Lesson 4 “Life in Lishma for the Sake of the World”

Life in Lishma for the Sake of the World

1. Baal HaSulam, “One Commandment”

I say that the first and only Mitzva that guarantees the achievement of the aspiration to attain Lishma is to resolve not to work for oneself, apart for the necessary works—merely to provide for one’s sustenance. In the rest of the time, he will work for the public: to save the oppressed, and every being in the world that needs salvation and benefit.

2. RABASH, Article 11 (1987), “Purim, and the Commandment: Until He Does Not Know”

By causing the entire world to receive the delight and pleasure that exist in the purpose of creation. It follows that he has become a partner of the Creator in that through him will come the assistance by which everyone will achieve the purpose of creation. Thus, he has become a partner of the Creator, as it is written, “I started creation by wanting to give delight and pleasure, and Israel exert to realize the goal by making Kelim [vessels] that are fit to receive the upper abundance.

3. Maor Eynaim, Yitro [Jethro]

It is known that the whole world, with all created beings, must receive their vitality from the Creator all the time and at any given moment. Therefore, it is appropriate and fitting for the righteous to be a medium between the Creator and the entire world, to connect everything to Him, to make a pathway and a track, a passage for the abundance and vitality, and a pipeline to pour down to all created beings. He is the one who unites heaven and earth, who connects the whole world to the Creator, so they will not part from Him.

4. Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”, Item 19

When all human beings agree to abolish and eradicate their will to receive for themselves and have no other desire but to bestow upon their friends, all worries and jeopardy in the world would cease to exist. We would all be assured of a whole and wholesome life, since each of us would have a whole world caring for us, ready to satisfy our needs.

5. RABASH, Article No. 40 (1991), “What Are Truth and Falsehood in the Work?”

When a person receives abundance from the Creator, he sees the truth, that the purpose of creation is to do good to His creations. Moreover, a person should be rewarded with seeing that Providence behaves with all creations in a manner of good and doing good.

This is a great degree, when a person sees how the Creator behaves with him in person in a manner of good and doing good. However, a person must see that the Creator behaves this way with all creations—in a manner of good and doing good. Because of this, Lishma is called “truth,” for by work in the state of Lishma, a person is rewarded with seeing the truth, that the Creator behaves with all creations in a manner of good and doing good.