An Infusion Of The Force Of Unity

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Now that the crisis is intensifying all over the world with natural disasters and wars happening more and more often, how should we treat people who have experienced misfortunes considering that we feel their pain when we see what kind of suffering they are going through, but aren’t able to help?

Answer: The crisis is not moving in any single direction. It’s not just an earthquake and tsunami in Japan, floods and tornadoes  in America, fires in Russia, or national revolutions in the Near East. These are local events and that is why we worry only slightly when we hear about them, not taking it too close to heart. Our egoistic nature does not allow us to empathize with others any deeper. But if I’m afraid that the tsunami will reach me, then it’s an entirely different matter.

However, this crisis is multifaceted. For now it is being expressed as several separate catastrophes here and there, but in essence it is preparing ground for a fundamental worldwide jolt that will be common and global. This is exactly what people who understand what is happening are afraid of.

This will be a global economic crisis. When economic connections disintegrate in conditions of our total, universal interdependence, it will be a huge problem. This will be an immediate blow to everyone, causing people to go crazy because they won’t know what to do. Let us hope that before this happens we will be able to exert a positive influence on the world and prevent this kind of turn of events.

We shouldn’t think that in order to influence the world we have to enter the mass media or get the world’s leaders on our side. Rather, we are operating internally. We are connected with the world’s inner forces, the global, integral system that operates inside of the world. If we correspond to it and go together with it, then we act according to the laws of nature. We bring the force of unity and love into this system. It comes from us, from the part of humanity that desires a good connection between people.
From the 1st lesson at the Rome Convention on 5/21/11

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Lag B’Omer: The Holiday Of Light

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe holiday of Lag B’Omer (the 33rd day of Omer) is celebrated to honor Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the author of The Book of Zohar, who died on that day. In the chapter “Idra Zuta,” article “Azinu,” The Book of Zohar describes Rabbi Shimon’s passing in this way: For the Lord bestowed blessing, even eternal life upon him” (Psalm 133). Rabbi Abba said: The holy Light did not finish proclaiming life until his speeches were completed. I recorded it and thought of recording some more, but did not hear. And I did not lift my head because there was a very great Light that I could not look upon. Rabbi Eleazar and Rabbi Abba stood up and took him away from his place. And the whole house was filled with a fragrant scent. They placed him on the bed and no one touched him besides Rabbi Eleazar and Rabbi Abba. When they carried the bed out of the house, they heard a voice. Then everyone entered and gathered together for the celebration to honor Rabbi Shimon.

The Zohar uses these colorful descriptions because it is written in the language of Midrash (story telling). But of course, it is not talking about his physical death, but the passing of the soul which goes on to the state of the end of correction. That is why this is such an important event and why this entire system, which includes his students, receives such a great Light.

This is not talking about a person’s death, but about the thinning out of a spiritual Partzuf. First the Light comes and dresses into a Partzuf, forming inside it Taamim, Nekudot, Tagin, and Otiyot. The clothing of the Light into a Partzuf and its disappearance make the Light fit for being used, and that is how Rabbi Shimon’s soul attains its true action—the last level, the general end of correction. This is what The Zohar describes.

All the other friends, all the souls that depended on him and that resulted from his Partzuf, which became filled with Light and is now freed from it, now receive through it the entire Light that leaves it. They are those who were attached to it, connected to it, and participated in attracting Light when it passed away.

The death of a Kabbalist means that the entire Light he absorbed inside of his soul together with his students, accumulating it with their help for all humanity, is now made free by him and passed to all the other souls. Now this Light becomes like an illumination, like surrounding Light which he gives to others. His passing symbolizes this passage of Light.

That is why we celebrate this day in this way and are happy about receiving this upper Light, which is called “The Zohar,” capable of correcting all the souls, of connecting and elevating every person to the Creator’s level. That is why this holiday is called the holiday of Light—the Light that reforms, the Light of correction. Every person has to ask himself: Does he really use this Light?

This Light has been given to us, but are we using it and are we realizing ourselves correctly? This is called participating in the holiday of Lag B’Omer.
From the program on Lag B’Omer on 5/17/11

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Lessons From The Rome Convention – 05.22.11

Rome Convention, Lesson 3
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Rome Convention, Lesson 4
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There Is No Greater Love…

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How can I practically help my friends in the group who feel hatred towards me to rise above this enmity?

Answer: They love you more than your mother does. It only appears to you that they hate you. It’s written: “Everyone judges according to their own flaws.” You might change your attitude towards them in an instant and discover that there is no greater love than the one that emanates from them to you. I feel this way.
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From Lesson 8, WE! Convention 4/3/2011

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Ask The Creator!

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: You said that for the women to be able to carry out their function, they must turn to the Creator with a request. What does this mean?

Answer: The women should try to unite in order to create a great collective force and to convey their desire to the men. Women don’t have to connect with each other; they are incapable of that. They can unite in opposition to men, to “fight” against them. This is the nature of a woman; she can do that, in a good way.

When you begin to engage in this, you’ll feel that in relation to spirituality, to put pressure on the men, you cannot unite either. In the corporeal world, perhaps you can plan a joint action against the men, but you have no power in the spiritual world. Why? The Creator wants you to ask Him to participate in this with you so that He can help you unite and put pressure on the men correctly.

It turns out that from the very beginning, performing the correct spiritual action, you will feel that you need the Creator’s help.
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From Lesson 8, WE! Convention 4/3/2011

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Where Does The Creator Dwell?

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Where does the Creator, the upper Light, reside?

