To Grow From A Capricious Request To A Valid Demand

Dr. Michael LaitmanThere is nothing but the relationships among us, relationships of receiving and bestowal. The result of these relationships should be to bring contentment to the Creator. The upper Partzufim cooperate: Abba and Ima, and ZON perform endless different actions, the Reshimot (reminiscences) change, but the main thing is the intention of the person who operates this whole system.

Before he operates it everything in it is dead, still. Then a person comes and the first thing he does is to weed out the dry thorns from the vineyard, which means that he cuts and separates the “stony heart” that cannot be corrected. Then he begins to work with all the rest. Prior to that, the whole system is quiet and a person operates it according to his exertion: He “presses the gas pedal,” he wants the system to work in order to bestow.

There is a set table in front of me and I have to gradually take everything that is on it and enjoy the refreshments in order to bring contentment to the host. So I check my vessels and see that they are vessels of receiving. I mustn’t receive even one gram of pleasure in them. First I must restrict myself. If the host is important to me, I will not enjoy for my sake, but will only want to enjoy for his sake.

But how can I bestow upon him, where can I find the power to do so? I begin to look for different methods and advice, and eventually reach the request. In order to receive such power, the Creator has to be revealed to me as the One who bestows, and then He reveals His greatness and His importance to me. But when the power of bestowal reaches a person, it doesn’t rule him, but according to a person’s request, it only rules his desires to receive.

I am made totally of this desire to receive, so how real can my request for the power of bestowal to rule me be? I can scream forever, but it will just be empty tears because I don’t know what to ask for. It’s like a baby who cries loudly, but no one gives him what he wants. We are angry that we don’t receive the spiritual revelation, just like babies.

I have to know exactly what to ask for. If I know what to ask for, how to ask, and for what reason, then my request will be effective. How can I demand the attribute of bestowal? First I have to acquire its importance. This means that I am asking for the Creator and His revelation. I am not asking to enjoy Him, but only to attain the greatness of bestowal: “Let me respect you!” This is the final request. It isn’t so that I’ll feel good and receive pleasure. I only want to respect Him without taking myself into account. We can receive and demand this necessity from the environment.

This request should not be expressed in words, in a fiery speech, or a carefully composed telegram. It’s revealed in the heart, it breaks the walls of the heart and spills out. I ask not in order to enjoy the feeling that I bestow, that I am great and equal to the Creator. I want to acquire the attribute of bestowal itself and I check my intention to improve my attitude to the friends.

Then I will understand what Kabbalists write about and I will consciously be included in what is happening in Malchut of Atzilut. All these things take place in a clear and clarified manner inside me according to the process that Kabbalists describe and reveal it in small portions one after the other. We are very close to that.
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From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/28/12, The Study of the Ten Sefirot

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If He Beats Me, He Loves Me

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: I feel that I’m able to hold on to the thought that everything comes from the Creator. What I can’t understand is how to accept with love the disturbances that cause me pain? I can understand that they’re good for me with my mind. But how can I add love to this? Where is this love?

Answer: You’re not completing the action, which is why you don’t feel love. You understand that the disturbances probably come from the Creator, and that, evidently, this is good. You know that you can’t escape the disturbance, so you accept it. You don’t finish it off with love. You don’t process this disturbance together with the group and invert it, thereby perceiving the disturbance as an expression of love.

It’s like when parents punish a child, he needs to understand that they’re doing it out of love for him. They’re not punishing him, but his ego. What’s more, they want to raise the child above his ego. When he divides himself in two, “this is my ego and this is me,” and realizes that disturbances arise in opposition to the ego, then his “I” draws closer to the Creator and feels love.

Imagine that you’re a clever child who understands: “My parents need to punish me to prevent me from misbehaving. They’re not punishing me, but simply giving me an opportunity to overcome my ego.”

Comment: When I was a child I had no idea that someone was relating to me with love. All I saw was punishment.

Answer: Then get smarter! You need to grow up, after all!

