HOD: TIKKUN CHATZOT תקון חצות – LESSON WITH RAV MICHAEL LAITMAN
A Thousand Enter a Room, and One Comes Out to the Light
Morning Lesson November 04, 2022 Transcription
Transcription is made from simultaneous translation which leaves a possibility for differences in the audio
Part 1:
Thousand Enter the Room, and One Comes Out to Teach – Selected Excerpts from the Sources
1. Rav’s Introduction: Yes, this is indeed that if we go out to spirituality we have to search for what quality can lead as precisely in the correct exit from corporeal life to spiritually from in order to receive to in order to bestow from Lo Lishma to Lishma. Here we still do not understand, we do not know, instead we need someone to accompany us, we need an order of work that is precise so we do not deviate from right or left but we will reach precisely Lishma. Because we still, even in the opening, where we are to Lishma we are not capable of discerning precisely what is happening, because to enter from the corporeal quality to the spiritual quality it is not simple. Rather we must let the spiritual quality clothe in us to rule over us, to govern us and then we begin to that extent to digest, feel and understand and get to know it’s action of Lishma. How much it controls and manages our qualities and truly adds to them the intention in order to bestow outside of us.
This is why let us read and understand that the thousand enter a room, the qualities of the person, all kinds of states intentions and actions and feelings and kinds of connections. And only one comes out to teach meaning only one of the thousand, as it is written I have found one of 1000 meaning that from all of the qualities and preparations and thoughts and desires and inclinations that a person has, only one later on, he sees that this is the one, only this inclination is the one that can lead me from Lo Lishma to Lishma. We will see how this happens, let’s hope it will happen over us and this way we will shift from Lo Lishma to Lishma. This is called from darkness to light.
Reading Excerpt #1. (03:33) “Not every Person is Capable…”
2. R. (04:44) This means that the right sign that you are walking on the path that you are shown how much you are not walking on the path. Then each and every time you can correct yourself and try to somehow bring yourself back to become closer to the truth in order to bestow. From all of your qualities you can then choose only those who will accompany you on the path and all the other ones you disqualify them. Therefore a thousand enter a room, all of the states of the person and one comes out to teach meaning that only with this one if he is scrutinizing and sorting this direction then he can go out to Lishma.
3. S. (05:48) We have many actions but towards the correct intention is this the calculation before the action or the regular actions of the framework, like being on duty, are those that are closer to push us towards the goal?
R. We will read according to what is written in these excerpts and then you will understand by which qualities and actions and deeds and actions between us we come closer to Lishma. It is similar to you as you come from a village to a big broad road, you go through a few roads and intersections, you do not immediately go out to the highway. There are things to choose and things to learn before that.
You do not have a map before you, so that you go out according to the map immediately to a broad road, and you know exactly what is happening to you and you are headed that way. Rather this map is always closed and hidden. It is not open and it is not revealed and you need each time according to your qualities to check if you are on the path, more Lishma more Lishma and this is how you eventually reach the right path the right way.
4. S. (08:08) It is still unclear about this excerpt, it sort of contradicts the first part and the second part. He says that the person is not shown his true state so he will think that all of his intentions are not for the sake of the Creator and later he said that he is shown the true level to which he is far from the work of Lishma?
R. They need to show the person how to advance nevertheless in the right way and not the right way, what is the difference between these roads, what is the difference between the person’s actions, this is how the person works. Look what he writes, I will read it; Not every person is capable of walking on the path of truth. The truth is that every person is capable of it and everyone will reach it however each one in his time. As much as the others around him advance more and more to the truth, this is how they also build for him the conditions so he would also be able to advance towards the truth. As our Sages said one comes out to teach for this reason one is not shown ones’ true state in the ways of the Lord, meaning to be able to engage in Torah and Mitzvot and think that his intention is only for the sake of Heaven.
As the Sages said one does not see one’s own fault. This is why one always judge’s oneself to the scale of merit. A person thinks that his somewhere on the path maybe not quite in the right direction but in the same general direction. Maybe not on this straight way, maybe not the right speed that he could have but somehow he is advancing, this is how he has Mercy over himself. One who is accustomed to the work and wants to see the truth is walking on the right path and his desires is only to correct his actions, so that he will use 100% of what is occasion to him only in order to advance on path.
