Audio Version Of The Blog – 02.13.12

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The Spiritual World, As Is, Without Any Miracles

Dr. Michael LaitmanEvery person at some stage of their life begins to feel that he has to reveal its meaning. This can be a conscious search for the meaning of life, which is given to individual, chosen people, or an unconscious urge, as it is characteristic of the rest of the people. However, everyone will at some point have to find the answer to this question: What am I living for? Since the goal of development is to return all of us to our root.

When a person asks, “What is this life for?” in essence, he is asking, “What do I need this suffering for?” The suffering is personal or common, but everyone asks because his desires are not receiving fulfillment. Then a person begins to search, and some people come to study Kabbalah, while some people arrive at some other places.

Our development on the human level began hundreds of thousands years ago, from the beginning when humanity emerged, having risen above the animal level. It started from the development of the mind and language, but in fact, man was moved by that same question: “What am I living for?” Although, a person, who lived thousands of years ago, did not understand the essence of this question, just like today, when this question is being awakened in us, we do not exactly understand its true meaning. It is simply an unclear urge, which makes us move forward.

This is how the whole of humanity moves forward chasing wealth, fame, power, and knowledge without knowing that the goal of development is not in this, but in reaching one’s root, to find out: where I come from and what rules me, and really means, where should I go?

The desire to enjoy, awakening in us, asks us these questions, which are gradually becoming ever more precisely directed at the root from which the upper Light is shining through at us. This is how our system is set up.

But a person, who has already reached the last stage of development, and who has been brought to such a place where he begins to study, at first does not understand the connection between his need to find out what he lives for, what the meaning of his life is and what he studies. Often, he is not even aware of the question itself, which takes the form of various other questions, simple curiosity.

This is how he begins to study the science of Kabbalah, or at first he takes interest in some other methodologies, spending long years on this. Sometimes, under the pretense of Kabbalah, he is being sold various “miracles” and advices about how to succeed in life, and how to find out about your past, present and the future. However, if he really arrives at the science of Kabbalah, and not fortune tellers, then he discovers the Kabbalistic books for himself and he does not understand where all of this is located: the upper worlds and Partzufim.

He has no connection at all with these concepts. He does not know where all of that exists, beyond the borders of our world, our Galaxy, or even the whole universe? Is it somewhere up there, below, or maybe inside the material? It is very difficult for a person to understand how to relate to all of this.

A lot of time is spent on this. And even when a person listens, he does not hear that the science of Kabbalah only talks about the connection between people. He does not understand that by setting the correct connection, we reveal reality, which belongs to a new, higher dimension.

It is difficult for him, given his previous opinions and impressions about the science of Kabbalah, to connect it to human relationships. How can such a hidden and high science, such high names and worlds, actions and forces, have any connection to our relationships towards each other, between me and the neighbors, between me and my friends?

He simply cannot imagine that all of the upper worlds and what goes on inside of them is in essence the “psychological” connection between us, people. And if we begin to interact with each other, with bestowal and love, this means that we are using the spiritual force. In the event that we reach true love of our neighbor, and not that egoistic one, we’re used to in this world, which is calling the use of the other for the sake of my own pleasure love.

However, if I use myself for the sake of other people’s benefit, this is called love of one’s neighbor. When I relate this way to someone else, then in my relationship to him I begin to reveal the spiritual Partzufim, the upper worlds, Sefirot, angels, demons, spirits, and all of these spiritual forces, which are “for” or “against” my connection with others. They can be positive forces or negative ones, meaning the forces of “holiness” or “evil”.

All together, they unite into one common force, which I reveal in my love for the other, called the Creator, which have a number of various names that reflect the character of my connection with others.
[68749]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/3/12, Writings of Rabash

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Single Concealment Before The Meeting With Pharaoh

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe difference between double concealment and single concealment is very great. It is a phase that takes a long time, even years. In the past, it took Kabbalists an even longer time.

