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Is there any way to understand what an intention is?
I always hear that it’s all in the intention, but apparently I’ve never had any intention besides “for my self” and without any contrast to that, I can’t even begin to understand what a different intention would look like.
As I understand it, for an altruistic intention, I’d have to insert someone else’s (the ten’s/ the creators) feelings into the calculation. However, as we learn, everything is just inside us, so also the feelings I ascribe to them are just imaginations inside of me. I can only act as far as there is some discomfort inside of me. If there is some lack in the friend, and it causes no discomfort within me, it’s as if there is no lack at all. On the one hand, I need a strong desire to raise a prayer, on the other hand, as soon as there is a strong desire within me, the intention is not altruistic anymore.An additional meta question, if I may:
Is there any benefit in mulling over such things for a long time? On the one hand, it seems like it’s at least intense engagement with the matter, and it creates a lack. On the other hand, I always hear that we shouldn’t even try to understand with the mind.What did I take from the lesson?
Many things, concepts, scrutinies, but most importantly: a bigger feeling of connection to the friends.
Thoughts about the quote:
I understand from that, that the reforming light builds something in between me and the friends, where there is no more “you” and “me”, only “us” and by that we achieve love thy neighbor as thyself, because from that viewpoint there is only one thing and no differentiation between anyone. And that’s how one can become equal to the friend and love him.
How do we make sure that we draw the reforming light with every action of ours?
By being in the right environment as much as possible and making efforts to strive for connection, elevating the importance of the goal. Trying to add to the society of friends, so that in turn we can be nourished by the society.
You must understand these intimations: This issue of the Shofar is only the disclosure of the wisdom of the hidden in great masses; it is a necessary precondition that must be met prior to the complete redemption.
And the books that have already been revealed through me in this wisdom will testify to it, that matters of the greatest importance have been spread out like a gown for all to see. This is a true testimony that we are already at the threshold of redemption, and the voice of the great Shofar has already been heard, though in the distance, for it still sounds very softly.
Indeed, every greatness requires prior smallness, and there is no great voice if it is not preceded by a soft sound. And this is the way of the Shofar: Its voice grows progressively. And who better than I knows that I am not at all worthy of being even a messenger and a scribe for disclosing such secrets, much less to understand them down to their roots. So why has the Creator done so to me? It is only because the generation is worthy of it, as it is the last generation, which stands at the threshold of complete redemption. For this reason, it is worthy of beginning to hear the voice of the Shofar of the Messiah, which is the revealing of the secrets, as has been explained.
-Baal HaSulam Article “The Shofar of the Messiah”
Last sundays lesson was about the two pillars “group” and “books”, seeing as it’s the young group program, we focused mainly on the “group” pillar, so I wanted to take this quote to focus on the books. It is a very special time we live in, to be able to access all that wisdom very easily. We have ancient texts, made very easily accessible through translations into countless languages, commentary by Baal HaSulam, thousands of hours of lectures by our Rav. Just to think about that fills me with awe.
It gives me a sense of what a great privilege it is, to be able to study this wisdom so freely, and also hope, that correction is possible from our generation onward.
As with nearly all things in this wisdom, how to truly make myself a Rav eludes me. From my mundane understanding, I should see in him all that makes a great kabbalist. Trust that he only wants for all of his students to advance, and value his words accordingly. I don’t want his efforts go to waste, I want to work that all of us achieve that goal under his guidance.
After watching the clip, I feel like he sees himself as a mouthpiece for all that came before him. That it is his duty and great privilege to spread the wisdom he received to humanity. It also feels like he feels this as a heavy burden, but one that it is worth to carry, because of the greatness of the goal.
The last course helped me become certain that Kabbalah and how it is taught here is the path to spirituality that I want to take and get serious with.
What I expect from this course is just some more meat, so to say. More things that I can start working on, and of course to deepen my understanding of the method and myself.
