Ask Anything

[Gil]

Ask any question and get an answer from a KabU instructor! (for tech questions see “Tech Support” Section)

[David Mancini]

I have been studying for 3 1/2 years and I still see separation, division, hatred in the world.  What could I be doing incorrectly to cause this and how can I get to the end quicker?

[Exalt]

Hey David,

I’m not an instructor — in fact I’m very new here — but I was just reading an article ( http://www.kabbalah.info/eng/content/view/frame/42596?/eng/content/view/full/42596&main ) that you might find helpful and I hope open discussion here is okay.

I like the Baal HaSulam quote in particular:

From all of Nature’s systems, presented before us, we understand that in any being of the four types—still, vegetative, animate, and speaking, both as a whole and in particular, we find a purposeful guidance, meaning a slow and gradual growth by way of cause and effect. This is similar to a fruit on a tree, guided to a favorable purpose of finally becoming a sweet and fine-looking fruit.And go and ask a botanist, how many phases the fruit undergoes from the time it becomes visible until it is completely ripe. Not only do its preceding phases show no evidence of its sweet and fine-looking end, but as if to vex, they show the opposite of the final shape: the sweeter the fruit is at its end, the more bitter it is in the earlier phases of its development.

Hang in there man, and don’t take the journey for granted.

[Chris – KabU Instructor]

Hey Mancini,

Yeah, that perception is just an indication of your inner state – as you know. I wouldn’t say you caused it, or that you’re doing something incorrectly, but it’s something that’s being shown to you to bring you closer to the truth. Although, you will see all different kinds of opposite forms in the world which emerge as an indication of lack of correction and this will continue until the final degree. Our whole work is building a lack for the quality of bestowal within us without looking for reward in any way. The closer we get to even understanding what the wisdom of Kabbalah actually is, the more confused we become. Until we can emotionally grasp what our work truly is, where it is, what to expect, how to react – until then we are just discovering what it isn’t. 

No worries! Keep on going. There’s no such thing as “skipping ahead”. I’ll probably bring up “computational irreducibility” on the show because it’s a great example in this world for that rule of not “skipping ahead”.

Best of luck!

Chris

[Annmarie]

In the book From Chaos To Harmony by Rav Dr. Laitman, page 160, 2nd paragraph it states: “Today the ego has reached it final degree…” What does this sentence mean? And what is the final degree? I think it was relating to our final correction, but I’m not positive if I’m thinking correctly. I am also curious as to who estimated this bit of insight to the final degree? Was it Dr. Laitman or one of our other esteemed Kabbalist’s who had this insight?

[Chris – KabU Instructor]

Hi Annmarie,

This is referring to the point of development in humanity where the ego has carried us as far as it’s going to carry us on this degree. The desire in humanity in general has surpassed all degrees. The desires for food/sex/family, wealth, knowledge and power have all been exposed and everyone feels these desires to some degree. Of course that’s not a “spiritual ego” which is revealed when a person begins engaging in a desire for betowal which will then awaken in them greater resistance. This is the true ego. From the context you brought from the book, this is referring to the development of humanity which hasn’t begun to develop on the speaking degree yet.

Thanks!

Chris

 

[mrc s]

Is this world the branch of the highest spiritual world (ein sof)  where G-d resides?

[Chris – KabU Instructor]

Hey mrc,

If you’re referring to the “root” of existence, this is what the creature discovers once the final correction has been completed for every piece of the soul that was shattered.

Chris

[mrc s]

Is G-d in the world of ein sof or higher?

[Chris – KabU Instructor]

Hi mrc,

Kabbalists explain that “the Creator” is the degree above the one who perceives Him. Meaning, the force that governs all of reality by the quality of bestowal is currently concealed. If one moves closer towards building that quality in themselves, they can then feel that He is concealed. The revelation of that governing force occurs when a person reaches equivalence of form…on that degree. The next degree, the pattern continues until the final concealment which Kabbalists label as the 125th degree.

Thanks!

Chris

[Tiago Casellato]

Hello, KabU Team.

Probably a silly question. Can taking anxiolytics or antidepressants mask the feeling of descent necessary for progress in Work in the Ten? Can the increased activity of neurotransmitters with a calming and sedative effect on the central nervous system somehow give the feeling of filling a void that should be felt and filled internally by Light?

 

[Joseph – KabU Instructor]

Hi Tiago,

It is only possible to influence the state of descent through working with the right environment and the Kabbalistic texts. If one carries out their advice, then they hasten the descent, and if one is negligent in their work, then the descent may be prolonged. The calculation is only with respect to the controlled environment of the group, the books, and the teacher, and not what a person does or doesn’t do in their life outside the group.

Joseph

[mrc s]

What pleasure/purpose comes from suffering?

[Chris – KabU Instructor]

Hey mrc,

Suffering is felt by being disconnected from the purpose of creation. If we don’t feel the purpose of creation acting at every moment, then by default we are existing in our ego which by definition means we don’t sense the Creator.

If we are led only by pleasure/pain then pain is just another aspect of how He directs us towards the goal. If we feel the goal then the pain is accompanied by purpose which is a totally different pain since His love behind that feeling is also accompanied with that sensation, but the purpose is always the same – to lead us closer to the end of correction.

Thanks!

 

 

[Author]

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