Entries in the 'Perception' Category

The Names of the Creator—Attainment of His Properties

610.2He is called El, Elokim, Shadai, Tzvaot, EKYEH, so they would know Him in each and every attribute (Baal HaSulam, Foreword to The Book of Zohar, #40).

Question: The names of the Creator correspond to the ten Sefirot. Is it their filling or their naming?

Answer: These are ten Sefirot with light in them.

The name of the Creator consists of the Kli and the light that fills it. Kabbalists express their achievements in almost identical names. These names make it easier to indicate what you are suggesting. Just like in our world, if you talk about someone or something, you express some particular perception of this object, nothing more.

Question: What does it mean that the Kli of the ten takes such a form that it can accept the light or the name of the Creator, for example, El, Adni, or Eki?

Answer: It all depends on the level at which a person unites all the concepts of his relationship with the Creator. In what he is similar to the Creator, he senses this measure of similarity in himself, measures it, and thus names the Creator.

Just like in our world, you say some person is smart and has some kind of feature. That is, you call it that through your perception of its properties.

Question: Concerning the Creator, can I measure and verify this?

Answer: By comprehending the Creator, you measure your likeness to Him. And everyone who reveals Him on the same level calls Him the same way.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Foreword to The Book of Zohar

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Toward Complete Unity

939.01Question: What do we connect if we feel everything differently?

Answer: We connect our Kelim. When they become larger and deeper, we begin to feel our similarity to each other in them. If we connect to create a common Kli, then in this common Kli we begin to attain the Creator.

Question: How can we come to such a perception of reality that everyone is in complete unity?

Answer: With love, everyone should strive for love.

Question: What is the reason for the transition between our understanding of the relationship between the Kli and the light, and the actual, practical comprehension of these relationships in our receiving Kelim?

Answer: The attainment of the connection or dependence of the light on the Kli is the attainment of the wisdom of Kabbalah.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “All the Worlds”

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Identical Objects—Different Perceptions

928Question: It is said that spiritual phenomena change according to the state a person is in, and a person experiences a different form each time according to his or her imagination and sensory organs. We are developing the sixth sensory organ, which according to sensations is also divided into five parts. Is this why we perceive spiritual phenomena and objects differently?

Answer: We are all created in a common likeness and we have the same senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Nevertheless, they give their unique reflection and their perception for each person.

Let us say you put a candy in your mouth and you describe what it is like: sweet, pleasant, invigorating, and so on. But I do not understand this because this is only possible if I can feel the same perception of this candy in my sensory organs.

We have no other way to compare the sensations of one person with the sensations of another.

Therefore, it is said that everything we attain, that is, that we receive and reveal, happens only in relation to our properties.

Question: At the same time, the great Kabbalists, who were in a state of attainment, perceived spiritual objects and phenomena in the same way. Does it mean that we will never reach the same feeling that the Kabbalists reached?

Answer: While we are each in our own perception, yes. But as we develop, we will begin to understand the limitations of our receiving, we will begin to develop our feelings more and more, and thus we will become closer and understand each other more.

When this will happen is difficult to say. In the future, we will reach a state where our feelings will be equal and we will have exactly the same perceptions.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “All the Worlds”

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Perceive the Creator through the Picture of the World

424.02The whole existence that the Creator spins before me is just a picture through which He wants to teach me to directly connect with Him.

By trying to discern Him through this picture, I am learning. I stop paying attention to it by shifting it from external representation to internal. And then I begin to discern not the picture itself, but only Him.

The picture somehow enters me, gets into my mind and feelings. I absorb it within me, like in a computer where new data or programs are input, and I catch them on the Internet, record them, and incorporate them within me. So, I begin to penetrate more and more into Him, and download all these programs into myself.

Programs are all the images, both of myself and of others that appear to me as such.

Thus, I come to a state where I see, feel, and perceive His plan.

Moreover, I do not just guess and feel it, but progressively become like Him, otherwise, I will not be able to guess and feel any of that.

That is, through external representations, images, and pictures of the world that I gradually incorporate within me, I can understand Him more deeply, more clearly, and become more like Him.
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From KabTV’s “I Got A Call. The Creator Is Everywhere“ 12/24/11

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Launch the Common System of the Universe

117Question: Each of us, as a particle of one spiritual system, must launch it separately from our perception, right?

