Hevruta - Following Lesson 29. Introducing the Сoncept of a 'Ten'
Hevruta - Following Lesson 29
Introducing the Сoncept of a 'Ten'
Lesson 29 Materials >>
Lesson 29 Recording >>
In ordinary life, we are used to thinking and acting as individuals. Spiritual development, however, cannot take place in isolation. According to Kabbalah, the Creator is revealed not inside a person alone, but in the connection between people who strive toward the same goal.
For this reason, Kabbalists speak about the "ten": a small group of people who work together on building a relationship of connection, mutual support, and bestowal. The ten becomes a practical laboratory where a person can learn how to rise above self-concern and develop a new attitude toward others.
The ten is not simply a study group or a social gathering. It is a tool for spiritual development. Through it, a person receives strength, inspiration, support, and the opportunity to work on qualities that cannot be developed alone.
One cannot raise oneself above one’s circle. Hence, one must nurse from one’s environment, and he has no other way except through Torah and much work. Therefore, if one chooses for oneself a good environment, he saves time and efforts since he is drawn according to his environment.
-- Baal HaSulam, Shamati 225, Raising onself
The Importance of the Environment
Baal HaSulam explains that a person cannot rise above his environment. Whether we notice it or not, our values, desires, and priorities are constantly shaped by the people around us.
This principle becomes even more important on the spiritual path. If a person wants to advance toward the goal of creation, he needs an environment that values this goal and constantly reminds him of its importance.
Workshop question for discussion
Why do we need a ten? What can I actually get from it?
We will now watch a clip from Rav Dr. Michael Laitman on the importance of a ten:
We need a society that will form a great force so we can work together on annulling the will to receive, called “evil,” as it hinders the achievement of the goal for which man was created.
For this reason, society must consist of individuals who unanimously agree that they must achieve it. Then, all the individuals become one great force that can fight against itself, since everyone is integrated in everyone else. Thus, each person is founded on a great desire to achieve the goal.
-- RABASH, Article No. 1 (1984), "Purpose of Society – 2"
There is a special power in the adhesion of friends. Since the views and thoughts pass from one to the other through the adhesion between them, each is incorporated with the powers of the other, and by that, each one has the power of the whole society. Therefore, although each person is an individual, he has the power of the whole society.
-- RABASH, Article No. 14, "The Need for Love of Friends"
If several individuals come together with the force that it is worthwhile to abandon self-love, but without the sufficient power and importance of bestowal to become independent, without outside help, if these individuals annul before one another and all have at least potential love of the Creator, though they cannot keep it in practice, then by each joining the society and annulling oneself before it, they become one body.
For example, if there are ten people in that body, it has ten times more power than a single person does.
However, there is a condition: When they gather, each of them should think that he has now come for the purpose of annulling self-love. It means that he will not consider how to satisfy his will to receive now, but will think as much as possible only of the love of others. This is the only way to acquire the desire and the need to acquire a new quality, called “the will to bestow.”
And from love of friends one can reach love of the Creator, meaning wanting to give contentment to the Creator.
-- RABASH, Article No. 6 (1984), "Love of Friends – 2"
Why Must Spiritual Work Be Done Together?
One person alone does not have enough strength to overcome egoism. Even if he understands the importance of the goal, his desire naturally pulls him toward self-concern.
Rabash explains that when people unite around the same spiritual goal, they create a common force that is much greater than the sum of its parts. Each friend contributes his desire, effort, and aspiration, and together they build a power that no individual possesses alone.
This is one of the foundations of work in a ten: each person strengthens the others, and in return receives strength from them.
Workshop question for discussion
What can be interesting to do when we gather with friends who study kabbaah? Ideas, suggestions?
The Ten in Practice
The ten is built not only during lessons and workshops, but also through daily concern for one another. Spiritual connection develops when friends make efforts to stay in contact, support each other, and maintain the importance of the goal between meetings. Even small actions can strengthen the connection and help create a living feeling of mutual responsibility.
For this reason, it is useful to create opportunities for additional connection throughout the week.
We will now watch a clip from Rav Dr. Michael Laitman within his ten, increasing the importance of caring for each other :
Rav Dr. Michael Laitman in his ten >>
Suggestion exercise for the week
Let's pair each other in small group of 2 or 3 as an exercice. Next week, share if you managed to meet, or to talk and what is the feedback from the exercice