Discussion

• Let’s hear what you have taken from the global lesson on Sunday

Shamati - A unique book

Shamati is describe all the inner work a person goes through spiritual states.

What is inner work in Kabbalah? Overall we can define as the clarification we go in our search for the connection with the upper force.

But better to go with a defintion of inner work by Rav Dr. Michael Laitman

Question: What is “inner work” in the wisdom of Kabbalah?

Rav Laitman: Inner work takes place in the innermost part of ourselves, in our desires, when we connect and attribute them to the Creator. I strive to align myself with the higher governance, so that I understand that the Creator controls me with two reins: right and left. On one hand, He intensifies problems, the left line, the ego, and on the other hand, He supports and helps me. Between these two reins, between the two lines of governance, I must remain connected to the Creator at all times, whether His guidance seems bad to me or good. In other words, inner work is the ability to justify the Creator in every situation.

Shamati is the booknote where Rabash wrote what his father and teacher taught him in private conversation.

In hebrew, Shamati means “I heard” - but in the context of the book Shamati, it means a bit more than that.

Let’s hear Rav Laitman explain why the book is called Shamati:

Why is shamati called Shamati

How to approach these articles?

All these articles, written from the mouth of Baal HaSulam by Rabash describe the work we do internally, let’s hear what Rav Dr. Laitman explain about our approach to this special work a person does on the spiritual path

VIDEO: https://kabbalah.academy/en/videos/shamati-kabbalah-approach/

There is none Else beside Him

Let’s read through the begining of the article once, and then let’s see how we can open it.

It is written, “There is none else besides Him.” This means that there is no other force in the world that has the ability to do anything against Him. And what one sees, that there are things in the world that deny the upper household, the reason is that this is His will.

This is deemed a correction called “the left rejects and the right pulls closer,” meaning that what the left rejects is considered a correction. This means that there are things in the world that, to begin with, aim to divert a person from the right way, and by which he is rejected from Kedusha [holiness].

The benefit from the rejections is that through them a person receives a complete need and desire for the Creator to help him since he sees that otherwise he is lost; not only is he not progressing in the work, he even sees that he regresses. That is, he lacks the strength to observe Torah and Mitzvot [commandments] even Lo Lishma [not for Her sake], for only by genuinely overcoming all the obstacles, above reason, can he observe the Torah and Mitzvot. But he does not always have the strength to overcome above reason; otherwise, he is forced to deviate, God forbid, from the way of the Creator, even from Lo Lishma.

And he, who always feels that the shattered is greater than the whole, meaning that there are many more descents than ascents, and he does not see an end to these states, and he will forever remain outside of holiness, for he sees that it is difficult for him to observe even in the slightest bit, unless by overcoming above reason. But he cannot always overcome, so what will be in the end?

Then he comes to the decision that no one can help but the Creator Himself. This causes him to make a heartfelt demand that the Creator will open his eyes and heart and truly bring him closer to eternal Dvekut [adhesion] with the Creator.

What does that mean “No one else” ?

If there None Else beside Him, so we don’t exist? or what exactly is going on here?

What is the work we need to do with this ?

We do not feel that is only the Creator, so what does that mean for us? What should be the work we need to do with this situation?

Worshop / Discussion

• 1. What did I understood from the article?
• 2. What is the link between the influence of the environment and the influence of the Creator?

Question & Answers