The Creator’s CEO Who Governs The Entire Creation

Dr. Michael LaitmanWe reside in a system of forces that expand from Above downward. And hence, a ladder of rungs was formed in this system, where each rung is made of opposite forces in their various combinations both in terms of height and quality. And the entire difference in these forces lies in the depth of the level of desire (Aviut) at which they work since desire’s depth changes its quality. After all, desire can be of any degree: the still, vegetative, animate, and speaking (0-1-2-3-4).

But when we begin to climb upward, we receive only one force at first: the receiving one. Then, we start working with the group, and within it we see the second force: the force of bestowal. It is against this force that we discover the force of reception, which is not the same as the earthly desire we arrive here initially with.

When we begin studying Kabbalah and try to unite with the group, we thereby evoke the Light which illuminates a new desire within us that is against unification, the group, love, and bestowal. Then, with the help of this Light, we get to know our evil.

Only due to engaging in the group do these two forces emerge in a person and stand in opposition to one another: the force of love and the force of evil, both of which are connected to the spiritual goal that a person is working with in order to achieve it. And all the properties and tendencies he initially came to Kabbalah with don’t really matter at all. They are simply the attributes of his animate body.

Therefore, the entire success in advancement depends on how a person strives to engage in the group and reach unity. He will discover the force of rejection, and both of these forces will start working, sometimes in turns and other times by bumping into each other. And then he will know the force of the prayer, without which it is impossible to unify these two forces into one.

On one hand, he doesn’t wish to lose his “self” under the infinite power of the force of bestowal, but he doesn’t want to remain a slave to his egoism, the force of receiving, either. In the person, there grows an independent character who stands right in the middle between the two forces and makes decisions. He wants to rise above these two forces, the right and left, in the middle line. And this is what he asks the Creator for in his prayer.

The property of Bina that a person receives allows him to hold the two forces in balance and be above them both. He acquires the force of “receiving in order to bestow,” which lets him bestow to the Creator. Both of these forces, receiving and bestowal, reside in him while he, himself, becomes the head (Rosh) of the spiritual Partzuf and decides how and to what extent he can bestow. So does man advance along the spiritual rungs.

He asks the Creator not for one force to defeat the other, but for an opportunity to unify them together and to be above them with his “head.” This is what he thinks about all the time. And this is why he is regarded as a sage, a “sage’s disciple” (Talmid Hacham) who, thanks to his prayers, always learns from the Creator (the sage) to be able to use these two forces correctly.

Thus, a person elevates himself above Creation and becomes as the Creator, using the force of bestowal and the force of receiving while remaining above them and making decisions. In the very same manner, the creature begins to act.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/10/11 on Prayer

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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 03.14.11

Excerpts for the Topic: Chosen Passages: Arvut as the Condition for Reception of the Torah
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The Book of Zohar — Selections, Chapter “Ekev (Because),” “Ten Things to Do in a Meal,” Item 31, Lesson 4
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Talmud Eser Sefirot 3, Part 9, Item 8, Lesson 7
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Topic: Globalization — We Live in an Integral World, Lesson 1
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“Ask The Kabbalist” – 9

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Good Environment – 03.13.11

My Good Environment – Dr. Laitman’s Daily Advice

A Tsunami In The Deepest Reaches Of Your Soul

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What should our attitude be to the natural disasters we are witnessing as well as to other problems?

Answer: We are living in a special time when our egoistic desire is starting to show us our imbalance with nature on all its levels.

The lowest level of nature is the still level, where we are now revealing our imbalance and disharmony with general nature. And the same is true for the following levels: the vegetative and animate levels of nature. We just don’t notice it for now.

We are in a terrible crisis, a “relationship crisis” with an angel called “Domem” (still), as well as an angel called “Tzomeah” (vegetative), and the angel called “Hai” (animate). All of these forms of nature are at an enormous lack of correspondence and opposition to us. Our obligation is to correct them because only man can correct all the rest of nature by correcting himself.

Therefore, the catastrophes we see around us are our own reflection. All of the responsibility is ours. There is nothing to ask from the still, vegetative, and animate levels of the world. They ascend and descend together with man.

By the problems in the still, vegetative, and animate levels of nature that surround us, we can see how much we are uncorrected. All of these catastrophes are a reflection or demonstration of our own flaws, not to mention the “speaking” level of nature—human society. Look at what is happening in the world.

We have the opportunity to organize a life of true paradise for ourselves on this earth, but look at what we are doing instead. If a visitor from outer space would look at what we are doing on the planet Earth, he would think that we are simply crazy. Where is our human mind and feelings? Is this really how a thinking, intelligent human arranges his life? Only a total fool or self-hater would do such a thing.

