Studying is not enough if we don’t put it into practice. In my opinion, helping others if the inner intention is to advance ourselves is missing the mark. If we want to advance ourselves in order to be able to bestow and be more Creator-like, that’s on path. Helping others from this place will draw more light that reforms.
We can fortify our connections with the illuminating force by drawing to us the light that reforms. We do this by building our desire for connection and correction through study, mitzvot among the friends, setting our intention, and building our masachs and reminding ourselves that there’s none else besides Him. We can reflect on our reactions to experiences and people. This takes mindfulness.
To transition from a self-centered perception of reality to one grounded in altruism, one needs to correct one’s intentions to be in order to bestow. With this new orientation, one becomes more aware of one’s deficiency, which allows for the raising of a prayer to the Creator to make one equivalent in form. All is done by the Creator, after all.
This so so lovely to read, Joe. I’ve also sought elsewhere and even left Kabbalah for a number of years because I didn’t truly know what else was out there. I have come back, feeling content that it is the best method. The structure helps students to stay on the path with the least amount of instances of becoming distracted by other things that lead us away from our goal. 🙂