Question: Why has so much hatred been revealed in the world lately?

Answer: It is because our egoism is developing very intensely, exponentially, and lately it is rising on an unprecedented sharp, upward curve. Every moment is radically different in its nature from its predecessor, and the acceleration and depth of the discovery of egoism is the main characteristic of nature.

So, it is not surprising that egoism will continue to be discovered more deeply, clearly, and acutely. People will shamelessly begin to demand what is theirs, knowing precisely what they want. And even though they understand that they will not succeed in attaining anything, with all their might they will insist upon what is theirs. The ego will force a person to be rigid and unreasonable, even though everyone will begin to convince himself of its inappropriate demands. And that is how it will be for each one of us.

This is being expressed today, specifically because in the present stage of development, humanity has reached the end of the realization of its earth’s history. We need to rise to the next level of existence where we will feel ourselves, not as physical bodies living in an environment of the substance of the still, vegetative, and animate levels, which is supposedly our home, but in the form of forces that are not limited by physical bodies. So now we need to depart from our beastly state.

And in order to obligate us to begin to be engaged with development outside of our bodies, to forget them, and to stop feeling them, the egoism of our bodies, of our lives, of our consciousness is being revealed. It will push us forward towards a situation where our egoistic drives will be perceived by us as disgusting, an abomination, and this is not because we will become idealists, but because we feel how much our evil nature directs us. In other words, we won’t begin to run away from egoism, but will simply be unable to be at peace with it because we will see how from morning to evening it gives us commands, spurs us on, pushes us forward, throws us on the ground, and drags us up.

This means that it forces us to exist in an absolutely useless form in which we invest energy that brings us only suffering, despair, and disappointment. Nature, or more precisely its program, is leading us to this, according to which we need to ascend spiritually precisely at a time of full disappointment in the egoistic system of management, and we must demand a new and different system of management. But it will be discovered in us through that same ego.

Therefore, the ego is called a “helpmate against him” (Genesis 2:18). It is said specifically about Pharaoh, who symbolizes the ego, that he brought the children of Israel closer to the Creator through his coarse and cruel actions. The present terrible, egoistic opposition of all people, nations, and countries, the absolute disappointment in everything, the deterioration of the foundation of our world and the economy, which has guided the world for thousands of years, indicates that the ego has exhausted itself on all levels.

Presently, hatred will reach its limit, but simultaneously it will bring powerlessness and disappointment. Why should I kill, burn, and annihilate someone? There was a time during the Crusades, that this seemed like the solution to the problem, whereas today, it doesn’t! So it is necessary to look at the whole process from the point of view of the benefit that is received from all stages of development.
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From KabTV’s “Conversations with Michael Laitman” 8/5/15

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Question: Which nation is the happiest nation in the world?

Answer: The happiest people are the Papuans (the inhabitants of New Guinea), who walk around half naked and don’t think about anything but hunting in order to eat. It says in Pirkei Avot: “He who has more assets has more worries,” and “the more you know, the more you suffer.”

Question: How can we become the happiest nation in the world?

Answer: The happiest nation is the nation that will be in accordance with the plan of creation: advancing in the same pace, in the same direction, according to the instructions from above that spread in nature and which nature fulfills in us. If we precede the instructions from above and fulfill them by understanding them, nature will not pressure us in any way and will not push us from behind and be forced to place obstacles before us. In that case, we will live in heaven on earth: a wonderful climate, a wonderful socialistic society, abundance, life free of diseases, everything we can only wish for! We will see that people are happy to meet us and we will be happy to meet them, and everything will be balanced. Nature that is totally balanced in all its parts is heaven on earth.

However, all that can be fulfilled only if we understand how the upper law is fulfilled, how it pressures us systematically and leads us somewhere, and if we begin to change by ourselves before it brings down the upper influence on us. Therefore it says in the Torah, that the Creator created the ego that should push us forward, but if we use the force called the Torah or the Light of correction from above, in addition to the ego, we will be able to correct the ego by it in advance, and thus will not feel any impulses or negative pressures in it but only positive ones. You will actually look for how to use and fulfill the ego by yourself, in order to advance independently. This is called freedom!

