Audio Version Of The Blog – 11/13/23
Posted on November 13th, 2023
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Michael Laitman on the Times of Israel: “What Are the Main Challenges That Israel Faces Today?”
Several Kabbalistic sources emphasize the need for the people of Israel to unite like a family. Especially on tragic days, the truth of this message becomes apparent, and it is important to clarify that the family is not one of blood relations, but a family that transcends blood ties. It is about everyone coming to feel that the person standing beside them is part of the same family.
We all need to sense that we are parts of a single unified entity. When we achieve such unity, we not only overcome our apparent enemies outside of us, but more significantly, we rise over our internal enemy: the egoistic desires within us that constantly pull in the direction of detaching from others and using everyone and everything outside of us for the sake of personal benefit.
The idea of uniting above our egos when we are all individuals with different backgrounds, personalities and worldviews—including many that oppose and resist the others—can seem like an impossible task. However, we need to raise awareness that we can be victorious in bringing about a harmonious and peaceful life for all solely through the achievement of such unity. If we set aside our contradictions and differences, recognizing that we are one interconnected whole, then we can overcome our internal struggles, and by doing so, we will find that we have no more enemies outside of us.
A key stage in the development of the people of Israel was when we accepted upon ourselves the pact to stand “as one man with one heart” at the foot of Mount Sinai. We were faced with a life-and-death choice: “Either unite now or face dire consequences.” Today, we once again face a challenge of immense magnitude, and it is imperative for us to understand that we need to unite above all else.
We need to recognize that we play host to an egoistic inclination that constantly makes us want our own opinion to override everyone else’s. While this ego is indeed a problem, we should not try to subdue or eliminate it, because it is our very nature. On the contrary, together with recognizing its determinant force in drawing inwardly to ourselves, we need to develop a supportive and encouraging atmosphere around us where we raise the need to unite above our egoistic inclination as being of much greater importance, i.e., as a matter of life and death. If we fail to unite above our egoistic inclination and simply drift away with its divisive views and opinions, then we are bound to find ourselves again in situations where we suddenly awaken to an onslaught of enemies outside of us, similar to what we experienced in the tragic events of October 7, 2023.
Therefore, now that we are in the midst of a severe state of war, we need to deal with the situation at hand and also raise awareness of what can prevent such extreme states from materializing in the future. It all points to our need to unite above our divisions.
What steps should each of us take to achieve this unity? Simply put, we should each shift our focus away from ourselves and onto others. For instance, today there are several stories of selflessness that emerge from the frontlines, where people risk their own lives for the sake of other people. These acts demonstrate the inclination to rise above ourselves. When we hold a strong sense of the need to be there for one another in such a way, then we can unite and succeed. True success comes when we unite “as one man with one heart” above our divisive egoistic drives.
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All that your hand and strength can do, do.
Question: How can we reach a state where we feel we have already done everything in our power and come to a prayer? How can we grab it and hold on to it?
Answer: To do this, you have a group that you need to connect with and bring to a state of equivalence to the Creator where it is completely and correctly connected. Then you can begin to work with the Creator through this group.
In a correctly connected group, everyone will participate and aim for a common goal—to unite in the center of the group, as in one heart.
Question: Is this within my power?
Answer: Everyone can and should do this.
Question: What does it mean that a strong desire does not allow other desires to enter?
Answer: If you have any desires that are not aimed at reaching the goal of creation, they prevent you from reaching it. They must be neutralized, and then you can work with the desire for the purpose of creation.
[319915]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/28/23, “Conduct War Like King David”
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Hence, when one has accustomed oneself to walk in ways of bestowal, one has no vessels of reception anyhow. When one walks in ways of reception, he has no vessels of bestowal (Baal HaSulam, Shamati 15 “What Is Other Gods in the Work?”).
Question: What are the stones to weigh with? Are they just our internal thoughts, scrutinies, or actions in the group?
Answer: It is both thoughts and feelings, as well as the relationships between us and between us and the Creator—all together.
Question: It is unclear how both the Kelim of bestowal and the Kelim of reception are acquired with the help of weighing stones?
Answer: It depends solely on the intention. It does not matter whether I am receiving or giving. What matters most is my intention: for the sake of the Creator or for my own sake.
Question: And how are the stones to weigh with helping here? For example, I want to be in the quality of bestowal, in connection with friends, but then some disturbances arise, and this is what pushes me away.
Answer: It is good that there are disturbances. If you resist them and go against them, you will definitely come to the quality of bestowal. By resisting disturbances, you are already acquiring Kelim of bestowal.
To resist disturbances means to justify the Creator. When external thoughts come to you, the questions “who” and “what,” the Creator observes how you respond to them.
Question: But these thoughts are about friends. Does that mean that I have to justify my friends first?
Answer: It does not matter. Even if there are several actions, ultimately, one specific thought is being pursued.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/26/23, Writings of Baal HaSulam “What Is Other Gods in the Work?“
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Question: Due to what does desire for the Creator become longing for Him?
