Tuesday chaburah at 12 pm NY time; 

IYH, This week we are continuing in section one in Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh, book one, section 8-18 which are found on pages 13-23 in the English edition.

 In addition, the plan is to start chapter three in Da es Atzmecha in the English version, pages 56-66.  Below, please find the outlines.

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access code: 572926

playback recording number:

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Chapter 3:

Nullifying the negative Feelings:

pages 56-66

(chapter 3 is about Havdalah: separation: the power of "alone": associating with the inner "I")

Initial structure of creation: Adam was alone. This is the earliest power (now deeper in the soul) to be alone, then came Chava and the power in soul to be with others was added.

Therefore, the "I" has two aspects- outward toward people and the other part turns inward.

Question: How do we learn to associate positive feelings with the true "I", (as part of essence of soul), and dissociate from negative feelings- see them as coming from the external body= separate from the true "I"?

1. Focus: (even an angel cannot accomplish more than one task at a time) "When a person is busy with something, that should be the only thing he is doing, and nothing else should interest him)pg 62.

2. "Allow your mind to relax and take a break from the rush of life". (pg 64)- you will discover an entirely new sense of self" (pg 65) (technique ideas:use of quiet music, find a tool that helps you)

Two categories of feelings: (pg 57)

a. feelings in relation to self

b. feelings in relation to others

When we experience inner quiet, then comes the revelation of the presence of Hashem within us (pg 66).

To do: When feeling negative toward others go to the quiet inner self (disengage from evil in the world and connect to Hashem, 67).

(Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Moshe, Dovid- our forefathers were sheperds- seeking world of quiet- we follow in their footsteps. Matan Torah- no sounds heard not even a bird chirped (shmos raba 29:9) (pg 67).

***soul needs solitude as body needs food- it's the primary instrument for developing the soul.

"To attain this world of quiet, we must learn to quiet our thoughts" (pg 70).

To do:

Begin with 2 minutes a day- no reading or talking to anyone. First notice where your thoughts are, and whether they are calm or noisy thoughts. "Is the thought in the category of 'alone' or far from it?" (pg 71) If it's a thought that's very far from the "I" then just tell it that now is not the time for it, notice where your thoughts want to go. (see pages 70-71 for examples).

Havdala is the da'as that defines the proper place for each thing. (pg 71) The self awareness of which thoughts are related to the soul and which is a garment, comes from da'as. First separate the thoughts with da'as, then you can separate from the feelings when feeling negative toward another.

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Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh

Building a Sanctuary in the Heart

Section One:

 

Clarifying the Purpose of Life:

1. What does Hashem expect from us in our life? (this is world-olam-of he'elem- confusion)

2. Our entire life is for the purpose of serving Hashem

3,4,5. 6. Need proper foundation, understanding in the soul, and constant reminders of this

7. the only true perfection and our purpose is deveikus to Hashem “This is all a Jew really has
closeness to Hashem” (12)
pages 13-23:
8. to do: write on a paper: my purpose here is deveikus to Hashem and look at it every 15 min.
9. truly alive only when you remember this purpose (and when learn Torah)- “ultimate purpose of mitzvos is to become companion (tzavta) to Hashem”

10. This is for any person, no matter his profession- not just for people removed from all worldly matters

11. Your life depends on this-
12. The purpose of your life is to be close to Hashem
13. Essence of life is “you who cleave to Hashem” Ramchal
14. anything else is “vanity and deceptive emptiness”- 613 mitzvos are a means to reach
15. constant deveikus-the greater your desire for this, the greater your ability to toil and remove obstructions preventing you from it
16. 613 mitzvos are pieces of advice- directing us in how to cleave to Hashem

18. How do we learn Torah and perform mitzvos in a way that generates inner sense of closeness to Hashem?