Introductory Lecture: “Freedom of Choice” – 06.22.10

Kabbalah for the Nation Introductory Lecture Series, “Freedom of Choice”
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The System of the Future, Part 1

Dr. Michael LaitmanA question I received: What should the Internet system of the future look like? You mentioned that it should transmit Bnei Baruch’s atmosphere.

My Answer: That’s incorrect. This system should transmit the atmosphere described by the Kabbalists, the system that has to rule over in the future society. Our plan is to create a virtual society that is free and open for everyone; a society that teaches a person to live in accordance with spiritual laws. It should be done in a natural and kind way. It has to include elements of educational games that teach people to gradually start sensing nature and understanding why it influences us in a certain way, why we feel bad because of our being opposite to it, and how we should alter ourselves in order to feel better.

It should be a sort of man’s “adaptation” to nature. We exist in nature but we have no idea how opposite we are to it; this is the reason for our constant suffering. We have to create a “buffer” or rather an “adapter” between us and nature. That’s what we really need.

Question cont’d: But should this be a unique system that will convey the information about Kabbalah in its entirety?

My Answer: It should be similar to how we teach children to adjust to reality in this world, how to succeed to the extent that they take over this world, and how to use it to its maximum capacity. Of course, they don’t use it in the right way, and as a result they suffer. But still, it is possible to teach a person.

You take a little “monkey” that doesn’t know or understand anything whatsoever and develop it into an “intelligent person” that is capable of navigating this world and adapting to it in accordance with his own needs. The same applies to “education” in the spiritual world.

For that purpose, we are given the wisdom of Kabbalah. We possess some knowledge of it because this is what we are commanded to do. We are commanded to build such a society. But do we know how to construct it? Let’s start building a model of it together.

Question conti’d: The main problem is finding a method of transferring the knowledge we possess into a new Internet system and implementing it accordingly. It’s so complicated to convey the information in its entirety! Let’s say a person visits our site. What does he encounter as the user? What kind of site should it be?

My Answer: It should be a welcoming site that teaches him goodness and reveals the method of establishing correct connections with other people in this world and with himself. Gradually he begins to realize how beneficial it is and begins to understand that this is the only correct solution that exists.

The site has to provide examples based upon life within nature and human society along with illustrations based on other systems at all levels: inanimate, vegetative, and animate. The examples should clearly demonstrate the type of relationship we have to build with others on a human level.

It’s not impossible. We simply have to start building this system step by step. We don’t have any choice; otherwise, we will be forced to advance through the “blows of destiny.” Can we be called Homo sapiens if we move forward this way?

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An Image Built From “Sand”

Dr. Michael LaitmanFrom the articles of Rabash: Malchut’s guidance is called “Chukat” (corpus juris/code of laws). But it is only the law of the Torah, not the Torah itself. This means that in order to attain the Torah, we have to accept the laws it bestows on us. Otherwise, it is impossible to receive the Torah. When a person accepts Malchut’s governance over him, he is called Israel.

We all are the desire to receive pleasure. This desire is similar to a mountain, hill, or a pile of sand that has no form. From this “sand,” with the help of water (Hassadim), we must build a shape in the likeness of the Creator much like we are able to shape the sand on the seashore.

This is our work, the process in which we build the correct form from shapeless “sand” as we study the qualities of the Creator, copy them, and mold ourselves from it – called “chukat” (the code of laws). The forms that we acquire ourselves are called “chukat.

Ultimately, the cause, effect, and the forms of bestowal that we are building, one by one on the foundation of the will to receive, will all join together. Nothing disappears in spirituality; the foundation remains, and ultimately this construction will transform into an image of the Creator that we create by ourselves.

It follows that the creatures create the Creator. This is written in The Zohar. Therefore, all the great laws that we receive from the Light, along with the revelation of the Creator, exist for us to realize them on our own.

From the Evening Zohar Lesson 6/14/10

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Getting Ahead Of Egoism

Dr. Michael LaitmanA question I received: You spoke repeatedly about our tendency to run away from spirituality long before actually nearing it. In other words, our egoism pulls us away from the spiritual state by taking certain steps back. How can we avoid erring and go against the ego?

My Answer: You need to prepare yourself ahead of time. When it is already happening, nothing helps. The ego tricks and entices you anyway. You need to secure yourself beforehand, constantly. It is similar to a mountain climber that is tied onto one person and that person is linked to another person, and so on. This mutual interconnection is essential.

On our path, a person can lose his grip at any second. Without this link to the others, he falls into a chasm and then needs to climb back up. A whole life can be wasted on this. This is why one may fail to reach spirituality or advance through the spiritual 125 degrees within his lifetime.

Everything is arranged in a very precise, logical, and proper manner. It is nature’s law. There is no pampering from the Creator’s side, where He says "Oh, you are so small, I love you, I will do everything for you…" No, this doesn’t exist. The force of bestowal and the force of reception are in opposition to each other. One needs to find the right interconnection between them and act precisely. This is a law.

It is not like our world, where we adjust somehow and create unnatural conditions for ourselves. There is no mercifulness in nature according to our understanding of this term. Our understanding of mercifulness is receiving what we don’t deserve. However, this is inaccurate. Why should it be so? Is it because you’re so beautiful?

Therefore, if we understood nature’s essence and how we should behave with regard to it, we would truly succeed. We would justify the Creator’s actions instead of expecting mercy. We should study nature’s laws and carry them out precisely within ourselves. Then there will be no problems. We will see how perfect and eternal it is and that we will become like it.

Question (continued): So what is the solution? How can one prepare himself ahead of time?

My Answer: Only by being connected to others. This condition has been assigned to us. Only the state of a mutual guarantee can help. It is just like mountain climbers. Only you and I together can reach the goal. In other words, I need to think about you and myself equally. I need to worry about each of your actions just like I do about my own.

Question (continued): With mountain climbers, it is obvious: if someone falls, it’s possible to actually see it. But here, it is different. You return to the tastefulness of this world all the time, and it makes you happy.

My Answer: This also falls under the same program of a mutual guarantee, a mutual realization that we advance in this state and need to hold each other. We need to realize this.

A person should be concerned with what happens to others because otherwise he will not reach the goal. Then, under the influence of the Upper Light, you acquire such a sensation with regard to them that they become more important than you. Just like in our world, when you begin to care for someone else’s child, this child becomes important to you and you begin to love him. This is the influence of the Upper Light.

Try it, and you’ll see.

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Kabbalists On The Purpose Of Creation, Part 2

Dr. Michael LaitmanWhat Is the Purpose of Creation?

…man is the center of Creation….
– Baal HaSulam, Introduction to The Book of Zohar, Item 18

…the purpose of the creation of all the worlds was for man alone.
– Baal HaSulam, Introduction to The Book of Zohar, Item 39

…the Creator’s desired goal for the Creation He had created is to bestow upon His creatures, so they would know His truthfulness and greatness, and receive all the delight and pleasure He had prepared for them….
– Baal HaSulam, Introduction to The Book of Zohar, Item 39

…all the conducts of Creation, in its every corner, inlet, and outlet, are completely prearranged for the purpose of nurturing the human species from its midst, to improve its qualities until it can sense Godliness as one feels one’s friend.

These ascensions are like rungs of a ladder, arranged degree-by-degree until it is completed and achieves its purpose.
– Baal HaSulam, Article The Teaching of the Kabbalah and Its Essence

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