Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Does the tree of life from the Bible have any connection to the tree of life found in Kabbalah?“

In the wisdom of Kabbalah, the Tree of Life describes a specific spiritual phenomenon.

The wisdom of Kabbalah is defined as a sequence of roots that hang down by way of cause and consequence, weaving to a single exalted goal: the person’s discovery of the upper light (the Creator).

The Tree of Life is that entire cause-and-effect chain. It is a formation that emanates from the upper light that fills reality, through a series of concealments that dim the light, down to the final filter of our world, where it continues acting through our entire universe.

As humans, the light guides our development: We first exist in this world to preserve ourselves like rocks, then grow like plants, move like animals, and finally, connect socially as human beings.

Toward the end of our development, we begin feeling the original upper light acting in our lives. It causes us to feel a certain kind of emptiness in the ways we have fulfilled ourselves up until today, surfacing existential questions within us.

According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, such a state marks the beginning of our ascent from this world up the Tree of Life, to our source.

The light continues guiding the development of this new desire that emerges. It also gives us opportunities to strengthen its influence upon us, so that we can accelerate our way up the Tree of Life.

The wisdom of Kabbalah details this process of spiritual awakening and how to navigate our ascent to our life’s source.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How long does a spiritual awakening take?“

The length of time for each person’s spiritual awakening depends on the state of the collective system we are all parts of, which develops to an increasingly unified state, and how we are needed in that system.

A person is a small part of the collective system (called “the soul of Adam HaRishon” in the wisdom of Kabbalah). This system determines each person’s appearance in this world and development toward our final unified state.

Our initial spiritual awakening takes place involuntarily. We are given a desire for spirituality, called a “point in the heart,” which is expressed as questions about life’s meaning and purpose. Such questions lead us through different environments until we find one that provides us with a path to their fulfillment.

When on this path, we then need only do whatever is in our hands to do, and then the time it takes to receive further spiritual awakening no longer depends on us.

The spiritual path divides into stages of knowledge, understanding, and finally, attainment.

Attainment of spirituality in our senses takes the longest amount of time.

Spiritual attainment means not only understanding the system’s intelligence, but also completely internalizing all of its connections, working with it as a partner.

Reaching such a state means harmonizing with the collective system we are parts of, benefiting the system by contributing to its harmony, and discovering the root of our soul.

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Question: What is required now of people all over the world?

Answer: To accept the system of the correct attitude to themselves and to nature—”love your neighbor as yourself” and create an absolutely complete, integral mutual connection between all people in the world.

As it is written, “…they shall beat their swords into plowshares…” Therefore, I hope that we will move toward this now. At least, according to Kabbalah, we live in a time, in an era, that will force us to come closer to each other and create a correct society.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 5/10/20

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Question: What kind of force is pushing us to find the answer to the question “What is the meaning of life?” It would seem, enjoy everything, throw this garbage out of your head, and live a full life here and now. What constantly drives us to search?

Answer: It does not depend on you, but on the root of your soul.

In man, besides the desire to enjoy this world, this life, to be better than others, stronger, more respected, etc., there is one more small, but the most internal desire—to learn the meaning of life. After all, without comprehending it, everything else seems very small, temporary, and transient.

The desire to understand the meaning of life, to find out why a person is born is very good, but it must be realized. For this it is necessary to rise above life, because in life itself, in simple existence, there is no sense. And to rise higher, you need to master a special technique.

Question: What does “higher” mean? What is above life?

Answer: It’s root is where our life starts, where it is controlled, where all the signals come to us, and where the signals from our world come.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 5/24/20

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Question: What is a person? Is it a spiritual being or an animal?

Answer: It depends on the person in question. If we are talking about a person in our world, then, in principle, this is an animal that is triggered by an egoistic instinct. At every instant, he explores what is good for him, and tries to do only this. In this respect, he or she is no different from animals except for increased desire.

Our world is built on the desire to enjoy, and a person has a higher desire than others. Therefore he basically conquered the world. At the same time, this desire belittles him the most because it does not work for his benefit. In general, we do not go beyond the animal world.

There are four levels of nature: inanimate, vegetative, animate, and human. Man is the next level of our development, when we begin to rise above our egoistic desire to the opposite altruistic desire and can see nature, the world, and the forces that rule our world from above.

That is when we are called “Man” from the word “Adam” meaning “like the Creator.” The Creator is the whole universe with all its integral forces.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 5/24/20

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Question: Many people believe that the value and meaning of life are in family and they do not need any Creator. Life is very difficult now. Therefore, will the one who overcomes all the problems in the family be the one who reaches the meaning of life?

Answer: I cannot agree with that. How can the meaning of life be in something that ends? It means that the meaning ends too.

Of course, family is important. It is important to fulfill yourself in the fact that you have a home and children. However, these are the necessary conditions for further growth from them and not only to remain in your cocoon, in your nest. What is the point in that?! To wait until you are carried feet first out of there?! I believe that this is not the answer to the question of the meaning of life.

Question: Why can’t the meaning of life be in life itself? After all, we see from nature that this is how all communities are organized: birds, fish, and ants. How do people differ? Why should we suffer more than animals?