That is to say, right now we are gradually revealing our true inner state. And only through the inner correction will we attain harmony with the external world.
[37909]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/13/11

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The Power Of Beginners

Dr. Michael LaitmandQuestion: Do Kabbalists reduce the world’s disasters by virtue of their spiritual progress?

Answer: Of course. Moreover, no one is bigger or smaller in this regard. People think that a great Kabbalist can just pray and make a plague go away. But in reality, it’s the other way around: Precisely the newcomers who have a point in the heart that has just awakened, who are confused and don’t understand anything yet, can do more than the old-timers with their distant, small desire.

Much like a little child who becomes the head of the family, people who have just set out on the spiritual path and who still seem far away from the “real business,” can do more than the “veterans” with their simple desire and their pleas.
[37931]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/13/11

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Under Anesthesia

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Humanity cannot connect the ecological catastrophes to the correction of egoism. How can we explain this connection to people?

Answer: We have to look for ways to do it and try to write articles and formulate explanations precisely during times of disaster in order to convey the essence: All of this is happening because we are not corrected.

The external world is a mold of our inner state. Therefore, in reality we are talking about inner catastrophes that we only perceive as external. All the nations are parts of one soul, but in our sensations they are divided parts that seem foreign.

It’s as if I have been given an injection of  local anesthesia and now I don’t feel how my leg is burning or how my arm is being cut off. Right now it sounds funny, but that is what is happening.

Therefore, I want the sensation of belonging to gradually come back to me. I want to feel the “external” parts as my own. I hope to receive the opportunity to correct my state, my attitude to others.

If the external reality really will become a part of me, then I will feel a horrible sensation. Therefore, together with the discovery of the illness I have to receive the medicine, the opportunity to improve my state. This is what I am asking for: the medicine together with the illness that becomes revealed. Then I will be able to correct the flaws in myself, and as a result, the “external” cataclysms will settle down.

This is what we have to do: Ask for inner correction which will evoke the correction that seems external. Then we will see all the problems in ourselves and will correct them in us. These desires (Kelim) will unite with us, will become inner, and all the natural disasters evoked by our inner lack of correction will cease.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbaalh Lesson 3/13/11

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The Solution Is Between Us

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion from Japan: What should our inner work be in emergency situations? While I watch the lessons, the quakes are going on non-stop.

Answer: During these days we have to focus on unity even more and be confident that precisely by virtue of our inner efforts will we be able to prevent similar catastrophes in the world, both in Japan and in all the regions where people are now suffering.

Why do they suffer? Why don’t they advance toward correction by the right path? Why don’t they awaken and come out into the streets shouting, “The Messiah now!”? Stated differently, why don’t they demand correction, change, a new state?

Why do they instead shout for a change in government? How will this help them? No one will be any better off if this happens, not even if the Libyan dictator steps down. The resulting gap will be filled by Islamic radicalism or some other party, but this will be just blind psychological compensation. In practice people won’t feel better. This is still the path of suffering.

In recent times the world is swiftly acquiring more weapons. We are renewing the arms race that was halted before, as if we want to compete at how strong we are. But how silly it is to quarrel like little children! Yet, look at how much energy and resources this is taking away.

As a result, everything depends on us, on all of our friends across the whole world who have received a drive to be corrected. We have to unite from within and feel that we are one whole. Then, by wishing to unite the whole world into one, we will help others come closer as well. After all, they are a passive part of ourselves. They are unable to come closer on their own, until we present them with the opportunity to connect to us.

Once a person receives an awakening, a point in the heart, he will come to us and will join all those who activate and accelerate development, adapting the speed of their work to the speed at which new Reshimot emerge. Then no forces, tsunamis, revolutions, wars, and others such things will force us to advance in a negative manner.

Everything depends on our efforts, on the degree to which we work on unification. There is no other solution for the world.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/13/11

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“These Are My Children”

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Why does such a massive catastrophe as the one now happening in Japan still seem like something removed to me? What do I have to do to feel it as my own?

Answer: My egoism separates me from “others’” problems. The greater the egoism is, the more distant the catastrophe in the Japanese islands seems to me. And on the contrary, to the degree I am corrected, I would feel it as being closer.

Once in a similar situation Rabash was asked: Why is he always running to hear the news on the radio even during the lesson? “Are your children there?” He was asked. “Yes,” he answered, “They are my children.”

We have to view the problems of our neighbors as the problems of our children.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/13/11

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