Audio Version Of The Blog – 06.06.14

Listen to an Audio Version of the Blog
Download: MP3 Audio
[audio:http://files.kabbalahmedia.info/download/audio/eng_o_rav_2014-06-06_declamation_blog-rav_full.mp3 title=’6.6.14′]

The 2014 Global Cities Index And Emerging Cities Outlook

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn the News (from ATkearney): “The Global Cities Index provides a comprehensive ranking of the leading global cities from around the world and includes the companion Emerging Cities Outlook (ECO), which measures the potential of cities located in middle- and high-income countries to become even more global.

“New York and London lead this year’s ranking in the A.T. Kearney Global Cities Index (GCI), followed by Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Among the top 20 cities, seven are in the Asia Pacific region (Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, Seoul, Sydney, and Shanghai), seven are in Europe (London, Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Vienna, Moscow, and Berlin), and six are in the Americas (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Toronto, and Buenos Aires). Cairo is the leading city in Africa, remaining in the top 50 despite Egypt’s political and economic turbulence.

“The companion Emerging Cities Outlook (ECO) builds on the GCI’s insights to measure the potential of cities located in middle- and high-income countries to become even more global. According to the ECO, the 10 cities that are most favorably positioned to advance over the next 10 to 20 years are Jakarta, Manila, Addis Ababa, São Paulo, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Bogotá, Mumbai, Nairobi, and Kuala Lumpur.”

My Comment: It speaks of great globalization and dependence in the world.
[136437]

Related Material:
Globalization
About Globalization
Globalization In Family Circumstances

Entry, Exit, And A Conduit In The Middle

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How do I zero out this expansion of egoistic desires with which I am inflated and convey everything to the Creator?

Answer: It is necessary to go through this by way of the point of the Tzimtzum. Rabash writes that a person must make as many zeroes out of himself regarding the friend that he considers to be one and put these zeroes after him, and that is how he will grow: 10, 100 …

This is all of our work. But if he considers himself to be one and the others to be zero, with this he reduces himself: 0.1, 0.01, ….

Man is sent all kinds of signs of advancement and success, but he must attribute all of this to the Creator. He must feel himself as a conduit that transfers everything and in himself nothing is left. There is entry, exit, and in the middle there is just a conduit.

If the person makes a conduit of himself like this, this indicates that he is approaching the Creator.

Question: When I succeed in some activity, then I swell with pride, like an inflated balloon. And I look for a pin to make a hole in the balloon and bring a contribution to the group, spiritual benefit, to attain connection with the Creator, but I cannot find it.

Answer: You will not find this pin by yourself; you must ask! This is what is called making a sacrifice after success is attained, meaning that you approach the Creator after your success, in the face of this swelling with pride.
[136486]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/2/14, Shamati #53 “A Matter of Limitation”

Related Material:
The Ghost That Arranges Chairs
Absolute Zero
Who Will Win: Hatred Or The Need To Exist?

It Is Impossible To Cry And Say Thank You

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Book of Zohar, Introduction to the Book of Zohar, Article “The Night of the Bride,” section 138: This stems from the fact that man cannot perceive obvious evil from the Creator, as this would greatly undermine the creatures’ perception of the great and perfect Creator, for the Perfect one cannot create evil.

Therefore, to the extent that man feels bad and evil, and denies the Divine Providence, a veil immediately falls over him, and the sensation of the Creator’s existence disappears. This is the worst punishment in the world!

Hence, the sensation of good and evil in the Creator’s governance gives us a feeling of reward and punishment. This is because he who exerts efforts not to lose faith in the Creator‘s existence and governance, even if he tastes evil in His governance, is rewarded with finding strength to not lose faith in the governance and good purpose of the Creator’s “evil” influence. But if he had not yet merited the opportunity to exert efforts in believing that the Creator pursues a definite purpose by sending him unpleasant sensations, he is punished with remoteness from faith in the Creator and the sensation of His existence.

From here it is clear where reward and punishment and concealment and revelation come from, what the conditions are for a person to merit to this, and how he builds himself when confronting a bad feeling, a feeling of suffering.

It is impossible to cry and say, “Thank you very much.” To the degree that you are not accommodated to the Light, you feel concealment and so condemn the Creator. It follows that we have no choice; if we want to approach the Creator and bless Him, we must reach revelation.

