It is said that “Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor in it in vain” (Rabash, “What Is, ‘There Is No Blessing in That Which Is Counted,’ in the Work?”).

This means one should not expect that a person can build his own soul, Temple, or house of holiness in which he will reveal the connection with all creatures, with all souls, and with the Creator who fills them in order to return to the state of one soul—Adam HaRishon, to one Kli, and to one light where all are merged together and support each other.

If the Creator does not build this structure, does not arrange it, does not fill it, and does not support it, then a person has no hope of making any progress in this.

I, individually, am not able to build a spiritual Kli out of my uncorrected desires, but at the same time I say: “If I don’t help myself, then no one will help me.” Only if I make every possible effort and eventually despair, only then will I be able to ask the Creator to build me a house of holiness and say that “Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor in it in vain.”

To build a Temple means to correct all the qualities of a person in similarity of form with the Creator. And then, according to the similarity of their qualities, the Creator will fill this house, the human heart.

When we really make every effort, we see that we are unable to connect with each other for the sake of bestowal, so that we can relay to each other and to the Creator all together. We are not able to build a Temple, meaning, a connection suitable for revealing the Creator in us. Then we shout: “Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor in it in vain”! And we get help from above.

The Creator does it. He does not help any one individually, but only all together; building the connection out of all of us, which is called the house of holiness, the structure of the soul, within which, according to the strength of our connection, the Creator, the internal light, is revealed.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/30/22, “Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor in it in vain”

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If you look at the entire history of mankind, it is clear that people have always strived to improve the conditions of their existence in human society; meaning, they were looking for how to exist together.

Wars ended and peace was established for a short time, but then they started again. And until now humanity does not understand how to come to a good life, peace, harmony, and rapprochement between nations.

It is clear to everyone that if we give up mutual claims and reach mutual understanding, then life will be better. But we are not able to do this because of our egoism. Within everyone there is an egoist with his desire to enjoy that opposes his connection with others.

After all, connection presupposes my willingness to help another and his willingness to help me so that we are like one person with no calculation of what benefits I will receive and what he will receive, but only to make sure that it is good for everyone.

This formula is not clear to us, and we are not able to implement it to even a minimal extent. Therefore humanity is constantly looking for ways to approach the state of universal connection in which everyone will support each other and provide everyone with a good and safe life—children, women, and men. With this agreement, the globe will be able to provide all of us with its resources; it will only be necessary to distribute them correctly and kindly so that everyone has enough.

Subconsciously, humanity understands that it would be better for everyone. But at the same time, for thousands of years we have been increasingly disconnected and do not think at all about how to fulfill this natural condition of living in brotherly love as one person.

But more than once over thousands of years of ordeals, humanity has had this idea of how wonderful life would be if we could get closer, unite, and take care of each other. How much it would spare us suffering and the exhaustion of strength and resources. All the work could be done together easily and with pleasure, confidently and joyfully.

Mankind has been talking about this and thinking about it for a long time, and in fact at some point in ancient times, in different parts of the world, there were such communities that acted together as communes. They existed until egoism exploded in each of these communes and destroyed all harmony and unity.

Today we are at a stage when all these attempts have already been passed and discarded: extreme right-wing ideas and extreme leftist, radicalism, capitalism, socialism, anarchism, etc. In all these formations, there was not a single principle that we could keep so that it would more or less satisfy everyone.

And that is why, since the end of the twentieth century, the science of Kabbalah has begun to be revealed to mankind, and it is being revealed especially decisively today. Before that, Kabbalah, in contrast to all other methods, was hidden and banned for distribution. Kabbalists carefully concealed it and waited for the time when humanity would understand that existence is possible only if it rises above its egoistic desire, its nature.

Today we can already say that we have tried all the methods and all the techniques, attempted to implement them, and we are convinced that it is impossible. What remains is only to follow the science of Kabbalah. Only a little involvement is required on our part, but in the end all corrections must be revealed from above, which means from nature itself.

That is why we have gathered here in order to try, through our connection, to achieve the joy of awakening, in which all the dreams and hopes that have accompanied humanity for the many thousands of years of its life in this world are realized in the optimal, best form. Then humanity will see that we are finally coming to the right decision.

The upper force, the upper light, the Creator, shines on us and we feel His impact since the closest to Him according to the nature of creation, the root of our soul, is the so-called “point in the heart.”

Therefore we are obliged to approach the Creator and help the process of development from our side so that it comes not only from the side of the upper force, which wants to bring together and unite all the parts of creation, but also on account of those parts of creation itself that are awakening in our time, which is why it is called the “last generation.”

These are not only select individuals as it was for thousands of years in previous generations. A lot of people have been awakened today, both men and women. They are ready to work on their internal changes in order to raise the whole of humanity from its current degree, where it has existed until now in suffering and troubles, to a sublime beautiful state, to understanding and awareness, to a huge revelation of the perfect state, to attainment of the nature of the Creator.

There is no other force except Him, the good who does good, who loves everyone. And we have to get closer to this love and become incorporated in it. This is what we need to learn so that love reigns between us, and then the Creator will reveal Himself between us.