The difference here is that in double concealment the person doesn’t know definitely, nor even approximately, what bestowal is, but only talks about it when he repeats what is written about it in the books. Thus, it is very difficult for him since all of these words are artificial.

We see this in his conversation, but he must do it like a child who, in the meantime, imitates the grown-ups and plays with dolls and cars. This is so, until he attains the state where the upper Light bestows on him, and it becomes enough to begin to feel the value of bestowal.

He begins to describe to himself, in his imagination, what bestowal is, how he exits himself toward others and loses himself there, how he begins to feel them and not himself. This is not even “we,” meaning, I am in connection with others. Instead, he ceases feeling himself and feels only what is external to him. It is not possible to convey this feeling with words, but it begins to be grasped within a person.

This is called reaching single concealment. Then, he begins to demand the disclosure of bestowal. It is now understood to him that it arrives only with the help of the reforming Light. In the transition from double concealment to single concealment, he sees that everything is realized only through the upper force and that only he, himself, can awaken this force through all kinds of actions, but not more than that.

Here, the demand matures in him that he must have the upper force that will produce within him the quality of bestowal. We are in this state now, before the congress in the desert, before the meeting with the Pharaoh and the exit from Egypt.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/7/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot”

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The Game: “Come To Pharaoh”

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn order to describe my state to myself, I need to see that I am within a sphere. It is the Creator who shows us everything that goes on within it. There is no event in the entire world that is initiated by another force.

All, from the cruelest enemies to the closest friends, including the Creator, are actors in a play shown to us. Everything is within a person’s perception, within his awareness.

Since he is already in single concealment, he now needs to see the world, respond, and relate to everything in a mature way, that in everything, he sees the relationship between himself and the Creator, through all of these messengers: all the inanimate, vegetative, animate and human levels of nature that are within his perception.

He feels all of his impressions in the natural way as they come; however, they actually come to him from the Creator. This is the way you need to relate to this. First of all, you need to make a calculation, and if you are able to from the result of these or those surrounding relationships, attain a connection, assimilation, adhesion and closeness to the Creator who is positioned behind them. Since they serve as signs of what he needs to correct, these imaginary images will disappear, and, in the end, you will discover the Light that will shine on you.

All of this is obtained thanks to a game called, “Come to Pharaoh.” In this game, we ask for the force of bestowal so that it will begin to rule inside us thanks to the reforming Light. Thus, we exit Egypt and enter the desert. Then, we begin to increase this force, to acquire it, to work with it, and to advance to the entrance of the spiritual world, to the land of Israel.
[69173]
From the 4th  part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/7/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot”

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Greek Bailout

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn the News (from BBC News): “Greek politicians have approved a bill on austerity measures needed for a new bailout.

“The austerity measures have been demanded by the EU, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB) – the so-called Troika – as a condition for handing over a further loan.

“The agreement will unlock the latest 130bn euros (£108bn; $171bn) in bailout loans and allow a further 100bn-euro write-off of the country’s debt to private banks. …

“Greece was told to agree to further cuts in government spending equal to 1.5% of GDP, cuts in pensions and thousands more civil service job cuts. …

“Despite the austerity measures taken so far, the Greek government still spends more than it receives in taxes.

“Some economists and Greek unions say the plan is doomed to fail. They argue that by making people poorer the measures will simply shrink the Greek economy, reducing tax revenues and increasing the deficit.

“But EU leaders argue that there is no choice, that spending needs to fall even if it hurts the economy in the short term.

“Further they argue that increasing competitiveness, by lowering wages for example, will attract business to Greece and thereby boost the economy and taxes.”

