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Light And Darkness: Reevaluation

Dr. Michael LaitmanBaal HaSulam, Shamati 34, “The Profit of a Land”: It turns out that all the suffering he feels is because he slanders Providence. It turns out that what hurts him is that where he should have been praising the Creator, saying “Blessed is He who has created us in His Glory,” meaning that the creatures respect the Creator, he sees that the world’s conduct is unfitting for His glory, since everyone complains and demands that first it should be open Providence that the Creator leads the world in benevolence. Since it is not open, they say that this Providence does not glorify Him, and that pains him.

This is all that pains him since by being in a state of separation, he cannot justify His guidance. This is considered hating the state of separation. And when he feels this suffering, the Creator hears his prayer, brings him near Him, and he is rewarded with adhesion. This is because the pains that he feels due to the separation make him be rewarded with adhesion; and then it is said, “As far as Light excelleth darkness.”

We already know, understand, and feel these things. On every degree only between two opposites can we find the correct details of perception, choose the quality of bestowal over egoistic self-interest, and refocus the criteria of “light” and “darkness” from reception to bestowal. Then in inner efforts, in doubts, and with the help of the group and studies, we can demand correction so that the Light comes and, first, shows us what “light” and “darkness” are in reality, as opposed to our current notion according to which we call material, egoistic fulfillment “light,” and the absence of it “darkness.”

Thanks to the Light that Reforms, I rise above these measures to the spiritual measures. Then, light for me would be distancing from myself and getting closer to the other, to the Creator. Moreover, this scale should be based on the antithesis of the former approach. If earlier I hated someone, enjoying his difficulties and my advantages over him in anything, then now, with the ascent to the property of bestowal, everything turns out the opposite: In my feelings he remains hated, but I overcome myself, enjoying his well-being and bring him pleasure, which in reality becomes my fulfillment. I enjoy what the one I hated enjoys and, in general, the fact that he enjoys. I am pleased to give him pleasure, rising above my hatred for him.

Every detail of this perception consists of many nuances, but in general, all this is achieved only by the efforts in the group. Along with studies and the Light that Reforms, we eventually come to transformation, to an internal revolution…
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/27/13, Shamati #34 

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On The Threshold Of The Spiritual World

Dr. Michael LaitmanWe have completed the convention, “have come to our senses” a little. Someone experiences ascent, someone else descent, it is hard to say, everyone is in his own state.

Now, each of us must give an account, “What will happen to my soul?” and try to start to rise with all the weight that we have gained as a result of the convention. Where are all the discernments regarding a person’s relation to the group, to self-nullification, to the assessment of the importance of the goal, which is already close, and we begin to feel the first spiritual qualities of perception in practice?

How can we quickly get prepared for the next convention? We have two upcoming conventions:  the European convention in Düsseldorf, Germany, and the feast of Passover in Israel, and we have to work hard, intensely, so that this unity brings real spiritual ascent.

We have to move so that through our effort we can enter into real spiritual attainment, not just lightly feel it from the outside. Therefore, we have to learn, take lessons from the past, and prepare for the future. As many inner discernmenst of spiritual properties we can go through now, this will be our preparation for the next convention.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/27/13, The Zohar

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The Only Ones Among Seven Billion

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Writings of Rabash, 1984, Article 2, “Concerning the Love of Friends”:

1) The need for love of friends.

2) What is the reason I chose specifically these friends, and why have the friends chosen me?

3) Should each of the friends disclose his love for the society, or is it enough to feel love in one’s heart and practice love of friends in concealment, and thus not need to openly show what is in his heart?

These questions are obviously important. Indeed, on the whole, I don’t feel any need for the love of friends. Where will I find the powers? How can I convince myself? And most importantly, where is the reward here?

If I were promised something real, then perhaps I could convince myself, but I am only told that by love of friends I will get a reward that is above this whole world: not money or gold, not health, not different entertainments, but something that is much greater. But because I don’t see that reward, I don’t really value the love of friends.

