How to Study Kabbalah

At the end of his introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot, Rav Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam) explained the frame of mind in which we should approach the study of Kabbalah. Below is a direct translation of Item 155 from this introduction.

“Therefore, we must ask, why then, did the Kabbalists obligate each person to study the wisdom of Kabbalah? Indeed, there is a great thing in it, worthy of being publicized: There is a wonderful, invaluable remedy to those who engage in the wisdom of Kabbalah. Although they do not understand what they are learning, through the yearning and the great desire to understand what they are learning, they awaken upon themselves the Lights that surround their souls.

“This means that every person from Israel is guaranteed to finally attain all the wonderful attainments that the Creator has calculated in the Thought of Creation to delight every creature. One who has not been awarded in this life will be granted in the next life etc. Finally, one will be awarded completing the thought that He preliminary planned for him.

“While one has not attained perfection, these Lights that are destined to reach him are considered Surrounding Lights. That means that they stand ready, and wait for one to purify one’s vessels of reception. At that time, these Lights will cloth the able vessels.

“Hence, even when one does not have the vessels, when one engages in this wisdom, mentioning the names of the Lights and the vessels related to one’s soul, they immediately shine upon us to a certain measure. However, they shine for him without clothing the interior of his soul, for lack of the able vessels to receive them. Despite that, the illumination one receives time after time during the engagement draws upon one grace from above, imparting one with abundance of sanctity and purity, which bring one much closer to reaching perfection.”