Then according to his desire for the truth, exactly to the same extent he is shown from above his true level, how far he is in what form he is advancing. They already start to show him all the flaws in his advancement, how far he is from the work of Lishma. Meaning it depends how much the person demands to advance quickly to advance in truth or just flowing along as the general flow and the general current is taking him. It depends on the environment how much it shows to the people who are in it, that it has to be in a current which is like a big strong river that is taking them and turning them upside down until they reach the goal.
S. In the beginning it is best to go in the general flow and say that all my qualities are in the direction of correction and therefore they are all that bring me the light and only later he scrutinizes and is shown what remains?
R. You can say it like that but nevertheless if you try to recruit all of your thoughts and desires and qualities that the person has in order to flow, and as much as possible towards the purpose of life.
5. S. (12:27) What is this one that comes out to teach, what is this quality between all the qualities that brings me to the..?
R. The desire to adhere to the Creator through the group, this should be as conspicuous as possible and shining and should be clear and very much felt in the person.
6. S. (13:15) Rabash writes, and this whole yearning is to correct his deeds, and the person tries to do a good deed in the ten, let’s say with prayer and as far as he’s concerned that is the best action the person can do, the question is whether later we have to discern the same prayer something that needs to be done differently?
R. We change that means also each time, a different prayer, different actions, however the most important for us is to see ourselves that we are getting closer to connection, to unity.
7. S. (13:56) In the corporeal world I want to get to certain point, I get a map and I get these specific landmarks that I use to see where I am going, here it is the opposite, I have to make myself the map to see where I’m going so how do I build this map so that I can advance?
R. You do not need to build a map, you need to know that in order to see the map and to advance on the map, you have to be more and more connected to the friends, simply with your eyes shut and then you begin to see the map.
S. What does it mean to go with the eyes shut, to be tied to the friends all the time?
R. Yes, attach yourself all the time to the friends.
8. S. (14:55) I want to get more precise here, here we are talking about a person who is advancing towards the goal and in other words he will fall a 1000 times until he gets there?
R. Yes.
9. S. (15:24) What qualifies a person to go on the path of truth?
R. That he is connected to the group and connected to the Creator as much as possible, and through his connection and adhesion in these two, he requires for himself at place in the general map, that brings him to the world of Lishma because he nullifies himself towards the group and in it he nullifies towards the Creator, and then he can feel how much he is receiving the quality of Lishma.
S. How does the person define that this is the way to the truth when he feels only bad in every moment of advancement on the path?
R. Even if he is feeling bad, he feels this bad in his own will to receive, in order to receive, and on the other hand, the fact that he disconnects from this will to receive in order to receive and he wants to be connected with the friends and connected with the Creator, by this he understands that he is walking on the right path, even though it is not pleasant, and each time he has doubts, and each time he does not know precisely what he is attached to, and it is all like hanging between heaven and earth, but this is the way.
S. The fact that you feel between heaven and earth, that is actually that point in which the person has to hold onto in order to adhere to the group?
R. Yes, to hold on to the group and to hold onto the Creator, this is called to be between heaven and earth. Because he is not attached by himself, it is not according to his mind and heart, but according to what they dictate to him, and it is always against his personal desires.
10. S. (17:49) We learn that 1000 enter the room and one goes out to teach, does this mean that before like we learned as one man with one heart, when we become one man, that’s when we go out to the light?
R. Yes.
11. S. (18:18) It is about young people in the group, when one does not to see his faults, we entered into a path we want to be committed to and the matter of us judging ourselves to the scale of merit, most people are talking about their descents, so can you create an order? I see a certain personal fault, but what is the general debt that I have to feel for those people that are on the path and what is the way to judge ourselves a little more for the friends than for ourselves?
R. You can say only one thing, the moment I nullify myself and I want that the Creator through me will take care of my friends, on our path in order to bring us to the true goal, I by that do everything possible and all the rest, I hand it over to the Creator to take care of it.
