friends to be in a single world, a single perception?
M. Laitman: Indeed.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (57:18) We read about the organ that was cut off from the body and the physician comes and reattaches the organ to the body, and the organ feels the body. What are the attributes we've read in regards to this parable so in every attribute that a created being feels more incorporation with the body?
M. Laitman: Let's put it that way, yes.
Student: That's the level of attainment: The ability of the organ to feel the collective body.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (58:11) There’s mutual attainment or there is mutual effort? Hold on to the rope and from that, there are individual attainments.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Those who attain, they might have something mutual there but, until then, there's none.
M. Laitman: Yes. We first need to attain connection, and from connection, then it's possible to continue, onward.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (58:54) Our work, actually with the Ten and with the writings is more internal, we feel this very much. I wanted to ask how does the Kabbalist retain this inner pressure?
M. Laitman: I cannot tell you about just a Kabbalist or some Kabbalist in particular. As much as I understand, firstly, a Kabbalist feels himself as being a certain vessel. It could be the extent to which that vessel is connected to the Creator or not, connected to the society, the center of the society or not. That is all relative.
Student: How can we as students, maintain this inner pressure in the lesson and outside of it?
M. Laitman: The main thing is to reach a state where we will feel that our attainment depends on our connection. And if I leave the connection, then the attainment disappears and who knows if I can return to it, again? That's what holds a person very much in this social connection.
Question (Hadera 1): (01:00:57) When we achieve mutual attainment, we share the same perception of reality? Or that mutual attainment is also from incorporation?
M. Laitman: There are two, both.
Student: So, there are states when we share the same perception of reality despite having different vessels?
M. Laitman: We will learn that.
Question (Moscow 6): (01:01:30) What is the attainment of the Creator?
M. Laitman: Attainment of the Creator is the attainment of the upper force that is in nature.
Question (Woman PT 38): (01:01:47) If say, part of the friends begin to have a mutual feeling, and part of the friends receive an opposite mutual feeling. Should we just leave the feeling that we got now from the Creator and just advance forward?
M. Laitman: Advance forward, move on.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:02:41) Since the Torah speaks of one man, and that one man is me, so I have no problem to determine what's right or wrong. And my question is, is that correct?
M. Laitman: No.
Question (Woman PT 38): (01:03:11) If there are three friends in the Ten that receive a mutual feeling and two others feel a different mutual feeling in relation to Rav's direction, how to advance from there?
M. Laitman: Let them advance for the time being, we'll see what happens from there.
Question (PT 6): (01:03:32) How can we prepare ourselves correctly to the lesson so that in the lesson we feel the center of the Ten?
M. Laitman: We need from the evening – even before that to prepare ourselves for connection. For connection in a way that we very much want to be connected.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:04:14) What is attainment? Let's say, now, we're in a lesson?
M. Laitman: Attainment is what the person's inner desire reveals as being in the Creator's reality.
Student: You said that we need to achieve connection in order to attain that.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, the person who wants to, in the lesson now, connect and get the attainment. How does that work?
M. Laitman: It's possible, but it doesn't work where, in the middle of the lesson, I'm just leaping to such and such degrees.
Student: So, man's work is what?
M. Laitman: To want, to want; to always think, how do I reach attainment?
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:05:21) He talked about the flavors in the article. I wanted to ask, first, what are those flavors?
M. Laitman: Flavors, Taamim, Otiot, letters, it's all characteristics of the Kli, of the vessel.
Student: You spoke about a state where you need to achieve connection in the Ten. When they already know it, that they're in connection? Meaning, how to know if it's not an imagination?
M. Laitman: No, whoever’s in connection is in connection and attains what he attains in that connected vessel.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:06:21) What's more effective to think about how I will attain or how the friends will reach attainment?
M. Laitman: To think about the friends.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:06:37) I hear the lesson and I hear how much responsibility everyone in the lesson has with respect to everyone's common attainment. And in general, one moment I lose the connection, I'm already outside.
M. Laitman: That's no good. You need to conclude with your friends that you will think all day, each one about the others.
Student: I see there's a gap between what I hear and that I need to do, some responsibility on top of me. And making an action and doing emotionally these actions we're talking about.
M. Laitman: So, that's what they're telling you now.
Student: There's a gap between taking it from potential to actual. There's something else, the fact that I understood what needs to be done. It still doesn't motivate me to action.
M. Laitman: Emotionally you cannot, there is still no emotion for that. But that you need to exit yourself and to feel yourself empty, that there is nothing there. And to seek connection with the vessel of the friends, that, yes.
Student: Still, I don't understand how do I in practice do this?
M. Laitman: If you will incorporate with them, then you will understand all the secrets of creation – everything there is in the world – everything.
Student: So, what's my action? To more receive from them or to look for how to give to them?
M. Laitman: What can you give them?
Student: How can I even receive from them?
M. Laitman: It could be that yes, to receive you can.
Student: So, what do I need to do in order to become incorporated with the friends?