It would be better if I were told, “Love your friend and you will feel good.” If I depend on someone, for example, who can take me out of prison, then I would clearly be ready to do everything for him only so that he would help me escape. But here too, I don’t see any way out of prison; I don’t see a real big reward for the love of friends. I am told about the upper world, but for some reason I don’t find it so attractive.

Later Rabash says that I have chosen the friends, and the friends have chosen me. But when did I really choose them? And really, would I choose them if I had a chance to choose from many other candidates? By what I see here, I would choose one or two, not more than that, so it turns out that no one has chosen his friends.

We haven’t chosen the teacher either. I am sure you would prefer someone more solid and respectable, so where is our freewill?

It seems that by the connection in the group I have to feel that each one is so special that from all of humanity, I would really choose only these friends. This stage is in front of us: to feel the friend, his soul, to get so close to him that he becomes the only one of the seven billion, and the same for every member in the group.

In addition, Rabash is asking whether we should express our love by some external means, for example, to act before one another, to give each other gifts, etc. Or should we rather work modestly, since the real work is internal, whereas the “decorations” as we well know are not worth much, because they can turn out to be flattery, hypocrisy, and false. I don’t really love anyone, so can I express something that I don’t feel? After all, this is a lie.

However, if each of them does not show the society that he is practicing love of friends, then one lacks the force of the group.

We must understand that we are small and weak, and since we lack the understanding, we are impressed by external acts and so we have to use them. Each one should behave in a way that the friends can see: He performs serious internal work, makes efforts for the love of friends, and indeed already attains a high level. Thus we advance forward.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/24/13, Writings of Rabash 

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I Bestow Means That I Exist

Dr. Michael LaitmanI am divided into two parts: GE and AHP. The important part in me is GE, and in it I am in a fixed state.

On the other hand, I operate my AHP only for the needs of another: It is as if I “swallow” his desire and begin to serve him. The Light comes from Above, and I pass on this Light to the other through my AHP, which is the only way I use the AHP.

If, however, the other doesn’t need anything, then my AHP does not exist. It is folded into my GE, and I return to the state of smallness, to the fixed state.

It is because I actually don’t need anything, except for my GE, and I need them only in order to be ready to bestow upon others. In every contact I immediately check what the other wants and when I find unfulfilled desires in him, I allocate and develop in me only the part that will provide what he desires from Above. Only to that extent do I operate my AHP.

I Bestow Means That I Exist
This is called the spiritual world: I don’t exist. I exist only to the extent that I bestow upon others. As long as there are no others, I am nothing, a zero. It is because my GE are not myself, they are only the state of readiness, searching—who needs my bestowal?
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/24/13, Writings of Rabash

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Allergic To Love

Dr. Michael LaitmanI have to feel the friend as a part of me, as the main part. Just like a mother feels her baby as the most important thing in the world. She cherishes the baby more than herself.

In order to do this, I perform different actions in the group that draw the Light that Reforms so that it will form the new attribute in me, the attribute of bestowal. Then I discover love towards those I hated before.

There are several stages along this path: First I come to the group and study with the friends. It would be better if I could get along without them—for example, if I could pay the teacher to be taught privately and so that the friends would go away. But the teacher tells me, “You need them; to the extent that you connect with them, you will be able to hear what I have to say, otherwise you will remain deaf.”

What kind of a condition is this? The more connected we are, the better we understand the teacher. This is very strange… there is nothing like this anywhere else.

Then the teacher together with the sources tell us, “If you love one another, you will feel the material that we study. You will not only understand it, but you will feel it; you will discover a new reality in the connection among you. If you connect, like the fingers in one hand, you will discover the upper reality, the upper world!”

That’s strange! So what should we do?

“Try,” they tell me. I begin to try, and if I really try to connect with the friends, I feel an aversion. There are conflicts and problems, mutual baseless accusations, and it is impossible to overcome this. It seems that it isn’t so easy. What is the argument about? It is about a spiritual problem: whether to connect in order to advance towards the Creator, or to separate. This isn’t an argument about minor issues in this world, but a spiritual argument between “Moses” and “Pharaoh.”