Reading Excerpt # 2 (19:41) “And all who Wants to Take the Lord…” Twice
12. S. (21:30) What does it mean to understand His providence?
R. To understand His Providence means that He demands from you to be in bestowal in each and every stage along the way in increasing bestowal from all kinds of different kinds and manners, and you walk and you try to realize that. This is considered that you are walking according to His Providence. Just like the teacher at school gives you each time questions and you should try to answer them and this is how you advance following Him.
13. S. (22:28) He says that understanding His Providence is the reason for all good and this connects to the first part whoever is capable, not everybody is capable of going in the way of Truth it is not shown to him. And whoever is capable is shown how far he is from it, so on one hand he has to understand the Creator on the other hand he is shown how distant he is. How do we interpret this as a positive sign, how can you not interpret it as bitter?
R. Far away is also good. I would say that feeling the distance is more beneficial for advancement than feeling close. Because in the feeling of the distance you see that you are far away and He evokes within you all kinds of qualities and feelings and discernments that are not pleasant which sting you more.
You know what you have to advance to, where you are and which way to advance because you are far away. You are making efforts, you feel agitated you see, so the feeling of distance is more beneficial for advancement than the feeling of closeness. The feeling of closeness can put you to sleep, pacify you that you are already nearby, it is better if we have a feeling of being distant. If with the feeling of distance you even add faith that this is working on you in order to advance and get closer. Then all together all of these things, and there are other elements as well, so they together bring you in the shortest possible way to the solution.
S. How does the person protect himself and keep himself with his face towards the work despite the fact that the Creator is turning before him and showing him distancing. How does the person remain with his face towards it?
R. By holding onto the group, he believes that all of these things are only for his benefit. There is no in the reality of the person that is not for his benefit. This is why the Creator is good and doing good to the good and to the bad, to everyone. There is no such thing that he is not 100% good for the person but rather according to the person’s state. This is how he feels that the Creator is not relating to him in a good way with mercy with love but it is all for the benefit of the person as of now.
Can you get a sign of distancing in joy?
R. You must.
14. S. (27:57) If by connecting to the friends can I see the whole map or is it sufficient if with the connection with them I just see the next step on the way?
R. You see each time what you need for correction and not more, this is called that the Creator is relating to you in a purposeful way and to the point. Just like with a little child you do not show him the whole picture, you do not want to awaken some internal chaos in him that he gets confused. But something concrete, a little bit something here and something there, so he will begin to establish himself in a situation and this is how this child is advancing and it is the same with us.
15. S. (27:16) Is the state of understanding what brings a person joy?
R. Usually yes. The understanding is causing joy in the person because even the fact that he is discovering a state that is not good or in a way he was thinking that it would be good, nevertheless it causes him joy because he is reaching a certain grip along the way which is more than before.
16. S. (27:55) What is the difference between a spiritual quality that operates in the person and the evil inclination of the person that is chasing egoistic goals and desires with a spiritual screen?
R. There is no difference, the two of them are managed by the upper force and the person should relate to both of them in this way that he needs to get along with both of them.
17. S. (28:47) What is the significance of going to teaching?
R. The meaning of going out to teach is that in that same state that was hidden for you and it was blocked you start to see the way, how to take the next step correctly towards the right goal. This is actually the right feeling, that you begin to enter a connection with the Creator where he asks and you answer. You have a connection with Him.
S. If it is so then he is talking about a state where the person is not something but in something he aspires to?
R. Yes.
18. S. (30:05) These points on the map that you described that bring us to the highway, what is that state that brings us to that highway?
R. Only the force that we get through the society of course all the forces come as the upper light from the Creator but we get them along the way through the group through the society.
19. S. (30:36) What is the axis upon the whole world is turning for the good or to bad?
R. First of all everything that is happening to us is happening to us for the better and this is why we should accept all of the choices that we have before as in a nice and good way and with joy.
20. S. (31:08) Where is the boundary between what the person feels distant from neglect and disregard on the path and a person feeling distant from going on the right path?
R. It all depends on how much the person through the friends wants to hold on to the Creator, there he finds his boundary and he holds on to this sharp line.
21. S. (31:52) What is it to go to teach teaching, does he go to teach others, does he go to the light, what is the meaning of teaching?
R. Teaching means that he goes out to the light, not to teach others.
22. S. (32:08) What is written in the end and turns out that there is the axis upon which all the people in the world circle for better or for worse, what is the meaning of that?
