Question: Professor James Tilley, a political scientist, identified five lessons that human politics can learn from the power struggles and social dynamics of chimpanzee groups. 

Keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer.

Answer: Friends are friends. But you have to watch out for your enemies. And you can’t keep watch over them if you push them away. It’s best to keep them “in a cage” right next to you.

When building your alliances, pick someone weak, not someone strong. 

My Response: So that you can command them.

Question: And for humans, should it be exactly the same?

Answer: That is how alliances are made. We would like to create them that way too, but it doesn’t always work out.

It’s good to be feared, but it’s better to be liked.

My Response: Of course, it is more peaceful when you are loved. There is nothing better than that, it is the clearest protection. But at the very least, let them fear you.

It is good to be liked, but it is even better to be able to hand out goodies.

My Response: Of course, because then others become dependent on you.

External threats can shore up support (if they are real…).

My Response: An external threat can bring support because it forces you to realize all your internal capabilities, and then you seek partners.

An external threat mobilizes and helps; you can’t move forward without it.

Question: These are five chimpanzee principles. Could you name a few human principles?

Answer: A human has no principles; he is unprincipled. All his “principles” last only for a moment.

Question: Why do chimps have principles but humans don’t?

Answer: Chimpanzees act according to nature. Even their reason, whatever they have, comes from nature; it is the accumulation of various results.

But humans don’t have that because everything in them is constantly developing. Egoism develops, and that is why a person cannot solve today what he decided yesterday using the same method. Because the circumstances are completely different, the ego is different, the view of the world is different, the environment is different.

Question: Then what is “humanity”? People always say: “Be human, be kind,” and so on.

Answer: I believe it is a stance dictated by weakness. It can’t be otherwise, if our nature is egoism. What kind of “humanity” can there be? Only if I want to appear good, or want others to treat me well.

Question: So they are all just masks?

Answer: Only masks. If a chimp’s egoism is natural and everyone understands each other because of it, then a human wraps himself in so many forms that it is very hard to understand him. And on top of that, he uses kindness, reason, and everything else to rule over others, to control, to elevate himself above everyone. So in that sense, he is much worse than any monkey.

Question: What should one do, then? How can one come to light, to goodness?

Answer: There is a method of correction, but for that, a person must understand that he needs to be corrected.

Question: He has to feel that he is like this?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: And if a person comes to realize that he is completely egoistic, that this is his nature…

My Response: Then he must come to Kabbalah. He must study his nature and go forward from there. There is no other way; everything leads to this, and the sooner, the better.

For me, to become “human” means to become like the Creator. It is when a person begins to realize that connection with others is his personal, essential need, one that overrides all others.

Only by developing this completely anti-egoistic, meaning anti-natural, quality within himself can he not only survive, but rise to the stars. Only in this way. It is extremely difficult, impossible, unless you come to the right method.
[235402]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/13/24

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At first, when a person begins to be taught, while still on the spiritual level referred to as “a woman, a slave, or a child,” they are told that it is worthwhile to work for the Creator out of fear (Rabash, Article 12 (1987), What Is Half a Shekel in the Work? – 1).

The spiritual levels, conditionally labeled as “a woman, an old man, or a child,” represent dependent states of a person. A woman depends on a man, a child on parents, and an old man on the help of the young.

There is also the state of “a slave,” who depends on his master, that is, on his egoism. Therefore one must approach any person very delicately and carefully, and explain that Kabbalah is concerned with his development for his own benefit.

Kabbalah can help him better understand how to act in this world. And he begins to speculate. “If I understand how to act correctly in this world, I can become richer, stronger, more successful, and healthier.”

It is said that a person must serve the Creator out of fear. This means out of fear of losing, of missing out, of not receiving a reward.

But later, when the person matures spiritually and acquires wisdom, it becomes possible to explain to him—or rather, he himself understands—that it is necessary to serve the Creator from other motivations, and gradually, the secrets of the Torah are revealed to him. 

At this point, a very subtle transition occurs, a dramatic, difficult moment when a person discovers that the entire world is in a state of complete chaos and confusion. Everything is governed by a capricious egoism that grabs whatever it can at any given moment. This state is called darkness.