From concealment, whether we want it or not, we are always compelled to curse Him. So only the Kabbalists, who attain the correct intention and transform darkness into Light, bless the higher power. And to that extent, they are in adherence with Him.
[136479]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/01/14, The Book of Zohar

Related Material:
Pain Relief Through The Importance Of The Goal
Affliction Is A Test For Love
Don’t Despair In His Kindness

My Personal Correction Of The Whole World

Dr. Michael LaitmanBaal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” Item 71: And then, each and every one of us will be rewarded with intensifying his own internality, meaning the Israel within us, which is the needs of the soul over our own externality, which is the nations of the world within us, that is, the needs of the body.

That force will come to the whole of Israel, until the nations of the world within us recognize and acknowledge the merit of the great sages of Israel over them, and will listen to them and obey them.

Also, the internality of the nations of the world, the righteous of the nations of the world, will overpower and submit their externality, which are the destructors.

And the internality of the world, too, which are Israel, shall rise in all their merit and virtue over the externality of the world, which are the nations.

Then, all the nations of the world will recognize and acknowledge Israel’s merit over them.

From here it follows that everyone who yearns to discover the Creator and is called the internality of the world, Yashar-El (straight to the Creator), must know that even through his work within the group, he influences the external desires. If he goes out to the general public, then he discovers and receives an even greater imperative to connect with the inner part.

So even though it seems to us that our going out is required in order to connect the external public to us, essentially this is designed to strengthen the inner connection and unity. In this way, we attract more Light, which through the inner part of the group reaches the external public. But in fact we did it in order to connect with the Light. Here all the time is this mutual work.

It is said that “Someone who saves one soul of Israel is as if he saves the entire world,” since through the shattering, mutual integration of all in all is maintained, and in every person among the seven billion there is his own part and parts of all seven billion.

The truth is that this is not seven billion but many more, for this is about the integration of all the generations, all the incarnations of the souls who already finished their correction and those who have not yet begun their correction, of everyone totally. The mutual integration works above time, because this is talking about the structure of the soul.

So the person must say that the world was created for him, and he should be concerned about correction in this form. And this correction cannot be individual, rather it must be related to all according to the structure of the soul. So every moment one must act exactly according to this principle: “What am I thinking about, what is it that I yearn for? Is my yearning spiritual or completely egoistic if I don’t take into account the integral picture of the entire world?”

Here the work of scrutiny is very important, that in principle, the entire world is found in each one of us, and each one, in order to correct himself, must take into account the entire world. It is necessary for you to pay attention that the awakening that is given to you is not for yourself but in order to submerge yourself in the world, in all the others.

Through your doing the work with your influence on the entire world, in that, you aspire to bring the whole world to correction and to discover the Creator within it; you prepare your individual vessel for giving contentment to the Creator.
[136259]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/29/14, Writings of Baal HaSulam

Related Material:
Every Change Rocks The Whole System
Redemption Will Be Revealed In Unity
The System Will Not Manage Without Me

School Instead Of Prison

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: When we look at the problems that are ripping modern society apart, how is it possible to believe that there is any chance of reaching mutual Arvut (mutual guarantee)?

Answer: In society, what happens is what the Creator arranges for us from above, even the most negative things. Believe me, everything is sealed by the Creator Himself and not by any Prime Minister, President, head of the American Congress or the European Union. Everything, down to the last atom, is managed from Above.

Question: Even if there is a feeling that half of the nation should be in prison?

Answer: Not half of the nation, rather the entire nation. Half of the nation are thieves and the other half are to blame for the first half being thieves. So everyone should be in prison, including the police.

If all of us must be in mutual mutual guarantee, then each is responsible for the other. But because we don’t influence the others as is needed, they don’t receive enough influence. So what can be demanded from us?

Only on the condition that we influence others correctly and are concerned that our influence will succeed, can we rest assured that we will see the right response from the others. But if in the meantime, their response is incorrect, then our influence is incorrect.

So the Torah has a completely different approach to punishments in comparison to what is accepted in this world. The punishment must be correction, first and foremost through the environment.

Indeed, a person is a product of his environment. The legal system must be part of the educational system, but punishment must lead to correction. In contrast to this, our prisons are universities for training criminals.

