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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
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
Hi Kelly,
Perhaps you can say so in an inverse way, that He’s the pure desire to bestow while we are the pure desire to receive. But not in a direct way. After all, there is no desire to receive within Him whatsoever.
Albert @ KabU
Hi Keith, great questions!
1. Just follow along with the course, it provides a good foundation and order to study the materials. If you want you can also read through the course book “Kabbalah Revealed” from beginning to end, this will also give you a good foundation.
2. As for the knowledge checkpoint, this is just a tool we use to help students stay engaged. But keep in mind that ultimately it’s not through our knowledge that we attain spirituality. After all, we can take a super computer and load it up with all of Kabbalistic books as well as all of the knowledge that this entire world has to offer. But this computer will not attain spirituality. Spiritual attainment depends on one thing and one thing only, the desire. If we build the right desire for it, within that correct desire, we will reveal spiritual sensations. That’s it.
Although we spend a lot of time studying, the goal is not to acquire knowledge, but through the study to draw the light, a special force that helps us to build the right desire. Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2013/02/sunbathing-in-the-rays-of-the-reforming-light/
3. As for the changes we go through on the spiritual path, we need to understand that Kabbalah is the method by which we correct our egoistic nature. In order to correct our egoistic nature, we first need to discover this ego. So by engaging in spiritual work, we don’t just become saints. Rather, each time we uncover more and more of our egoistic nature and then we have what to correct. This follows the sayings that “there is no righteous man on earth who does good and does not sin” and “a person does not keep a commandment if he has not failed in it first”.
4. What we do has little effect because our world is the world of branches. To change something here, we need to do it on the level of roots. It’s like watching TV. Let’s say I’m watching a TV show and want to change something in the show. I can start yelling at the show or even turn it off, or go to sleep or make a thousand other actions. Ultimately none of this will change the show itself. In order to make any changes, I would need to go to the source. In this case maybe to contact the director or producer.
Likewise with our world, We’re on the level of branches, like that end result of a TV show that was already made. In order to make any changes here, we need to go to the roots. Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2009/09/the-law-of-roots-and-branches-the-most-imporant-law-in-kabbalah/
5. As for being able to give, we need to keep in mind that true altruism does not exist on the level of our world. Bestowal is the Creator’s nature. While our nature is that of pure reception. So it’s impossible for us to truly bestow. At best we can perform more and more covert actions of reception. For example, I go to the store and I give them my money, but obviously I want something in return. It’s the same with all of our actions of bestowal in corporeality. Either I do it to receive pleasure directly or indirectly from fame, honor, money, or even the pride of knowing that no one knows about this action, or even avoiding pain or guilt is also part of this same calculation.
So real bestowal, above any calculations for receiving for oneself, does not exist in our world. Real bestowal is purely the Creator’s quality. If we want to acquire such a quality, we first need to correct our nature. This is done by the force of the light we evoke through the Kabbalistic studies. This light begins to work on us, even if we don’t have the true desire to bestow. Even if we’re just like little kids, pretending to be spiritual grown ups. It takes this aspiration of ours and corrects it little by little, building in us a true desire for spirituality, for the spiritual qualities of love and bestowal.
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: http://laitman.com/2013/02/sunbathing-in-the-rays-of-the-reforming-light/
Albert @ KabU
Hi 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
