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How do we know that there are 613 desires and not say 615 or 598 etc ? Â How did we come to that number? Where is the science that demonstrates this is the case so that we know it to be true ? Could one person have say 728 desires whilst another person be born with only 345 desires?
If I fix one desire and make it a will to bestow could it not revert back to a desire from being a will to bestow? A bit like doing a new year resolution that works for a few months until we revert to old habits? How do you stop this from happening, otherwise it may never be possible to correct all 613?
Thank you
Hi Philip,
613 is the number of corrections that need to be placed over the spiritual desire. This number is further divided into 248 desires of bestowing in order to bestow and 365 desires that operate on receiving in order to bestow. We’ll learn how this number is derived in the more advanced lessons on KabU that deal with the structure of the upper worlds.
Keep in mind that the 613 desires are spiritual desires that we don’t yet have. Similar to how a single cell in a body only has some basic desires. But when that cell is part of a greater body, it reveals there higher desires which are impossible for the individual cell to have: desires for money, honor, power, etc. Same with us, until we integrate with the general body of Adam HaRishon, we don’t reveal or understand these 613 spiritual desires.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2008/12/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-613-desires/
As for how we work with this in practice, see my reply below to Melinda.
Albert @ KabU
Albert, your answer to Kelly’s question above was insightful for me. I was also wondering if there was a specific order desires are corrected or is it based on the individual? Does everyone correct all 613 desires?
Hi Melinda,
Yes, everyone will correct all 613 desires. But keep in mind that in practice we don’t work according to some pre-made list, but simply with whatever is being awakened in the moment.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2015/09/compliance-with-the-613-mitzvot-commandments/
Albert @ KabU
Why is it that some people seem to be born with true altruism. Does our DNA alter as we progress?
thank youHi Kay,
Baal HaSulam writes in the writings of the last generation that there is up to 10% of the world that has a natural drive towards bestowal and altruism. Just like we’re built to enjoy reception, they’re built to enjoy bestowal. Why is there a need for such a thing, for altruistic egoists? It’s because pure egoism on its own would just destroy the world, so nature implanted a few altruists to balance out the system.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: http://laitman.com/2012/07/altruism-no-more-than-10-or-all-100/
As for our DNA, it does change from generation to generation. Baal HaSulam talks about it in the article “the Freedom“, which we’ll study in depth in the next semester.
And if you’re interested to learn more about Reshimo, which are like our spiritual DNA, see my reply below to Peter.
Albert @ KabU
Hi Kelly,
All of the corrections are done by the force of the light. Meaning that we don’t need to focus on correcting our desires or fighting them. Rather our entire focus is on extracting more and more of the light, especially during the Kabbalistic studies, and it does all the rest.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details:Â http://laitman.com/2013/02/sunbathing-in-the-rays-of-the-reforming-light/
Albert @ KabU
How does one experience or recognize the “spiritual DNA” on the path of correction?
Hi Peter,
Everything we went through, are going through, and will need to go through is preset in the reshimot. The reshimot are our spiritual genes. Just like when we investigate our corporeal genes, we reveal our entire ancestry, where we came from, as well as the reasons for our inclinations, tendencies, etc. Similarly, the reshimot are our spiritual genes. They are all the states that we have gone through and all the states that we will need to go through in the future.
In other words, they detail the process we need to undergo starting from the initial thought of creation all the way until the end of correction. Essentially our entire path of development is preset in these reshimot. So all the forms we need to evolve through and all the desires that will awaken in us is also preset there. The only choice we have is in the pace we go through it. It’s like all of life is one big strip of film or a movie reel. Every new moment is a new frame, a new reshimot is shown to us. And we cannot change the movie at all, but only to fast forward or go one frame at a time.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2010/07/the-whole-world-is-inside-the-reshimo/
Albert @ KabU
How should we think about bad things that happen in the world? For example what is happening in Afghanistan right now, or what happened in the holocaust. I can understand how many seemingly negative experiences in life (such as illness, grief over a loved one’s passing, etc) can lead a person to greater spiritual awareness…. but how can we possibly interpret a horrendous event like a murderous regime taking over as being a positive step toward spiritual development? Maybe it would help the rest of the world reflect, but what about the victims? I’m confused how to reconcile this. Is the issue one of misunderstanding what death is?
On the other hand, if someone does not have any struggle in their life (privileged, wealthy, healthy, etc) is it possible for them to develop spiritually? Is suffering necessary in order to gain spiritual understanding? if so, how much suffering?
Hi Megan,
We need to relate to everything as coming from the Creator. This is called “there is none else besides Him”. Meaning that the Creator is the singular source behind EVERYTHING. All of our thoughts, desires, all of the life events, everything comes from Him.
But we learn that the Creator is the “good that does good”, meaning a pure quality of love and bestowal. So every single moment He should be sending us nothing but goodness. Why then don’t we sense this goodness? Why do we see so many atrocities in the world? It’s because we’re opposite to Him. Our opposite egoistic nature inverts this goodness into something bad. It’s like multiplying numbers: a positive times a negative, equals negative.
So as long as we remain within this egoistic nature, we will continue to suffer and we will continue to see others suffering more and more in life. But if we correct our nature to be similar to the Creator’s nature, we will reveal the true reality in which only goodness exists. And our previous egoistic state will appear as nothing more than a dream.
We’ll learn more about this in the upcoming lessons, in the meantime check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2011/06/how-can-we-justify-the-creator/
Albert @ KabU
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