Good Environment – 02.21.11

My Good Environment – Dr. Laitman’s Advice for the Week

Don’t Add Too Much Spice!

Dr. Michael LaitmanWhen reading The Zohar we must always think about the connection between us, and based on this constant, powerful thought we should just slightly hear the text, as much as it is possible as an addition, a spice. The thought about unity has to be powerful and unceasing. Only to the extent we are able to do so should we add the text to it, meaning the thought about it and the sensation of it. It has to be done only on the condition that this foundation, the constant thought about unity, does not disappear or grow weaker.

We can easily be in the right intention if only we know that The Zohar, just as all of the Torah, speaks only about the types of connection between us. Therefore, everything we study and everything we now want to see as a result of our work – unification among us, types of our connection, its special characteristics, everything happening between us – this is what The Book of Zohar tells us about.

Therefore, we are talking about the same point – the point of unity between myself and others. This point contains all the possible kinds of connections between me and everyone. This is what the Torah talks about.

Therefore, if I direct myself correctly, then I understand that it is talking only about this: What kinds of connections exist among us? How can I connect? How can I attain this?

In that case we want to attain what we study, even though we do not know it. Out of the aspiration to attain it, to unite into an integral desire or Kli , and to discern all the kinds of connection that the Torah tells us about, the Light that Reforms comes and creates that connection, bringing it to light. Then we reveal it in actuality.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/11, The Zohar

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Soldering By The Upper Light

Dr. Michael LaitmanIt is necessary to constantly remember that we are reading The Zohar only in order for our desires for unity to connect under the influence of the Light. All I can do is aspire toward unity, expecting that by reading The Zohar and Talmud Eser Sefirot, the Light will connect us together. I have to imagine that besides me, everyone is one. And I am the only one who has to become included in everyone.

I am unable to do this alone. This “click,” connecting me with everyone, can only happen as a result of the study. That is how when soldering two wires we place them together and influence the place of contact with high temperature, smelting them with a welding alloy that connects them.

That is why I bring myself to contact with the group and imagine that I connect with them. I expect that the study will solder us in the point of our connection.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/11, The Zohar

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The Virtual Space For The Inner Connection

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: We see that people of the new generation do not want to come closer to one another. That is why the Internet has developed so much, enabling a person to act from afar without being physically present in society. That way he makes contacts without really connecting. How, then, can we offer people a method that is entirely based on unification and social influence?

Answer: This is a very good sign. It means that there is already realization of evil taking place. A person does not want to come close to anyone or to touch anyone. He feels individual, not connected to anyone, and does not need anyone—not even his parents, wife, or children. He wants to be left one on one with himself.

Today every person needs a separate apartment. In the previous generation every person needed a separate room. But earlier, this problem didn’t even exist. People lived in one room and did not bother each other.

Rabash told me that when he got married, he moved to live in his wife’s house. Her family was well-known in Jerusalem and had a two room apartment. But all of them, the parents and the children, lived in one big room, while renting out the second room because they did not think they needed it. At night, when it was time to sleep, they would lay out mattresses on the floor and in the morning they would roll them back up and lay them in a pile in the corner. Besides these mattresses and a small table for food, there was nothing in the room. That is how people lived in Jerusalem in the beginning of the 20th century.

But today a person cannot stand even his own wife next to him in the same room. That is how much our nature has changed, which is why we want to shift to a virtual connection. The virtual connection is a search for a higher level of communication. It is not just replacing one kind of connection with another, but a connection on a more internal level. We are starting to aspire to connect with a person’s inner world, on the level of his psychology.

However, people will soon grow disillusioned with the Internet and will understand that it cannot satisfy their need for a real inner connection. All of these SMS text messages, e-mails, and social networks will not provide the answer to the demand that is now being revealed in us, which we do not even understand ourselves yet. We just feel that we have to unite, attain nature and the world, and feel and understand everything on a higher level than today.

The young generation does not realize this inner demand it has yet, but the fact is that this need is not for the virtual connection that exists today. It is a yearning for a more internal, sensuous connection. And that is something that can only be attained if we go from the virtual connection to the use of the science of Kabbalah. This will soon be revealed to us.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/11, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”

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How Do Words Reach The Soul?

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe language of branches can be very useful if we are in two worlds simultaneously. It explains to us how to use the objects of our world in the most effective way so as to influence other people through them, awakening them to correction.

If I had precise knowledge of man’s nature and that of all the objects at my disposal, I might be able to awaken the whole world to correction! I would know exactly what films, texts, and music are necessary for this. I would make a calculation on their souls and the forces I want to enact inside of these souls according to their inner structure, which is known to me.

