How Can Shifting from Living for Self-Benefit to Living for the Benefit of Others Open a New Perception of Reality?

We live in a state of reason, meaning inside our senses, intellect, and desire where our desire is composed of intellect and emotion, mind and heart. We live and feel reality in such qualities, and what we feel is called “this world.” Within it, we feel as if what we perceive exists: space with its stars and planets, the Earth, its vegetation and humanity upon it. Everything exists in our perception, our sensation.

We need to imagine that there is a boundary to this perception, and that there is another perception that is not based on the force of reception, which we draw toward ourselves, but on the force of bestowal, which we seemingly push away from ourselves—an opposite world.

We should imagine what this opposite world means, that instead of hatred, there is love, and instead of receiving, there is giving, and instead of detachment, there is connection, that we live in such a way. In other words, we live not in terms of what is good for us personally, but in terms of what is good for others, and we perform all of our actions for such a purpose.

In other words, we seemingly exist inside a kind of deep-sea-diving suit or a spacesuit. Inside that suit is “mine,” whereas outside of it is another world, one that we do not know. It is a world that we are not allowed to live in while our qualities are the way they currently are.

Instead, what can we do? If we receive in our mind and heart, our intellect and emotion, the conditions of that other world, then we can live in it. Moreover, there is no problem to do so. That is actually what we need to acquire, and we can do so by mutually encouraging and supporting each other to do so.

Ultimately, we exist solely in our mind and heart, our intellect and emotion. That is what was created. However, we can change how we use them. Their use can shift from “for self-benefit” to “for the benefit of others.” By doing so, we neutralize our very self, and we then no longer need this special suit, i.e., we no longer need protection for ourselves.

It is because, if we do not use ourselves for ourselves, but we use ourselves for the benefit of others outside of us, then we do not need to isolate ourselves from them. They cannot harm us. On the contrary, we can use everything that exists outside this special garment for the benefit of all.

We need to increasingly imagine, in various ways, the difference between what exists within our current mind and heart, in our qualities of reception, and what exists above them, where everything is in order to bestow. Gradually, in such a way, we will be able to make the transition from the corporeal world of self-reception to the spiritual world of love and bestowal.

Based on the Daily Kabbalah Lesson with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on November 25, 2020

Do Spiritual People Tend to Be Calmer?

Calmness and harmony, as they are usually understood, are actually not good states for a person advancing spiritually. Although the ultimate purpose of creation leads toward harmony, for a person who is already directed toward the higher goal, a state of calmness can evoke an inner aversion. They cannot tolerate stagnation. Therefore, if we wish to spiritually advance, we should not strive for calmness as a goal in itself.

A person must pass through many different states. But the correct aspiration is not toward rest, not toward inner peace as stillness, but toward proper movement toward the goal of creation, a state of adhesion with the upper force of love, bestowal, and connection that created and sustains all life. Such movement constantly renews itself, gives rise to new sensations, and brings ever-deeper fulfillment. Life, in the spiritual sense, is not calm; it is dynamic.

At the same time, the upper force of nature, a force of absolute love and bestowal, is indeed in a state of complete rest. But this rest has nothing to do with inertia or passivity. The upper force is unchanging. It relates to everyone with constant infinite love. In physics, a body that moves in a uniform, straight line—without acceleration or alteration—is considered to be at rest, because no force acts upon it to change its state. This is what is meant by rest in spirituality.

Kabbalists, however, are in the opposite situation. They must constantly change and advance, become filled, and then increase their inner acceleration. Therefore, they do not need rest. In Kabbalah, movement without acceleration is not considered movement at all. A person can come to Kabbalah lessons every day, perform the same actions year after year, and yet make no spiritual progress.

Progress exists only where there is acceleration, i.e., where we constantly push ourselves to renew intention, deepen connection, and increase the speed of our inner development. That is what we must strive for, not calmness, but continuous, accelerating movement toward the life’s final goal: a state of equivalence of form with the upper force of love and bestowal.

Based on the Virtual Kabbalah Lesson with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on January 14, 2018.

The Power of Turning to Hashem

Practical guidance for all of us chosen to witness and transform these final moments of galus darkness.

In moments of darkness, you do not need clarity, strength, or answers.

Simply remembering Hashem in the darkness

and turning to Him with what feels overwhelming

is already a great spiritual avodah.

That turning itself matters.

That reaching out itself counts.

That moment of trust alone already brings light into the world.

קָרוֹב ה׳ לְכָל־קֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת

“Hashem is close to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him with a sincere heart.”

(Tehillim 145:18)

If you’re alive,

you are not too late.

You are not too far.

Turning to Him right now is the best next move you can make.

Tell Him simply:

“Abba… You see what I’m going through.

I don’t have the words, the strength, or the clarity right now.

But I am turning to You.

Please hold me, guide me, and carry me through this.

I place myself, and this moment, in Your Hands.”

Turning to Him is already enough.

Whatever comes next will come from hands that love you.

💡 Today’s Tanya | One Powerful Takeaway

Nothing actually changed when the world was created.

What changed was us.

From Hashem’s perspective,

His unity is exactly as it always was.

Creation is still fully within Him,

utterly dependent and continuously sustained.

The feeling of separation exists only because Divine light is concealed from us and for our sake,

so we can exist, choose, and return willingly.

What feels distant is still being held.

What feels separate was never apart.

To make a stone shine, it needs to go through an arduous process. It’s pressed, rubbed, and worn down through repeated contact, often against rough surfaces. What looks like abrasion is actually formation. The stone doesn’t become smooth despite the friction, but because of it. The shine emerges only after enduring the process that initially feels rough and harsh.

