The transcript has been transcribed and edited from English simultaneous interpretation, thus there may be potential semantic inaccuracies within it.
Daily Morning Lesson: August 13, 2025
Part 1: Recorded Lesson – November 1, 2021. Baal HaSulam. Shamati 43. Concerning Truth and Faith.
Reader: Hello, friends, in the first part of the lesson, we'll continue studying Article Shamati 43 “Concerning Truth and Faith.” This will be from Rav Laitman's lesson from November 11, 2021. The article is, again, in Baal HaSulam's writings, Shamati 43, “Concerning Truth and Faith.”
M. Laitman (Source Text/Commentary): (00:33) Reread the article.
Concerning Truth and Faith.
Two things that contradict one another.
Truth is what one feels and sees with his eyes.
Meaning in his feeling and in his understanding because eyes means the mind, and the heart is what feels. So, truth is what one feels and sees with his eyes; this discernment is called reward and punishment.
Meaning that nothing can be gained without labor. It is like a person who sits in his home and does not want to do anything to provide for his sustenance. He says that since the Creator is good that does good, and provides for all, He will certainly send me the provision.
My provision will satisfy his needs.
While he himself does not need to do anything.
Because everything is in the hands of the Creator anyway, the Creator does everything.
Of course, this person will certainly starve to death if he behaves this way. Reason, too, asserts it. So, it appears to the eyes, and this is indeed the truth, that he will die of starvation.
We see it in our world. We don't need intellect.
But at the same time, one must believe above reason.
Meaning, not what the intellect and his heart tell him but above it.
That he could obtain all his needs without any exertion and trouble because of private Providence.
This is really what we want within us. We sit and wait for the Creator to do something. Days go by, and years, and we are still waiting. And he says that there is justification for it, because if we go above reason, meaning that without any intellect or labor, we work – we're just waiting as it is. I'm not changing anything in reality. I lower myself completely to the level of the inanimate, the still, with respect to spirituality.
He can still obtain all his needs because of Private Providence. In other words, the Creator does and will do all the deeds, and one cannot help Him in anything. Rather, the Creator does everything, and one cannot add or take away.
Is this okay?
Question (Turkiye 1): (04:24) You said that a person is not equal in the spiritual paths at the beginning. Can you explain this a little more?
M. Laitman: I can't explain it – now we're reading the article. I give an example, just as in this world, can he be this way in spirituality? Now we're scrutinizing this. In this world, not everyone is equal in any way, no one is like another, right? By what do we obtain justice, or justness, or equality? Only through our corrections, when we are included in one another, then we begin to discover that each one needs everyone. There is no one in reality – I'm talking about souls – that I will not need in order to achieve the end of correction, and the same goes for everyone.
Student: It's not clear if these two states need to exist at the same time.
M. Laitman: What states?
Student: Truth and faith.
M. Laitman: We haven't come to it; we haven't clarified what are truth and faith. Why are you asking about it? Two states together or not together, we're not there yet. Meaning, we have to believe above reason that without any labor and exertion, we will still come to the solution. Why the Creator placed this obstacle on our way? That we can do nothing and yet believe that we can reach the goal? Have a little more patience, I want you to get into this. To start feeling it a little more internally, not get a superficial answer and settle for it but get into it and get to know it.
M. Laitman (Source Text/Commentary): (06:59) But at the same time, one must believe above reason that he could obtain all his needs without any exertion and trouble because of private Providence. In other words, the Creator does and will do all the deeds that it's written, and one does not help him in anything,
Rather, the Creator does everything.
And one cannot add or take away anything, for better or for worse, to influence the Creator's actions. In other words, sit and do nothing, better. I'm continuing.
How can these two go hands in hand?
How can both exist in reality?
Since one contradicts the other? One discernment is called what one's mind attains, meaning that without man's help, meaning without preceding labor and exertion, he will attain nothing. This is called truth, since the Creator wanted man to feel this way. And this is why this path is called the path of truth.
That we have to exert, even though, on the other hand, it seems to me like I'm sitting and waiting, and in the end, I will still get to something. But I don't understand that the Creator will still perform all kinds of exercises and operations on me and will force me to labor, to exert. I'm continuing.
Let it not perplex you that if these two ways are in contradiction.
Yes, they contradict one another.
How is it possible that this state will be true?
That they will connect.
The answer is that truth does not refer to the way or to the state.
Within reason or above reason.
