How Plato Turned Kabbalah into Philosophy

272Question: In 414 BCE, the prophet Jeremiah, one of the four greatest prophets and Kabbalists, lived in northern Egypt during the time of the First Temple. During this period, a young Greek philosopher named Aristokl, later called Plato, studied with him.

Plato recalls: “I was with Jeremiah in Egypt, and initially I was mocking him and his words, and in the end, once I become accustomed to speaking with him and to watch his actions carefully, I saw that his words were words of the living God. Then, I said in my heart, and I established, that he was a sage and prophet.”

The question is: Does this mean that the wisdom of the prophet and Kabbalist was open at that time to other nations?

Answer: Yes, because they were also at an appropriate spiritual level. It means that Plato practically understood who he was dealing with; therefore, this wisdom could be revealed to him.

Question: Why was the wisdom later closed off? Why was Kabbalah closed to the world?

Answer: There are periods in the development of humanity. Initially, it was simple, and there were closer ties between nations without significant differences. But then, alienation between them occurred more and more. Each went their own way, and eventually, there was such a separation that continues to develop to this day.

Question: Where did this prohibition come from? Who prohibited spreading Kabbalah to the nations of the world?

Answer: It was a consequence of the destruction of the Temple, that is, a fall from the level of Temple.

Question: Did the Kabbalists themselves prohibit all of this?

Answer: Yes, of course.

Question: Can we say that the world was not ready to receive this knowledge?

Answer: Yes, naturally, if it had received it at that time, it would not have been able to use it correctly.

Question: How did the wisdom that Plato received from Jeremiah later turn into Greek philosophy with its multitude of gods?

Answer: They took from it what they could, what they could understand, and somehow absorbed it into themselves, into their society, into their system, and that was it. And then…

Comment: But Plato lived by this. He even felt that it was like the words of the living God.

My Response: It does not matter.

Question: Where does it disappear afterward and turn into philosophy?

Answer: It dissolved. Not immediately, but gradually.

Question: But the fact that it was Plato, and everyone talks about him and knows about him, is there still some merit to Jeremiah, his Kabbalist teacher?

Answer: Of course! Everything that Plato later spoke about, he partly received from Jeremiah.

Comment: So, we can say that this high Greek philosophy that everyone talks about is a consequence…

My Response: …of meeting with Kabbalists.

Comment: You are often accused of spreading Kabbalah to the world, to everyone. So, this prohibition still applies to many people today.

My Response: Let those many remain silent.

Question: Can you say what happened? What kind of revolution is this?

Answer: Kabbalah was always spread in waves. There were times when it could be taught, spoken about, and written. And there were times when it was shrinking and concealing itself more and more.

Question: What happened with the time that suddenly started to demand Kabbalah? What kind of time is this?

Answer: It is because we live in an egoistic world and egoism within us constantly develops. Therefore, the Kabbalists, seeing that they had no other method, means, or weapons against the egoism that was developing so much in society, decided to take Kabbalah out of its hidden places and show it to the whole world.

Question: Did your teacher know that you would follow this path of dissemination?

Answer: Of course, he knew. What did he write? And what did his father, Baal HaSulam, write?

Comment: His father even wrote more.

My Response: Yes, so it was natural that those who consider themselves followers of Baal HaSulam and Rabash, and not only them but also Rambam, Ramchal, and Baal Shem Tov, must disseminate Kabbalah.

Question: Does it mean that the time demands Kabbalah?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What problems can Kabbalah solve today?

Answer: It can strengthen people in their quest to find out who we are, what our purpose is, and what we can do to bring the world to peace.

This is necessary for every person. What is the meaning of life? Kabbalah answers all questions. I believe that only its revelation can give people the key to the upper world.

Question: There are many different practices, yet you always highlight Kabbalah. You say, “This is special, this is a wisdom.” You always somehow separate it from all these practices and religions. Why?

Answer: Because, in principle, there are no practices in Kabbalah, only the heart’s desire of a person for a connection with the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 1/1/24

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