The Soap Opera Called “My Life”

Dr. Michael LaitmanConcealment and revelation are in us. These are the only things we can influence. After all, we exist in a constant and eternal universe, which has no beginning and which will never have an end. Although we talk about and imagine within the bounds of time that creation emerged and about reaching correction and executing the plan of creation by becoming fully included in the Creator, this is incorrect.

We are situated within a unique system, which is called “Nature” or the “Creator,” where no changes occur. Only we change in our sensations! So how can we begin to change ourselves consciously and according to our own choice in a controlled manner so that we would not experience any unpleasant and undesired changes?

There are certain changes in my inner desires, which alter my view of reality in such a way that I perceive them as problems, wars, and suffering. On the other hand, there are changes that are kind, but who knows how to control them?

This is taught to us by the science of Kabbalah. It is clear that if reality is invariable, then only by controlling our own qualities can we affect our picture of the world and decide which “soap opera” we wish to watch under the title of “My Life.” However, this does not mean that I am free to watch any movie` of any genre that I wish.

A program is already put together, and it advances me to revelation of the true picture, where all the concealments will fade and I will reveal the eternal and perfect state in its true form. Then I will see that reality is constant and invariable. If I understand all this, I can advance by the kind path. And if I don’t understand it, then I will be forced to move ahead by the path of suffering.

However, we are only talking about changes inside of a person that exists in some environment that is still unknown to him. This environment is called the Creator or Infinity. It is not in our power to change the order of our degrees; this order is already implanted in us. Who are we to know what this order should be?

However, we can hasten the process of going through it by tuning into it according to our own desire and by exerting effort. And the speed of the advancement will give us a different sensation. After all, it is one thing to advance toward a fatal event without agreeing with it but being unable to avoid it. And it is another thing to aspire to a desired goal! Then I will like the path, and I will advance toward it in joy.

In other words, everything depends on our preparation to the next states, which inevitably will come. However, my readiness determines my perception and the speed of my advancement. This is why we need the science of Kabbalah so much. By studying Kabbalah, we will be able to go through our development via a positive, pleasant, and short path instead of a long path through suffering.

From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/10/10, Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot

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Weekly Torah Portion Lesson – 06.11.10

The Book of Zohar, Weekly Torah Portion “Korach,” Selected Excerpts
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Spiritual Equality

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Zohar, ChapterVaYigash (And Judah Approached),” Item 126: “There is a firmament above the firmament, and this firmament controls them, meaning three firmaments where the right and left are one above the other,” meaning three firmaments, where the left and the right are above one another and the middle one “governs them, subdues them, and mingles them in one another”…"Under the firmament their wings were straight" since they all governed what they were appointed over, since the middle line establishes the illumination of both of them together, where the right shines from above downwards and the left from below upwards. This is why the right wing is equal to the left wing….

How is possible to measure whether the right and the left lines are equal? Can they be measured by quality, weight, and power? They have completely different qualities, and we don’t have any means to evaluate them according to an external system of measurement, like that of our world. “Equal” means they complement each other in such way that each of them provides all that is needed for the other. Hassadim from the right line fully supplements Hochma in the left line. By the same token, Hochma shines in Hassadim as much as it is able.

This means that they are equal. Thereby, they are partners, and each bestows all it has so that a mutual connection, called the middle line, exists in an optimal form. This is why they are considered equal. Perhaps, Hassadim supplies 90% and Hochma only 10%, and on the next level the ratio may be 70% and 30%, or 99% and 1%. It is called equal because one fills the other to the best of its ability. They are equal because they hold the same intention, thought, and calculation. The ratio between them doesn’t necessarily need to be 50/50. In spirituality, equality is when I fill you up with all that you desire from me, then we are equal.

From the Evening Zohar Lesson 6/9/10

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Action Plus Intention

Dr. Michael Laitman“The Creator is good and does good.” We need to accept this as the only axiom in spirituality. Nothing bad ever comes from Above. On the contrary, the Light remains in a state of complete rest, and only absolute good is revealed.

The only problem lies in the vessel, the creature’s desire. In other words, everything depends on the person, on his efforts and preparation. The action itself may be reception or bestowal, and the intention may be for oneself or for another.

We begin our development from “reception for oneself,” which is the double concealment or Lo Lishma. The action is reception, the intention is for oneself. But then, our efforts bring us to the degree of “bestowal for oneself.” The transition from “reception for oneself” to “bestowal for oneself” implies changing only the mechanical action. This we are able to do!

We have no control over the intention which can only be corrected by the Light. However, we are capable of changing our actions from reception to bestowal, as long as it is done for ourselves. We bestow in order to better our own state. This work is called “buy yourself a friend.”

Concealmet

But in order to shift from “bestowing in order to receive” to “bestowing in order to bestow,” we have to change the intention and for this we need the influence of the Light that Reforms. We exert efforts and do whatever is necessary in the group and in the study, but the change in intention is done only by the power of the Light.

And when we come to “bestowing in order to bestow” (the degree of faith, Lo Lishma, reward and punishment, and the first revelation), we then go on to consciously elevate ourselves to the degree of “receiving in order to bestow” both via our actions and the Light’s influence.

From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/9/10, Article, “Could Anything Negative Come Down from the Sky?”

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Break Free From The Grip Of Deception

Dr. Michael LaitmanA question I received: What kind of game is it?  Is it to perceive the friends as the greatest?

My Answer: It is not a game; it is breaking through the concealment. My egoism conceals me from the others and the others from me: It doesn’t allow me to see the entire World of Infinity. Right now I am in the World of Infinity, but what I see is quite a gloomy picture. My egoism paints a picture of ugly, stupid, lazy, lying people. But in reality, it is all wrong; this picture resides in me within my egoism. If my own children, whom I love dearly, were next to me right now, how would I view them? They would look perfect to me because “love redeems all sins.” I would still love them with all their flaws.

Only my ego is to blame; I see nothing beyond it. In the back of my brain, I have a screen. I seem to view the world through my eyes, but it enters through the prism of my egoism and is projected on the screen in my brain. Everything depends on my attitude, and how I attune myself to see it. So, I have to attune myself to the group in such a way that I see them all as the greatest people of this generation, completely corrected.

Is it a game? No, it is simply annulling the deception of the ego. It is a rational act. Beyond me, there is the World of Infinity, and I already reside in it, right now. If you peel off all the shells (Klipot), which distort the World of Infinity to this mediocre, inverted state, you will perceive Infinity.

First, try to pretend. Let’s make an effort. Try to see us as fully corrected, big, and united. Through this action, we will draw a very strong Surrounding Light, and it will correct our nature. Instead of egoism, we will attain bestowal. This is a very simple principle, and it is absolutely real; there is no mysticism here. We are trying, through our own effort, to see ourselves in the corrected state, and in that degree, we will receive an inner strength, which is contained in this corrected system. Our desire pushes it to act. These are the practical actions toward correction.

From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/10/10, “The Importance of the Association

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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 06.11.10

Shamati #50 Two States
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Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 60
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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “VaYetze (And Jacob Went Out),” Item 30
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