Like that stone, growth often begins with resistance. Pressure, repetition, and discomfort are not signs of brokenness but of refinement. The challenges we face are not meant to stop us; they're meant to shape us. What feels like constant friction is creating clarity, strength, and depth beneath the surface. Our truest beauty and shine come not from the absence of struggle, but from moving through the struggle.

Transformation rarely happens in a single moment. Like the polishing of the stone, it unfolds through consistency: the same motions, the same effort, applied again and again. Progress can feel slow because refinement is subtle. You don’t necessarily notice the shine forming while you’re still in the middle of the grind, yet each pass and each stroke matters. Nothing is wasted, even when it feels repetitive or uncomfortable.

It’s easy to mistake friction for failure. But resistance is often confirmation that something meaningful is taking form. Hashem invests the time and effort to shape us, because He sees our potential even when we can’t see it ourselves. The pressure you feel is not a sign you’re breaking – it’s a sign you’re being strengthened.

Trust the process even when the results aren’t visible yet. What’s being formed takes time, patience, and persistence. One day, you’ll look back and realize that what once felt abrasive was actually purposeful – revealing a version of you that could only exist because you endured the process of being shaped and shined.

Inspired by the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994)

Start small. Stay consistent. Be relentless.

Based on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman (1772-1810)

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Make it a habit to speak to Hashem – not only when life feels heavy, but also in the quiet moments when everything seems fine. Talk to Him throughout your day, the way you’d stay in touch with someone you love. Share the big fears and the small details, the serious questions and even the thoughts that feel silly or unfinished. Prayer isn’t reserved for emergencies; it’s meant for gratitude, reflection, and connection in the ordinary moments too.

Don’t worry if the words don’t come out right – Hashem understands the heart behind them. You don’t need the right words to pray – even when the words feel tangled or incomplete, your prayer is still heard. Remember, Hashem listens with understanding and compassion, not grammatical scrutiny. Prayer isn’t an exam in eloquence or precision – it’s a relationship. A sentence that comes out broken but honest can be more powerful than a flawless one spoken on autopilot. What matters isn’t how polished your words are, but that your heart is open and present.

Speak to Hashem about your worries and concerns, but don’t stop there. Talk about your hopes, your dreams, the future you’re trying to grow into. Ask for strength when you feel weak, wisdom when you feel unsure, clarity when things get foggy, and comfort when you’re tired. Keeping that line of communication open grounds you, centers your thoughts, and gently reminds you that you’re never alone.

Over time, this steady conversation changes how you carry yourself through the day. With consistent prayer, something shifts inside you before anything shifts around you. You begin to move with a little more trust, a little more calm. You may not always get immediate clarity, but even when answers aren’t obvious, there’s a quiet sense of being held, guided, and seen. Prayer becomes less about outcomes and more about closeness.

So keep showing up, and keep praying. Hashem is always near, always available, and always ready to listen.

Inspired by the teachings of Rebbe Nachman (1772-1810)

What’s Happening Is Temporary

And a Clear Sign of Amazing Times Ahead

————

If today feels heavy, you are not alone!

What you are walking through right now is not a random storm.

Our Sages taught us to expect this very moment. They called it Chevlei Moshiach, the birth pangs that come just before a new wonderful world of Moshaich is born.

The great Chofetz Chaim explained it with a powerful image. He said that before Moshiach comes, Hashem will take a rope that stretches across the entire world and shake it. Our only job is to hold on tight, and not let go.

So remember this map.

First, see clearly…

This shaking is not punishment.

It is preparation.

It is not permanent.

It is purposeful.

And it is the clearest sign that we are closer than we think.

Second, hold simply…

Your role is not to control the storm or figure out the global script.

Your role is to hold your piece of the rope.

That means turning to Him in trust when the worry rises.

It means choosing a small kindness when fear tells you to close down.

It means believing the Author of this story is also its Director, and He is writing an ending of pure light.

Finally, remember gently…

You do not need to feel strong for Him to act.

You do not need to have perfect clarity for Him to move.

Hashem is closer than your confusion. He is already working behind the scenes of your life and of our world.

Your perseverance right now, your choice to hold on while everything shakes, is a sacred act.

It is how we build the world to come.

This is the final stretch. The dawn is near.

Your future self, in a redeemed world, is so proud of you for holding on today!

Be strong. Be courageous.

How?

By holding on to tightly Hashem.

P.S. A practical breath for when it feels heavy: Just pause. Whisper, “Hashem, I am turning to You and holding on tight. Please continue to be my strength.” Then breathe. You are holding onto the One who will never let go.

Why the World Feels Separate

If Divine light were revealed without restraint,

creation would lose all sense of identity.

Hashem wanted a world that experiences itself as independent

so that human beings could choose, grow,

and return to Him willingly.

That is the purpose of tzimtzum:

not to remove G-dliness,

but to conceal it enough

for creation to exist as itself.

⸻

The Key Clarification

The concealment is real for us.

It is not real for Hashem.

To Him,

darkness and light are the same.

The veils do not block Him,

because they come from Him.

Like a shell that is part of the animal itself,

the concealment is not foreign to G-dliness.

It is G-dly.

That is why the Torah says:

Hashem is Elokim.

Revelation and concealment are one.

⸻

The Message

Creation introduced change only

in how the world experiences Hashem.

It introduced no change in Hashem Himself.

What feels separate exists only because it is being held.

What feels distant exists only because it is being sustained.

From His perspective,

everything is still within Him,

utterly null,

and His oneness remains

exactly as it always was,

before creation and after.