Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How do you define good and bad?“

Good is when we progress in a direction that brings us closer to balance with nature, and not in directions concocted by the human mind.

The more we develop, the more nature trashes man-made ideological directions for the world, and pressures us to discover balance with itself.

“Good” thus becomes our voluntary motion to the balance that nature wants us to experience.

If, however, we move involuntarily, then we feel bad.

Our growing imbalance with nature gives rise to myriad problems and crises on all levels of life—personal, social, economic and ecological—in order to ultimately pressure us to change our direction to a good one.

Alternatively, we can also say that nature’s pressures are also good, because the more we experience negative phenomena in our lives, the more they prod us to examine the direction our lives are headed, and then reach a decision to change direction sooner rather than later.

The point is that we should not feel good while we grow in our imbalance with nature, and instead progress toward balance with nature, which is where nature pushes us. A bad feeling in our egoistic approach to life, where we exist in opposition to nature, is thus good, because from the negative sensation in our egoistic lives, we come closer to finding a solution in a new altruistic direction, balanced with nature.

In order to pay more attention to what nature wants from us, we should consider where we are, and what is our surrounding nature?

Nature is an interconnected and interdependent system. Everything exists harmoniously in nature, and so if we organize ourselves with harmonious relations, then we can realize the harmony existing in nature in our own relations.

We should consider that nature consists of four levels—inanimate, vegetative, animate and human—and we humans comprise its highest level, the center of creation. Balance with nature comes down to us at the human level developing positive connections with each other. We should thus listen to nature, pay attention to what it wants us to understand, trust it and go with its flow.

Everything will work out when we reach balance with nature. Most importantly, we should discover a new world in the positive connections among us, as such connections hold the key to a positive life for everyone and for nature as a whole.

Based on a talk with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Semion Vinokur. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

My new article on Linkedin “When Our Adult Children Leave Home”

From the moment our children are born we invest everything we can in them knowing that the day will come when they will move on independently with their own lives. This transition can be a difficult one for families to make. So what is the best way to carry on relationships with adult children who have left home? What preparations should be made ahead of time towards this stage in order to keep the family connected?

From childhood, it is worthwhile to establish the habit with children of never letting a day pass without them contacting us. It does not matter where they are and what exactly they are doing, at least once a day they will call us to exchange impressions in regard to everyone’s well-being. We do not need to be the ones to call them because they might be busy and we might disturb them. It’s far better if they get used to calling us. This way, when the time comes for them to leave the house, they will have the established habit of daily contact.

From us as parents, they will hear what is happening with the rest of the family. In this way, the family connection will be maintained. Of course, physical contact will also need to be maintained, and these should become a regular routine. The home-cooking that we will prepare for them to take home will provide yet another feeling of connection to us throughout the week as well.

In general, the stage of leaving home for independent adult life is something that needs to be prepared for years. Independence is built through building an atmosphere where children learn to feel responsible, mature, and where they actually function as if they are already living in their own home, even though they are still with us. And when the day to leave home finally arrives, our job should be to provide our children with a sense of confidence and security, a feeling that they can manage on their own. We will always be there to support them, but the responsibility passes to them.

Anyone who grows up in a home with an overly pampered atmosphere, in which everything is done for them, will have a hard time getting used to independent living. Such individuals are left handicapped, not knowing how to organize basic things like food, laundry, and regular life responsibilities, not to mention complex concerns like long term relationships and starting a family of their own. Such a person will feel ill-equipped to take life in his or her own hands. In fact, if we do not provide proper education ahead of time, it will be difficult to make up for the accumulated deficit at the time they leave home.

What can be done if such a situation is the reality? Sit with your children and write a sort of life guide—a guide that is as detailed as possible, that will contain cases and consequences, what to do when things happen in a certain way, how to deal with some difficulties they are likely to encounter in life, and how to react when certain kinds of problems arise. Everything that has not been absorbed into their minds and hearts during their childhood years must now be written.

