In the News (rfi.fr): “France is launching an experiment that uses virtual reality to stop men convicted of domestic violence from reoffending.

“Already tested in Spain, the technology offers a ‘total immersion’ experience by way of a headset that allows the offender to view things from the point of view of his victims. …

“‘It’s a kind of empathy machine’ that highlights the emotions felt by victims and ‘makes men understand fear,’ explained Guillaume Clere, founder of the Reverto start-up, which collaborated on the project with the French Justice Ministry. …

“‘Studies have shown the correlation between low cognitive empathy and violence,’ Clère told AFP. …

“The headset device ‘has the ability to fool the brain’, explained Géraud de la Brosse, who is running the project for the French Directorate of Prison Administration.

“’It is a way to open a dialogue with the perpetrators,’ he told La Voix du Nord news site.”

Question:  The goal is to make criminals realize and feel that they have harmed others. Confront them with an aggressor who is like them and acts just like them. The idea is that they will find themselves in a position of weakness and understand what happened. Will they understand this?

Answer: This is, of course, an interesting idea—to put yourself in the shoes of the victim. This can be taught. I think this will help fix it.

Question: So they can suddenly realize and be horrified: “I was like this?!”?

Answer: Of course they will be horrified. If this is done correctly, then it will have a very strong impact.

Question: Do you think this is really a parenting moment?

Answer: This is the moment of education. After all through this you explain to the person and show him who he is.

Question: Can we say that this is the revelation of evil?

Answer: Of course this is the revelation of evil, the most real. I am for it. The idea is good. If the technique works, then this is very interesting. This immediately leads to repentance. And then, as a consequence of this to correction, remorse, and so on.

Question: Can we say that a person will no longer commit such a crime if this experiment passes?

Answer: No. I do not know how much this will affect a modern person who experiences constant external irritations that confuse him all the time, it depends on what they are and against what crimes it is used.
[289885]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/4/21

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Comment: Insects are no longer considered exotic food. Also food is getting more expensive now; everything is getting more expensive. Insects are considered an excellent source of protein without allergens or toxins. It is even said that protein supplements from insects are more beneficial for the body than meat.

I heard that producing one kilogram of protein from insects requires 500 times less water than producing one kilogram of protein from beef. There is a lot of such interesting data. About two billion people worldwide already include insects in their diets without any particular consequences.

To be honest, if I imagine eating a beetle, it is unappealing.

Answer: No, not just one beetle, you eat hundreds of beetles. They are ground up and well processed. And you are eating them in one form or another.

Question: So you think that one way or another we are getting closer to eating locusts and such?

Answer: There is no problem eating locusts at all. Locusts are kosher.

Question: So, Jews that keep kosher can eat locusts?

Answer: Of course!

Question: Man can eat anything, really. Even if he is disgusted by it, he can still consume it. Why?

Answer: Man is built like an animal. Therefore, he can eat all various protein compounds.

Question: What do you think we will be consuming, anyway? Let’s say humanity keeps growing. What are we going to eat?

Answer: There is no problem in the world regarding raising cows, steer, chickens, or anything else. No problem! It all depends on our desire, on our consent, on the level of society that we are building.

Question: And the fact that prices are rising and it is becoming less affordable? And hunger?

Answer: It is all a game.

Question: Whose game is it? Who is playing?

Answer: People are playing it.

Question: A third of the population is probably starving?

Answer: Probably, yes. Because people have an interest in it.

Question: So that some part starves? Why?

Answer: All this is being done, I would say, from above so that people would realize how vicious a society they live in is. What vicious qualities and relationships they live in.

I hope that we do realize the lowliness, the inferiority of those people who live today, including us, and that we will help each other rise a little. Then we can discuss whether we should catch bugs and eat them or not.

It is not about what we are going to eat. The question is “What will we be like?”

Question: And if we were, as you desire, corrected, kind to each other, then what?

Answer: Then we will transition to another state.

Question: But will we need to eat something?

Answer: No. We will not need anything. We will exist in a completely different reality, not this imaginary one, but a different, upper reality.

Question: What will sustain us?

Answer: The upper light. This is the real sustenance. Not some surrogates of our world.

Question: Then what is light?

Answer: The universal filling of everyone and everything.

Question: And one does not need anything else?