Question: What does this mean: “After all, in your eyes all of Israel are guarantors for each other, both on the positive and negative side?”

Answer: This means that the influence of the environment completely determines human behavior, both positively and negatively. It follows that if the citizens of a nation behave inappropriately, this says that the nation is in a crisis of education. Other than education, nothing else is needed.

The only thing that a nation needs, besides the ministries of defense and health, is the ministry of education. And if the educational system is correct, then we don’t need the military or medicine.

If a nation were to function according to the laws of mutual Arvut, it would not need the military or the police—nothing. They would organize everything that is necessary for material existence for themselves, and they would direct everything else towards spiritual development.

Besides education, nothing is necessary. This stems from the law of mutual Arvut, which means that you are responsible for every resident of the nation and for his behavior as a person. And if he does something that is not good, this means that you have not influenced him positively, you have not given the feeling of love.

Indeed, if he were to feel the love of everyone, this would silence his evil inclination. He wouldn’t need anything and he would feel like a fetus in his mother’s womb, that he has everything: “A lamp is lit above his head, and he looks and sees from one end of the world to the other; and they teach him the entire Torah.”

This is truly an amazing state. Indeed, we are all connected in a single network and this is now being revealed more and more. If you think about the other and influence him, whatever your influence is, this is what will be in him. And as much as your good influence is lacking, you will see this according to his behavior.
[136186]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/28/14, Writing of Baal HaSulam

Related Material:
Where Are We Headed?
There Is No Punishment, There Is Only Correction
Clarifying The Upper Will

Five Hundred Billion Dollars To Advertise The Creator

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Where can we get 500 billion dollars for advertising the method of connection?

Answer: We must discuss this question seriously and clarify how to do this. But it is clear that we don’t have a choice, and everyone in our group or in the world in general who wants to perceive the Creator, must be involved in advertising Him.

This is precisely what we are doing; we want to advertise the Creator. If we require 500 billion dollars for this, we must find it. We must advertise the Creator: His plan, His purpose, His goal.

Besides this, it is not written anywhere that we must convince people. We don’t need to convince anyone and it is also impossible. We only need to open up the Light that Reforms for them and it will return them to the good!

But you are thinking about how to be wiser and more eloquent to convince them through argument. There is no need for this at all! It is only necessary to open up this infusion with the Light so that it will begin to drip into them through a workshop or some additional activities. You will see how they will begin to wait for this.

Question: Am I interpreting this correctly, that the Light that Reforms is a feeling of warmth, love, and trust within the connection between us?

Answer: This is the Upper Light, everything is in it. We don’t know how it acts. We only know that it reforms. This is a higher force that influences the person in a manner that he doesn’t understand and which changes him.

We pay attention, sometimes we are also changed. A period of confusion comes in which I don’t understand and I feel that I am in a fog, in some kind of blurry state; and after that suddenly it begins to become clear to me and an understanding is revealed, a new feeling.

I work it, live in it for some time, and after that I am again confused and in a fog so that I can again rise to an even higher state, to understand and to feel even more and to connect things even more, to see how everything works. That is how the influence of the Light that Reforms is discovered.

Question: But we are talking about a science.

Answer: This is not an abstract theory; rather, this is a true science and wisdom of life that explains how it is necessary to live and through this, to rise higher and higher all the time.

Question: When I work as a guide for people and open the faucet with Light, do I have some kind of criterion according to which I can evaluate my success?

Answer: The criterion for success is that you begin to understand and feel more. You understand that a stronger connection with others is required for you. You see the realization of the goal of creation in the whole world and in the general public more and more.
[136170]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/28/14, Writing of Baal HaSulam

Related Material:
All The Means For Advertising Mutual Guarantee!
I Brought You Part Of The Miracle
Super Weapon – The Power Of Light

Quantum Perception of the World

Dr. Michael LaitmanWe have to attach the entire world to us with all of its needs and desires, the whole Malchut of the world of Infinity. First, we draw the parts that are close to us, i.e., those who have similar views and are willing to connect with others: “Let each one help his neighbor.”

And then we transition to the parts that are farther from us, i.e., those who do not share our outlook, nor do they strive to connect with each other or reveal the goal of creation.

