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Hi Yeabsera,
1. The light is the force that changes us. So we don’t need to focus on changing ourselves. We need to focus on extracting more and more of the light, especially through the Kabbalistic studies, and it makes all the changes and corrections on us.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2013/02/sunbathing-in-the-rays-of-the-reforming-light/
2. As for addiction, our nature is the desire to receive pleasure. So naturally we get addicted to things that bring us pleasure. Breaking free from our addictions depends on the influence of the environment.
For example, if I’m lazy, I don’t want to exercise. But if I read some books about how important it is to exercise or surround myself with friends that all want to exercise, I will get the strength to overcome my laziness and also go exercise.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2021/08/can-a-drug-addict-be-helped/
Albert @ KabU
Hi Olav,
Kabbalah is not against religions. In fact we have millions of students worldwide, from many different backgrounds and religions. Many of them do choose to maintain their religion or to perform certain religious customs while studying Kabbalah and there is nothing wrong with that. Just like with any other science, a person can be religious and also be a chemist or physicist. Likewise a person can be religious and also study the science of Kabbalah. Baal HaSulam writes that even after the full spiritual correction people can still keep their religions.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2015/12/the-wisdom-of-kabbalah-and-the-other-religions/
As for following the commandments, in general, Kabbalists don’t look at the 613 commandments as physical actions to be performed by our hands and feet, but rather as allegories to the internal process of correcting our desires.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2016/02/mitzvot-commandments-the-correction-of-desires/
But if a person does want to perform these actions physically in our world as well, Kabbalah is not against that, but encourages doing so with the right intention. This follows the saying that “a commandment without an intention, is like a body without a soul”.
Albert @ KabU
Hi Steven,
A Partzuf (singular or Partzufim plural) refers to a desire to receive that is corrected with the intention to bestow.
This desire is composed of 10 parts, which are called 10 sefirot (plural, or sefira singular).
In general, it’s best not to picture spirituality as something outside of us, but to keep in mind that we’re always talking about desires.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2015/09/where-is-the-upper-world/
Albert @ KabU
Hi Susan,
Yes. In general we’re usually either immersed in corporeality and forget about spirituality completely or we wake up a little from that state and realize that there is something called spirituality but that it’s concealed from us. That’s one of the first three states.
Revelation already depends on our connection with other points in the heart. If we build the right connection with them, then in that connection we’ll reveal spirituality.
It’s like each one of us is just a point, and that point is incapable of sensing spirituality. But if we connect those points together, it becomes like a net with which we can catch something. In that network between us is where we reveal spirituality. We’ll learn how to do this practically in the more advanced semesters.
Albert @ KabU
Hi Tina,
1. Kabbalah is open to both men and women because the state of the final correction (Gmar Tikkun) that humanity is moving towards requires everyone (men and women) to correct themselves. Generally women feel a stronger need for spiritual advancement, which is why the majority of our students around the world are women.
2. Kabbalah only deals with our desire for spirituality. Regarding the rest of our desires, Kabbalah does not deal with these things. Our corporeal desires don’t have any relation to spirituality, so each person can arrange these desires however is most comfortable for them (of course within the context of the law and without harming others).
3. Kabbalah does not hold the monopoly over spirituality. It’s not claiming to be the one and only method. The Wisdom of Kabbalah is the accumulation of thousands of years of experience from people practically trying to reach spirituality, what worked, what didn’t, etc. It’s not a must to use it, but as you can imagine, it’s a lot faster and easier with it.
Albert @ KabU
Hi Amy,
We learn from that Kabbalists that “there is no coercion in spirituality” and “one learns only where one’s heart desires”. Meaning no one can tell you if this path or teaching is for you or not. You need to feel it for yourself.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2010/06/trust-your-heart/
Albert @ KabU
