Audio Version Of The Blog – 1/12/21

Listen to an Audio Version of the Blog
Download:MP3 Audio

Joy Is A Compass On The Road

293.2Joy is a very important indicator of whether we are on the right track. I am happy to be in the group and I treat my friends with an open heart and love. I feel our connection and unity, and I come closer to the Creator sometimes in the right line and sometimes in the left.

This is the joy of doing good deeds in which I participate, the joy of fulfilling the commandment, that is, the decree of the Creator to come closer and cling to Him.

Joy testifies that I am going in the right direction, toward the right goal to bestow, to meet the Creator, my Creator. But there can be an opposite joy, egoistic, from feeling yourself at the center of creation and not the group and the Creator in it. Joy is built from those two poles: the good and the evil principles, the desire to enjoy and the desire to bestow, from the two forces operating in creation.

Therefore, in our progress, we need to check whether we are in joy and where does this joy come from. After all, this is an extremely important indicator, and if we pay attention to it, it will help us very quickly evaluate each state and determine what we need to come to. The goal is to always be happy that I am drawing closer to the Creator through the ten.

Joy should overflow the heart with good deeds and connection with the true goal. There may be a completely different joy, not from the desire to bestow and unite but just the opposite, from the filling of egoism.

Therefore, it is necessary to check what causes my joy: is it the fact that I am in a group together with my friends, that I strive for the Creator, and want to merge with Him through the actions of bestowal, through the group? If this is my goal, as is said, “The Torah, the Creator, and Israel are one” and I rejoice in it every moment, then this is a sacred joy.

If I do not feel joy, then I am not directed to the right goal, not directed to the Creator, to the ten, and all my efforts are wasted. Joy is a result of good deeds, of striving for the right goal, for the Creator.

Joy is a test criterion as if I am tuning in to a radio wave, twisting the dial to hear everything better, or adjusting the focus for more sharpness. I focus my vision or hearing, and if I am focused on the target, I perceive everything with joy.

If the connection with the group makes me happy, then I am really connected to the ten. The more I connect with my friends and with the Creator, the more I am filled with joy. Joy is a result of good deeds and an indicator of the right direction.

If I am not happy, then I am not yet moving in the right direction, but I am in my own egoism and the group does not seem to me to be a spiritual area. It is important to focus on the spiritual goal in such a way that it evokes the joy of the commandment in me, that is, to achieve this goal, I need to acquire the quality of bestowal.

I am glad I have risen a little more above myself. I want to connect with my friends so that I can get lost there and not feel myself but feel that I am inside them as if there is nothing but my friends. If I am happy, then I am on the right track.

As I join the group, I gradually give up my desire to enjoy and begin to feel the Creator in it. I do not yet realize that this is the Creator, but it already fills me with joy. This is a spiritual law. Therefore, joy is a compass that clearly determines the direction of the goal: egoistic or altruistic, for the sake of oneself or for the sake of bestowal.

As a thief rejoices that he has picked up the key to the safe to rob it, so I rejoice that I have found the key to open my heart and let in all humanity, the whole world.
[276559]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/7/21, “Simcha

Related Material:
With Joy
Work In Joy
There Is Reason To Be Happy!

I Wish Everyone A Special Miracle!

293.1I wish us all a special miracle! A really big, big miracle in the new year. One! So that we rise above our lives and learn at least a little bit about what it is for. Then we all will feel good. We will all have a purpose. We will know why we give birth to children, raise them, and what we are leading them toward.

The only thing we need to do is reveal the world in which we exist. It is necessary to understand what nature does to us, what it wants from us, what we must be in order to change ourselves. Let’s try it! Let’s think about this and try to change something.

I hope that the year 2021, practically the first year after the blow we received in 2020, will be the year of some kind of enlightenment. I wish that to all of us. Happy new, a really new year!
[276503]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/28/20

Related Material:
New Year’s Miracle On The Doorstep
2021—The Year Of The Awakening Of Humanity
Treatment For The Virus

When Kabbalists Laugh

288.1Comment: Man is the only animal that laughs. There are 50 types of laughter: infectious, irrepressible, homeric, laughter from tickling, laughter through tears, and laughing at yourself, which is the most sophisticated laughter. They say that laughing at oneself is for the strong ones.

My Response: Of course.

Question: In many countries there are clowns who come to hospital wards and even cure people with laughter. A science called gelotology tries to understand how laughter appears. That is, it is easy to understand how tears appear, but it is much more difficult to understand how laughter appears.

Can we talk a little about laughter and humor in your life?

Answer: I am not one who often laughs.

Comment: But sometimes you like to read jokes.

My Response: I do not like jokes, I like wit, an unexpected twist when the mind shines on and shows that it can see everything inside out.

Question: Is laughter really a healing and sublime thing?

Answer: Yes, of course. A person rises a little bit above his egoism, in spite of it. And this, of course, heals and saves him.

