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Hello
Why is “Maasar” mandatory but the rest of the physical mitzvots are considered “religious” and not mandatory? Even though maasar is a spiritual and physical act Just like kosher, teffilin ect. Why is it singled out?
All those customs that were created by people who were in the spiritual world are some kind of material copy of actions in the Upper World, but maaser is the one that directly relates to what stands between the person and the Upper World: the Masach [screen]. Prior to the formation of the Masach, one has to slice off this 10% relating to Malchut, and only then can one even begin the spiritual work. Money, the value of which is decided solely by people’s desire, and with which one can buy what one desires, and the loss of which and acquisition of which alters one’s whole mood and state… it’s the thing that is practically a proxy for desire. That’s why it’s so sensitive an issue, because one is made of nothing but desire, and so specifically by it there’s a correction, whereas with all kinds of other corporeal actions, one could remain indifferent. For this reason, and additional reasons, Kabbalists always collected maaser from students practically on day one. Here, students have a choice in the matter, even though the Upper Laws haven’t changed.
I have got a question about forming the right intention in our daily life. There were suggestions in some sessions to become aware of one´s intention, to turn it outwardly, towards the friends, but also to become aware of the creator in the corporeal world, to acknowledge him there (i.e. everything comes from above) and turn to him as some inner work. What is the right approach to form this intention to do that in corporeal life, in order to allow it but at the same time not let everyone run over you?
In regular life it’s not realistic yet. First, try to be in “There is none else besides Him.” What you’ll need to include in that, and constantly needing to renew it, will take all of your efforts. If you can hold onto that, we’ll talk further.
Thanks so much, yes, thatś pretty much where I am trying to be :-), and I can start to feel „there is no one else besides him“ has got such a big impact on everything…when I focus on it. It clearly changes my perception of things, and especially towards peoples`struggles. Basically, it changes my perception of almost everything, if I bring myself to stay at this place. However, I usually cannot keep up this perception for more than minutes. Which is why I am wondering how to work with this perception during the day? How much should one try to be at this inner place and re-direct back to it while dealing with this corporeal work? Or is it just something to start and close the day with? Is there a risk of „overdosing“ this?
There are some in my ten that have a problem when something said in Kabu is different than what Rav has said. One member even seemed to quit one time because of it and then came back and is now on strike because of it. Last young group class I think it was talked about men not having to get married to study kabbalah and Rav saying men have to be married according to my friend. He (my friend) also said the “Sages” don’t agree with what was discussed in Kabu. I tried to get to the bottom of it with rational questions but they were not answered clearly and concisely enough for me to get an exact idea of what is going on (And I am thinking may be the wrong way to go about it anyhow.) And now he is on strike and others seem upset (although they say they are not upset, so that adds to the confusion). What should I do? What should I have done?
Hi Todd,
Both suppositions are true. It’s true that you have to accept everyone. Rabash did this; Rav did this. At some point, though, we need to know that we’re in laws of nature that never change, and one such law dictates that while he can certainly study, and he should study, if he’s not married, he’ll be studying essentially with half of the desire that he has to correct; and the other half, he’ll have to eventually find, and correct as well. But no one should use such sticking points as excuses to delay their advancement. Go ahead and continue, and remember the advice of Rabash, “It is not that the friends should love me; rather it is I who must come to love the friends.”
If i cannot describe with words out loud to my ten what is in my heart, does this means that I am not yet in attainment of it, the “thing” I’d be trying to describe? Or is this simply a deficiency of knowledge which can be remedied by studying? In the first case it could be that if I cannot describe, then I’ve not yet attained. In the second case I may well have attained but I lack the permission to share it. Or maybe there is some other third case, i don’t know. Hopefully this question makes sense… I’ve been struggling to express myself recently…
A friend in my ten is introducing to us a book that another ten has been studying called “The Secrets of the Eternal Book” in order for us to do the same thing. Does reading the book with the ten help us to advance?
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