At this black point, a person feels complete hopelessness, confusion, and lack of control over himself, over others, or over fate. He sees that everyone, like tadpoles in water, are darting back and forth, and he can no longer bear such a life.

He feels himself in total darkness, tries to escape, and begins to cry out to the Creator: “What should I do?!”

And then gradually he is helped from above, and he receives spiritual clarity. This is how he transitions to the revelation of the Creator.

When the upper law is revealed to a person, by comparing it with harmony, he clearly sees the chaos ruling our world—harmony vs. chaos.

This is the drama, the inner tearing. On one hand, there is the upper law, on the other, complete disorder.
And this is actually the best state for a person because it is there that he feels the Creator’s help and salvation.

And he thanks the Creator for this dark state because it is impossible to move forward with the right foot without first stepping with the left.

When he understands this, he anticipates both, and relates properly to both good and bad states since he sees that the spiritual path lies precisely between them, exactly in the middle.
[225912]
From KabTV’s “The Last Generation,” 11/6/17

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Humanity is facing serious questions about the meaning of life and the essence of the governance of reality: Who are we, in what kind of world do we live, what is prepared for us, and can we influence our destiny?

Those who ask these questions fall into two categories: those who ask it from suffering and various troubles because they wish to escape them, and that is enough for them; and those in whom the question of the meaning of life remains and gnaws at them even after the suffering has subsided.

This question is called “a point in the heart” of the animate level from which grows what is later called “human.” The longing to attain the meaning of existence begins to be realized in people when they come to study the wisdom of Kabbalah.

But those who ask about the meaning of life only to satisfy their earthly needs, they eventually leave.
And those whose point in the heart, an informational hunger that demands to understand, to feel, to enter this system of governance, to know why, for what purpose, and how the entire reality exists, they remain because this point stems from the upper world, from the higher degree. They can no longer leave it and simply continue to exist in this world; no worldly pleasures can suppress it.

People see that studying Kabbalah elevates a person to the next level and requires one’s personal involvement in the governance of creation. It is not about miracles that allow one to spin the world or rule society, but about how to govern oneself, to bring oneself to a state in which one corresponds to all the categories and conditions of the upper world.

The system of governance, the upper world, is built on the quality of bestowal and love. These are not just words, because the system of all nature, all of creation, is one and completely closed; it exists in absolute integral interconnection of everything with everything. Every particle is strictly bound to all others, both the smallest and the greatest. The structure of this system is astonishing.

In our world, we cannot build such systems. Even in biology, living organisms resemble it in some aspects, but overall, they are very far from the perfection revealed in the governing system of the upper world at its highest degree.

Therefore, with our qualities called heart and mind, we must rise to this degree; that is, we must transform ourselves and absorb the integral qualities of the upper degree: the qualities of universal unity that are built precisely above our egoism, above that which separates, repels, and opposes us to one another. And first of all, we must study our egoistic nature, because we do not understand it at all.

It is revealed to us only slightly, on the small earthly level, while before us lies the revelation of what is called “49 impure gates,” 49 degrees of egoism.

In other words, now we reveal only the weakest, most superficial layer of egoism that we exist in. All the rest, the deeper, heavier egoistic qualities, lie beneath and will gradually be revealed over the course of study, but only to the extent that we advance toward integral unity.

If we try to resemble the upper degree, we will see how different we are from it. And then we will attempt to rise above this discrepancy, above the newly revealed layer of egoism toward similarity to the upper degree, toward mutual connection, unity, and mutual help. This is done in a group, so that the connection can be realized in practice and not merely declared verbally.

Using the method of connection within a group, we begin to feel how impossible it is to realize it not only in society at large, or within a nation, or all the more within the world, but even within a group. I increasingly feel how many calculations I have toward my friends, how I am annoyed by them, how I see various flaws in them, and how I try to keep my distance.

The closer we draw to each other, the more we reveal our true nature, and each time we feel ourselves as small, flawed beings unable to rise above ourselves and come closer together.