Answer: Nothing. That is how we are made.
[290741]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/8/21

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Question: Do people who predict certain events earlier than others still remain at the level of this world, this life?

Answer: Without a doubt. Moreover, they stop others in their spiritual development. And this is prohibited. It is said: “Do not bewitch and do not prophesize.”

You start studying external manifestations of stars, signs of the zodiac, and other matters instead of dealing with the higher one, the force that controls them. These signs are only a display of certain events.

Practical people have found connections between what will happen and all kinds of events. This is a huge historical practice that has come to us from the time when man was close to nature and could feel various signs, the connection between them, and what is happening or will happen.

As animals feel a few days in advance that there will be an earthquake or tsunami and run away from these places, so man once felt it, but not anymore.

Question: Is this the level about which Kabbalists say: “If you want to control your destiny, rise to its level”?

Answer: Of course not! It is not about running away from the tsunami. Then you would have to go back down to the animate level.

And we need to rise above these signs of good fortune. It is said: “Man is obliged to rise above the stars.” What does “higher” mean? He must rise to unite with the force that governs everything and become equal to it. And then he will be able to control his destiny.

The entire path of development from our state onward is the path of gradual development of the ability to control the entire universe like the Creator. That is, to the extent that I grow spiritually, I replace the Creator in this position.
[290846]
From KabTV’s “Close-Up. Fate and The Book of Zohar” 2/5/10

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The correct connection between men and women means that a woman gives a man her desire and a man can fulfill it correctly.

When they create a family together, the female part, the desire to create, manage, and continue the race, causes the need for action in the man. It is the same in spirituality; the female part, cleaving to the male, gives him the opportunity to move forward because only for this is he willing to work and do something.

In our world, this happens in slightly selfish and disfigured forms. But if it were not for women, then men would have been playing games all their lives or playing war, nothing else. And thanks to women, the world is somehow moving forward more rationally.

Therefore, there is no need to make any complaints toward either men or women or to accuse men of looking for an external, animal part in a woman, while a woman is looking for reliability, a future, and such in a man. These relationships between them come from nature.

Biologists, geneticists, and psychologists talk about this. That is, the female part is more rational, and the male part is more disconnected from life. And their correct balance is possible only if we grasp Kabbalah.
[291022]
From KabTV’s “Close-Up. Centaurs” 1/15/10

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Preparation to the Lesson

Writings of Baal HaSulam, Shamati #174 “Concealment” 

Writings of Baal HaSulam, Shamati #80 “Concerning Achor be Achor” 

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 92 

Selected Highlights

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Michael Laitman, On The Times of Israel: “Trump Calls a Spade a Spade”

The anger of many American Jews over Donald Trump’s remarks about American Jewry comes as no surprise to anyone. In a recent interview with an Israeli journalist, Trump quoted his father’s words that Jews used to have “a great love of Israel” but it had “dissipated over the years.” To this he added his own words: “I must be honest. It’s a very dangerous thing that’s happening. People in this country that are Jewish no longer love Israel.” He has said it before, and I think he is absolutely right when he says that the chasm between the State of Israel and American Jewry is very dangerous, not only for Israel, but also for American Jewry.

Many American Jews support anti-Israel movements such as BDS and Jewish Voice for Peace not only because they believe in the values that these entities purport to stand for. They support them because they are anti-Israel, and they are anti-Israel because they are ashamed of their own Jewishness. Every day, they move further away from Judaism until eventually they lose all connection to it.

When I say that they shun their Judaism, I am not talking about Jewish customs. I am sure many of them observe those, and still shun Israel. The shunning of Judaism has to do with rejecting the core of Judaism—the unity and mutual responsibility that Israel is obligated to show the world. Instead of caring for their brothers, they show concern for the enemies of their own tradition thinking that by doing so they are showing true Jewish values. Someone should tell them that their Muslim “friends” are not buying that. Muslims will not love them any better when they decide to wipe out the Jews.

This is the same type of Judaism that aroused the most intense hatred in the Nazis, and today’s American Jewry is going to great lengths to form a sequel. The few who understand this are moving out, some to Israel and others elsewhere. However, unless we unite above the chasms in our nation, there will be no safe haven for Jews.

When it comes to anticipating trouble, we have never been wise. We tend to bury our heads in the sand or sink into hubris and complacency. When trouble starts, it invariably gets worse and worse until there is a cataclysm. Only afterwards is there relief. It is all too bad that for all the times we have been through this scenario, we never seem to learn.