You need to reach a state when you perceive the greatest problems and hardships as tremendous kindness and love. I’m being very serious. Everything depends only on your perception! We exist in a field of infinitely good Light. Nothing exists in the whole world but this. Only infinite love and infinite goodness! But our perception is flawed, and as a result we feel the opposite sensation. If you reconstruct yourself and grow your understanding, instead of hatred you will feel love, instead of evil, goodness, and instead of suffering, delight.
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From the Vilnius Convention 3/24/12, Lesson 3

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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 03.30.12

Preparation to the Lesson
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Shamati #190 “Every Act Leaves an Imprint
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The Book of Zohar – Selected Chapter “Beresheet (Genesis),” “Three Letters Tov (Tet-Vav-Bet),” (Starting with: “It is written”), Item 326, Lesson 92
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Preface to The Book of Zohar,” Item 31, Lesson 17
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Audio Version Of The Blog – 03.29.12

Listen to an Audio Version of the Blog
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Capitalism Is Out Of Control

Dr. Michael LaitmanOpinion (Steen Jakobsen, Saxo Bank Chief Economist): “I have travelled to 16 different countries over the past year. They are all very different, with different systems, starting points and cultures, but they all share the same burden of inequality. I realised that the real loser since the financial crisis began in 2008 has been the middle class.

“Pundits will have you know that we are witnessing capitalism and the free market running amok. Where? There is not a single market working according to capitalistic rules.

“The main policy response in this time of crisis remains one of buying time. This solution will not last however; it will only make social inequality more severe. The source of income and wealth equality is an equal right to capital and to work. Currently the only parties with free access to capital are overburdened banks and governments.

“Ironically, pundits have dubbed the current crisis the running amok of capitalism. I would argue that we are witnessing governments and politicians running amok.

“We must invest in education, secure free markets, competition and long-term tri-party agreements on education, salary and working hours. This is the path towards more equality.”

My Comment: The solution is wrong—it is based on the model of egoistic capitalism that no longer works. We need to invest in the following:

  1. Reaching a reasonable, single level of well-being for all people,
  2. Introducing mandatory integral education and upbringing.

Both of these measures will eliminate the crisis because they will remove the contradictions between man, who devours nature, and the world around him; they will change us, and we will understand how to create a new economy of well-being and balance.
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The Local GNP Per Capita Does Not Reflect The Standard Of Living

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn the News (from mignews.com): According to the report issued by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the ratio between employment and the size of the world population is uneven and does not depend directly on the local Gross National Product (GNP).

“In Turkey, the GNP per capita is very high, while only 29% of the population is in the work force. The next highest GNP per capita is Kazakhstan, with 77%.

“In Kyrgyzstan and Moldova, the rates of the GNP per capita are lowest, but the rates of employment are 59% and 39% accordingly.

“In the developed countries, the ratio between employment and the size of the population is about 50 to 60%, which points to prosperity and stabilization of the people’s economic situation.”

My Comment: As we all know, the figures in economics do not reflect the situation of the population at all and only help the rich get richer at the expense of the poor by presenting statistics that are convenient for them. Economics is not a science, but a result of calculations that are beneficial to those who manipulate it.

However, it appears that its period of dictatorship is over, and the economy of balance between society and nature will replace it, whether we like it or not. Only the formula of balance will dictate and determine our social and economic relationships.
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An Interview To The Lithuanian News Portal DELFI

An Interview To The Lithuanian News Portal DELFIThe largest news portal in the Baltic states www.delfi.lt published an interview I gave to the portal’s correspondent Inga Saukiene during the European Kabbalah Congress in Vilnius. The article talks about the current crisis and its resolution.
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Travelling In Secret From Oneself

Dr. Michael LaitmanWhen we read The Book of Zoharwe should imagine that we are already in the highest state—we should desire to reach it. The higher state is the state in which we are connected.

