Forward from Rav Dr. Michael Laitman
Among the books and manuscripts, my teacher Rav Baruch Shalom Halevi Ashlag (the Rabash), the eldest son of Baal Haslam, who continued in his footsteps, used to study, was a special notebook, on which was written, in my teacher's handwriting: "I heard".
He never left this notebook, and wherever he went, he took it with him and looked at it over and over.
Being on his deathbed, late at night, he handed me the notebook and told me: "Take the notebook and study it." Early the next morning, while I was near his bed, he was no longer among us.
The notebook contains a collection of essays by Baal Hasulam, which Rabash wrote from the mouth of his father immediately he said them. Due to their uniqueness, we have preserved the style of spoken language used in the articles - which the Rabash drank thirstily from and on which he built the foundations of his teachings.
Shamati 1 - There Is None Else Besides Him
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.
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.
He who says that there is another force in the world, namely Klipot [shells], that person is in a state of “serving other gods.” It is not necessarily the thought of heresy that is the transgression, but if he thinks that there is another authority and force apart from the Creator, he is committing a transgression.
There Is None Else Besides Him
One should believe that “there is none else besides Him,” that the Creator does everything. In other words, as Baal HaSulam said, before each action one should say that man was given only choice, since “If I am not for me, who is for me?” […] However, after the fact, one should say that everything is private Providence, and that one does nothing on his own.
(Rabash - Why Is the Torah Called “Middle Line” in the Work? - 2)
Even if we see that there are two parts to the Torah—the first, Mitzvot between man and the Creator, and the second, Mitzvot between man and man—they are both one and the same thing. This means that the practice of them and the desired goal from them are one: Lishma. It makes no difference if one works for one’s friend or for the Creator, since it is engraved in the created being at birth that anything that comes from another appears empty and unreal.
(The Love of God and the Love of Man, Baal HaSulam)