'Tens Course' - Lesson #9

Criticism as a Means for Spiritual Advancement

Selected Excerpts from the Sources

1. Baal HaSulam, Shamati 62. Descends and Incites, Ascends and Complains

״Yet, one who works in purity, cannot complain about others and always complains about himself, and sees others in a better degree than he feels himself.״

2. RABASH, Article No. 8 (1984), “Which Keeping of Torah and Mitzvot Purifies the Heart?”

"There are many times when a person rebukes another only for the purpose of domination, and not in order to “rebuke your friend.”

3. Maor VaShemesh, Tetzave

"The main thing that brings one to love another is by each one being lowly and despicable in his own eyes, always finding faults in everything he does, and seeing the righteousness and actions of one’s friend as very great in his eyes. By this he comes to love his friend and be in unity with him. Conversely, if he is great in his own eyes and feels proud, he naturally sees his friend’s faults and by this comes to hate him, since his friend is very lowly in his eyes."

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Rav Michael Laitman, Daily Lesson, 13.07.2022

“There is nothing worse than each person trying to impose on another what they think is right. This must not be done. Only love and a tendency toward connection should be shown—Heaven forbid, anything beyond that.

None of you yet understands where you are; you are still completely outside the truth.
It’s better that you study the lessons together, delve into the verses—not to argue, but only to understand what is written.

If someone has a desire to convince another, that is the worst possible form of the evil inclination.
Let your friend grow at their own pace, in their own way, and don’t interfere—only awaken them to more study, to more participation. That alone.”

4. Baal HaSulam "The Freedom"

"...drawing the right conclusions depends particularly on increasing disagreements and separation between views. The more contradictions there are between views and the more criticism there is, the more the knowledge and wisdom increase, and matters become more suitable for examination and clarification.

The degeneration and failure of intelligence stem only from the lack of criticism and disagreement."

5. Baal HaSulam, "The Freedom"

"When humankind achieves its goal, with respect to the success of the bodies, by bringing them to the degree of complete love of others, all the bodies in the world will unite into a single body and a single heart, as written in the article, “The Peace.” Only then will all the happiness intended for humanity become revealed in all its glory. But against that, we must be watchful not to bring the views of people so close that disagreement and criticism among the wise and scholarly might be terminated, for the love of the body naturally brings with it proximity of views. And should criticism and disagreement vanish, all progress in concepts and ideas will cease, as well, and the source of knowledge in the world will dry out."

6. RABASH, Article No. 30 (1988), "What to Look For in the Assembly of Friends"

"What should a friend do if he needs help from his friends? We have said above that it is forbidden to speak of bad things that cause sadness at the assembly of friends. The answer is that one should tell a close friend, and that friend will speak to the society, but not at the time of the assembly of friends. In other words, he can speak to the whole of society together, but not during the regular assembly of friends. Instead, he can arrange for a special meeting in favor of the friend who needs assistance."