Even for such a reward as revealing the upper governance system, the upper world, understanding everything that happens to us, and sensing reality beyond earthly limitations beyond time, space, and movement, we still cannot do anything. No matter how much we persuade ourselves, we feel how our egoism does its dirty work and constantly throws us into petty calculations.

Nevertheless, being in a group gives us what a single person does not have: mutual help, which we must provide each other. We are obligated to do this even against our own desire.

Being in a state called “this world,” we are able to perform actions absolutely opposite to our inner desire. A person may be unpleasant to me, yet I smile at him. I may have no feelings toward a friend, yet I still make efforts to draw closer, to perform if not an inner emotional action, then at least some shared mechanical action, and so on.

That is, our world is wonderful because in it we can perform mechanical actions without feelings or intentions, and these actions will influence the upper system. This is our salvation!

Therefore, our world is separated from the system of the upper worlds and allows us to govern the upper world through physical actions. I may serve someone and thereby earn spiritual merits even if I have no particular inner feeling toward that person, toward a friend, for example.

But I want to attain such a feeling, and so I perform various gestures of attention, work in the group, prepare meals, participate in different activities without applying any internal effort.

I may not have strength or desire for inner work, but I can force myself to perform physical actions even though that too is difficult, and in this way, I advance.

The group is the only tool in our world that allows one, while working within it, to perform purely mechanical actions that are considered spiritual. Therefore, our ascent begins with joining the work of the group.

Kabbalists who attained the upper system discovered that it is structured as tens that further subdivide into tens, and so on to infinity. These tens are included in one another. Thus, the upper system is broken down into ten fundamental Sefirot (Sefira, from the word “Sapir”—radiating), ten sources of radiance of the upper light, the emanation of goodness in its various forms.

The first ten Sefirot are called “the Names of the Creator,” because this is how we reveal the general upper force that fills all of creation in Its first, highest revelation to us.

We do not feel the force itself; we can detect it only through the ten Sefirot, just as we detect electricity or a magnetic field or any physical force only by its effect on some physical object. Without such manifestation, we do not know whether it exists or not. We need an indicator that can perceive it.

All the Sefirot are so interconnected that we cannot imagine this perfectly complete integral picture. We cannot grasp it in our current state. Only if we change our inner qualities will we be able to enter the sensation of the integral idea, the integral influence, the integral phenomenon. This is the system of the upper degree—the spiritual world.
[183437]
From the World Kabbalah Convention in Moscow 5/2/16, Lesson 1

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All parts of nature, except the human being, are capable of establishing a special connection between themselves, and through the unique force that arises from their uniting into one body, one desire, they can influence nature with tremendous power. This influence is far greater than that of a hurricane, a tornado, an atomic explosion, a volcanic eruption, or a tsunami.

The positive force of unity that we can generate between us, and with which we can affect nature, is capable of calming all the natural disasters that have been occurring so frequently in recent times, and have been destroying the very foundations of our lives.

Everything depends on whether we finally understand that we are one of nature’s species, one of its levels: still, vegetative, animate, and human. We belong to nature and are included in its mechanism, rather than standing above it. It is precisely we who—through our improper participation in nature—cause all the destruction within it, through our improper participation in nature, through our negative attitude toward one another, and through our unwillingness to connect.

If we begin to unite and take each other into account, we will be able to produce a positive, benevolent force among us that can stop all the blows of nature that are already approaching us. This is how we will bring order to the world, because everything depends on the highest level that humanity is capable of reaching, that is, the level of thought, awareness, and desire.

Therefore I strongly recommend: let us unite, sit together, talk and think about how through our connection we can influence the whole of reality. It is within our power, so let us carry out such an experiment and observe it like in a laboratory. I believe we can learn a great deal from this about how to influence nature and see its reaction.

In light of the disasters that are approaching us, let us become more sensitive to nature and begin treating it as our partner. Nature treats us so harshly, as if a cruel force is acting within it. But in essence, nature wants to awaken us so that we will begin to respond to it correctly.