However, since for now they do not understand communication on the level of souls and inner forces, I translate it to a different dimension, to the level of their material hearing and sensation, as well as the sounds of musical instruments. That way I gain an opportunity to influence them.

Through these external instruments, I can awaken inner forces within them which they don’t even know themselves. This influences them through the external hearing, through music, and gradually awakens inner forces within them. That’s because a person is an integral system in which corporeality and spirituality unite. It is therefore possible to influence a person by material means, but with an intention to influence him on the inner, spiritual level. That way it is possible to lead him into vibrations and a resonance, and to receive a reaction on layers that he does not even suspect himself through hearing music and other external influences.

That is exactly how we awaken ourselves by reading Kabbalistic books, such as The Zohar and Talmud Eser Sefirot. We thereby raise our sensitivity to the Light that Reforms. This Light is not present on the material level. But Kabbalists have arranged it so that through this external influence on my ear and eye, I receive an inner influence as long as I attune myself with the desire to receive precisely this.

Therefore, if we find out the connection of the roots with the branches on the levels of two parallel worlds, spiritual and material, one against the other, then it is possible to awaken the whole world to correction. We actually do act that way, but not with the same might as the authors of The Zohar do.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/11, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”

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Learning To Speak Two Languages

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: If Kabbalah is the basis of all the sciences, then should we first give a child knowledge of this science and only then start teaching him all the other sciences?

Answer: At first a child has to get acquainted with his world. However, from a young age, from about six years or even earlier, it is possible to start explaining the notions of the science of Kabbalah to him.

Children can perceive this wisdom parallel to the sciences of our world just as naturally as they are easily able to remember several languages. In the same way, we can explain these two languages of perception of reality to them: inner and outer. They will easily learn this and it will become part of the foundation of their perception like a habit ingrained from childhood.

The explanation has to be that there are two forces in the world. And everything we see with our material eyes are pictures emerging inside our senses as a result of the interaction between these two forces. Then the child will be able to understand the inner essence of every phenomenon he observes.

Every object, such as a table, chair, a person, a car, or a plane can ultimately be laid out as a combination of these two forces: reception and bestowal, and it is possible to discern why this special combination of these two forces creates precisely this image of the material object inside of us. Then he will understand what he can receive from it and how he can use it in order to attain certain material or spiritual acquisitions. That’s because he will know that object’s place in all of reality, and that is very important.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/11, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”

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The Unity That Gradually Comes Through

Dr. Michael LaitmanWritings of Rabash, “What Does It Mean the World Was Created for the Torah”: Torah and Israel are the same thing. At first the Torah is instructions on correcting evil, called 613 recommendations on correcting 613 parts of egoism. After the correction, the Torah is potions of the Creator’s Light, corresponding to each of the 613 corrected organs of the soul.

Question: How is it possible to simply explain what is Israel, Torah, and the Creator, and what their unity means?

Answer: We are in an unchangeable state, as it is written, “I did not change Myself.” This single state is called “Malchut of the world of Infinity.” The Creator wished to do good upon the creation, and thus He created it in the corresponding state of goodness. But in order to feel that goodness, creation has to go through various twists and turns that will raise its desire or appetite by bringing about despair, troubles, and worries, or stated differently, various sensations that are opposite to the sensation of the Good who Does Good. That’s because otherwise creation would not feel Him.

However, in order to make sure that the sensation of the Good who Does Good together with His oppositeness do not become a double blow for creation, the Creator arranged things so we would collect the unpleasant sensations drop by drop—gradually, in small potions. “Ouch!”—and that’s enough. Then “Ouch!” again, and that’s enough. That is how we advance along the path, discerning our desire and learning what is good and what is bad.

As a whole we have to be sensitive and perceptive to good and evil. The more sensitive a person is to the realization of evil, the higher his level and the deeper he penetrates into the matter of creation.

Therefore, the unchanging state that the Creator made already contains the desire to enjoy for the sake of bestowal, corrected by the right intention, as well as the Light that fills this desire and intention. There everyone is one without any differences. This state is called “Israel, the Torah, and the Creator are one.”

Israel (ישראל) is a vessel, a Kli with the intention of bestowal to the Creator. In other words, it is “straight to the Creator,” Yashar – El (ישר-אל). “Torah” is the entire Light that corrects and fills it. And they are one because they have attained the sate where they are absolutely equal and are in adhesion.

Equality and unity of the Creator and creation is the only form in which they exist. And every creature gradually reveals this form once the desire to reveal it awakens in him.

