Klipot (Heb. Shells) n.

1. Desires of a spiritual nature that want to rejoice selfishly in the Creator.
Rav Michael Laitman, PhD in the article “Selected Topics in Kabbalah.”

2. Uncorrected desires. Impure desires. Low, animal lusts.
Rav Michael Laitman, PhD in the interview “Heaven and Hell.”

3. Shinui Tzura (difference of form) separates and departs spirituals (see the definition for What is Separation?). Know that this Hofchiut Tzura (opposition of form) from one end to the other separates and drives them to the opposite ends until there isn’t any suction between them.

You already know that there is only a will to bestow in the Ohr Elyon (Upper Light), and not to receive even a bit. The Klipot are of completely opposite Tzura (form), meaning want only to receive and swallow everything; they haven’t any will to bestow whatsoever. For that reason they are separated from the Life of Lives and are therefore called “Dead” and so is anything that cleaves to them.

Baal HaSulam, in Talmud Eser Sefirot, Part 3: Table of Questions and Answers for the Meaning of the Words.

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From Today’s Daily Lesson:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoNTXnnN9lQ]
Rav Michael Laitman, PhD commentates on an article from Rabash’s Shlavey HaSulam, providing the spiritual definitions to the terms “Israel” and “Nations of the World.”

Video clip taken from the lesson on Rabash’s article #25 from Shlavey HaSulam, Volume 4 (19 September, 2007)
Download the full lesson: wmv video | mp3 audio (55 min)

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1QHsuTfFjw]
A spiritual definition of “Light.” Rav Michael Laitman, PhD explains what is Light in Kabbalah, and how one studying Kabbalah draws the Light for the sake of “reforming” or “correcting” his- or her ego.

Click here to view the video at Kabbalah TV

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Rav Michael Laitman, PhD teaching Talmud Eser Sefirot in today’s daily lesson

From Today’s Daily Lesson

Today’s lesson began the first in a series of studying Part 1 of Talmud Eser Sefirot (The Study of the Ten Sefirot), by Baal HaSulam.

In his commentary, Rav Michael Laitman, PhD stressed the importance of understanding the correct definitions of the spiritual terminology in this opening part of the text. One needs to attune one’s focus on Baal HaSulam’s definition of each word one comes across in order to properly attune oneself to the text’s spiritual meaning, otherwise one can easily misinterpret the text with corporeal, physical meanings.

Rav Laitman placed special emphasis on the spiritual world (which Talmud Eser Sefirot describes) being completely disconnected from the corporeal, physical world that we perceive through our senses. Therefore, in order to base one’s approach to the study of Talmud Eser Sefirot correctly, and not mix up spirituality with corporeality, understanding the spiritual definition of each term presented in Talmud Eser Sefirot is a must.

To aid the reader of Talmud Eser Sefirot establish the correct approach to the study and clarify the spiritual meanings of the terms presented in the text, Baal HaSulam included tables of questions and answers for the meanings of the spiritual words at the end of each part. In this lesson, Rav Laitman and the students of Bnei Baruch present a very good example for students interested in delving deeper into the study of Kabbalah, of how to use these tables of questions and answers together with the body of the text to best absorb the text’s spiritual meaning.

The lessons on Talmud Eser Sefirot will be continuing daily at 9pm EST on Kabbalah TV, and will be available in the Kabbalah Media Archive.

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What is a Spiritual Degree?

Two things make up a spiritual degree: a desire for something and the intention to use it for the Creator. (p. 91 “The Reality Cycle” in The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Kabbalah)

What are the Sefirot?

The whole business with the Sefirot may sound confusing, but it is less so if we remember that they stand for desires. Keter is the Creator’s desire to give Light (pleasure); Hochma is our reception of the pleasure; Bina stands for our desire to give back to the Creator; ZA is our desire to receive in order to give to the Creator; and Malchut is our pure desire to receive, the actual Root of the creatures – us. (p. 89, “Before the Big Bang” in The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Kabbalah)

Bad

There is no bad in Kabbalah; it’s all a question of how we relate to the situations we’re in. Pharaoh is considered an evil force. But Kabbalists inverted the Hebrew letters of the name Pharaoh and found that it really means Oref H (the posterior side of the Creator). In other words, Pharaoh is really the Creator goading you harshly to progress to spirituality because you are not pushing yourself fast enough. If you push faster, you will find that Pharaoh is your friend. (p. 141, “Letters, Numbers, Names” in The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Kabbalah)

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