But it isn’t the same freedom when you don’t know what to do and you jump in every direction like a child who runs around in a room. Freedom means understanding the thought of creation, understanding its wonderful goal, when you can advance towards it independently, by yourself, and not by being spurred to do so.
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From KabTV’s “Conversations with Michael Laitman” 8/5/15

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Question: Everyone is very familiar with opposite concepts such as light and darkness, love and hate, and other theories regarding human existence. Are these pluses and minuses really necessary?

Answer: The point is that we exist only in a minus, in the negative force, as it is written, “I have created the evil inclination; I have created the Torah as a spice.” The Torah is a special Light that is opposite from the ego, which we can draw and thus balance egoism.

Unfortunately, we don’t do that and this is the reason that our world exists only under the influence of the negative egoistic force. We have to complement our nature by discovering the other positive force that isn’t part of our world.

Our world advances only by the force of the ego, while we have to draw the positive force that balances it with the help of the wisdom of Kabbalah. Then in the balance and harmony between the two forces we will begin to feel the upper world, which means the next level of recognition and attainment of our existence. This is how we can reach a state that is beyond our body, which is called existence in the soul. Our body, on the other hand, is a form of existence in our egoistic attribute only.
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From an Interview on RTN, New York, 21/7/15

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Humans began to develop from the animate level, not because they began to walk on two legs hundreds of thousands of years ago, but because they began to develop social relationships. These were relationships not only within their pack, family or tribe, where they felt that everyone was as close to them as they felt themselves. They truly began to feel others and developed a connection with them.

Something like this doesn’t exist among animals. They live in families and packs, but there is no connection between the different packs. And humans developed beyond familial connections. This connection is egoistic, natural, and through this connection it is possible to exploit others as much as possible; I exploit you and you exploit me. Everything depends on the benefit that I can derive from the connection. You could catch a person and eat him, turn him into a slave, take his property from him and kill him if he resisted, or you could make an alliance with him. All of the egoistic relationships have existed until today. There is no difference between what was thousands of years ago and what exists today, this is the same form of behavior—to exploit others maximally for my benefit or for the benefit of my tribe, people, or nation.

That is how it always was and that is how it is today too. But now we have reached a very interesting point in history that has not yet been discovered. It arouses intense pressure and pain and tragic situations whose purpose is to awaken this point.

All of the families, tribes, packs, nations, and peoples who were formerly separate are suddenly beginning to feel that they are connected with each other and depend on each other. And this dependence obligates them to behave differently. On the one hand, from an egoistic point of view, I would want to exploit everyone. But on the other hand, I understand that I depend on them and need everyone.

In the meantime, this is only the beginning of development. But ultimately we will reach a situation in which a person will be forced to accept everyone as one family, meaning that he will see how much he depends on them, even though the ego won’t disappear, as happens in a real family.

We don’t feel an egoistic intention regarding people who are close to us; on the contrary, we want to do everything for their benefit. We behave with them nicely and well, for we feel that they are close parts of us as if we were one body.

So what do we do if, on the one hand, the mind tells us that strangers are close to us and we depend on them one hundred percent, and on the other hand, the ego still doesn’t disappear, as happens in a family? We find ourselves between two opposing forces. One force commands me to love others! And the second force turns around and says that I hate others! What can be done when there is a split like this?

In the framework of our world there is nothing be done and this is a great tragedy! Sometimes this happens in a family, and then there is nothing to fix. This is an unsolvable conflict like the commands that Abraham received from the Creator: “Through Isaac your seed shall be called and now you should bring him up for a sacrifice: And God said to Abraham, Be not displeased concerning your handmaid; whatever Sarah tells you, hearken to her voice, for in Isaac will be called your seed.” (Genesis 21:12).

“And He said, Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, yea, Isaac, and go away to the land of Moriah and bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you.” (Genesis 22:2).

If this happens in a family, it is not terrible, it is possible to get along and settle the conflict. But what is to be done if our natural development brings us to a conflict like this, where our life or death depends on the ability to get close to others so much that we become one body, like one person with one heart?

Our entire society, our entire civilization of seven billion will have to reach this discovery. The ego is disturbing me and doesn’t make it possible for me to approach others, and on the other hand, I depend on them one hundred percent.
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From the Preparation for the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/25/14

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The Torah, “Numbers” 11:5: We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt free of charge, the cucumbers, the watermelons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 

Question: Why did the memory of what they ate in Egypt suddenly come up?

