Listening to rare excerpts from the lessons of the Kabbalist Rabbi Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag, with explanations by his student and successor, Rabbi Michael Laitman.

Rabash: If we study: a person must have free choice. What is choice? Two forces.
If he is already alive (in the spiritual sense), then he has no choice — what is there left to revive?
Therefore, what do they do from Above? They give him a stronger desire — once again.

I can give you an example:
A person who is not accustomed to working "in order to bestow," but rather is naturally inclined toward egoistic desires — he doesn't derive much pleasure from eating, drinking, sleeping.
But someone who starts working in the service of the Creator might be willing to give up sleep — fine.
If they see from Above that there’s no work (no effort needed), they add more pleasure to sleep — once again, he must overcome it.
And if he continues to overcome it, he will need to request greater strength.

Yesterday, for example, the pleasure in sleep was equivalent to 250 grams of delight, and he prayed: "Give me strength to rise early to study" — and he succeeded.

But tomorrow, getting up will be easy for him, and thus there would be no more free choice.
So what do they do from Above? They increase the pleasure in sleep to one kilogram — and again he must ask for help.

Thus, "Whoever is greater than his friend, his evil inclination is greater than him," to maintain the balance of the scale and force him to constantly seek assistance.

This way, every day he is considered a "baal teshuva" (one who returns to the right path).

Why?
Because yesterday he was on a lower degree, and today he aspires to a higher degree toward the Creator, and from Above they grant him this new force.

That’s why those who truly begin spiritual work are given more taste in eating, drinking, and sleeping — why?
To give them something to struggle against!
Thus they become frustrated, but in truth, it is an opportunity — they are given a field to work in.

I remember once, a man came to my teacher and father (Baal HaSulam) and said, "I see that I am becoming worse," meaning that in all his qualities he was becoming more corrupt.
Baal HaSulam answered him: "A man came crying to a Rabbi, asking for advice.
What happened? His father had left him a large inheritance — many orchards — and he had no strength to work them.
Should he cry about this? You have many fields (qualities) — so why are you upset?"

Do you understand the answer?

All this is relevant when a person sees that he is truly suited to work. Otherwise, any small contradiction makes him give up: "Ah, I have to work."

I ask you: do you sleep better in Rehovot or in Bnei Brak?

Rav Laitman: Here (Bnei Brak).

Rabash: So, was it worth moving from Rehovot to Bnei Brak just for a better taste in sleep?

Rav Laitman: But I’m still sleeping — what did I gain?

Rabash: Give me an answer.

Rav Laitman: Yes!

Rabash: (laughs)

Rav Laitman: So, how do you really overcome?

Rabash: You understand what I’m saying?
If I enjoy sleeping — that will dominate my whole life.
I’ll prefer sleep over anything else.

Rav Laitman: I understand.

Rabash: You know what sleep is? — Yes!

Rav Laitman: How can we really overcome it? Through prayer?

Rabash: Through prayer — if you truly want.

Rav Laitman: So from Above, they want us to ask…

Rabash: Yes.

Rav Laitman: So how do we really reach true requests?

Rabash: Ask not with your mouth, but with the desire of your heart.
You must not leave it.
Prayer is the work of the heart — not words of the mouth.

"Grant us from You wisdom, understanding, and knowledge" — but you say: "I have no money!"
"Return us to Your Torah" — but you say: "I have no honor!"
Is it important what we speak with our mouths?
What matters is what is missing inside.