R. This means that we are all the time in the same direction, however we do not see it precisely, but all the people in the world from the state that the Creator created them in the opposite state from the purpose of creation and they revolve towards the end of creation.
Reading Excerpt #3 (32:54) “It is Hopeless to Wait for a Time…” Twice
23. S. (36:09) Is there such a thing in the Wisdom of Kabbalah such as destiny or fate that the person falls making them feel lo Lishma in the direction of Lo Lishma?
R. Yes but fate destiny is not the way you think that it is some blind force that is not a part of the system of the forces but rather it does something that there is no supervisor for it. Fate, destiny is a force that manages the person in order to bring him to the purpose of creation however it is all in respect to the person. There are states in which people are capable of understanding their destiny, there are states where this path is more hidden from them. All-in-all fate is a part of the system of forces that manage us; it is one of those forces.
S. Is it worthwhile npt to consider fate when a person is working that maybe he thinks that he is headed to that direction and gives up effort?
R. Yes, he needs to relate certainly to all of these forces; they all come from the Creator only in an orderly way according to the plan of creation and in a way that there are all kinds of other plans by this that accompany it. We need to learn from all of these things but nevertheless there is nothing here that does not follow certain rules it is nevertheless all by the laws of creation.
24. S. (38:38) It is written that a person takes pleasure and contentment to the Creator and it turns out that the deficiency is a part of this unintentional that a person has to reach it by himself?
R. Yes, this happens too.
25. S. (39:15) It says that the way to Lishma is not limited by time but by those who qualify the path, who are those?
R. Those who are walking on this path where time depends on a person, that time depends on the person.
26. S. (43:25) It is written that the way to achieve this degree is not limited by time but by his qualifiers and by the measure of the person’s control over one’s heart. It says that it depends on two things, one is the qualifiers and one to the measure of one’s control over his heart. What are these two things?
R. This means to the extent that a person can use the means of reaching Lishma that he receives from his nature from above, and from within him and knows to concentrate them and use them correctly, then he comes to shorten the path and enters Lishma faster. There is no set time for each and everyone.
S. What does it mean to concentrate and use them, how can I concentrate and use them?
R. Where you know ahead of you there is the entrance to Lishma and it depends on the extent in which you distance your desires to receive and enter the desires of the society and then in them you’ll discover what the desire of the Creator is in order to adhere to Him. This is what you do, this is what you try to do and you’ll find your way.
S. This is how one’s control over one’s heart happens?
R. Yes where he does not follow his heart, do not follow your heart, do not go after your heart but rather one goes according to the spiritual laws that he finds in the society. He cannot find any other laws, spiritual laws in order to come closer to in order to bestow.
27. S. (46:16) You said that I become incorporated into the ten and I do not chase the desires of my heart but become incorporated into the desires of the friends in the ten and I see the Creator’s desire and through that I tried to adhere myself to Him. How there in the hearts of the friends I find the Creator’s desire?
R. Altogether what I see in the hearts of the friends, I see the desire of the Creator. I do not need to search for anything more than that.
28. S. (46:52) It is always written that we cannot appreciate and we cannot value the state of Lo Lishma and Lishma. What does it depend on, what happens to the desire to receive when we cannot really appreciate the state of Lishma and lo Lishma?
R. We cannot because we do not have the vessels for it, even for lo Lishma we do not have the vessels for it. Even our egoistic tools and vessels we do not understand and feel to what extent they are, moreover the altruistic vessels. We just need to choose between the two and advance and feel and go.
29. S. (48:03) I completely do not understand and I have nothing to grasp and hold onto when it speaks about giving contentment to that Creator. Is it enough to build an intention that I want to resemble Him that I want to have the same intentions that this is His desire but I specifically have to delight Him?
R. Try to imagine it in the friends because altogether the entire group once which wants, yearns, desires and does it in a certain inclination to something you can depict it as the desire of the Creator.
30. S. (48:59) Tell me why is it that sometimes they say that what a person sees is the truth and sometimes it is the opposite, that they have eyes but do not see and have ears that do not hear?