Rather, truth refers to the sensation that the Creator wanted him to feel like that way; this is “truth.” It follows that the matter of truth can be said precisely about the Creator, meaning about the Creator's will, that He wants man to feel and see this way.
Meaning, we agree with all those things that befall us, and we position ourselves correctly according to what is written for us. And then we begin to change, and accordingly, we gradually come to a state where we do understand and feel, even though neither our mind nor heart are aimed toward it. We still come to a state where we grasp it, we perceive it.
Yet, at the same time, one must believe that even though he does not feel and does not see with his mind's eye that the Creator can help him obtain.
Without any effort on his part.
Obtain all the profits that can be gained. It is only with respect to private Providence.
The reason that one cannot attain the matter of private Providence before one attains the matter of reward and punishment.
Meaning, first I have to work with my mind and heart, I need to do something. And then while exerting, as it's called, this is called exertion, labor, so I come to a state of Private Providence. Why is it so? Because…
Private Providence is eternal, and man's mind is not eternal. Hence, something eternal cannot clothe in something not eternal.
This is why we don't feel the spiritual world from this world.
Thus, once he has been awarded the reward and punishment, the reward and punishment become a vessel for him, a Kli, where Private Providence can clothe.
In other words, only after we perform all kinds of works, we give the labor and everything we can. When …
we search how we can achieve spirituality, attainment, after a person is rewarded with reward and punishment,
I see that for all those things that have both reward and, God forbid, punishment,
then reward and punishment become a Kli, a vessel where private Providence can clothe.
Private Providence.
Now we can understand the verse, “O Lord, do save, O Lord, do succeed.” Do save refers to reward and punishment, when a person should pray that the Creator will provide him with labor and exertion, by which he will have a reward.
(13:40) We're asking for work by which we will have reward – we’re not asking for reward without work.
This is called, “O Lord, do save.” At the same time, we should pray for success, which is private Providence, meaning that he will be rewarded with all the spirituality and all the profits in the world without any labor or exertion.
So, how can we pray for this and for that, for both? Yes, this is what we have to do.
We also see this in corporeal positions (discerned as separation in places, meaning in two bodies, whereas in spiritual matters, everything is examined on a single body but in two times).
This is why we see in our world so many differences between people. Some succeed, some do not, some this, some that, all kinds of discernments, distinguishments. Because in spirituality, they all connect into one vessel, and then we have no question. We complement each other. But in corporeality,
There are people who feel, who obtain their possessions specifically through great exertion, energy, and great wit, and at the same time, we see the opposite, that people who are not so witty, who do not have a lot of energy, and do not make great efforts, do succeed and become the greatest property owners in the world.
We talked about it, that's clear.
The answer is that these corporeal things extend from their upper roots, meaning from reward and punishment and from Private Providence.
Meaning, two forms of Providence exist on us from above.
The only difference is that in spirituality, in spirituality it appears in one place, in one carrier.
In one subject, in one person, who incorporates all of us but one by one: meaning in one person in two states, meaning two times, in two states.
And in corporeality, it is in one time, but in two carriers, meaning at the same time, but in two different people.
This is why there is only one Adam who contains everyone. It's a system, we are all its parts, its pieces, and our whole work is accumulated in it, in that Adam, in that system. Therefore, if we connect and want to complement one another, then we come to that state where all of us become as one, in one desire. And there, both Private Providence, and General Providence, all connect together. And precisely we, by connecting, we assemble together time and place, our exertions, all of them into one. This is why it's clear to us that in our world, we will never come to any complete states – perfect states, beautiful, good, just, as much as we may develop, we will develop. Actually, because of our development, we will discover how different we are, far opposite, conflicting and contradicting from each other. Only if we rise above our world, above this egoistic approach, above the egoistic connection, which is how our world is depicted to us. And begin to connect above it, which is called going with faith above reason. Then we will connect into one vessel and complement each other, and everything will seem just, and that everything is gaining as much as everyone else. This is called, truth and faith when they connect together.
Question (New York): (19:08) What is the relationship between our labor and the results of our labor?
M. Laitman: Through labor, we build a desire –a correct desire for the Creator whom we need. Because indeed, only He can organize, arrange all the details of our connection to the very last detail. This is really the purpose of our labor: To need, to yearn for the Creator's help, to do the work. In other words, through reward and punishment, we come to the correct form, to above reason. But above reason comes from the Creator.