We as parents should also be prepared to face the new situation of our children leaving home, and how to adjust to being empty-nesters. When they move out on their own and have not communicated with us for a long time, we will probably feel very hurt.

Perhaps we have no right to feel hurt because this is the result of the way that we educated them. Their behavior does not mean that they intend to hurt us, but it is now only our ego that demands attention from them. Apparently, we failed to instill in them good examples of concern for others and reciprocity in relationships.

After addressing our adult children’s deficits and our own loneliness, what we can still do is to call them daily to gauge how they sound, whether they need anything, and to offer help or to give good advice. After a period of time during which they get used to us calling them, we can say something along the lines of: “We do not know if we can call tomorrow, but we would be very happy for you to call us.” And so, little by little, the habit of mutual bonding will be formed.

In a nutshell, it is a natural part of life that when our children grow and progress, they will become independent and start a new life on their own. What we need to always keep in mind is that our job is to give them a sense of security, guidance for their future life, and a sense that we are behind them no matter what. There should be a clear guarantee that although they leave our home, they never leave our hearts. And such an affirmation will be reciprocated.
[286173]

Filed under: Children, New Publications - No Comments →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “TV is a very powerful communication medium. Why do we use it to spread such unimportant information?“

Television is a source of information for the masses, and since the lowest and basest desires are what the masses have in common, then television mostly caters for such desires.

The problem, however, is not with the level of the masses.

If those behind TV programming would think about how to elevate the level of the masses, instead of being led by the lowest and basest desires, then it would become a great and respectable educational tool.

Instead, however, TV is mostly used to sell what the masses like, catering to their most common desires. The top priority of those behind TV programming is to profit as much as possible, which is achieved through selling as much as possible. Therefore, there is little to no consideration about the education of society and raising the consciousness of the masses.

If the people behind TV’s programming would consider humanity’s future, and together with psychologists and education experts, think about how to increase the consciousness of the masses, then TV would become a major means of raising a more harmonious and happy society. In fact, we can place our hopes for a better future into using our communication means in order to raise human consciousness. Authorities should ideally put an end to such a lowly use of the means of mass information as it exists today, and seek to replace it with programming aimed at raising human consciousness. The course to humanity’s positive future depends on the expansion of such education, which TV and other mass media can aid if their owners so choose.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

In the News (BBC.org): “Solving climate change would be ‘the most amazing thing humanity has ever done’, says the billionaire founder of Microsoft.

Question: If you would write him a letter, what would you say in it?

Answer: I would tell him this: “Bill, you are a good American guy, and I am glad that your heart hurts for the future of humanity once you are no longer alive. And you are not trying to fly far to other planets like Elon Musk to create some colonies there.

But you see, everything that you propose must be based on the change of man. Change the world, we have come to such a state when changing the world depends only on changing man. Directly! One to one.

So, you want the climate to improve? Change the person. You want less emissions—oil, gas and so on? Change the person. You want people to have less AIDS and all sorts of other diseases? Change the person.

You must put this in your head as the true, real, primary cause of everything because a person can do everything in the world except change himself.

How to change yourself? There is such a technique. It must be taught, it must be put into practice. Then we can actually change the world. Changing the world is in changing the person. Only!”

Question: So you propose to start studying your science?

Answer: I propose the study of the science of Kabbalah and to try more and more with its help to see how we can actually change the world. And changing the world can happen only by changing the person.

For example: if tomorrow you make some new discoveries and can neutralize half of all emissions into the atmosphere, it will not change anything in the end. It will not change! It seems to you that this will be a huge leap forward? No, it will not. You will see; everything that we do on earthly level will not help. It is necessary to change the person himself.

And this is already a complex solution. Only by bringing a person to a state where he can realize which of his actions are fatal to humanity and which are to its benefit can you change our future.

Otherwise what? Will you forbid everyone to use the oven, microwave, or own a car? It is impossible. It is necessary to change a person, his attitude toward himself, toward the environment.

