Take off Your Clothes
August 22 – August 28, 2004
The most amazing thing about this month is that we get to see all of our garbage.
All that’s wrong with us starts shooting to the surface, and the more we want to see it, the more it will appear. Why is this good? It’s good because on Rosh Hashanah we have the opportunity to actually return the cells, tissues, organs - and our very lives – back to its previous pure and uncorrupted state.
To do this we need to look within this entire month and ‘clean house’ on our negativity. There’s no other way to prepare for Rosh Hashanah.
Regarding the cleansing, be forewarned: Satan (the opposing negative energy force of Light) will make you feel that whatever is wrong with you, isn’t so bad. This negative force creates a fear of change. It tricks you into thinking the problems you are experiencing or creating for yourself, are better than what will happen if you change. This negative force wants you to continue on your path of ignorance.
Often, when we do work, we work really hard and fast just to get it over with. We want the work to stop so we rush through it. But in spirituality, the work never stops. Spiritual growth means constant movement. What is a flat line on an EKG? Death. Life is about constant change and growth – ups and downs, pushing and pulling.
And ultimately - transformations.
The war we have this month is against confusion and doubt – everything that stops us from changing and improving.
To win this war – an INTERNAL war – The Zohar says we have to take off our ‘clothes.’
The Zohar explains that ‘clothes’ is a code word for the curtains, veils, illusions and false belief systems that keep us from our true purpose in life. It’s the thinking patterns playing out in our minds like so many broken records.
Some of these thought patterns are, ‘I can’t trust people… Anything too great is probably too good to be true… I can’t do it.”
Listen to yourself. What records are you playing?
Do you realize they are keeping you from seeing reality?
We also have to guard against the thoughts that tell us, “I’m doing the best I can… I can’t change now… What if I change and it doesn’t work out?” This is a process of doubting. And throughout my entire life, my father and teacher Kabbalist Rav Berg has continued to warn me that our biggest threat is our own doubts.
And when are doubts raised? When do they creep in? Doubt comes in when we lose our focus of what our original intention was.
In a relationship, you could be so happy, until something happens. Then doubt creeps in. First you have all the reasons to be in the relationship, then you find all the reasons not to be. It’s all about doubt. Why? Because you forget why you were in the relationship in the first place.
In this month of Virgo, we are reminded why we study Kabbalah – to take responsibility and control of our lives. This month is our chance to do just that! Don’t let doubts creep in. If you do, it’s only because you forgot why you started to study in the first place.
There is something else we need be aware of this week - the inclination towards seeing what’s wrong with other people. Virgo is all about detail and being critical, it’s inevitable.
We can always find lots of reasons to hate people and be angry. But if you see a crippled person blocking the sidewalk, do you get angry that he won’t move, or do you understand his limitation?
In the same way, don’t be angry with people who don’t have the capacity to change, or share with you, or love you. It’s their limitation, so find a way to share and let the Light take care of the rest.
Replace hate with love.
This whole concept of transformational sharing is not new – you hear it in every Kabbalah class, lecture, and seminar. The issue is – are you doing it? This week, the universe is supporting you in this switch to a sharing
consciousness.
Most of you who are active at the Centre are already sharing. But this month, it’s not about sharing where you’re already good at it. What’s important this month is to think about places where you don’t find it easy to share. Or look for people who you don’t normally share with. Look for where you’re not brave enough to share.
And don’t forget that all of the work we do this month is preparing us for the infusion of Light available during Rosh Hashanah. We have 4 weeks to help us make the entire next year a better one. For ourselves and all of humanity!
Go to it!
All the Best,
Yehuda Berg