Comment: In the past, they used to scornfully talk about comedians: “To write tragedies, yes; but comedies, so-so.”

My Response: Comedians are tragedians inside out. That is, they feel both this and that inside. The fact that they amuse others does not mean that they themselves do not empathize with the opposite.

Comment: Probably the best comedians are those who have experienced depression.

My Response: Yes. They act in spite of themselves.

Comment: Say a few words about this sublime thing—about humor.

My Response: Humor is not just laughing at oneself; it is rising above one’s egoism, above which a person usually cannot rise. And we must watch that it is done kindly. Because hating yourself is not a problem. But making it all appear in a kind way is not easy.

Humor should be such that first, it would not hurt anyone. We laugh at our nature, at who we are, what we are. And we have enough intelligence, precisely as humans, to laugh at what animals we are. It is usually with kindness, condescension, and positivity.

Comment: There are satirists who cast down others a little.

My Response: That is not satire, that is insult. This is not humor.

Comment: But many people love it.

My Response: This is a different matter. People love it because it uplifts them. This no longer applies to rising up, seeing yourself, your nature, a little and treating everything kindly. No. Everything that is real humor should not cause any particularly harsh, negative attitudes in any person.

Question: That is, neither he nor any other person should be humiliated?

Answer: Yes. I think that this is a special innate property of man. And if a person does not have this property—he can be the strongest analyst and clever in all other matters but has no humor—it means that he lacks a human quality.

Moreover, it can be not only developed, but also suppressed. Many military men and politicians lose their sense of humor. They are so busy with self-control that they suppress it initially, instinctively, a priori.

Question: How can it be that it existed and suddenly disappeared?

Answer: It can happen. A person can teach himself that he cannot relate to the world, to life, to all kinds of messages in this way.

Question: If it were possible to teach such a difficult science as Kabbalah by telling jokes and stories, do you think it would lower it or not?

Answer: No, I don’t think it is possible. But Kabbalists love humor, they appreciate it. Laughter in Kabbalah is an ascent above oneself because what looks negative at our level looks joyous and positive at the next level.

And therefore, these states force us to rise upward and already laugh at our weaknesses, at our little egoism, above which we were able to rise with the help of the Creator, and now we rejoice at this.

Question: Do you think we will laugh at what is happening now? The world is now experiencing a difficult, tumultuous era. Will we laugh at this time and rejoice?

Answer: Of course we will. Naturally. We will all see what we have gone through and where we have arrived. And then everyone will be filled with joy and laughter. And big, elated, healthy laughter will fill the heavens.
[276509]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/30/20

Related Material:
Humor Is A Brilliance Of Mind
Humor In Spirituality
Happy April Fools Day!

Contact And Non-Contact Nations

630.2Question: In the middle of the last century, anthropologists introduced the concept of contact and non-contact cultures. There are cultures, for example, in Asia or Southern Europe, in  which people engage in tactile interactions more often, and there are colder nations who are far from this type of behavior.

Some researchers have calculated that a couple, sitting at a table in a restaurant in Paris, made 110 mutual touches per hour whereas in London, not a single one. What is the root of this phenomenon? Does this closeness between people mean that there are some nations who are closer to unity?

Answer: No. I would not say that this signals the closeness of people, but nevertheless, it does speak about their national folk character and upbringing. A lot depends on the environment in which the person was brought up. Still, we can see from people who move from place to place and live, for several generations, far from their native land, how different they are compared to the local residents.

Question: So, all of our natural qualities do not affect in any way the degree of unity that you are talking about? Will everyone have to make their own efforts?

Answer: Undoubtedly, everyone should make some effort to unite, to rise not only above their egoism, but also above their habits in order to be closer to others.

After all, if someone who is talking to you touches you once an hour and someone holds your hand all the time, this still does not mean anything. We must take into account the particular qualities of this person, how he was brought up, and in what environment. It is all very complicated.

I’m talking about the closeness that happens when people feel the same way. The most important thing is to be in a common heart. Perhaps everyone is making a different degree of effort that we cannot compare. But this is already a problem on a higher level.

Question: About what sorts of things do people feel the same way?

Answer: About whether they are in a common desire or aspiration as well as how they define this state, what they do with it, why they are together, and what the purpose of their uniting is.

All this should be clear to them. How much closer to each other they can be in clarifying this goal is the result of their uniting.
[275334]
From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 10/30/20

Related Material:
Reducing Social Distance
70 Different Nations Together On The Same Earth
What Can Russia Give To The World?

Why Can’t We Reach An Agreement With The Creator?

560Question: Why can’t we reach an agreement with the Creator?

Answer: It depends on what you want to reach an agreement. If you want Him to do you favors and to make concessions, it won’t happen. We are all in a very rigid system of mutual connections. In this system, there can’t be any requests like: “Why are you toying with me? Why do you mistreat me for so long? See how much I suffer!?” All this does not help. After all, you see how humanity has been trying to plead with the Creator and offering Him sacrifices as if He expects such sacrifices from us. It does not work.