M. Laitman: To give and to receive in order to become an attainment with them of the Creator.
Student: I hear I have to make sure I'm completing their vessels, I'm responsible for them, I make actions on my part. I see that I understand it but doing it, there's already some cut-off between starting to do it. And we need to start doing it now, not somewhere tomorrow.
M. Laitman: Yes, now.
Student: How do I increase the motivation to start acting now, to do it, not just to nod yes at the Rav. But how to start activating the heart?
M. Laitman: I think that you need to think about how you, together with your friends, will constantly be in connection, ready for that in which the Creator will fill you.
Student: What do I need to agree on with the friends? How to use the friends to increase the prayer?
M. Laitman: That each one will want to help the others to incorporate with everyone.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:10:22) He says, in 125, that there are 125 degrees.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: I'm asking about the inclusive part of the degree. All of the souls in the degree are like one's organs, he knows all their foundations?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Now, it says about King David that he's the totality of the souls of Israel, it also says that about Moses. If we feel that, we feel all the attainments of the people?
M. Laitman: I don't know, I never reached that.
Student: The term, king, means that it includes all of the nation?
M. Laitman: I don't know.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:11:14) I want to continue the friend with the question about responsibility. Let's say, I suddenly have thoughts about the friends. Do I need to relate it to the Creator now, awakening me? Or the friends' thoughts and because of that, now I owe them, and it didn't come naturally to me. It had to come from somewhere?
M. Laitman: What do you care whether it comes from the Creator, or that the friends turn to the Creator, and the Creator awakened you?
Student: Just because I want to refine my responsibility towards them?
M. Laitman: So, refine it!
Student: How?
M. Laitman: They can do it in thought.
Student: But when I owe something to someone, it's one thing. Now, I can think about it, and them or not, that's a different thing. But I want to feel that I owe them so I'm asking if it's correct to say that because they thought of me, I think of them, so I owe them. It's like they gave me a loan?
M. Laitman: Think that way.
Student: So, it's the correct direction.
M. Laitman: Yes. That's it?
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:12:46) You spoke to him, he spoke, and he spoke, and then you put reward in front of his eyes that he'll discover the secrets, and why did you do that?
M. Laitman: To whom?
Student: To the friend, you told him what to do, you spoke to him, and then you put some point in front of his face, in front of his eyes? Why?
M. Laitman: So, he can know exactly how to approach it, how to implement it.
Student: But the goal is Lishma?
M. Laitman: So that we have to know towards where you're going, and how you get there.
Student: If you tell him he'll discover secrets all day, of course he'll do it, he'll start asking you how to do it?
M. Laitman: What can I tell him? It's like speaking to a child about this complicated math.
Student: Once you acquire the quality of the Creator, now the same vessels become clear to you, you know how to work with them.
M. Laitman: I can be instead of the Creator, no?
Student: You don't need to be instead of the Creator, you need to help him lead, there.
M. Laitman: Yes?
Student: The teacher in Kabbalah is a guide, right? You say put your foot over there, but he has to put the foot there.
M. Laitman: In that you're right.
Student: So, when you put this kind of reward in front of one's eyes, does it not limit him?
M. Laitman: No, no, now he knows exactly what he's working for.
Student: Reward in spirituality is more work, more bestowing. More a new vessel that you're working with?
M. Laitman: You're right in everything but you know, you come, you get there, you pay. So, you already don't, if you don't feel it, when you feel it in your hand, then it becomes clear. We'll get there soon.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:15:23) Continuing on the subject of focus during the morning lesson. We complete the vessels, what does it mean to complete the vessels, to fulfill the friend's lacks?
M. Laitman: You add each other's vessels to one another; each one will help the other complete something, that's it. And also, to add it all, add meaning to make them more refined, more suitable for the action.
Student: And in that way we expand our vessel?
M. Laitman: Expand it, yes.
Student: And when the lesson ends, when I summarize things, am I supposed to get to this conclusion that I managed, that I succeeded in expanding the friend's lacks?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: And if I feel rewarded by that?
M. Laitman: Oh, today, yes – tomorrow, no. It's things we have to go through.
Student: So, that'll give liveliness, fuel to continue, yes?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:16:57) There's the will to receive, which pertains to reality, and there's will to receive in spirituality. Is the will to receive in spirituality called Lo Lishma, not for her sake? When I want to receive spirituality for myself?
M. Laitman: The will to receive to oneself, right, in order to receive. That's called Lo Lishma.
Student: And then, what should I aim for, if I find that I'm in that state?
M. Laitman: So, you need to ask for a correction that you'll have a will to receive in order to bestow.
Student: I focus on my own correction, not the friend's.
M. Laitman: Yes, of course.
Reader: (01:17:54) So, let's move to the next part of the lesson. Selected excerpts from the sources on the subject of the weekly portion, which is Toldot.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Reader: And before that, let's sing a song.
Song: (01:18:08)