The Zohar describes how the force of bestowal reaches us and what work it performs on us. Some parts of the soul rise and others descend in their feeling, understanding, and perception of the changes that take place in us. By reading this book together again and again, we expect that the force of bestowal will affect us by carrying out all the spiritual actions within us.

If we were in the revelation of the spiritual world, then during the reading, everything that we read about would be realized in us openly. But if we are in a state of concealment and want these actions to happen within us, they are still realized within us, but in a concealed manner and to the extent that we are not in the spiritual world yet!

It’s just like a child who sits in a toy car, turning the wheel and imagining that he is driving. He is really driving, and in a way he is like the real driver he will become in fifteen or twenty years. He is already in the process, but in the preliminary degrees and states when he hasn’t attained the actual realization yet. But these states are essential on the way.

Similarly, by reading The Zohar now and imagining that we are in it, we are enabling the Light to act specifically upon the attributes that we read about. It makes no difference whether we understand what is written; in the meantime, the Light influences and advances us.

I don’t know what is concealed behind the names of the Sefirot and the angels, and I cannot picture anything, but it makes no difference. I only imagine one thing: Right now I am under the influence of the Light, the force of bestowal, that will grant me this force so that it will rule over the force of reception in me. Thus I will go on until this Light stays with me permanently.
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From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/28/2012, The Zohar 

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As Fast As Possible

Dr. Michael LaitmanBaal HaSulam, “The Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot,” Item 125: To avoid having the scale of merit of the entire world lacking, when one is qualified to sentence them to a scale of merit, one has no other tactic but to always pain himself with the troubles of the public, just as he suffers with his own troubles.

Kabbalists tell us about the states we will have to go through on the spiritual path. They tell us so that we will yearn to move forward, by using all the means we have.

If we don’t demand, don’t “push”, we will not summon the Reforming Light. After all, everything is fulfilled by it. There is no other force except for the force of the Light. We should try harder to draw it.

The inner “spring” manages the actions of the Light, as if it were wound and set free, and thus the creation began until the whole process ends. At a certain point we have the chance to influence our own fate, because from that moment on we have to grow consciously.

But if we don’t want to grow according to the opportunities we are given, we are pushed forward by the “stick.” Eventually we will grow wise and understand and feel what is going on, and will take part in it consciously. But in this manner, every step will be accompanied by great suffering. One way or another, you cannot change the stages on your way. You will have to go through all the states and the levels, but each of them will start from a blow: “Oh! I understand there is no other way. Well, what can I do, maybe it’s worth it. Oh, it isn’t bad. Wow, it’s absolutely great!” And then again it’s the same story; once again you don’t want to do anything until the blows move you.

But we can manage without the detours that throw us off our feet. Instead of falling into troubles, we just lose the importance of the goal a little and by that acquire an incentive for a new ascent.

This is the whole difference, and it is very simple: Do you want to bring the Creator contentment or not? His only pleasure is that the created beings will want to come to Him by themselves. The point is not the sufferings, although you judge according to them. You even surrender in advance when they come, out of laziness. But you can rise: “Yes, I am lazy, I don’t want anything, and still, perhaps I could try to respect Him and to make Him happy?” This is the calculation you make, and so you hasten time. But if we rely on self-benefit, there will be no hastening of time.

The only chance is to feel that you are a guest and to bring contentment to the host. Otherwise, it is as if you are saying: “I will drop by when I need something. First let me build up an appetite, and then I’ll come. In the meantime sit by the table and wait for me.” But you can act differently: You smell the delicacies that He has prepared for you, you appreciate Him, you ask Him questions, and the main thing for you is to taste the meal in order to bring Him contentment. Only then do you approach the table.

It is great work that is totally aimed at bringing the Creator contentment, and not in order to shorten the time of the exile. You interpret “exile” differently: You are in an exile not away from pleasures, but from bestowal upon the host.