Answer: Yes, it is different for everyone. For example, you do not see it yet, but I feel it in a certain form, and some people feel it clearly and explicitly.

Question: How do you run this system?

Answer: This is a sensory system. It is in me, inside. I feel it.

Comment: You once explained one cannot fully influence the entire system.

My Response: I can influence it only to the extent that I think and act kindly, and only at the level I am with my corrected, altruistic, and selfless powers. That is the only way.
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From KabTV’s “I got a call. One Desire“ 1/6/12

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Lessons from the Creator

423.01Comment: There is a certain perception of reality. Some parts of the universe seem to take us aside, while others, on the contrary, lead us.

My Response: These are all manifestations of the Creator. There is no difference between what takes you away, what leads you, what properties, feelings, people, or reasons.

All these direct me to the Creator or are how He leads me to Himself. He leads me by confusing and addressing me in various ways. Every minute He takes me somewhere else, and I need to cling more and more to the understanding that all this is Him, according to the principle, “There is none else besides Him.”

Then I will gradually begin to see through these interferences, through all His exercises with me, that He wants to teach me to distinguish Him inside all these scenes that He plays before me, including playing Himself.

The Creator wants me to attain His thoughts, His mind, His desires, and His intentions regarding me and everyone; He wants me to attain the internal motor that controls the entire universe.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. The Creator is Everywhere“ 12/24/11

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In Constant Dialogue with the Creator

256Comment: You have said more than once that the perception of reality, i.e., everything that surrounds you, is your dialogue with the Creator.

My Response: Not only mine but everyone’s! We are all in direct, constant dialogue with Him because the Creator is nature, and what we feel in us or around us is all nature or the Creator.

If we clearly understand that this is His address to us and want to tune in to Him, then we relate to nature differently, i.e., we try to find mutual understanding, a two-way connection with the Creator.

This means that we already treat the environment around us and ourselves as His manifestation. That is, I myself am also a manifestation of His thought.

Question: How do you perform this action?

Answer: I begin to listen to that point in me that feels everything. What does it feel? It feels the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. The Creator is Everywhere“ 12/24/11

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Today We Are A Chain of the Blind

229Question: Two students looked at a waving flag. One said: “The flag is moving.” The other replied: “No, it is the wind moving making the flag move.” Their teacher came and said: “You are both wrong. It is a thought that moves in your head.”

Why does everyone have their own perception of reality?

Answer: The perception of reality is different for everyone because we are all brought up on different foundations and ideals.

Comment: But I see the table, I see this flag.

My Response: But he sees it differently, and the third person sees something else. So everyone sees according to how they are brought up.

Question: So we cannot agree on the fact that the flag is moving? We can’t agree on this together?

Answer: No.

Question: Someone will object? He will say: “Is it the wind”? And another will say: “A thought.”

Are we supposed to agree at all? We say we should come to the same point of view. We keep saying: “The decision made together is the right one.”

Answer: But as I understand it, they cannot make a decision together.

Question: They cannot. How do we make a decision together?

Answer: There is no way. They will abandon it and leave. Later, they will be gathered together again from above, directed, and pushed.

Question: How did the Sanhedrin make their decisions 2,000 years ago? There was a Sanhedrin in Judea, a governing body. How did they make a single decision with so many people?

Answer: There were a lot of discussions and opinions. Still, they were all not simple people and they understood there were those among them closer to the upper force, to the Creator, or to nature, who understood and knew more. And they more or less yielded to them.

Question: So, we need to annul before the loftier people?

Answer: There can be no tricks or contrivances here, only whoever is more elevated is right.

Question: But how does anyone determine they are more elevated? Again, we are faced with the perception of reality. How does each one feel?

Answer: In our reality, this is impossible.

Comment: So you are bringing us to the realization that it is impossible to make a common decision.

Answer: Of course not. Whoever is in charge of the army, or the law enforcement agencies, or anything else is right. This world is doomed.

Comment: It feels like the blind are walking not knowing where they are going. I would still like to give the world a chance.

My Response: To give it a chance is not up to us. We can see that. Giving a chance is only up to the upper world.

Question: Should we come to the conclusion we are governed from above? Should everyone understand we do not lead but are led?