Answer: It is due to the fact that a person sees how the Creator watches him, how He leads him from state to state, higher and higher, and therefore, he is imbued with love and gratitude to the Creator.
You must try to recognize within each picture that our world presents to you, the Creator’s desire for you.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah lesson 10/31/23, “Conduct War Like King David”
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A student asked the master, “You said that if I understand who I am, I will become wise. But how do I do that?” The teacher replied, “To begin with, take away from people the right to decide who you are. One will say you are bad, and you will believe him and get upset. Another will say you are good, and you will rejoice. Whether they praise or criticize you, believe in you, or betray you, as long as they have the right to decide who you are, you won’t find yourself. Take away this right from them, and from me, too.” (Parable)
Question: Is it possible to be free from the opinions of others?
Answer: When I see how others judge the world, me, my teacher, and my science, it does, of course, sadden me to a great extent. But in principle, it does not last long or affect me significantly. I find a perfectly sensible answer to it.
Question: Doesn’t it motivate you to make changes?
Answer: No, not at all! That is long gone!
Comment: This means they can no longer change you.
My Response: No one can.
Question: Explain to someone who worries that any opinions can change him. How can he manage to stand firm, avoid all traps, criticism, and so on, and keep moving forward?
Answer: It may take years to achieve this. But I took this upon myself many years ago, and it no longer bothers me.
Question: So you latched onto a goal, a teacher, and that’s it? You couldn’t be swayed by any means?
Answer: By no means.
Question: So in reality, does a person need to hold onto something firmly?
Answer: Yes, to hold on tightly.
Question: Even when doubts arise?
Answer: Doubts come intentionally to make a person hold on.
Question: Is it possible to find oneself without the influence of others? After all, you had a teacher; there was an influence.
Answer: Without the influence of the teacher on me, I am nobody!
Question: But you were looking for someone who would influence you. How can you determine if it’s the right kind of influence you seek?
Answer: During the first few years with him, I still traveled, visited other places, and tried to find out what suited me.
Comment: You are talking about yourself right now.
My Response: Yes, about me and my teacher! And I asked him, “How do I know that you are real? In the thousands of years that Kabbalah has existed, how many like you have there been? Where are they, where are their students, and what happened to them?” He said, “I don’t know.”
Question: Is this called “teacher’s help” to answer like this: “I don’t know”?
Answer: Yes. You have to check for yourself.
Question: So, he doesn’t try to prove anything; he says, “Check it yourself”?
Answer: Exactly.
Question: So was his influence on you like this: “See if it suits you or not”?
Answer: We sit down, we read, we talk, but we don’t delve into anything personal.
Question: Does personal mean whether it’s your place or not?
Answer: Yes.
Question: So do these clarifications take quite a while for a person?
Answer: Gradually, you grab hold more and more, then let go, fall, and then rise and grab hold again. And like this you move forward.”
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 8/31/23
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Question: On one hand we ask for mercy in the ten, for the Creator to connect us. On the other hand, we are grateful for all the judgments that are coming down on us. How do we equalize these two forces in order to receive the middle line for the correct prayer?
Answer: The judgments descending on us are the obstacles that we must overcome in order to properly build ourselves in one desire. Then we will be exactly like the Creator. That is all.
We need to understand that the Creator’s impact on us is necessary only in order to properly attune us.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/28/23, Writings of Rabash ‘What Is, “The Shechina Is a Testimony to Israel,” in the Work?’
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Comment: The problem is that before we turn to the Creator, we suffer for a very long time. We make a lot of personal scrutinies until we come to the understanding that we have to give Him this work.
My Response: And who is to blame that you do not appeal to Him?
Question: How do we catch the point of connection with the Creator in order to reduce the number of internal scrutinies and turn to Him faster?
Answer: Only with the help of a group when all of you tell each other that you need to annul, bow your head, and ask the Creator to correct you. Only in this case will you reach success.
How important your friends are to you and how impressed you are with them, determines how much you will speed up your path.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/28/23, “Conduct War Like King David”
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Question: What is required of us so that the Creator holds us and there is a spiritual connection in the ten?
Answer: It requires bonding between you so that you are united by hearts. When you feel like such a ten, then it will be possible to turn to the Creator about mutual work.
Question: When we read the sources, there is so much faith in them that it enters and accompanies us all the time. How do we not lose it, but add to it, if we can add anything at all to the faith of the sages?
Answer: Of course you can, if you hold on to each other.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/28/23, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Confidence Is the Clothing for the Light“
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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How can we prevent future wars?“
The suffering and sorrow in the present war should awaken the feeling that we lack positive human connection.
If we want to prevent future wars, then we need to connect harmoniously to each other, and to relate to such connection with paramount importance.
Moreover, in our closeness, we should discover a state of mutual responsibility. That is, if one person does something detrimental to others, then we all take responsibility for that act—that we have yet to create the required unifying spirit throughout society that would make everyone willingly rise above their divisive and negative drives.
We should thus pray with all of our strength for our hearts to soften and understand that only our heart-to-heart connection can save humanity. We can then progress to a state of world peace.
Based on the video “How to Prevent Future Wars” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
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