A person should feel that if it is harmful, it should not be used! And he has practically no such prohibitions today. With him, all these prohibitions amount to: “more expensive versus cheaper.” So through all sorts of taxes, by anything, you will not achieve a thing. They will slip away anyway.

Comment: Still, he is not a stupid person. I think he would have asked you: “Dr. Laitman, you yourself say that this is human nature. If this is human nature, can it really be changed?”

My Response: This is the only method, and Kabbalah offers it. A method for changing, truly changing, a person. Therefore, it is the most ancient, the toughest science. But it is the only science that can actually cope with a person.

Question: What should a person understand?

Answer: Man is the center of this world. He can destroy it, he can destroy himself, or on the contrary, he can revive. That is, we need to make sure that a person understands that it is in his power and where he leads this world with each of his actions.

This is education.
[282102]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 4/5/21

Related Material:
21st Century: Looking At The Root Of The Problem
Want To Change The World? Change Yourself
By Changing Ourselves, We Are Changing The World

Filed under: Crisis, Globalization, News - No Comments →

Comprehension of the Creator and Physical Sensations

Question: What physical sensations accompany attainment of the Creator?

Answer: There are no physical sensations in attaining the Creator since this attainment takes place at the next level of our perception. This is a sensation that shines on a person in reflected light. A person perceives it only in the quality of bestowal.

Question: But perhaps when attaining the Creator, does a person’s heart rate increase or does something change in the normal functioning of the body?

Answer: I did not measure my blood pressure or pulse, but it is quite possible that there are such external changes. However, a person does not pay attention to them; he is above physical sensations.
[250880]
From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” 6/23/19

Related Material:
How To Feel The Creator, Part 3
How To Feel The Creator, Part 2
How To Feel The Creator, Part 1

Filed under: Spiritual Work - No Comments →

Question: There is kosher and non-kosher food. What does it mean?

Answer: Kosher means usable, suitable, for human consumption. It represents the absorption of the upper light. Therefore, this food must be kosher, that is, special, prepared in a specific way. This refers to the next level of a person getting closer to the Creator.

Kosher are those types of domestic animals that have an inner loop of digestion. By swallowing food, they go to a repeated round. This suggests that any food they have does not slip from top to bottom, therefore they symbolize the right intention.

All actions of the upper world are reflected on the animate level. A person who is at the level of spiritual attainment, can look at a fish or some kind of animal and immediately tell whether it is a kosher or non-kosher animal.

Question: If we say that food symbolizes an abundance of upper light, then can I allow myself some forms of pleasure from the connection with the Creator and some forms I cannot?

Answer: Yes, non-kosher food represents such forms that it is impossible to accept with the intention for bestowal. That is why we do not use them.

Comment: It is said that it will be possible to eat everything at the end of correction.

My Response: Absolutely everything. Therefore, this will be the end of correction.
[285318]
From KabTV’s “Spiritual States” 7/9/21

Related Material:
Kosher Animals
Kosher, Suitable To Serve The Creator
New Life 682 – What Is Kashrut?

Filed under: Spiritual Work - No Comments →

Question:  Does evil bounce back to the person who perpetrates evil: kills, maims, and hates? There are so many evil-doers in the world! And they do not suffer, but to the contrary, they only get richer and live happily ever after. And we are barely making ends meet. Where is justice?

Answer: There is no justice in our everyday, egoistic concept. And there is no need to expect any of this: who would take revenge on someone and make all these sinners burn while I watch and gloat.

There is no such thing! Because all this is done by the single upper force in order to bring everyone to an equal state so that the evil that was revealed would be balanced by the good and not disappear in exchange for some punishments. Everything is necessary.

Question: And what should I do when I see evil? This indignant person who sees a terrible, huge evil in the world, can he cope with his feeling?

Answer: First relate it to the Creator and not to people. And then relate it to yourself. Because if you had the right intentions, desires, and properties, you would see not evil but good. You should have seen the opposite world.

Question: We should take these two steps: attribute everything to the Creator and then attribute it to yourself? And the picture will begin to appear?

