Audio Version Of The Blog – 08.07.12

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Hunger Isn’t Our Method

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: When we turn to the general public we first of all propose they unite in order to solve their daily troubles. Then the real meaning of the unity will be revealed, is this true?

Answer: Yes. From an egoistic intention (Lo Lishma—not for Her sake) we move on to an altruistic intention (Lishma—for Her sake). Baal HaSulam writes about it in the Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot (items 138-139): “People turn to the Torah from the worst state.” We may ask, who let them? Who gave them permission to do so? The sources describe in legends how the angels asked the Creator: “How can You give Your Torah, Your study to such lowly creatures?” But Moses beat the angels by asking: “Do you feel envy? Is there an evil inclination in you?” This is the only way; we have to use the force of the Light in the situations that the Creator sends us on purpose when there is nothing in our soul.

So we have to present the method of correction to people and explain that we should connect and unite. The more softly and accessibly we convey this message, the faster they will accept it and will not deteriorate into real hunger and real critical states.

Today we are not dying of hunger, but we do feel the limitations and the growing pressure of the circumstances. If now, while the situation is not threatening yet, we manage to convince people, things will work out. If we don’t, things will get worse and deteriorate to a level in which we will be able to meet the masses and reach them. Then we will be able to present the right explanations to them and they will listen to us.

But we have to bring them the information about what is going on now, out of love and concern. Not even a fraction of the evil has been revealed and we already have to think about how to overcome the crisis. But today we “go out to the people” not in order to take part in demonstrations, but in order to explain.

What is more, in Israel we cooperate with other social movements in order to create a connecting network among the people. There are many organizations and circles that can cooperate with us in the process. Our participation is enough in order to start the support from Above.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/5/12, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar

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Good News From Sunny Finland

Kabbalah RevealedA long process of publishing a new book in Finnish has been completed, and it saw the light of day. This is a translation of the book, Kabbalah Revealed, which already has been published in many countries.

This book has been distributed to all the libraries and bookstores in Finland. It also will be presented to the public at the next book fair to be held in October this year. The Finnish group already has begun preparations for this event.

Many thanks to all our friends in Finland for the painstaking work of translating and editing. Several copies of the book will be brought to the convention in Kharkov.
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Weekly Torah Portion – 08.07.12

The Book of Zohar, Weekly Torah Portion, “Ha-Shavua” Selected Excerpts

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The Age Of The Crucial Ascent

Dr. Michael LaitmanBaal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” item 63: Thus, in our generation, although the essence of the souls is the worst, which is why they could not be selected for Kedusha thus far, they are the ones that complete the Partzuf of the world and the Partzuf of the souls with respect to the Kelim, and the work completed only through them…Hence, only after the completion of these lowly souls can the Highest Lights manifest, and not before.

The vessels that belong to the upper third of development (HBD) are very “transparent” and pure. The desires of the second third (HGT) are “thick,” but they still belong to the phases of “smallness” of Ibur and Yenika. The Light of Hochma cannot be revealed in them, and it is only a preparation for all the generations.

We begin to count from the First Man until the period of 6,000 years since there is a correlation between the spiritual roots and the corporeal branches. The large vessels couldn’t be revealed during the first 4,000 years. During the first third of the last 2,000 years, the process also started from the “shattering of the vessels” (the destruction of the Temple), and three-fourths of that period were in exile. It is only since the time of the Ari that the time of redemption began.

Today, we are living in the final phase of the last 2,000 years (NHY) when the vessels have acquired thickness and toughness and have become heavy and bulky under the weight of the growing ego. Of course, we don’t blame anyone for anything. It is simply our nature, and it is very hard and insensitive.

Compared to us, it was very easy to discover the Lights and attain adhesion in the previous vessels in the thickness of the root and the first levels (HBD and HGT). Then, too, of course, a person had to work hard, but, still as Rabash used to say, even in the 19th century there were Jewish people who were ready to devote their lives to revealing the Creator. To adhere to Him, they gladly gave up corporeal pleasures. That period ended with World War I since wars reveal the evil in order to oblige the world to connect more strongly.

Today, everything is different. Offer a person a million dollars or adhesion with the Creator, and he would take the money without any hesitation. In the 20th century, the world advanced so much that it is very hard for us to understand the world of our ancestors. It is hard to imagine previous situations since a very special period has begun, a very hard period of the development of our desire.

However, we also can divide this period, just like all the other periods, into HaVaYaH. Then, we can see that we are at a certain point in our development where many desires and forces are accumulated. What is more, this phase also is divided into several parts, and we begin to see the thickest desires.

Today, besides the Light of Neshama, the Lights of Haya and Yechida also have to be revealed, a phase which is called AHP de Aliyah. The previous generation helps us with the Lights of Nefesh and Ruach that they already have attained, while we, thanks to their support, approach the corrections we have to make at the level of the Light of Neshama, which is not mutually incorporated with the previous generations, but independently.