By bringing to light the emptiness in our current state, in the events of this world, the Creator gradually brings us to the feeling of emptiness, futility, and purposelessness of our lives. And at the same time He awakens the beginning of the spiritual Kli inside us, the embryo of the realization of evil. My state isn’t despicable because it is nauseating to the taste, but because I lack adhesion with the Creator.

I come to realize this gradually. At first I don’t understand at all what exactly I need, like a child who does not know himself why he is crying. But gradually the details come through, become clearer, and surface in me, and then I already begin hearing something.

Then I come to the group and the teacher, and spend several years subjecting myself to the influence of the Light in various states, which I undergo together with the teacher, books, and group. As the process continues, I become slightly more perceptive to the realization of evil. The evil lies in the fact that I do not want to join the books, the teacher, and the group. When I begin to feel that this is exactly my evil, then I start moving in the right direction toward correction.

At the same time I understand that I have to unite with the friends, receive awakening from them, acquire their mind and feeling, and dissolve in them. I become included in them, in their desires and intentions that are aimed at the goal. And upon this inclusion I have to evoke the Light that Reforms, or in other words, study together with them and attract the Light. If this happens, then I accumulate the necessary quantity and quality of efforts and reach the correction of my Kelim.

Of course, this process consists of an entire series of actions. After all, I cannot tolerate great corrections or great leaps in one go. That is why there are many degrees that divide into more tiny degrees. They are the means by which I attain the state that is described by the verse, “Israel, Torah, and the Creator are one.” I already exist in this state, but it surfaces in me gradually.

We would not be able to tolerate it all at once because this unity is too opposite to us.
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/11, Writings of Rabash

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Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What is the essence of our realization of free will?

Answer: It is lowering oneself before the group in order to receive from it the importance of the spiritual goal, the Creator, bestowal. That is, my free will is exercised in my choice to lower myself before the group so that everything they have may settle in me as the most important thing in life and that their thought about the Creator may rule over everything I have within me. And then, I will think only about that.

I don’t act blindly, as if I am hypnotized; rather, I intentionally work in my egoism against it. I link into the friends, yield to them, and view them as the leaders of our generation, all in order to adopt their importance of achieving the spiritual goal.

Should I then view this world with its desires for wealth, power, and honor as something low and unworthy? No, I shouldn’t since if I do, it means that the Creator is hardly any greater than this lowness, while I must achieve a different kind of status.

Therefore, I have to highly value wealth, power, honor, and this entire world, but I have to place spirituality even higher. In other words, I must not reduce the value of this world as religions and belief systems suggest; on the contrary, I should appreciate everything it offers, but use it solely for the goal of reaching spirituality. And that’s the essence.

If instead of despising this world, we will exalt the spiritual one, then as spirituality grows, this world will become important ever more. So, don’t ruin and devaluate it, but elevate spirituality even higher over it! And in this way, you will be ascending from the level of this world to that of the next one time after time.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/20/2011, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot

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Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Will the world be able to accept your message as not being tied to religion while your group is in Israel and seems to be following religious traditions?

Answer: We are trying to spread Kabbalah all around the world and in a form which would be acceptable to everybody. But it is impossible and unnecessary to conceal the fact that Kabbalah roots in the nation of Israel, accompanied it over the course of history, and was passed on along the chain of Kabbalists who were part of this nation.

After all, Israel is a unique people. Its basis is not a nationality, as it is in case of the other 70 nations of the world, but rather a group of Kabbalists that was founded by Abraham. This group of Kabbalists was regarded as the people of Isra-El, which means “straight to the Creator” (Yashar Kel) because its goal is to reveal the Creator to man in this world.

We have to continue this mission and become the “the kingdom of holy priests” (Mamlechet Cohanim), meaning to bring to the entire world the method of correction and channel the Light to all its peoples. This is what the nation of Israel is designated to do so that “everyone will know the Creator, from the smallest to the greatest” since “His Temple will be called the house of prayer for all nations.”

This is why I don’t think that if we act as absolutely unattached and we cut the ties with our roots and our history altogether, we would succeed. We cannot detach ourselves from the root; we must remain connected to it.

A person, as he or she advances, starts to understand what Israel’s mission is and from where the nation derived. He changes his attitude to the nation of Israel as to the bearer of the method of correction. He no longer regards it as a nationality, but as a unique group of Kabbalists, spiritual teachers, who must serve humanity and assist it in reaching the spiritual world.

The world’s attitude will change. Today, we already have a lot of students around the world who are with us in heart and in soul and understand that from here, the Israel center, the Light goes out into the world. Thus the method of correction is realized.

A person cannot achieve correction and lack understanding of how it took place in history and why.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/20/2011, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot

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