As a result, I feel helpless, and instead of love of friends, I discover aversion, and then hatred. Then I begin to work more and more intensively.

If, for example I have 50 kilos of hatred and I cover it with 51 kilos of love. Thus, I acquire a spiritual vessel. After all, we have tried as hard as we could to overcome the hatred with the help of mutual prayer, and as a result we now feel love between us.

This is the path to the spiritual world that we discover only in the connection between us—there is simply no other place it can be revealed. I hear this over and over again, until after several months I realize that that’s the way it is, until I accept it internally.

But now I don’t accept this; just like a patient who is allergic to a certain medicine, I am allergic to real spiritual love.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/24/13, Writings of Rabash 

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Hugging A Loved One Strengthens Health

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn the News (from DailyMail): “Hugging a loved one isn’t just a great way to bond – it has several physical benefits as well.

“Scientists found that the hormone oxytocin was released into the blood stream when you hold a friend close. This lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and anxiety and can even improve your memory.

“However, you have to be selective over who you hug. Giving a polite embrace to someone you don’t know well can have the opposite effect, according to research from the University of Vienna.

“Oxytocin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, is primarily known for increasing bonding, social behaviour and closeness between parents, children and couples.

“Increased oxytocin levels have been found, for example, in partners in functional relationships. In women, it is also produced during the childbirth process and during breastfeeding in order to increase the mother’s bond with the baby.

“Hugging can also soften your personality. The researchers said someone who hugs loved ones often become more empathetic over time.

“Neurophysiologist Jürgen Sandkühler, said: ‘The positive effect only occurs, however, if the people trust each other, if the associated feelings are present mutually and if the corresponding signals are sent out.

“’If people do not know each other, or if the hug is not desired by both parties, its effects are lost.’”

My Comment: This is only the beginning of knowledge about the need to create a friendly environment for all people, and especially for children at home and at school! This is one of the first conditions of the method of integral education.
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“Women And Girls Have Been Hit Hardest”

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn the News (from Plan and the Overseas Development Institute): “Girls are bearing the brunt of the global economic recession – being more likely to experience poverty, reduced life expectancy and drop out of school, according to a new report from Plan and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). …

“It says family poverty hits girls hardest – with only a 1% fall in GDP increasing infant mortality by 7.4 deaths per 1,000 girls versus 1.5 for boys.

“The findings also indicate that food shortages and malnutrition are more common among girls than boys. Women also reduce their own food consumption to become ‘shock absorbers’ for household security.

“As women go out to work longer hours for less money, more girls are pushed out of school and into filling the gaps at home with domestic work, into hazardous child labour or even transactional sex.”

My Comment: Integral education leads us to building a society of equals, providing everyone with basic needs, and everyone’s duty to participate in their own correction (education and upbringing). If we stop producing more than is essential for existence, we will get rid of unnecessary and harmful work and will be able to raise ourselves to the next level dictated by nature, the level of integral humanity.
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Do We Need Words If The Creator Is In The Heart?

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Is the prayer our aspiration toward the Creator every moment? A prayer is not words, is it?

Answer: Certainly not. Why do we need words if the Creator exists in my heart, forms it, and demands from it a conscious response, a reaction to Him?

He exists at the very depths of my heart. I sense what He is doing within me and I have to respond to it right there in the heart. The group, humanity, the world, my family, and everything else exist only so that in the depth of my heart where He is saying something to me, I will respond to it.

Thus, there is no need for words here. However, my correct reaction to what He is initiating within me means connecting and merging with Him.

I form my response to the Creator through the group, through humanity, through everything that happens to us.

Therefore, the world is called “concealment” (Olam). It will start being revealed when my properties become completely similar to His, when I start acting together with Him at the level where He awakens me. As it is said “I am for my Beloved, and my Beloved is for me.”
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Novosibirsk Convention 12/9/12, Lesson 5

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