Answer: The people demanded what would fulfill their ego. For this, MAN was spiritual nourishment, spiritual fulfillment from what I give when I fulfill and, turn towards someone. But when egoistic desires arise in me, I begin to feel their need the same way that they exist in these desires. Which means that the people really wanted the Light of fulfillment in these desires, the Light of Chaya and Yechida, which meat symbolizes. They were apparently saying, “We have no need for spiritual fulfillment, we demand meat.” meaning that which was in the ego. Egoistic desires arose in them called the “mixed multitude.”

But these desires specifically arise in a person from the perspective of his spiritual work, by convincing him, “You have no need for this; you can have it all right now if you go in another direction. We promise you both the world to come and everything that you want. Here, take this book, carry out what is written in it and everything will be okay. You don’t need to work on yourself.”

The desires of the “mixed multitude” obligate a person to examine if he is carrying out the Mitzvot (commandments) of this world correctly. They call upon him to maintain the Torah with the help of physical actions, rather than correcting his soul, his relationships with others.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 2/11/15

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In the News (news.bcm.ru):  “In a study that was done recently, it seems that there is a limit to the development of intelligence and understanding in a person, after which it gradually decreases, so that humanity is becoming more and more stupid. This is reflected in a decline in the measurement of IQ in the world from year to year.

“The study detailed the reasons for this:

1. The intellectual level of a person is limited by some kind of genetic barrier, humanity has already reached this, and now it is found in withdrawal.
2. Smart people are less active regarding reproduction than the stupid.
3. Women who have received good intelligence reproduce less than women who are not intellectually developed, and in this way the ‘smart’ genes are gradually disappearing.
4. The law of natural selection has stopped working, people don’t need to struggle about survival, progress has released humanity from the need to adapt the brain to obtain nourishment, clothing and shelter from animals and enemies.
5. People have begun to vacation frequently. Two weeks of idleness by the sea in luxurious idleness is capable of lowering the IQ by 20 points, because of partial degeneration of brain cells in the frontal lobes. Numerous holidays worsen the situation because these are additional vacations.”

My Comment: Egoism as the basis and and the force of our development has reached its “earthly” maximum; it has stopped providing us with positive results. The reason for this is that according to the plan of creation, we need to begin to correct it, to build our next level of development not within it but above it, meaning in contrast to it. In this manner, we will use it only negatively, to rise above it with good actions for others, and not for it.  And we receive the power to do this from the Upper Light, the Surrounding Light (Ohr Makif).

The need for such development will reveal our egoism to us; it will show us the suffering that it brings, which will force us to rise above it. Work above egoism is called spirituality, rising above it is called going to the Upper World; the method for adaptation to this development is called the wisdom of Kabbalah. This is where we have arrived!
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Opinion ( Prof. S. Savelyev ):  “What belongs to human substance is something that does not carry biological benefit. Money earned, buildings that we construct, propagation, these don’t belong to the human part. We have not succeeded in becoming human.

“We – are mammals that are very aggressive and unreasonable. Prized highly is adaptability, the ability to obtain food… The structure of society reflects the evolution of society, but not the results of the rational development of mankind.

“… The frontal lobes of the brain were formed to share food, with the entire environment. Rigid natural selection shaped us as social creatures with huge frontal lobes. This gave us the possibility to co-exist together without annihilating each other when hunger pangs appeared. But this selective process needs to continue for another 200 thousand years, so that this behavior will become a norm.

“At present, we are social animals that understand that theft is not good, but at the same time, it is necessary to steal! The frontal lobes only help us to try to exercise social behavior, but in the meantime we are half animal, requiring hierarchical management. We are going to dominate and force our way with money. Man, like beasts, demands totalitarianism.

“In the public eye, every one of us is a democrat and a humanist, but in secret we are reminiscent of a troop of baboons. The behavior of a group of young people, who rob occasional passersby, is identical to a group of nations that perform acts of conquest and dominance.

“The natural state of a monkey is laziness, deceit, adultery with the wife of a neighbor, theft, and inconsiderate activities. For people this is forbidden and they are compelled to balance between the characteristics of the beast and the human in them.

“All self-organization is of biological design. An example of this could be the Mafia or organizations established among prisoners in prisons. The creation of a hierarchy is a sign of the behavior of primates. Specifically due to biological characteristics, it is easier to build a totalitarian nation than a democratic one.