R. It depends on the circumstances.
S. In which circumstances does it depend and which circumstances should I say that this is this way or that way?
R. On the one hand we say that one should not judge but only what his eyes see because how can he see something else, but what he sees, is this right is it true, or on the contrary maybe it is egotistical, maybe it is anti-true, that he needs to choose and define.
S. Is it possible to say that as it says in the excerpt #2, that in every step we fall until we find understanding. Is it correct to say that from this opposition contradiction from end-to-end we advance and only out of the experience do we learn how to respond correctly?
R. Yes, you can say it that way too.
31. S. (50:30) If from lo Lishma we come to Lishma why must many fall in working for lo Lishma?
R. Because they do not get there so then they fall, and then they rise and again go and fall, but eventually everyone gets there. We are talking about how to discern the successful path, each one wants to advance on the short path and not the long path.
Reading Excerpt # 4 (51:17) Rabash. “Women, How Do They Become More Worthy…” Twice
32. R. (53:36) I just wanted to add that there is the matter of male and there is the matter of woman in each and everyone of us. It does not matter and it has nothing to do with the gender of a person, which sex the person belongs to and therefore we need to scrutinize within us our desires, the male desires and the female desires inside us.
33. S. (54:03) How do these qualities that are in lo Lishma help one individual out of 1000 to come out to Lishma?
R. This happens in each and every one. it is not that after the shattering of the vessel of Adam HaRishon each is incorporated with everyone. Therefore we need to scrutinize all of our states that are in each and everyone and it cannot be that there is one in this kind of work and then another in that kind of work. Usually everyone has the same kind of work.
34. S. (54:59) A person who crosses the barrier on the path, does the Lishma of the present degree becomes the lo Lishma of the next degree?
R. No, do not make these kinds of calculations.
35. S. (55:24) It is written that the women watch over the men, what does it mean in our internal work, what does it mean that lo Lishma watches or guards the Lishma?
R. Because it has to do with all the alien thoughts and all the wrong discernments that are ready to divert a person from the path, so that he will watch himself more and be more cautious in refining his path in the right way.
S. Why is it many lo Lishma and only one Lishma? This is what it says that many women are on guard or watch over one man?
R. This is speaking about the desires and directions, there is only one direction in order to bestow but from where? From the 613 or even 620 desires, therefore do not wander after your heart meaning you have many desires in the heart and only one direction needs to be given to all of these inclinations.
Reading 5 (56:50) “When one works for the purpose…” Twice
36. R. (59:47) This is not understood here. When we exert, is it not for ourselves and when will it be for ourselves? Yes, this way it is not understood. Does anyone know the answer, please?
37. S. (1:00:25) There are very subtle discernments in this excerpt.
R. The answer, the answer, in short.
S. In short it turns out that a person enjoys for himself only in the future. He doesn’t see it now, he doesn’t feel it now, he doesn’t know what he feels as you said before and he is destined to feel it only in the future.
38. S. (1:01:00) Those who enjoy are those who already feel Lishma such as the Rav and our sages and for us, as of now, our vessels are taken out of our hands, they kicked them. This is how it is for the time being.
39. S. (1:01:25) I think the answer is that one has to be happy in his share spiritually also meaning he receives the upper providence as it is in the place where he is and he accepts it completely, then his reward will come in the future.
R. Very well.
40. S. (1:01:56) He became a channel for his friends.
41. S. (1:02:10) All of the work of the person seemingly is not counted as he is doing it for himself because in fact he sees that he is doing it for himself but its working to bestow and then all we have to do is continue because eventually the change will be made by the Creator.
42. S. (1:02:45) Currently we should remember the allegory of the poor man and the rich man that he is pleased with his fate, happy in his share.
43. S. (1:03:13) It turns out that if the person himself reaches Lishma then he is robbing himself but if he wants the entire public to reach it then he might reach Lishma.
44. S. (1:03:37) Maybe after one thousand states.
45. R. (1:03:54) I would recommend for you now to think that this is talking only about one person, about a single person. When one works for the purpose of this world meaning in order to receive, he won’t be able to enjoy it because there was a restriction upon this reception, meaning that there aren’t many people, a person has a small world. It follows that another will dwell in it that is through the exertion he is making, it is as it is written, if he is rewarded he takes his part and the part of his friend in the Garden of Eden.