Answer: If only it would appear so quickly and simply…

Question: Does it actually take years?

Answer: It depends on the person. It depends on how much a person, despite his egoism, wants to glue himself to the truth.

Question: If he blames the world all the time, then this will not happen?

Answer: Of course, by this he accuses the Creator.

Question: And if he wants not to blame the Creator but to find himself in this matter?

Answer: Then he will reveal the right attitude.
[277554]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman”11/26/20

Related Material:
Pursue Justice
How To Reach Social Justice
How To Cleanse The Justice System And Who Is A True Judge?

Filed under: News, Perception - No Comments →

Question: If there are obstacles on the way to achieve a material goal, how can we understand if it is a hint from the Creator to stop or to continue pursuing it?

Answer: If we are talking about moving toward a material goal, then you must act following what exists in this world: either avoid obstacles, or jump over, or stop. This has nothing to do with Kabbalah.

You cannot now, with the initial knowledge of Kabbalah that you have, begin to realize material problems in any way.

Do not confuse one with the other. You are engaged in studying Kabbalah—study it. Do not try to bring something from there into your life. Life is still separate from Kabbalah for now.

Gradually, with development in the spiritual ten, you will see how you are changing. Then your attitude to the world will change and so will the problems, including material ones.
[285458]
From KabTV’s “Videoconference”

Related Material:
The Corporeal World Has Its Own Laws
Don’t Ask For The Death To The Wicked
Don’t Be Afraid

Filed under: Spiritual Work - No Comments →

Preparation to the Lesson

Lesson on the Topic “Annulling Before the Upper One” 

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “The Essence of Religion and Its Purpose”

Lesson on the Topic “Preparation for the Convention”

Selected Highlights

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson - No Comments →

Question: How can I properly love my neighbor as myself if I understand that I am naturally subject to the Creator?

Answer: If you understand that it is impossible to love your neighbor in any way because you love only yourself and the Creator gives you everything, then you should turn to Him. That’s all.

Only the Creator is to blame for what is happening in your country and in the whole world in general. He does all this so that we turn to Him and ask Him to change our nature.

After all, with the change of our nature by the Creator, at our own request, there is the attainment of the highest degree of governance from where all the signals descend. Thus, we rise higher and higher to His level of governance. The Creator is a global law, a global force of nature, that includes everything in itself, generates and controls absolutely everything.

By ascending to Him, we can feel the lower layers in ourselves that we rise above. That is why He arranged everything. That is what it is said: “I created an evil inclination, and you will figure out where it came from, and who can fix it.” Any evil, any bad manifestation, comes from the Creator only in order for us to start turning to Him.

It’s very simple. We just need to get together and start implementing it.

Moreover, it is very difficult for one person to do this; he must be in a group of like-minded people. After all, with the support of the group when everyone pushes and correctly directs each other to the Creator, gathers in tens, and forms a common system between you, you will be able to squeeze out such an appeal to the Creator that will force Him to change His attitude toward you.

The Creator specifically gives us problems so that we ask Him to change us. And He Himself cannot change, He is the absolute. He can change us so that we begin to understand His nature and His attitude toward us as good and kind.

To the extent that our egoistic nature changes to an altruistic one, we begin to see the world, ourselves, and everyone around us as kind, pleasant, and united. But, first of all, we must support each other in turning to the Creator, and only in order for Him to correct us.

Usually, the Creator is asked to change Himself and treat us better. And Kabbalah teaches us how to turn to the Creator so that He corrects us. And then we will understand that He treats us correctly and well. As we change, we will begin to feel it.

For example, a child does not like how his parents treat him, all the time limiting and instructing him. But when he gets smarter, he understands that this is for his own good and he accepts everything correctly. So let’s try to be good children.
[285534]
From KabTV’s “Videoconference”

Related Material:
An Impetus To Turn To The Creator
Constantly Turn To The Creator
If We Turn To The Creator, We Can Achieve Anything!

Filed under: Prayer and Intention, Spiritual Work - No Comments →