“A democratic regime requires people who think identically and know how to be honest. Without scientific cerebral sorting it is impossible to choose people like these, for even among ‘real’ democrats there are thieves who steal. Perhaps society should stop hiding the mutual attitudes and goals of baboons?”

My Comment: The whole purpose of the wisdom of Kabbalah is to make us apes into humans! It brings us to unity instead of confrontation, a circle instead of hierarchy, love of others instead of hatred, equal distribution instead of theft, giving instead of conquest, and in general behaving according to the law of a unified society. Otherwise, we remain baboons, and our lag in development will turn against us, and the power of suffering will force us to become human.
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Question: How does the wisdom of Kabbalah relate to competition?

Answer: According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, competition is very important. As it is said, “The envy of sages increases wisdom.” I believe that it is vital. What could we achieve if there were no competition? The great inventors, Nicola Tesla and Thomas Edison, for example, made great discoveries in the field of electrical engineering and invented the dynamo generators, devices operating on alternating current, etc.

Interestingly, many great discoveries that have been very beneficial for mankind stemmed from childish competition and the desire not to let others be ahead of you. At the same time, scientists are not really interested in money but want to determine their self: “I will prove that I am better.”

It is impossible to succeed without competition. Real competition always leads to the emergence of a new attribute.

Competition is very beneficial, even for children.

However, everything must be within the normal egoistic limits that we understand: “I wish to learn from others.” To learn from others means to be like them. However, to be like them means to compete against yourself in order to reach a certain level.

Therefore, there are two types of competition. It can be competition that motivates and competition that kills. There is always the element of envy in it, but the question is whether I wish to crush my competitor or whether, thanks to his example, I want to be like him or even greater. This is the reason that there are both positive and negative aspects to competition.
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From KabTV’s “Conversations with Michael Laitman” 6/17/15

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Question: For an ordinary person success means family, an orderly life, financial security, safety, or in short, everything that is attained through competition. But he has already grown tired of this chase. How can he reach a simple normal life that he can consider successful?

Answer: It is becoming very simple in our world. If we are speaking about a corporeal body, we have to provide it with healthcare, a pension, and a good environment. But one person cannot achieve success that way. It is attained by society, by all its members together. This is the reason that a person has to create an environment that will provide him with healthcare and a stable life, with everything that he needs.

Question: But in our society success is attained through competition. Can it be attained differently?

Answer: In our society success is attained through competition because our egoism has two directions. One is to dominate others and to be above them, which puts a person under great stress and leads to great waste of energy and constant pressures. The other direction is the attraction of the corporeal body (the same egoism) to complete rest. These two opposites exist in us and make competition a necessity. It awakens us and forces us to work hard.

What is more, the conditions of competition can be very different: the competitor can be my rival or my colleague. I am basically for competition when it comes to good deeds, when a person struggles to do something for the sake of society.
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From KabTV’s “Conversations with Michael Laitman” 6/17/15

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Question: Is an ascent above egoism logical for the ordinary person?

Answer: What is meant by an ordinary person or an unusual person? Today, an ordinary person is a thousand times more developed than a sage of two thousand years ago. So, the term “ordinary” is relative. In any case, all of us must reach a state where we need to be elevated above the egoism that holds us in its tiny world, requiring us to think only about ourselves thereby limiting our possibilities.

Through its constant development, egoism is leading us into a crisis. Today, millions of people—especially in developed nations—feel it, and it is felt at the societal level and the level of production.

If this still is not felt in the less developed nations, then it is only a matter of time as the interpenetration in humanity happens very rapidly. Ultimately, everyone will feel it, including the most ordinary people.

They will understand that to exist in the framework of the present egoistic nature means being a slave to settings that are imposed upon you, all kinds of trends, fashions, etc. They will begin to feel that sense of lack of freedom depends upon the growth of their egoism. After all, with development it reveals how it is limited and is only human slavery.

Baal HaSulam compared the exit from egoism to a worm living within a radish. It feels how bitter and dark its world is, and, when it crawls outside it suddenly sees a completely different, sparkling world. But what motivates it to crawl out of the radish? It is the developing ego that functions as its own undertaker. The bitter radish represents the suffering that pushes us out of our closed world.

We can remain here no longer and somehow must get out of it because there is a program of nature; our final state exists initially, only we need to discover ourselves within it. This depends on the inner drives toward the development of our desire, the connections between us.
To be continued.
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From KabTV’s “The Last Generation” 6/11/15

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