That is, one who is rewarded with entering the Garden of Eden takes the labor that others labored in Torah and Mitzvot, the others meaning his qualities as it is all within a person and this is considered that they are raising the Torah and Mitzvot of the general public as in a thousand enter the room and one comes out to teaching but in the future one who exerts to achieve Lishma meaning the aim to bestow will be rewarded with receiving their award for the labor that he made, it follows that he himself will dwell in it meaning that it turns out that a person will always have to think that it is all in him and a man is a small world. Okay, think about it more.
46. S. (1:05:50) How can the ten become a place where the true intention is revealed?
R. Again.
S. How can the ten become the place where the true intention is revealed?
R. By all together the relations between them define where they are, whether it’s a real ten or not a real ten. The real degree or spiritual our corporeal hide or characteristics of it, it all depends on the measure of connection between the friends. There’s nothing to add here, only the kind of friends there defines where the ten is. From the lowest point of this world to the highest point of the upper world the end of correction.
47. S. (01:07:30) One out of a thousand, does it mean one vessel built out of the critical mass of people who have a true intention to bestow?
R. Again.
S. Does one out of 1000 mean that it is a single vessel built out of a critical mass of people with a true intention to bestow?
R. Right, one person from a thousand I found, meaning that only one out of 1000 goes to the correct solution, it cannot be any other way.
48. S. (01:08:08) Can one person out of the ten begin work in Lishma and pull all of the others also?
R. That is usually how it happens, yes.
49. S. (01:08:27) What is that quality in a person that out of all of the other qualities it comes out to the light, how to scrutinize it every moment?
R. This is through the scrutinies in the group where a person is not just searching for some other friend in the group, but rather he is seeking for the common point between everyone and to that common point between everyone which is not in any of them, but it is between them, towards that point earrings. This is how we advance towards the truth.
S. In Lishma we cannot be freed from our desires but do we feel pleasure from the intention or the desires from the possibility to correct them?
R. We need to try and incorporate in the desires of the group and to search there, not according to my preparations, not according to my natural tendencies to what I adhere to but rather where they are between them and the connection and towards them I adhere. This is a scrutiny that sounds may be a little more psychological but here I am searching in the whole group for that point of adhesion between them, between my friends. Where I would not adhere to whatsoever, but I seek this point where they can be adhered and then I want to come to that point, to that center and to also integrate into it.
50. S. (01:10:52) Is it more beneficial to feel a distance from nearing, so how to work when we have a feeling of nearing that puts us to sleep and it may be false, what should we add in order to advance?
R. The feeling of nearing should not put me to sleep rather because I feel it, I feel more confident and less threat and that is why I am not so feeling sharply towards this connection whereas compared to the distancing. We need to nevertheless come to a state in which the feeling of connection will be for us sharper, more wanted and that I really am towards it. Where I understand that the Creator is behind it and the end of correction and all I need to attain is the center of creation, that’s where it is. Behind our connection.
51. S. (01:12:32) Why does it say that the time depends on the person?
R. Yes, because to the extent that we are drawn to connection accordingly we extend time.
52. S. (01:12:50) What does it mean that I annul myself and I want the Creator through me to take care of his friends?
R. As much as I annul myself I am giving the Creator the possibility through me to care for the friends, yes. That is how it happens.
53. S. (01:13:19) The transition to Lishma seems to me something that’s cruel and brutal that requires the person to put himself to death, to cut off himself any kind of fulfillment. It is unfair the Creator created us in the will to receive but now he requires us to kill it. What can give us the strength to persist?
R. Only support, only mutual support, where each helps his friend and in such a way we come closer to one another.
54. S. (01:13:58) When I pray for the friends, should I see the result of the prayer in them and how to pray correctly?
R. Usually yes I see the results in the friend’s and the extent to which they become closer to one another and more aimed towards the goal ,yes.
55. S. (01:14:25) To enter the desires of the friends, is the desire of each one or the general desire and how do I determine the general side of the group?
R. The desire of each and every one I cannot determine but the general desire, yes through my desire when I pour it on society and I want to determine the general desire of the society by that. Everyone will be more connected and directed to the Creator and will incorporate in the Creator.
S. Thank you.
R. I see that today this is the general situation.