There is a perfectly accurate, healthy system of mutual connection of all the egoistic desires into a system of altruistic connection. We need to learn this system in the best possible way, to understand it, and then we will be able to exist in it, and to reveal it while still living in this world.
[242304]
From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” 11/25/18

Related Material:
Why Doesn’t The Creator Hear Our Complaints?
A Filter On The Way To The Creator
Don’t Cry In The Wilderness

Nations Of The World And Moral Principles

631.5Question: A well-educated population is more tolerant of sexual minorities, but is intolerant of the violation of moral norms in their own selfish interests, for example: bribery, tax violation. A group of religious people is much closer to such a moral principle.

Do you, as a Kabbalist, believe that moral principles should remain unchanged or can change depending on the circumstances?

Answer: True moral principles do not depend on anything. They do not belong to societies or religions, but are above that.

Question: Do you think that moral norms should be the same for everyone or each nation can have their own norms of behavior and moral principles?

Answer: Norms of behavior can be different in different nations and moral principles should be the same for everyone. Although it depends on the development of the nation. But all norms and principles should be aimed toward love your neighbor as yourself.

Question: Considering that all people have different levels of desire according to the Maslow’s hierarchy, could it be assumed that each level has its own norms of behavior?

Answer: Relatively. But everyone should understand where they are on this pyramid. And, although one has not attained the highest levels yet, one knows these levels exist.

Comment: You say that there should be one principle, love your neighbor. And norms could be different in each nation. But inside the nation, there are different layers, more developed and less developed.

My Response: Yes, but they all belong to the single pyramid, the peak of which is love your neighbor as yourself.

Question: Do ethical and moral norms need to be classified according to age, gender, and nationality? Or should they be universal and a person should be gradually taught them from childhood?

Answer: Undoubtedly, a person should be taught this from childhood and constantly. It is imperative to lead him to these principles raising them to a level that does not depend on the nature of man, on his national, ethnic, and other characteristics. This is the responsibility of all humanity.
[275318]
From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 10/9/20

Related Material:
The Difference Between Moral Principles And Moral Norms
The Main Moral Principle Of Humanity
The Basis Of Moral Principles

The Secret Effect Of The Book Of Zohar

525Question: When we read The Book of Zohar together with an audience, does it affect them?

Answer: It gives them a certain impression, a certain image. They do not even feel how much something has changed in them. With these stories, we arouse in them concealed qualities that they did not suspect they had.

That is the secret effect of The Book of Zohar. It talks about things that exist very deep inside of you, and it arouses these inner qualities within you. You suddenly begin to feel: “Something is happening within me, this Book is doing something in me.” You do not understand what it does, but you feel movement inside you, something in you changes.

Question: Is this for the best? Is there no danger of negative feelings here?

Answer: Absolutely not! We are now in a state where the entire world must change. This Book is our guide because we will still change even without it, but under very harsh influences of nature.
[276284]
From KabTV’s “The Power of The Book of Zohar” #1

Related Material:
The Amazing Power Of The Book Of Zohar
How Can We Verify The Influence Of The Book Of Zohar?
The Book Of Zohar: Tuning For The Perception Of The Creator

Please The Creator

572.02Question: One of the most positive emotions that we express is joy. The pleasure of eating a sandwich, experiencing friendship with comrades, or winning a medal at the Olympics, we refer to it using one word: joy.

What gives joy to a Kabbalist?

Answer: A Kabbalist feels joy when he can achieve similarity with the Creator in that through people he exerts a good influence on Him and produces a good action.

This is usually done in the following way: the more people connect with each other, the greater is their opportunity to receive the upper light, the higher sensation and revelation of the Creator in the union with each other. Then, joy arises in them because they sense the Creator in their connection and feel how they enjoy and delight Him.

That is, the joy that a Kabbalist feels comes from the fact that he pleases the Creator.

The Creator means the highest positive force of nature, which, in principle, does not need anything from us. It is only we who feel that He is happy. We simply unite in order to enable this force to fill us.
[275791]
From KabTV’s “Spiritual States” 4/3/19

Related Material:
A Sure Way To Please The Creator
What Does The Creator Want?
Pharaoh Helps Us Come Closer To The Creator

Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 1/12/21

Preparation to the Lesson

[media 1] [media 2]

Lesson on the Topic of “Ibur (Conception)”

[media 3] [media 4]

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Study of the Ten Sefirot, ‘Histaklut Pnimit,’ Vol. 1, Part 3, Chapter 6, Item 4″

[media 5] [media 6]

Lesson on the Topic of “The Law of Love in the System of Adam HaRishon”

[media 7] [media 8]

Selected Highlights

[media 9] [media 10]