Answer: It is said about it: “I dwell among My people.” What does “among My people” mean? Among My people is among those who desire to reveal Me, the force of love and bestowal, to carry out the notion of “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” This is My people, among whom I dwell.
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From Lesson 8, WE! Convention 4/3/2011

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The Sense Of Direction In The Spiritual Realm

Dr. Michael LaitmanHow can we stay on the path of the correct development? It is very simple: A person should always see himself as opposite to the plan of creation.

Indeed, our nature is egoistic and therefore it is so easy to check myself: Do I see that every moment my thoughts and desires disagree with the goal opposite to it, are false and incorrect?

In reality, rationally and practically, I am looking for the means that would aim my thoughts and desires correctly: accurate diagnosis, analysis, the upper force, studies, relations with the friends and the group. However, first of all, I have to recognize that my current situation is incorrect—from the very beginning and every moment. Everything I want, think about, and intend is not valid.

Obviously, it should not make me depressed. On the contrary, I use this approach effectively in order to work on this problem: I immediately try to define the correct direction.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/4/2011, “Peace in the World”

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The Simple Law Of Mutual Guarantee

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn order to accelerate our development, we are given all sorts of obstacles, pushed away, and confused into thinking that it’s not necessary to exert ourselves and we can simply wait until everything changes by itself. Or we begin to think that we had already put enough effort but haven’t yet found spiritual revelation. Perhaps, the Creator left His creatures, or this isn’t supposed to be for us right now, and we should wait for another opportunity, possibly in the next life. A person finds various excuses just to remove the obligation to exert himself.

However, it’s said: “The law is given and cannot be transgressed.” The upper Light remains at absolute rest, and we are inside it. Our desires can be developed only through our efforts. The extent of the correction of our desire and, consequently, the Light revealed in it depend on the extent of our effort. It’s a simple law.

We mustn’t forget about this law and should constantly remind ourselves to abide by this principle in the group, leaving no room for doubt and debate, various frictions, or questions: “Why don’t I receive anything? Where is the payment for my work, where is revelation, where is the desirable reward?”

Are you asking, “Where is it”? Here it is, right in front of you—take it! And if you don’t see it, cannot take it, it means that you are not ready yet. So, continue to exert yourself. What can be done if you don’t see what’s right beside you?

Thus, you shouldn’t think as if it’s possible to attain spirituality through some special, magical, secret means. Nothing will help except for work. The lack of sensitivity is what obscures the Creator and the upper Light. The sensitivity can be improved only through ascents and descents, solely through effort and search.

It’s also forbidden to listen to someone talking about disappointment and fatigue. Once somebody sighed heavily during Baal HaSulam’s lesson, and Baal HaSulam became furious at that person, saying that he never wanted to hear anything like that. A person can become tired physically, but he cannot be tired of the spiritual work, of inner efforts! It’s unacceptable to show such mood outwardly.

It’s understandable that people experience different states because they aren’t masters of them. However, a person shouldn’t show them to the surrounding people. On the contrary, no matter how one feels inside, he must always look inspired and willing to put effort into everything. This is the requirement of our mutual guarantee.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/18/2011, Baal HaSulam’s Letter 56

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Until The Last Drop Of Poison

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Our egoistic race is turning into a snowball rolling down the hill. It’s clear that it would break at some point, but no one can stop its motion.

Answer: It’s true. Egoism is our only nature. If we had one more force, opposite to it, we could stop. However, we have no other force.

It has to become crystal clear: We are all arrant egoists. Boundless self-love forces people to drink the cup of poison to the bottom, until the very last drop. Even at the moment before death, they will not be able to stop.

It’s impossible to convince anybody of anything: Everybody will be left with his thoughts and will not hear the warnings. I can deliver a speech before the entire world, bring all the data, write all the facts, invite leading scientists and the most prestigious public figures, and together we will cry out: “Friends! Brothers! We are heading to our death!” Their response will be: “Really? What are you talking about?!” And the public will return to their business of burning the rest.

Everybody is an egoist; each one of us is like a machine and cannot act differently. Someone spins; someone leaps; someone moves back and forth. We are created in this way and are not capable of anything else. People don’t hear calls coming from a higher degree and existing above human nature.

Only by uniting among ourselves will we help them recognize the problem. Only then, having understood the situation and sensed the threat that it carries, will people be ready to listen to us at least a bit. And united with them internally, we will give them the Light that Reforms.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/18/2011, Talk on The World’s Overpopulation Problem

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Kabbalists On The Torah And Commandments, Part 50

Dr. Michael LaitmanDear Friends, please ask questions about these passages from the great Kabbalists. The commentaries in brackets are mine.

Workers of the Creator Who Make the Torah Arid

This is the matter concerning the declining merit of the generations until they reached the final restriction in our generation and hence nobody feels any need to correct their nature. …Even those engaging in the work, it is by rote; they are not thirsty to reveal the upper wisdom. And even if they see such an opportunity, they prefer to remain at the level of simple execution.
– Baal HaSulam, “The Remedy of Memory”

Woe unto people from the affront of the Torah. For undoubtedly, when they engage only in the literal and in its stories, it wears its widow-garments, and covered with a bag. And all the nations shall say unto Israel: “What is thy Beloved more than another beloved? Why is your law more than our law? After all, your law, too, is stories of the mundane.” There is no greater affront to the Torah than that. Hence, woe unto the people from the affront of the Torah. They do not engage in the wisdom of Kabbalah, which honors the Torah, for they prolong the exile and all the afflictions that are about to come to the world.
The Writings of Ari, The Tree of Life, Part 1, “Introduction of Chaim Vital,” 11-12
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