A question I received: We learn that our world is a reflection of the Upper World – “As it is above, so it is below.” We also learn that all the disorder among us is a result of our evolving egoism. One only needs to take a look at the world and our current situation to understand that it is all true. Nonetheless, secret theories circulate about families and clans called “Illuminati,” who engage in magic rituals in secret societies. Their main goal is to not only to gain world domination, but to gain the power of the Creator. Is there any truth to this?

My Answer: There are no secrets or miracles in our world, no matter how much we might want them to exist. We want to believe that the world is magical in some way, and more interesting than what we see. However, everything rests upon strict laws of nature. If one knows these laws, one can expand the limits of the perceivable world. We can develop additional qualities within ourselves and as such, feel a broader world. However, all of this also happens according to the physical laws of equivalence of form.

A question I received: All of this talk I hear about Kabbalah, regarding miracles and abilities to see supernatural occurrences – do these things indicate that one is advanced in Kabbalah?

My Answer: There are no miracles, mysticism, or anything of what you wrote in Kabbalah. Read Baal HaSulam’s article “The Essence of the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” and others (see the right sidebar’s “Kabbalah Source Materials” section for Baal HaSulam’s materials).

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The Corrected Society
Accepting the law, “Love your friend as yourself,” word for word.
Just division of the profits so each will work according to ability and will receive according to need.
Public opinion should be based on “Love your friend as yourself,” so one who receives more than one’s needs will be considered a killer.

Transformation
The will to receive, imprinted in every creature, is in disparity of form from the Creator. Hence, one’s soul is separated from Him, since disparity of form separates in spirituality. It is therefore clear that what the Creator wants of us is equivalence of form, at which time we will cling to Him once more, as prior to our creation.

This is why Kabbalists said that one must cleave to the attributes of the Creator – “as He is merciful, so you are merciful” – so all our actions will be only to bestow upon our fellow person to the best of our ability. This is how we achieve the goal of cleaving to the Creator, equalizing with Him.

What one must do for oneself, in the necessary measure for the sustenance of oneself and one’s family, is not considered disparity of form, since “necessity is neither praised nor condemned.”
All these conditions will arise in the days of the Messiah. And when they accept this lesson we will be awarded complete redemption. [Read more →]

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A question I received: I’ve been studying in a group for several years now. Lately I’ve noticed that I don’t want to study Kabbalah. Am I feeling this way because my egoism is growing? I don’t feel a desire to correct myself or to become similar to Him. Instead, I have a new desire, which I don’t understand. Why did it appear in me? For what purpose?

In addition, I can’t shake off the feeling that this desire isn’t mine, as though it came to me from outside. I don’t know what to do with it, and the more I try to ignore this desire, the bigger it gets.

My Answer: A person shouldn’t decide anything about his spiritual development ahead of time, because he has no idea how he needs to develop, and what states he needs to go through.

Therefore, he should make efforts to progress, and greet everything that reveals to and inside him, as necessary in his path of development. An ascent is always preceded by a state of confusion, lack of understanding – and then suddenly comes clarity, a new realization.

Perhaps you’re already in such a state as I’m writing you this answer. Or maybe you have already gone through it and are again searching, feeling weak and confused – and facing a new ascent?

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