Lesson 17

Topic: The Importance of the Spiritual Framework

Selected Excerpts from the Sources

1. From: Baal HaSulam, Letter 22

"Set times for Torah, without any cessation for idle conversations, God forbid. See that you dedicate no less than five consecutive hours. You can set them for whatever time you wish during the day, as long as you do not stop for any conversation in between, they are consecutive... Be careful not to forget anything from the study, so repeat the learning as you should. Also, it would be good for you to learn to be a teacher; it will be very helpful for you.

Also, you can study in a group with whomever you want during those five hours, but do not speak of things that do not concern the study..."

2. From: Rabash. Notes. Article 875. Three Lines - 4

"We can learn the upper matters, called “the wisdom of Kabbalah,” only by way of Segula [remedy/power], since they can bring a person desire and yearning to adhere to the Creator because of the Kedusha [holiness] of the matters that speak of the holy names... When a person learns the upper matters in order for it to bring him closer to Kedusha, it causes a nearing of the lights. This means that this learning will cause him to thereby be rewarded with aiming all his actions in order to bestow. This is called “work in the manner of preparation,” where he prepares himself to be worthy of entering the King’s palace and to adhere to Him."

3. From: RABASH 647. A Prayer Requires a Deficiency

"Our sages said, “Set times for the Torah.”

We should say that regularity means that although one has no desire or need, he must still learn Torah because the Torah itself brings him Kedusha [holiness], even though he feels no need to learn."

4. From: RABASH, Article No. 12 (1988), "What Are Torah and Work in the Way of the Creator?"

"A person must make a great effort before he comes to learn so that his learning will bear fruit and good results, meaning so the learning will bring him the light of Torah, by which it will be possible to reform him."

5. From: Likutei Halachot, Choshen Mishpat, Law 3:30

"The essence of the work of the Creator is in the aspect of will, and each one according to how he accustoms himself to strengthen his desire and yearnings and longings for the Creator to a stronger degree, is granted closeness to the Creator and His Torah and Mitzvot."

6. From: Baal HaSulam,"Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot", Letter 155.

"When he engages in this wisdom, mentioning the names of the lights and the vessels related to his soul, they immediately illuminate upon him to a certain extent. However, they illuminate for him without clothing the interior of his soul, for lack of vessels able to receive them. Yet, the illumination one receives time after time during the engagement draws upon him grace from above, and imparts him with abundance of sanctity and purity, which bring him much closer to achieving his wholeness."