Answer: If the meaning of life for me exists only at the level of birds and fish, and I am the same animal as they are, then there is nothing else. Then I live this life as long as I live, and that is where everything ends.

However, if this does not satisfy me and a question arises in me about the true meaning of life, then I must look for an answer to it. For this, I need a method that reveals this meaning. And it is in the wisdom of Kabbalah.

Or people turn to religion, engage in all sorts of calming techniques. But that is their business. It all comes down to luck.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 5/17/20

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Fulfillment in the Society of the Future

Question: What will a person be filled with in the society of the future?

Answer: A person in the future society will be filled only on account of a higher comprehension of the amazing connection of all the properties and forces of nature, all of its integral picture, which is called the glow of Shechina. Comprehension of this unique, harmonious deed will be the highest pleasure for a person.

Question: Will a person receive pleasure from the process of establishing connections with other people and this will be filled?

Answer: Yes. In connection with other people, he will begin to reveal the single power of nature, and this will fill and exalt him.

Question: Can this be called love?

Answer: Call it love. It’s just that in our view love is something completely opposite, selfish pleasure.
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From KabTV’s “The Post-Coronavirus Era,” 4/16/20

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Question: According to a sociologist of fashion, fashion is coming to an end. Now the top fashion houses like Versace, Armani, Lagerfeld, Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent, and Chanel whom the world followed, will have to reconsider everything they were based on.

What do you think they should come to? In your opinion, what is your ideology of future fashion?

Answer: The ideology will be built through the blows to our egoism. It will teach us to do what is comfortable for us and for others. And this will appear beautiful to us.

Beauty is in simplicity, and in something that is easy to communicate, and you feel free with, and not that it strikes and crushes, like in royal palaces.

Remark: But still, it captured the imagination.

Answer: That time is over.

Question: What is the root of this phenomenon. Why was it like that?

Answer: To impress gentlemen! Gentlemen were raised to be impressed by such ladies.

Question: How do we connect fashion to egoism’s development?

Answer: Egoism develops along with the mind too. This involves the mind, not just naked egoism. Therefore, I believe fashion will change toward optimality. We even see from our regular suits that they are becoming more practical.

I hope that the world is turning, and very successfully, toward optimization.

I think humanity will grow wiser faster, i.e., it will not let itself be dragged back into that swamp, which inventors of fashion, cars, clothes, and anything else want to drag us.

Question: What would you recommend to famous trendsetters?

Answer: To clarify that their time has passed. Let them switch to another style that is comfortable.

Everything must be done very practically, so that a person is comfortable and simple. That is most important. And praise this image. And whoever makes it the most practical, in the material, the cut, and convenience, so that it can stretch and not constrict a person. People should look and say “this person is practical, this person understands a lot about life.”

Remark: But you know that my questions and your appeal are addressed mainly to women. It is women, one way or another, who will regulate fashion and demand. They will be ignited and demand something and the race will begin again.

My Comment: I don’t think that everything will return to the same. Humanity has matured a little, slowed down. It is like the difference in the worldview of a girl and a woman with a child.

And now, as if everything is ready. We sat with families and children, and survived this virus. And now we must continue to live somehow differently, to adapt to the next virus. And scientists are already talking about this, both doctors and virologists.

So, I think that we will take a different direction.

Question: I really liked the comparison that there was a girl who liked everything beautiful, with sparkles, because she had a goal—to like.

And now she has already become a woman, she has children, a family. She does not need to like, but only to make it comfortable for the family. Even figuratively speaking, she matured. Now, after a virus outbreak, does she begin to understand more?

Answer: Of course. She gained a sober outlook toward life and the world. The demands are totally different.

Question: So the demand for fashion will be comfort?

Answer: Yes, the most important thing for her is practicality.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman,” 4/13/20

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Question: If egoism is bad, if it is necessary to get rid of it, isn’t the Creator an egoist? After all, it is written in the Torah that it is necessary to sacrifice for the Creator. But He could have said: That which you have sacrificed for Me, give to the poor. What is this if not egoism? What does He teach us?

Answer: I don’t really like these expressions because they are all far-fetched, completely wrong, not original, and a thousand times transformed.

I can show you the original sources, and you will see that these sayings have a completely different meaning than the one you gave to me, although you don’t even realize that you are distorting it. There is no need to do this.

We must learn to work with egoism. It doesn’t disappear anywhere. We just need to balance it correctly with good deeds. That’s it. It is given to us by nature.

In the world around us, there are plus and minus, good things and bad, and we must use everything.

Nothing in itself is bad or good. The balance between good and bad, between plus and minus, gives a positive effect.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 5/10/20

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Question: We are created in order to receive and to bestow. Should everything be in moderation? Not just bestowal without egoism?

Answer: Of course not. First, egoism does not disappear. We use it all the time. Second, reception and bestowal must be balanced. Only then will there be a dynamic equilibrium in the system.

It is necessary to bestow and to receive. One against the other; one part receives, the other part gives—as in each person, and in society, and in the entire system in general. This is what we must learn.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 5/10/20

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