Question (Moscow 7): (20:40) Yesterday, following your advice, we started to work with this article. We read it in the Ten and we tried to work on it. First, we read it from beginning to end, and then verse by verse. And we have the same questions that surfaced, just like the ones that were asked in the lesson. First of all, when a friend asks a question, the discussion in the Ten, it means that we ourselves try to answer it, and there is a danger here. Meaning, how should we relate to how the friend is interpreting it? It may be different from how you are explaining it; may we not be confused by it?
M. Laitman: We need this confusion, because precisely out of darkness, out of mistakes, we come to states that we cannot resolve. And then, in the end, we turn to the Creator. This is why, just as you feel as a result of these articles, as if we understand more, feel more. But are we getting anything in our hands besides having to connect and turn to the Creator? No, we have no result from it, or we hope that this will be the result, you understand? And this is the truth, that only by understanding together that all of our progress depends on the Creator. After all the exertion, when we come to this necessity, to such raising of MAN, where on the one hand we have a connection with the degree of bestowal we wanted. On the other hand, we did everything we could in the state of reward and punishment, in the exertion. Now we can really cry out, ask: “Please, Lord, save us, please, Lord, help us succeed.” And those two things, we can connect them in our work, in our group, in the person who does it, everything connects together. Otherwise, they can't. How can I ask? “Oh, Lord, do save, help me,” yes? Make me succeed. How is it possible? Precisely after great exertions and connections, as much as we can, we ask for it.
So, what you went through is very good. I recommend everyone to do it. And if you noticed, I, too, am not answering you. And you can't really answer a person, there's only one way to give him an answer. Either tell him, go above reason, or go according to reward and punishment, but neither is correct. But how do the two of them connect? By him trying to connect them together and turning to the Creator. And the Creator is our goal from below, and he is the one who brings us salvation from above. Why is it called salvation? Because he elevates us to such a level where the two things connect together: Reward and punishment, and eternal Providence, reason, and above reason. Those two worlds connect. Only through the upper light can we connect the two worlds. They cannot connect, in the mind and in the heart, they do not equalize, they cannot permeate one another. It's like trying to put a bowl in a cube, you can't. They are two different things –only the upper light does it. So, let's continue, and most importantly, demand it.
Question (Moscow 4): (25:28) I understand that after you said that we actually need the confusions, it's difficult to ask this question, but nevertheless. Why after he was rewarded with reward and punishment? He was awarded reward and punishment; they become a vessel inside of which the singular authority can clothe. That's not clear.
M. Laitman: At that time, we have no collision between this world and the spiritual world because faith and truth connect together through the upper force from which we get both Malchut and Bina. And in the connection between them, we begin to see the real solution. And you are asking how to see it before we connect in this way, you can't answer it. You can't answer it, this is why the real wisdom of Kabbalah is something that you can't attain; only those who work and go through all those states, he attains.
Question (Italy 3): (26:54) It seems like we need to have a spiritual life and a corporeal life, and Kabbalists advise us what to do. We are focused on the system, on how to arrange the material life. What depends on it?
M. Laitman: Now you're asking about something practical – how to organize life. You just need to divide your time. A time for work, for family, for taking care of yourself. You also need to do that. A time for lessons, for meeting with friends, this is something else – two things, spirituality, and corporeality. But what we do need is to try that our thoughts will be constantly through our connection to the Creator. And then all the corporeal life, we will understand why it is arranged this way, that we have to work. By the way, the wisdom of Kabbalah obligates every person to work. Even if you are filthy rich and you don't need to work, you still have to work. A part of the day, you have to work with your mind, with your hands, or whatever your profession is. And that work, you also need to direct toward connection with people, with humanity. Because without your work, like the rest of the people in this world, you don't connect to humanity. This is why you have to be married, a wife and children, preferably two children per family, two children, and to work and study. And all those things you need to do with the intention that this will bring you to the purpose of creation. Try to do it this way, and it doesn't matter how much money you have – you don't need to work – you do need to, because by this, you connect to all of humanity. And you need to, not humanity needs it, you need it.
Question (Turkiye 4): (30:07) According to the article that the Creator gives both exertion and success so it seems that I don't have any independent action. If He is doing everything, what role do I have?
M. Laitman: To want the Creator to govern you, to manage you, and want all the corporeal connections, connections with the Ten, lessons, and dissemination, you put into it. Try, we do it, we do it, you need to add, try to add, what more? How else can I bring contentment to the Creator? Clearly, if this were in your hands, then you would take all of humanity, connect them all together, and present them to the Creator. To bestow upon them His light, and correct them, and fill them. So, this is what you do need to do, try. This is our work.