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In the News (apa.az): “The WHO believes that humanity has passed almost 60% of the way in the fight against COVID-19.

“Chief researcher of the organization Soumya Swaminathan, said that it is premature to predict the timing of the end of the pandemic, APA reports quoting freenews,

“Humanity will soon pass 60% of the way in the fight against COVID-19. However, unexpected obstacles may still be ahead, so it is premature to predict the timing of the end of the pandemic.”

Answer: We have not entered this path! In our attitude to our condition, to the pandemic, we have not entered it yet.

Question: So you consider that the beginning of the path is if we at least gradually approach the root?

Answer: The beginning of realization of the source of our problem, for example, the pandemic, and other problems, lies in us generally treating nature incorrectly, absolutely negatively.

We must realize that otherwise nature, which is the Creator, cannot push us to His goal except in this way.

Question: Through viruses?

Answer: Yes. Such terrible, ugly creatures like us can’t be pushed otherwise.

Question: So you are saying that we haven’t even entered this marathon yet?

Answer: No, of course not. We do not know the reason why we feel such blows from nature. We do not know the consequences of this. We do not know how to turn to nature, to the Creator. How can we control our condition, how can we say that we have made it 60% of the way?

There must be a revelation of evil, that we feel bad. This is not evil yet.

Evil is when I realize that it comes to me because I am an egoist, I communicate incorrectly with people and with nature, and therefore I cause such blows to myself. The realization of the way I am is the realization of evil and it is the realization that it is bad for me. We have not uncovered the cause. And without uncovering the cause of the disease, no WHO will help here.

We just need to realize this and start correctly demanding our correction from nature, and not its correction or changes.

Question: And this is the beginning of healing?

Answer: Yes. The medicine is in us.
[289967]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/11/21

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Question: What are your values in life?

Answer: I believe that the greatest value for a person is when nothing is imposed on him from the outside.

Question: What kind of sincere beliefs would you like to convey to all the people who watch you and read your writings?

Answer: I would like for them to understand that the most important thing in life is to have a good example in front of them.

Question: Do you have an area of life that you define as work?

Answer: Yes, perhaps for me it is everything.

Question: Can we say that your work and creativity go in the same direction?

Answer: Absolutely together, I do not do anything but work.

Question: Can you single out any values projected in your movement—work, creativity, etc.?

Answer: The most important thing for me is to be ready for work and to realize it.
[290863]
From KabTV’s “Kabbalah Express” 12/6/21

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Question: The founder of the company Toyota Sakichi Toyoda, used  “five whys analysis” for problem solving and is said to also apply it in everyday life.

Here is an example applied to if you want a fur coat.

1. Why do I want a fur coat?—Because I want to surprise everyone.

2. Why do you want to surprise everyone?—Because I want to be noticed.

3. Why do you need to be noticed?—Because I feel insecure.

4. Why do you feel insecure?—Because I cannot realize myself in any way.

5. Why can you not realize yourself?—Because I am doing something I do not like.

So tell me what does the fur coat have to do with it? We started from a fur coat.

What do you think about these whys?

Answer: Whys always lead us on and on. Actually, they lead to the question: “Why do I live, for what, for the sake of what?” And so on. They lead a person either to suicide or to revelation of the Creator.

Question: What kind of why questions would you ask now, to which you would reply “because”?

Answer: I do answer in this way all the time. Why do we feel so bad? Because we are incorrectly interconnected with each other.

Question: Why are we incorrectly interconnected with each other?

Answer: Because we are egoists.

Question: Why are we egoists?

Answer: Because we should go to the Creator with this question.

Question: Why should we go to Him?

Answer: He has all the answers. He has the keys to nature in His hands. He created egoism and created a method for correcting it. Thanks to the method of correcting egoism, we come to the best result.

Question: Does it mean that He is the cause of everything?

Answer: Of course. The root cause and all the causes in general.

Question: If humanity, for example, comes from the question “Why do we suffer?” in five steps to the answer “It is because of the Creator, because He created everything this way,” and then we understand why, then is this the very thing we need?

Answer: This will be the end.

Comment: You also went through those five whys and we have come to the Creator.

My Response: Yes.
[290869]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/4/21

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