I hope we are close to this revelation. Everything depends on our efforts. It is necessary to reveal love between us so that it fills up all the space between us. And then the Creator will manifest within this love, which we are preparing for His revelation. Go ahead and good luck!
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From the World Kabbalah Convention “Celebrating the Joy of Connection 8/28/22, “Deriving Joy from Unity with the Creator,” Lesson 3

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Know that before the emanated beings were emanated and the created beings created, an upper, simple light had filled the entire reality. …

It refers to the light that expands from the Creator Himself. Know that all the names and appellations that appear in the wisdom of Kabbalah are not at all in the Creator Himself, but only in the light that expands from His self (Baal HaSulam, Study of the Ten Sefirot, Vol. 1, Part 1, Chapter 1, “Restriction and Line“).

The Creator is the source of all there is. What is emanated from Him is called light.

It is not about our physical light, but about the emanation that comes from the Creator. When a person begins to feel the influence of light on himself, the light acting upon him gradually makes him similar to the Creator. That is, light carries a special energy, a special quality and the one it influences turns into some semblance of the Creator.

This is expressed in the qualities of a person, which he suddenly begins to feel in how he changes and in how he depicts for himself the surrounding space, our world, the upper world, and so on.

These are the qualities of bestowal and love that he receives from the influence of the upper light.

Question: Does it mean that he gradually begins to love everyone?

Answer: Yes. He begins to feel absolutely all the universe around him and feels that he belongs to it because one single light creates all this. A person who attains the upper light reveals everything as one single work of light.

His love, first of all, is directed to the source of light, to the Creator.

Question: So, when a person studies TES, will the quality of love for the Creator eventually be revealed in him?

Answer: Possibly. This is how it should be, but not right away.
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From KabTV’s “The Study of the Ten Sefirot” (TES), 8/14/22

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Question: How were the interconnections in ancient Babylon arranged? What were the people doing there?

Answer: It was an ordinary, primitive society. They lived very simply. Babylonians ate mainly fish, as they lived in a valley at the confluence of two rivers: the Tigris and the Euphrates. They grew buckwheat and some wheat.

In principle, the birthplace of wheat is Israel. But the very first time it appeared was in ancient Babylon, as noted in the documents. The Babylonians baked barley bread, ate fish, garlic, olives, and olive oil, and drank water and wine. That was enough for them.

Question: And what did they do in general? Did they exist like animals?

Answer: Man did little in general, except for the last hundred years when he suddenly began to work according to the current system.

In those days there was a lot of unproductive work and everything flowed slowly and calmly. This was the case in all countries. And what did Indians do? What did Asians or Africans do?

It is nowadays that everything goes by minutes and charts because it is even better if the mechanisms work without stopping, and therefore, the problem of unemployment has naturally arisen. It had never happened before because people did not work at such a pace.

Even 150 or 200 years ago, what did man do? How much could he produce in a day and at what pace did he work? Naturally, in the world there was no such abundance and overproduction (with which it is not clear what to do) as there is now.

Comment: I remember that back in the days of the Soviet Union, there was a very narrow assortment of goods. And then American, Chinese, and Turkish products appeared, the range expanded.

My Response: It was all very good and attractive for a time. And today, both men and women are dressed in “rags,” walk in sneakers, and no one pays attention to beautiful, decent clothes. It even becomes somewhat provocative because it shows how empty you are inside if you are so dressy on the outside. Even at all sorts of diplomatic receptions, everywhere.

A university teacher gives lectures almost wearing shorts. Where is this polish, jacket, tie, and white shirt? Not to mention the students at all. In the 50s and 60s, there was no such thing as a student not wearing a suit and tie. I remember myself! I had to dress like this. And today…

But all this is correct because the focus is changing for different values, from external to internal. Now a person is not judged by appearances.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Ancient People and Cultures of the Past” 3/8/13

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Question: What do you mean by fruit?

Answer: In our world, in order to get the fruits of plants, it is necessary to grow a tree for a long time, to perform certain manipulations on it, to care for, to fertilize it, to water it, and so on. And when we reach the full ripening of the fruit, then we can use it.

In the spiritual world, the fruit means real knowledge. Spiritual knowledge is knowledge about everything that surrounds us, about external and internal forces, and most importantly, about their source—the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “Spiritual States” 8/21/22

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Comment: If you look at how society as a whole has developed, then, in principle, people have always been busy plowing fields, etc. They always engaged in physical labor.

My Response: And now the work is different; it flows into spiritual work. We can do everything else effortlessly with the help of automation, machinery, 3D printers, etc. so much so that it will not be difficult for anyone.

People move into a completely different environment, into a different production process—a spiritual one.

If we can do everything for ourselves with the help of information, media, all kinds of volumetric printers, interaction with each other, and everything else, then can you imagine where our development is pulling us? In general, we are moving to a completely different way of existence. We are moving away from matter.