My Comment: Maybe the EU and the rest of the world will learn from this: Greece must develop an economy of reasonable consumption, and not take the course of growing consumption; Greece must take the course of reasonable and equitable distribution of necessities for existence, and educating the population in the spirit of integration and mutual guarantee. In this case, within a short time, the country will definitely show the way to the entire EU.
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The Phenomenon Of The Light

Dr. Michael LaitmanWhen we speak about the Light we refer to the phenomenon that takes place in the desire. This means that I want to do good to someone without any personal accounts of self-profit. The more I check myself, the more I see that I really have no urge for personal benefit. This is the Light: It is as if some spirit is dressed in me and I want to bestow, to love others, and to want only the wellbeing of others, because by that I please the Creator.

When I work in a group, I summon the Reforming Light that builds in my “body”, in my desire, the phenomenon called the Light. Thus the surrounding Light (Ohr Makif) influences the desire so that it can feel the phenomenon of the Light internally.

Question: Where does the Ohr Makif come from?

Answer: It comes from a higher level. I can’t receive it inside me and so it “surrounds” me and prepares my desire, my vessel, in order to enter it later on. This Light is also inside me, but I don’t feel it yet. It is as if it is operating from a distance: Something ripens in me, but I feel it indirectly, according to the results.

One way or another, everything is inside a person: all the lights and all the worlds, including the world of Ein Sof (Infinity).

Question: In order to feel that, do I have to work in a group?

Answer: You have to follow the advice of Kabbalists, which we call the “faith of the sages,” and carry out their recommendations. You are brought to the group from Above, and you begin to work in it, even without asking any questions. Only later does the issue of freewill come up when you understand what is happening and can find your way around and realize: “So this is what I should do! I should love the friends…”

You approach the mutual work and from a “study circle” you become one whole, acquire one heart and one thought, make great collective efforts, and act in front of one another in order to evoke a deficiency in the friends and to raise the Creator’s greatness in their eyes.

Then people discover “the field that the Creator has blessed.” They don’t wander in the field like the sons of Jacob, but rather acquire the force of Joseph, which brings them together and takes them through the land of Egypt to the Land of Israel. This is all our work, and this is where our freewill begins.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/12/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot

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Finding The Center Of The Circle

Dr. Michael LaitmanOur work is perpetual. The upper Light is in a state of absolute rest, and its rest is constantly pushing us towards the goal. It is the same with us: If we constantly “press the gas pedal” yearning for the goal, we are in a state of rest because there is nothing else but this and I only operate in one direction.

Here we might argue, but I am acting against my egotistic desire, which constantly confuses me.

Still, if you try to keep the right direction with the help of the group and the books, you are at least close to resting.

Actually, it is only a psychological problem. If we decide, if we determine for ourselves what is most important for us and we don’t divert our attention to something else, if we go straight towards the goal, towards adhesion with the Creator, and add everything we can glean from the study, the teacher, the books, the group, and dissemination to it, we lock ourselves on the target and we only have to keep the right course.

In order to do that, everyone must be connected. Only then can you choose the goal, because you don’t actually know it, and it is attained from within the center of the group. Where is that center? You are the one who draws the crosshairs on the sight. You pass through the circles as their diameter gets smaller and smaller, and in every circle, you better get to know the Creator and His actions, and eventually you find the center: and meet Him.

Today we have to work on several planes:

  1. All the friends are equal; there are no great ones or small ones.
  2. Everyone must do his best and act in front of the others and show them how much he wants to love them. The friends should see only this yearning in him. We must constantly set an example for everyone so that no one will be able to avoid an equal attitude towards others. This is our obligation.
  3. We do all this on purpose, so that we will be able to connect, and in the connection among us, discover love: first conditional love and then absolute love, until we reach the end of correction, Gmar Tikkun.

The whole process takes place in the group. There is nowhere to run to: You have a place for fulfillment, you have friends who yearn for the same thing, and you have the evil inclination, which actually constantly helps us look for the center of the circle. We have all that we need and we should support one another and constantly rise above the interruptions, as it says, “Love will cover all the sins.”