Dissemination starts with collecting the desires of the general public. They seem petty, primitive, and earthly, but they only look like this. In the liaison of the upper Partzuf and the lower one, the latter carries a small desire. However, the upper Partzuf regards the request of the lower one as something very important and substantial because of the huge love the upper feels for the lower. Thus, the upper becomes able to perform great work to satisfy the needs of the lower part.

This is how I attach the entire world to myself. It is said that the entire world is made to serve me. People don’t understand this fact nor do they think this way. On the contrary, they reject and even hate me. However, this should not matter to me at all. I accept their desires and know that I cannot treat them the way they treat me.

I cannot sit and wait while they suffer through troubles and wars become wiser. This is a wrong way and is incompatible with loving our neighbors. If you think this way, it means that you still need to work on yourself. This explains why we should continue our efforts to connect with others no matter what.

Imagine a family that has an obstinate, good-for-nothing son who doesn’t listen to his parents and deliberately does everything wrong. No matter what, he is still their son and they have to take care of him no matter what. This is the pattern we have to exercise with the world that becomes embittered and loses hope since it doesn’t know what’s next.

It is a revelation of people’s genuine nature, those who do not regard themselves as good, extraordinary, smart, strong, but rather feel they are weak, silly, and unaware of what exactly is going on in the world around them . The world degrades and descends lower and lower; nothing interests people except very primitive fulfillments such as food or sex.

Where did our prior culture, space programs, lofty aspirations, respect for scientists, sages, artists, and well-educated people go? We used to have all of them some 50 years ago. Everything is gone! Mankind seems like a herd of animals.

People are incapable of fulfilling even their minor needs, and they suffer. According to statistics, present material wellbeing is ten times higher than it was a hundred years ago, but at the same time, depression, desperation, and a sense of deprivation constantly grow. After all, these things are not directly related with material prosperity.

Troubles are given to us to make us work on them. We should clearly understand it. Our perception of the world is extremely “quantum.” There is a huge contradiction between the duty that each of us has: to acknowledge that each of us is the only one who has the freedom of choice and the others do not have it. This rule should apply to everybody without exception. It leads to the understanding that the entire world depends on each one of us and all of us have to serve the goal.
[136121]
From the Preparation for the Lesson 5/28/14

Related Material:
Film For A Single Viewer
All The Changes Are Inside Me, Not On The Outside
Barter Brings People Closer To Each Other

Detachment and Connection

Dr. Michael Laitman Moshe Weissman, “The Midrash Says,” Chapter “Shemini”: “Moshe said to his brother Aaron: ‘When I was appointed interim High Priest for seven days of the Consecration, I cherished the secret hope that I will be allowed to perpetuate this position for myself forever.

But because, I, at first refused to fulfill the request of the Almighty to take the Jews out of Egypt, I am not allowed to be the High Priest. And so this post is transferred to you, Aaron.

My brother, how can I do that to you? – Aaron pleaded. – How can I be a High Priest after you spent so much effort on the construction of the Mishkan?’

Moshe replied: When you heard that the Creator had chosen me to lead the Jewish people you rejoiced; so I am also happy that you will perform the duties of the High Priest.”

If we regard this conversation from a purely psychological point of view, we would most likely think that this passage is about a dialog between two different people. In fact, this conversation takes place inside one person, since Moshe and Aaron symbolize two opposite qualities in a man.

Aaron stands for the left part, and Moshe the right line. By nature, they are incompatible. That’s why they work separately.

Even though they are brothers and are united, there is always a gap and a connection between brothers. This passage shows us how to use both properties to make a positive impact on everybody around.

Moshe is a property of bestowal and love; it symbolizes a proximity to Abraham. Aaron denotes an internal tension, a bad quality that naturally overcomes itself and works for the Creator. Both properties are meant to replenish each other.
[136030]
From Kab TV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book,” 12/18/13

Related Material:
Moses And Aaron, Faith And Knowledge
Variety Of Desires
From One Moment To The Next

Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 06.06.14

Preparation for the Lesson

[media 1] [media 2]

Writings of Rabash Shlavei HaSulam,” “The Importance of A Prayer of Many”

[media 3] [media 4]

Writings of Rabash Shlavei HaSulam,” Article 25

[media 5] [media 6]