Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Can we be indigenous in the 21st century?“

Nature will not let us remain indigenous in the 21st century. It increasingly develops us through suffering.

Nature will prod us with such great suffering that we will have to realize our egoism—the desire to enjoy at the expense of others and nature—as the source of our problems and crises. If we want to be saved from impending crises and disasters, which threaten us and our entire existence, then we will have to get rid of our egoism and reach completely different altruistic connections.

The difference between a disharmonious and harmonious existence comes not from technological and industrial development, but from ascending from the egoistic level of our interrelationships to the altruistic level.

We will then understand that the world is a unified system and that we belong to a single organism and are obligated to treat each other correspondingly. Accordingly, we will create a human being who is truly cultured, educated, wonderful and modern—in a whole new sense to how we currently understand those terms.

If we are still egoistic relative to each other and each one still has self-aimed consideration, then it means that without a doubt we are still stuck in our respective caves.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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When a baby is born into this world, it starts to become familiar with it. A baby does not know what people have invented, what systems, banks, healthcare, and so on.

However, a newborn animal cub understands everything happening around him. He knows: this is mom, this is dad, they are with me in the herd, this is mine, and these are enemies, strangers, and so on.

For man, however, everything is very complicated. Our egoism works both “for” and “against” us. On one hand, I want to come closer to others so that I can enjoy them and use them for my own sake.

On the other hand, I try to stay away from them and not give them the opportunity to rule over me. We are constantly in such opposite relationships with each other, rejection and attraction. And we do not know how to balance them.

There are many varied theories on this topic and, naturally, as egoism develops, both theories and practices change. Growing egoism gradually reaches a certain boundary that we must blast and move to a new level.

There are people who reach this level faster than others. Therefore, they are eager to make a revolution. And there are those who say: “So what? What is the matter? Nothing special is happening.”

That is, society is not homogeneous. It is not a pack that understands that this is how we live and that’s it. Everyone has a different rate of development of egoism. In addition, all people are different in their way of life, outlook on life, character, in their manifestations. That is why the structure of our social system is very confusing.
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From Kab TV’s “Close-Up. Reference Point” 9/9/09

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Preparation to the Lesson

Writings of Baal HaSulam, Shamati #19 “What Is, ‘The Creator Hates the Bodies,’ in the Work?”

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 64

Selected Highlights

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Is there a value in resisting a new technology which, while potentially harmful in the short term, could save millions of lives in the future?“

We can evaluate the essence of science exclusively by its goal. If, as is being discovered today, the goal is harmful to us, then we cannot use and develop it. In any field, we cannot excuse ourselves by saying that possibly, in the future, we will use what we now make for positive causes. If we already use it for harm, then it means that we should not use it. Such is the law: an object should be judged according to the form in which it becomes revealed, and not by the distant future.

Therefore, if any technology inflicts harm or can be used for harm today—then we should not develop it. There will be nothing righteous about it. Only if we change ourselves correspondingly and can be assured of its beneficial use should we start developing it. There is nothing special about developing science simply because it is science. Instead, everything needs to develop according to the benefit it can provide humanity. Laws, factors and premises are inherently placed in nature. But since we take everything from nature in the ready form, we should thus take the ready stock only to the degree that we will be able to use it for humanity’s benefit. On the other hand, if it is for humanity’s detriment, then there is no need for it.
Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Comment: We know that any images of spiritual objects are prohibited in Kabbalah, but there are drawings of spiritual worlds.

Answer: Drawings are not a schematic representation of forces themselves but their relationships. That is why Kabbalists use them. And images are really forbidden so that a person does not get confused and does not think that there are volumes and objects in the world. Nothing exists in the world at all because all this is only depicted to us by our imagination.

Question: If we say that some spiritual states can be conveyed through music or through words, is it impossible through pictures?

Answer: No! No way! Moreover, even conveying through music or words is also discouraged.
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From KabTV’s “Spiritual States” 9/10/21

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Connecting to the Common Sefira of Love

Question: Why did Baal HaSulam chose only four categories: Hesed (mercy), Emet (truth), Tzedek (justice) and Shalom (peace) if there are many more? And where is the category of love? Why isn’t it part of the general list? Could it be that it has a special place?

Answer: Love is the goal.

Mercy, truth, justice, and peace exist only to bring us to complete connection. Complete connection is called love. So, it does exist here but only in a specific symbiosis of all these properties.

Question: Does this mean that we need to feel this attribute and reveal it in relation to these four categories?

Answer: When you balance all these four categories and use them not in a twisted manner but literally as one general whole, they connect into one common sphere, into the Sefira called love.

Question: So why do we still speak only about four categories?

Answer: It is because these are the four stages of the development of the desire by the light. There cannot be more or less. These are the same ten Sefirot, which must find the right combination between them.

Question: Do the ten Sefirot have to be correctly combined to reach love?

Answer: So that Malchut eventually connects to Keter and the crown of creation is formed.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” 7/28/19

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What are some ways you or the masses can get manipulated over the internet?“

We generally do not feel that we are being manipulated through the Internet. However, there is constant monitoring of the sites we visit, our desires, and the spheres of our interests. Of course, we will still see how we can be manipulated and used via such a medium. It so happens with all of our conducts, which become used egoistically in order to advertise to us and lead us to places where we buy the products they offer us.

All such workings eventually lead us to realize the evil of our egoistic nature, and the need to change our egoism. If we change the ego, inverting it to its opposite altruistic form, then problems such as manipulation through the Internet, as well as a whirlpool of other problems we experience on personal, social, economic and ecological scales, will disappear as if they never existed.

We thus need to focus only on changing our nature from egoistic to altruistic, from a connection that is negative to one that is positive. Such a transformation is possible because we have the strength, the wisdom and the method to impact this change. This is a wisdom and method of connection, which has recently become revealed to the world, and through it, we can truly perform the required changes. Sooner or later humanity will reveal this wisdom and use it. However, we try to accelerate its expansion throughout humanity in order for the world to suffer less.
Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Question: What does advancing with the eyes shut mean in spirituality?

Answer: If I do not want to receive for my own sake and want to work only in order to bestow, it means that I do not want to see anything. I am advancing by faith.

However, if I clearly see the benefits of the connection with the Creator, then this causes my spiritual descent, I cannot get out of egoism.

Advancement is always above what I feel in my egoism. Then I can abstract away from the ego and correctly, objectively perceive the picture of the world.
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From KabTV’s “Spiritual States” 9/10/21

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Question: Do we create states in order for others to satisfy my needs?

Answer: Of course. This is the reason I want to live in a state. Otherwise, I can go to some uninhabited island, build myself a hut there, and live. But unfortunately, this is not possible.

If I want to exist normally with certain comfort, then I should not disconnect myself from society. By breaking away from society, I deprive myself of all rights, privileges, opportunities, and comfort.
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From Kab TV’s “Close-Up. Reference Point” 9/9/09

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