By working in the world of Beria, we constantly discover the Light of Neshama, while the Lights of Haya and Yechida will be revealed to us only during the ascents, by incorporation. They also are necessary, especially in the current phase. This is a very special addition that requires a totally different kind of work, of to receive in order to bestow.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/5/12, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar

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“Respect Matters More Than Money For Happiness In Life”

Dr. Michael LaitmanResearch (Cameron Anderson, psychological scientist of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science): “New research suggests that overall happiness in life is more related to how much you are respected and admired by those around you, not to the status that comes from how much money you have stashed in your bank account. …

“‘One of the reasons why money doesn’t buy happiness is that people quickly adapt to the new level of income or wealth. Lottery winners, for example, are initially happy but then return to their original level of happiness quickly,’ said Anderson.”

My Comment: Our essence is the desire to enjoy, no matter from what it comes, but among all the desires the highest one on the scale of pleasures, the most powerful and long-lasting is approval, respect, honor, fame. That’s why, in the integral community, the whole economy and the calculations will be based upon receiving non-monetary rewards and social approval.

The standard of living will be one and will be determined only by natural characteristics of each individual, and the reward for effort in bestowal to the public will be “paid” by the attitude of society towards a person; thus, competition will be many times more than the desire for material reward. See Baal HaSulam’s article “The Last Generation.”
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There Has Not Been Such A Convention!

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How can we convince ourselves that we are waiting for not an ordinary convention, but really there will be something special at this convention?

Answer: First, we have come to the state where the world demands this. The world has long been in a “desperate state,” but all this is just masked, obscured. But no matter how you hide them, the problems have already come out from under this cover. And that is why, while they are still trying to hide something, it no longer helps.

So, on the one hand, we see that the world forces us. And this is the most important thing since Kabbalah was revealed because the world is beginning to come to integral interdependence. But no one, except Kabbalah, has the method of preserving society, peace, family, and oneself in this integral interaction.

That is why Kabbalah was waiting for this moment to be revealed and to become the method of constructing a new society. We have to demonstrate on ourselves how to do this and learn from lectures and workshops how to teach this so that it is very clear and simple.

Every person who comes to the congress, in principle, is a potential distributor who will be able to give lectures, organize workshops and roundtables, etc. At least, if a person is not able to learn everything, he will still be able to absorb something and then finish his studies in our courses. I very much look forward to it.

We have to go through all the states that a person must pass beginning from zero and finishing with full connection with each other.
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From a Virtual Lesson 7/29/12

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A Prophet Selling Watermelons In The Market

Dr. Michael LaitmanWe constantly have two feelings inside us: One is the “point in the heart,” and the other one is external to it. We all see a “double” world. This perception is given to us on purpose so that we will be able to correct ourselves and the world.

If you saw the world one dimensionally, like an ordinary person who perceives the world only on the corporeal level, then you wouldn’t be able to manage. If, in your ascent up the spiritual ladder, you perceived only the spiritual form that is revealed on the next level each time, this would also be a problem since you wouldn’t be able to serve as the link between the spiritual world and this world.

So those who ascend the spiritual ladder are given the perception of this world as “Shimon from the market,” and also the perception of the spiritual world. They perceive a double reality, but this doesn’t disturb them.

Until the full redemption of egoism of the world is achieved, the final correction, when all the souls are connected, which we must bring, we will continue to live in this world.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/2/12, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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There Are Examples All Around Me

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn our daily life, we constantly use examples of what we see around us. In any situation, instantly, subconsciously or even consciously, I see an image from a movie or something else, and I recreate it. If I had not seen it, I couldn’t play. I would be at the level of an animal, only at the level of instincts. Anything that is higher than instinct is borrowed from outside, from the surrounding society from which we draw examples.

We should give a person such good examples, so that he knows in every moment how to behave in order to be brought to the connection with others, and only that. He should be provided with plenty of examples, and then he would play them: one example, the second, and the third one.

Indeed, we don’t behave otherwise. Every time, we play a role that we have seen somewhere and that has become a kind of model for us: the way I sleep, eat, talk, and stand. On my own, alone, no matter how, I always rely on these external examples.
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From a “Talk on Integral Upbringing” 7/8/12

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Preparing For Marriage

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: When we looked at the system of child development, the stages are defined from the age of zero to three years, from three to six, etc. Are there any steps in family relationships?

Answer: Before marrying, I would strongly advise that all girls and boys take special courses where they study anatomy, physiology, psychology, and integral education. I would give them time, no marriage until they receive a diploma. Let them deal with each other as they want.

It’s a pity how much people spend time, resources, energy, and their health on the unsuccessful attempts to create a family. Still, it does not go unnoticed.

No matter who I talk to, everyone felt wounded, especially if they had children. You can divorce, but the children remain. Children consider the father’s leaving as betrayal. Even if he spent more time with them than living with them under the same roof, even if he showered them with presents, they would still think of him as a traitor. But if he lives in the family, though not giving them a lot of time and even punishing them, he is their father.

It is necessary to explain all this to young people, to show them scenes from life so that they feel that. Then, they will develop a completely different attitude to the union they are entering.
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From a “Talk on Integral Upbringing” 7/8/12

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