This isn’t a small part at the end of along path that takes months to make. This is all our work. This is phase four that is formed after the pervious phases. It is very dense, and works on very high frequency, at a “mad” rate. If the phases of our evolution lasted millions of years in the past, today it is all condensed into several years. We hardly approach the real work and the world is already losing direction and losing the feeling of time. Soon time and distance will actually disappear from our perception. People will cease to feel these limitations.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/28/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot

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Revealing The Unity Of Nature

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: If we achieve the goal and unite in one common world Kli, what changes will occur in Europe?

Answer: We must understand that all the problems, including the crisis with all the suffering, appear for one reason: to guide people to find the root of the cause, to find why this is happening. We see that scientists, economists, and politicians cannot do anything.

The world has entered the stage that Kabbalah mentioned a long time ago. We talked about this before the 21st century. I heard about this twenty years ago and did not believe that this could happen. “So,” I thought, “they talk. What can I do?”

The world entered a different stage. Today, we are on a completely different level. We must reveal the unity of nature. That is why the world is global, it is integral, not only in us, but around us.

Today, we reveal the upper force at all levels of the development; the still level of nature including space, not to mention the higher layers, and vegetative and animate nature are one whole. All of this is a global, integral force from zero to infinity, one whole.

There is an exception that is a problem. Inside, there is a human being, the center of the world. He is given freedom, and he does whatever he likes in spite of everything else. He is a terrible negative against everything else.

We compare this human, that is, all of humanity, this collective image, to a cancerous growth because he eats everything around him. He destroys everything living and is in contradiction with the rest of nature. The rest of nature is global, integral, and united. We are not united at all, not integral and not global.

We say that the global crisis has come. What does that mean? It means that you do not match the rest of nature! Where is the crisis? Is it in you or in what surrounds you?

You must rebuild yourself. You are a human society that also must become global and integral. How can this be done? It can be done by uniting, achieving equality, interconnection, and mutual understanding. All of our development shows us the extent to which we are interconnected. We cannot get away from it.

Look what happens: A country is boycotted, disconnected from financial transactions or something else, and it cannot do anything. That is it; life has ceased. Cut it off from the rest of the world, and it cannot exist. That is the extent to which the world is global. This never happened before.

Our society is opposite to this globality; the present human nature is opposite to it. That is why, naturally, if we remove this contradiction, we will see the force of nature revealed in its entirety.

We will find ourselves fully connected with the entire world, moreover, as limitless, infinite. We will feel ourselves existing eternally in harmony with all other layers of nature.

This applies not only to countries that are suffering from the crisis. We should consider the level to which we rise and see all these crisis phenomena as obstacles for us to overcome to reach the highest goal. Just as a person has crises in the individual sense, a state does in the national plan and human society is in global terms. This is the only way to look at life.

We cannot approach governments today and talk about this with them because they are the greatest egoists and will not be able to understand it. Nevertheless, their minds are changing. There is a big difference between what they said five years ago and what they say today because blows and punishments make a person wiser and more receptive. That is why I hope that we will be able to accomplish this.

In addition to the materials that we are preparing to submit to UNESCO, the United Nations, and other international organizations, we are connecting many scientists to our work who have the same opinion that we have, those who understand that human nature, the nature of human society, must be fundamentally changed.

The problem is that they do not have a method. There is no doubt that we need to be in global equilibrium with nature, to be in homeostasis with it. Thousands of scientists in the world are talking about this, but we also should do it. How can it be done? We must…? There is no answer.

Millions of people around the world are becoming unemployed. The crisis will bring us to a point where we will produce only things that are necessary for our existence.

That is why people must understand. They should study themselves and change themselves instead of polluting and depleting nature. I do not need much to feed my “animal” for my normal existence.

I have to dedicate the remaining time, the rest of my strength, to changing human society. Then, we will feel eternal and total harmony. This will be much more than what we try to achieve today. Therefore, we should view the crisis as an obstacle above which we must rise together. That is why we are here.
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From the Vilnius Convention 3/24/12, Lesson 3

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