Let us connect with one another, unite our hearts, and influence nature with the force of goodness. Perhaps then we will see hurricanes, tornadoes, and the frightening blows prepared for us by nature begin to calm.

We are all part of a single mechanism. All of humanity, in essence, belongs to one level of nature’s development: the human level. And we have already discovered that we exist in integral connection with one another. We now understand that we all depend on each other. So let us unite, all of us together, whether we are in Miami, in North Carolina, in Cuba, or in the Dominican Republic.

We must understand that we are one humanity, and we must unite and repent for having brought such powerful blows of nature upon ourselves. This must be done by everyone together, regardless of whether you live far from the places struck by natural disasters—in Australia, in Asia, or in South America, which have not yet felt such catastrophes.

We are all under a common, serious threat to our planet Earth, so let us give our Earth a positive force: the force of love, connection, and mutual bestowal. And this applies to all of humanity, wherever each one of us may be.

In this way we can sweeten the judgments nature places before us and come to a beautiful life. Our small planet will turn into a garden of paradise, a single shared home for all of us. Let us make it kind.

When I see all the natural disasters occurring in the world, I pray that people will understand that they belong to one mechanism. And if this mechanism becomes connected by the force of goodness, it will be able to balance all of nature’s blows and bring much calm, wonderful development, confidence, and satisfaction to our world, to Earth, to human society.

We can attain a miraculous life; it depends only on us! Let us unite and see how exquisitely, sensitively nature responds to our attitude toward each other.

Wishing you success!
[213589]
From a conversation about Bringing Nature into Balance, 9/11/17

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Preparation to the Lesson

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1st part of the Lesson — Lesson on the Topic “Work with Faith Above Reason” (9.29.2020)

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2nd part of the Lesson — Recording of Rabash, Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Study of the Ten Sefirot,” Vol. 1, Part 4, Chapter 6

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3rd part of the Lesson — Conversations of a Kabbalist With His Students During the Day

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Question: Thanks to you, I have faith. Thanks to our shared work in the ten, we draw the light that returns to the source (the reforming light), which will correct us in the future. We invest in this every day, and you help us tremendously.

But why are we not advancing? What are we doing wrong? Maybe we are doing it egoistically, for our own sake? What is the reason?

Answer: If you were given the correct answer to this, you would stop asking and stop striving for it. This is, in principle, what is said in the “Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot.”

Baal Sulam writes, And RASHI interprets there: “You have created the righteous through the good inclination; You have created the wicked through the evil inclination. Hence, none are saved from Your hand, for who holds You down? Coerced are the sinners.”  And what did the friends of Job reply? “Indeed, you revoke fear and impair prayer before God; the Creator created the evil inclination, He has created for it the Torah as a spice” (Job 15).

RASHI interprets there: “Created for it the Torah,” which is a spice that revokes “thoughts of transgression,” as it is said, “If you come across this villain, pull him to the seminary. If he is a stone, he will soften. Hence, not coerced are they, for they could save themselves” (Kidushin, p 30).

That is, we are obliged to do this. Every phrase here is very important. Without this, it is impossible to reach the goal.
[350077]
From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/19/25, Writings of Baal HaSulam, Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot

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We must invest in education. Only education! Otherwise, nothing will change in the world.

Question: Are you saying the most respected job for a person is an educator?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What does one rear in others?

Answer: He must explain to people in every possible way what the thought of creation is. That only in fulfilling the thought of creation can a person achieve happiness.

Question: What do you mean by “thought of creation?” Should one attain this thought of creation?

Answer: He must attain it.

Question: The educator himself?

Answer: Yes.

Question: And then pass it on to others?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What is the thought of creation and what should he convey to people?

Answer: When a person does good to others, he becomes fulfilled and rejoices.

Question: What do you mean by doing good?

Answer: Doing good means filling the other with what he or she desires.

Comment: But one has many different desires.

My Response: No! It depends on the upbringing. One should be educated to be satisfied with a normal minimal fulfillment.

Question: We need to clarify this. To educate a person so he has reasonable requests, not needing something big, billions, and so on? And then what? So, I live like this, on what is necessary.