Soon this matter should disappear altogether. Everything will pass into the world of forces. You will live at the level of the forces that bind you to others. And all kinds of material volumes will not take up space in your senses. The sensory organs will become more and more aware of the power manifestations of interconnections at the level of forces, not at the level of objects.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. If You Lost Your Job” 3/13/14

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Can drug addicts be cured?“

A global solution to drug addition depends on society at large.

We first need to build society so that it is based on ties of mutual consideration, support, encouragement and positive connections, such that people would not want to disconnect themselves from society. We would then feel a harmonious, warm and peaceful surrounding force in society, and then everyone in society would want to give themselves over to such a force, and not detach from it.

Drugs push us to detach from reality, and if we felt our surrounding reality as filled with a positive force, then we would not want to detach from it.

Creating such a positive enveloping umbrella over society depends on the extent of our mutual integration with society—how much we belong to society, and how much society is a part of us—and also on how loyal society is to its values of positive connection and mutual consideration, support and encouragement.

If such factors click into place, then we will feel as if we are all connected, and in our connection, we would accumulate the positive force dwelling in nature—a warm, strong and appealing force that would embrace us all.

Based on the video “Can Drug Addicts be Cured?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Preparation to the Lesson

Lesson on the Topic “Living In a World of Intentions”

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “From the Mouth of a Sage” 

Selected Highlights

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Michael Laitman, On The Times of Israel: “Who gave you the right?”

Once a week, filmmaker Semion Vinokur interviews me on a program called Novosti (News). In the program, Semion asks about current affairs and presents viewers’ comments. In the previous show, he presented a poignant question from a viewer who called herself (or perhaps himself) Her. Below is a translated transcript of the question with Semion’s follow-up questions, and my answers.

Question: Her writes to you as follows: I keep hearing in your clips that you say that only the Jews can change the world. Why do you take such a responsibility on your nation? And also, who gave you the right to do this? Please answer my question and don’t tell me that it is written in the Torah.

Answer: Because the method for correcting the world lies with the Jews. It was handed to us thousands of years ago.

Question: You see, we are only making ourselves stand out!

Answer: Can we make ourselves stand out more than we have been standing out throughout history?

Question: Yes, but it brings upon us resentment!

Answer: I understand this, but it is better to understand that this is the truth, and that you are hated precisely because of this. In other words, I accept their conclusion and say, “Yes, you are right, the problem is with us, we are to blame.”

Question: So we cannot run away from this?

Answer: No, no. However, killing us will also not make things easier on the world; it is better if we listen and reflect on how we can really use this eternal truth.

Question: There is no proof of what you are saying

Answer: If we, Israel, do what we must, there will be proof.

Question: But in the meantime, for many people, these are just words.

Answer: Of course, but on the other hand, they can say, “Oh, so this is why we hate them, that means we are right to hate them.”

Question: But what if a person doesn’t hate Jews? Many people don’t hate Jews, and we are basically telling them, “You do hate Jews!” We make a lot of clips of this kind with you, and the responses are always along the same line: “Chosen? The chosen people? Who gave you the right? Why are you so sure of that?”

Answer: But they themselves are saying it, all of humanity! Humanity has a special attitude toward Jews, a special opinion, a special demand. This matter has been with us for thousands of years; it is time to stop covering it and pretend like it doesn’t exist.

Question: So what should a non-Jew do if he wants to hear what you are saying?

Answer: He should simply listen to what I am saying.

Question: Even if he is not Jewish?

Answer: It makes no difference whether he is Jewish or not.

Question: But you are saying that the Jews have to do something specific!

Answer: Right. the Jews must know what distinguishes them, and accordingly, reveal their uniqueness to the nations of the world. Then, together with the rest of the nations, they must take upon themselves the transformation of all of humanity, of nature, of everything that exists.

Question: Transformation from what and into what?

Answer: Transformation from humanity’s absolute egoism, as we see today, into its opposite, into connection.

Question: Is this the task of the Jews?

Answer: Precisely this is upon the Jews to do.

Question: What about the rest of the nations?

Answer: The rest of the nations of the world should listen to what the Jews are saying because perhaps they [Jews] have a point, perhaps this is what can save us.

Question: But very few Jews speak about connection and changing our nature; the majority of Jews say nothing of the kind.

Answer: The majority do not know about their responsibility or understand their task; they are like everyone else.

Question: Their task is to connect and present it to the world?

Answer: Yes.

Question: OK, we will keep discussing it, as always; perhaps they will listen, and perhaps not.

Answer: They will listen, for sure.

Question: What makes you so hopeful?

Answer: I hang my hope on the fact that the world will not change just like that. It will not transition into a new state instantaneously. But in the end, nature will force all the nations of the world, and primarily the Jews, to think about what it really means to correct the world, and what we should come to, and first of all the Jews.

Question: Clear, but it is not simple.

Answer: It is not simple, but we are running out of time.

—

*For more elaborate explanations on the role of the Jewish people in the world, look in my books, Like a Bundle of Reeds: Why unity and mutual guarantee are today’s call of the hour, and The Jewish Choice: Unity or Anti-Semitism, Historical facts on anti-Semitism as a reflection of Jewish social discord.
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