Question (Latin 4): (31:56) Is it possible to consider our effort as an inseparable part of the Creator's Providence, meaning that the Creator does everything. And my efforts are just a part of his action?
M. Laitman: Of course, we are operated by the Creator, but in everything that the Creator does, we have our own participation. Our participation divides into what we feel, attain, can do, and what we can't, but we are preparing ourselves for it, which is called above reason. And we need to take those two levels, the relation to the Creator, and in a realistic manner, like a child, for example. On the one hand, he knows that his father and mother love him and want to give him everything. On the other hand, he says, no, I want to behave with them according to how much I can be connected to them, according to this – I don't want to receive more than I deserve. I want to connect to them with love, even though I don't see this love. Because my intellect isn't like the intellect of the mother and father. When a child says, mommy's bad, can mommy be bad? But that's the way it seems to him. So, he needs to rise above it and say, mommy's good, I am bad, and attribute this bad to himself. This is what we should be like toward the Creator.
Question (Turkiye 3): (34:08) Does reality change every time we rise faith about reason? How should we preserve the common feeling instead?
M. Laitman: Let's put it this way; it's not correct, but just for example. If I have a clear view, opinion of my own, and at the same time I can detect the opinion and view of the group. And if I accept the view and opinion of the group above my own view and opinion, this is called, rising to the level of faith above reason. It's not quite spirituality, but it's still a big step toward it. This is real labor, clear?
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (35:28) You said that, please God save me, please God help me, success, that that's Private Providence. But if I pray this prayer from the center of the Ten, from the group. But he does it for the group, not for myself, I don't want anything, is that a right prayer?
M. Laitman: Yes, this is the right prayer, try to be at this point specifically as much as you can. So, you shouldn't, and it's forbidden to raise a prayer if you're not in that Ten. That's called a prayer in a quorum. If you're not in a quorum, in a Ten, a complete connection, as much as you can to be with the others. It won't be accepted because your prayer is egoistic and doesn't reach the Creator, doesn't connect to a higher degree than you.
Question (Rehovot): (36:37) There's nothing unnecessary in creation. And in the Ten, there's people that are like, kind of waiting, according to the second principle. So, the question is how to develop patience towards them. What is their function, how do they help correction?
M. Laitman: There is a role, and every moment it changes, he changes, and this person does what the Creator aims for him to do. And the truth is everyone is serving the Creator all the time, the whole of humanity, all human beings – still, vegetative, animate, and speaking – all beings are doing the Creator's work. However, we want to do it with awareness, with our understanding. We want to reach a state that we ourselves want to add on to what the Creator does with everyone else. So, we want to develop such vessels inside us that our participation in creation will be in awareness, in understanding, in feeling with all our heart and all our brains. That's the difference between us and alien people; alien, meaning, alien to this work. That's why we learn how to come close to this state that will be in this whole structure that the Creator will be those parts that of themselves want to come closer and to integrate with the same thought of creation, that's all. And as much as we can, we want to add others to that. Ultimately, everyone will join either with, without reason, without knowing about it, or like us, with exertion and the knowledge.
Question (PT 6): (39:00) What does it mean that we complete each other? What am I lacking and what do the others complete in me?
M. Laitman: The Ten, we have to understand that within the Ten, within the group, in short we call it a Ten. Within the group, apply all the qualities as they are in the vessel of Adam HaRishon, but it's in a form of compressed.
Student: Yes, compressed.
M. Laitman: Yes, so it's compressed, so each one includes many. Suppose you have ten people, each of them is like a billion people outside. So, the more we're in the group, the more we want to connect between us, first of all, it's very difficult because each one is like a grapefruit. He has many qualities, corporeal of people in creation, the more we have corporeal Tens, the easier it is for us because we're dividing our work to many such Tens. And then the Creator organizes from above to each and every Ten its own character, etc. And you'll see in the upcoming time how these things will change, and we'll feel how the world is changing, and we inside the world are changing. And our relation between us in the world and from the world to us, how it's going to be revealed more and more.
Student: So, what's that action of completing each other?
M. Laitman: The point of completion between us? We don't really feel this and understand it, but it's when we, according to what Kabbalists say, that we should do. Each one helps his friend, we should feel as one man in one heart. Our desires, it's not that they can connect. No desire can connect to another but above these desires of ours, we perform a connection. Our thoughts, when we're drawn to one goal, and there our thoughts will connect because in Him, our heart will rejoice. That's how we try to connect in the group.