Let’s hope that we will advance this way, from success to success.
[69561]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/12/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot

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Shock Treatment

Dr. Michael LaitmanThere is nothing but the soul, the one “round” desire to receive, that is full of Light. The Light begins to operate inside; it spurs the desire and “warms it up,” puts it out of balance, and is revealed to it gradually. Throughout the process, the Lights and the vessels influence one another and descend from Ein Sof (Infinity).

Let’s take a system, any system, mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic. If it receives an electric shock, it is put out of balance in “one blow,” and begins to gradually quiet down until it returns to the previous balanced state.

This is what happened with Malchut of Ein Sof: the system received a “blow” when it discovered the contrast between the Light and the vessel, the horrible gap between the infinite minus (vessel) and the infinite plus (Light). This nightmare is terrible for the desire, and it cannot bear and digest this. Therefore it restricted itself and moved on to the next chain of actions. The desire won’t calm down until it performs them. After the decision that has been taken in Ein Sof, all the other decisions come automatically, all the way from top down, until our world.

Now our work begins; the work of ascending back to Ein Sof. The way back totally matches the descent that preceded it: We go through the same stages, but in an opposite order and according to our will, as we request the correction (MAN) first. This is the whole difference.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/12/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot

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When External Levity Helps and When It Harms

Dr. Michael LaitmanWhen the group attains spirituality, revealing the Creator and having a certain connection with Him, its actions become opposite to what they used to be: It begins to show a disregard for the goal and show levity to give the friends light disturbances in the work even before the Creator puts obstacles before us. When a person has a connection with the Creator, these disturbances will help him strengthen it.

Rabash writes that out of modesty it was a custom among friends to not show their strong aspiration towards spirituality externally, but in reality, there was a burning flame inside their hearts.

But this happens after crossing the Machsom (the barrier to spirituality) when the group achieves a spiritual connection, and its growth needs to be accelerated every moment. Then I need the disturbances to come as quickly as possible, and the group sets them up for me, helping me advance faster.

But before we enter the spiritual world, before people attain the revelation of and connection with the Creator, showing any levity is unacceptable because it will destroy everything. A person needs to try to see his friends as high and great. And on its part, the group needs to appear great, special, and strong to “pull the person out of this world” by awakening “envy, lust, and ambition” in him.

If the group will present itself this way in relation to every person, then he will see that he needs to attach himself to it, connect with it, be with his friends whom he sees as great people: This is how the group will help him so we quickly achieve a connection between us and the revelation of the Creator to the creatures.

There is no need to speak about it much. But you need to understand that your work is to awaken the desire of your friend. You work on him, presenting him with a spiritual image as if you and the entire group were high up in spirituality, displaying your devotion to and enormous desire for the goal, a greater than you actually have.

You must hold yourself this way before your friend so that you awaken him like we do in playing with a small child pretending and even deliberately making faces to take him through different states and help him grow.

If everyone needs to arm himself with a desire for attaining spirituality, we need to create the conditions for him to form a great desire. Naturally this is a game, but this is why we create the environment, which inspires everyone with the greatness of the goal.
[69544]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/12/12, Writings of Rabash

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With Open Eyes And Open Heart

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: I do not recall a similar rate of holding conventions. What is so special that is now happening in the world and is influencing the events?

Answer: The world is accelerating a lot. Our state is changing very fast. We have come to a critical barrier. Even if a part of us were to cross it, everyone else would gradually begin to squeeze through this barrier following the thread of our connection. So it is very important for us to do it.

Essentially, we need to have yearly conventions on every continent. And the convention we are now having in the desert is just our personal trip. We are not doing this for all, but our group needs a shake-up, and you with us. But there is no need to come here from overseas for this.

Conventions are an opportunity for everyone to meet, see each other, to communicate. They are necessary.

People need to be shaken up; they need to unite. I hope that at the upcoming conventions all of us will gather ourselves internally, achieve the common point of our unity, adhesion, unity. And the contact with the Creator that we will discover there will clearly guide us forward with open eyes and open hearts.
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From the talk “To Acquire a Desire to Give” 1/29/12

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