Answer: And to feel that if others come to this, it would be the ultimate happiness.

Question: For people to be happy with necessities, not asking for more or beyond? Is that what you call proper education?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do you want to elaborate, say something elevated?

Answer: When I cut bread, I slice it. This is the first slice.

Comment: Then we will stop at the first slice.
[350119]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman,” 11/19/25

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Comment: An Englishman, Brendon Grimshaw, bought a small uninhabited island in the Seychelles for £8,000. He bred over 100 giant tortoises, which can live only there, and more than 2,000 species of birds. Many times, people attempted to buy the island for more than 50 million dollars. With that money, Brendon could have afforded anything he wished, yet he refused to sell the island. He said: “I don’t want the island to become a luxury playground for the rich. Better that it becomes a national park for everyone.”

My Response: All of this is good. There are people who take pleasure in such things. But what is the meaning?

Question: If one brings joy to others, is that considered meaningful?

Answer: It is the meaning of our life if our life has a meaning.

Comment: But this man wants to bring joy to others, so they can visit and enjoy such a place.

My Response: A good man.

Question: And who, in your view, is truly a good person?

Answer: Someone wise, strong, capable of lifting a human being above the boundary between life and death, so that he may attain the upper force, the Creator. Otherwise, what meaning is there?

Question: So a person must be a tremendous egoist, greater than the whole of humanity, in order to lead others to the goal?

Answer: Yes, all of his other qualities exist precisely in order to include people in this goal.

Question: And how does such a person know that he is leading toward the right goal?

Answer: He must be a special person.

Question: And what is the right goal?

Answer: The right goal is the connection of all people above their egoism, above everything that separates them. All people, this is the total, highest connection of all humanity.

And if this goal truly stands before a person, then we can use it as a “spaceship” and fly anywhere we want, to such an “island” somewhere in the “Pacific Ocean” of the universe, where everything is already prepared for us.

Question: And take not just a small group, but all of humanity?

Answer: Of course.

Question: This must be the goal?

Answer: Precisely this goal of all humanity.

In principle, we can achieve this right here. Why fly somewhere? To some island in the Pacific? Why? We can turn the entire Earth into such an island. Otherwise, look at what is happening. We are already in a state where nothing may remain except a few tiny islands! It is very alarming.

Question: Perhaps that is why Kabbalists have always seemed too sharp, too harsh, too direct to outsiders?

Answer: They have no other mode of expression. They speak the truth and soften it, but even so, to the average person their language seems very harsh. “People don’t speak this way. One should speak gently, democratically, liberally, more about love.”

And what do you say? “If you do not do this, then, unfortunately, you will die. The glaciers will flood you; the sun will scorch you, and so on. You see where you are heading.”

Question: To crises and so on?

Answer: Yes, otherwise, there will be nothing. Nothing! We must clearly understand that a very strict law of nature is before us and it is beginning to enter its true realization. I am frightened for humanity.

Question: So we must bring them out of this state by any means?

Answer: Who could have imagined a year ago that the ecological situation would change so drastically? Ice caps are melting, there are hurricanes, earthquakes, everything, and humanity does not care. It is like in a drunken stupor. “We carry on. We don’t care. We fear nothing.”

Question: You believe that soothing humanity is harmful?

Answer: If I see a sick person before me, and I see that one path leads him directly to the grave, and another will let him live and develop, how can I not say something?

That is why Kabbalists speak correctly and accurately. But even then, only to the extent that people can hear them without shutting their ears.

Question: So they still soften it? Meaning, you also do not tell the whole truth?

Answer: No. I cannot.

Question: Is it important to you that people hear you? Do you think they will?

Answer: I have no choice, I must do this. I have no other option. I live in constant disappointment, on the one hand, and constant tension, striving, and inspiration on the other. You can see both states in me at the same time. And what can you do?

Question: What gives you inspiration given the state of the world today?

Answer: I work. This is my work. And its reward is that there is no reward! No reward at all!

Why do I do it? That is an entirely different story.
[253779]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman,” 10/7/19

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