Comment: We have a small group where every member is invaluable. We deeply cherish each one. From the outside, it may seem like we maintain a certain gentlemanly decorum, that we don’t take off our white gloves. But, in my opinion, not taking those gloves off requires a great deal of inner work.

My Response: Then you will remain at the animal level. By avoiding conflict among yourselves, you avoid ordinary, everyday, and more importantly, spiritual challenges. Essentially, you stay at the zero level, like little children. You do not have an awareness or disclosure of egoism between you. I understand it may feel better to live like this rather than risk disagreements and separation. But you need to move forward somehow.

Therefore you need to strictly monitor that your gentlemanly relations remain friendly and loving, and at the same time combine them with the revelation of a common aspiration toward the Creator, which will cause all sorts of challenges that you will need to resolve together. Moreover, since you are afraid of splitting apart, it is essential to monitor this process closely.

I understand your concerns, but there is no alternative. You must keep striving to grow closer to one another, repeatedly, even in the face of various obstacles. And then you will incorporate these obstacles into an even greater closeness between you.

And how can you grow closer? Only by rising above the obstacles, in spite of them. This is what is meant by the right and left lines.

Comment: I can see how there is an internal struggle in my friends. A person clenches their teeth, wants to speak their mind, but puts all their efforts into keeping their gloves on.

My Response: That is very good. And you shouldn’t remove them. Each person, on an animate level, should understand that they criticize others because of who they are, and at the same time strive to come closer to others despite the tendency to maintain gentlemanly relations.

When you attempt to draw even closer, true spiritual challenges, rejections, will arise between you that you will have to rise above.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/28/19, “Questions and Answers”

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