Answer: Yes.

Question: If we come to this understanding, to this annulment before the upper force that controls everything, then what?

Answer: Then we will look for the wisest among us and follow him. This is called a chain of blind who are following the sighted.

Comment: This is not easy for the world.

My Response: Then it has a lot more to learn.

Question: But there is only one conclusion that it must come only to this?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Okay, we can understand the wind. The flag moving is also clear. How does thought control or move, say, objects?

Answer: Wherever I direct my thoughts is where I am. All my forces are headed there too. Thought is first.

Question: Does thought come first? That is what we forget all the time. We think: “This is me going,” but is it a thought that sent me there? And who directs thoughts? Is it this upper force?

Why can’t it direct our thoughts now to the seeing, to the fact that we can only get out if we grab onto the sighted?

Answer: Because we have not matured yet.

Question: So we are yet to mature?

Answer: Yes. When my teacher died, I clearly realized we are not mature yet. But we have to advance.

Question: Why did it happen at that particular time? You said: “That was the exact point.”

Answer: Because the world has become an orphan.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/4/23

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We Can Order the Weather Ourselves

720Question: “A traveler asked a shepherd, ‘What will the weather be like today?’ The shepherd replied, ‘It will be as I like it.’ ‘How do you know you will like it?’ ‘I have learned to love what will be. Therefore, the weather will be as I like it,’ replied the shepherd.”

How can we learn to love what will be?

Answer: You simply accept with an open heart what nature, the Creator, is preparing for you. And it doesn’t matter what.

Question: So whatever it is?

Answer: Whatever it is. And what can happen?

Comment: Many things can happen that I won’t like.

My Response: Won’t like, I don’t talk about that at all. Whatever I don’t like, I accept.

Question: So you’re talking about acceptance? Whatever happens, I accept it?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: If only we could tune into that, if we could learn to live like that.

My Response: Calmly.

Comment: That is beyond one’s dreams!

My Response: But one has to die every day and that’s it.

Question: What does that mean?

Answer: What is happening now, what will disappear, and what will be all equally come from above in my eyes. And that is why I accept it in advance with submission.

Question: Without resistance?

Answer: Why resist? What kind of resistance can there be?!

Question: So what is called life?

Answer: Life is the property of the existence of protein matter. It is interesting how a person could come up with that!

Comment: There is not even a conversation about the soul or the heart. Protein matter exists, and that’s all. And you say: “Learn to go with the flow, completely. Surrender and that’s it. Accept everything that comes to you.” Just as he says, “There will be weather that I like.”

My Response: Of course. I agree in advance with what will be.

Comment: Wars, suffering, everything that is prepared for me, and so on, I accept it all.

My Response: Yes.

Question: It is really hard work. It sounds very appealing to surrender and annul oneself like that. But it’s very hard work! Very!

What experience should I have to come to this?

Answer: Anyway, both this way and that way, and what needs to happen will happen. What comes from above will be with you.

Question: Does it come with age, with wisdom; how exactly?

Answer: Both this way and that way.

Question: But do I still need to gain experience to come to this?

Answer: Yes. Well, another five years, another ten years, and then? All the same, we will have to undergo such a transformation with ourselves, with our body, and so on.

Question: So we might as well agree with this now?

Answer: Of course. And what’s next? We will grow into a new form, a new life. Without hope, without any grandiose plans. We will try to be even more in agreement with the Creator.

Question: From everything you say, it turns out that this is exactly what we are being led to and only to this?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Is this what life is, to come to such a state?

Answer: To complete agreement with the upper force, complete surrender to it.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/27/23

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Spiritual Attainment Is the Truth

231.01Question: It is said: “Do not believe in yourself until the day you die.” How can a person be sure that he has attained this or that degree?

Answer: When a person attains spirituality, one does not doubt that it is the truth and that only it has the right to exist.

Attainment speaks about the revelation of the truth, that this is exactly what exists.

Question: How does confidence in attaining a degree differ from our usual opinions and feelings, which change rapidly under the influence of the environment?

Answer: Any spiritual realization is true and unchangeable Even when it is replaced by other attainments, in itself it has the right to exist, and it remains.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/8/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Spirituality Is Called That Which Will Never Be Lost”

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