Entries in the 'Group Work' Category

We Leave Our Ego Somewhere Behind

Dr. Michael LaitmanRabash writes in The Social Writings: And there can be no love of another unless one nullifies himself. For on the one hand, each and every one needs to be humble. And on the other hand, we need to be proud that the Creator gave us the opportunity to be able to enter a society where each one of us has only one goal, ‘that the Shechinah will dwell among us.’

The Shechinah is the general characteristic of bestowal, and we want this characteristic to connect and unite us and fill the entire void between us. It turns out that the ego is left behind, behind us, and in front of us, the characteristic of mutual bestowal rules, connecting us in a circle within which we feel the general field of bestowal, that is, the nature that is discovered through a higher and more interior power with the characteristic of bestowal.

And even though we have not reached the goal, nevertheless we have a desire to reach the goal. This also needs to be important to us, even though we are still found at the beginning of the way. But we hope that we will reach the higher goal.

Amazing characteristics are discovered through connection: You accept the desires of the other but only when you want to be fulfilled within them as with a person that you love, when you live within his desires. Which is to say, his desires direct my desires, stabilize them, and I receive a double desire that attracts me forward with great intensity.

And when we gather with ten friends and each is included in the desires of the others, then within this “Group of Ten” I receive the sum that each of them gathers within himself from all the nine friends and not just the desires of the nine friends. Describe to yourselves what kind of increase there is here to my desire. There are nine people here and each of them already includes all the other nine friends.

But this is a qualitative increase of desire and not a quantitative one, for his quality is changed. In Kabbalah nothing is measured according to quantity since this cannot be measured at all. The spiritual world is not measured quantitatively. And even though we measure the density of desire through the levels 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, these are qualitative measurements and not quantitative; every time there is a leap from one height to another height, from the substance of the still to the vegetative to the animate and to the speaking.

We leap from level to level all the time, like to the next height of development, but this is a new qualitative height. It is impossible to compare between a plant and a stone through a quantitative criterion since this is an absolutely different type of existence. The feeling of life is completely different. So it is here. Therefore, the moment that we connect within a group, we immediately acquire a new qualitative feeling; we feel that the world is transparent; we see through it and feel the power of bestowal that fills it, that establishes and manages everything.

We begin to feel ourselves, our ego, hovering within an ocean of bestowal, managing, guiding, connecting, and uniting us. Very little effort is demanded of me; I must want to feel my enjoyment through the other, no more than this.

This is what I would want to say to you as an introduction. From this are derived all the laws of the group that establish how it is up to us to connect into physical and virtual groups, how to connect between us, and how to make gatherings of friends. Everything is derived only from this.

The main thing is that everything will be directed towards maintaining a condition that provides everyone with the opportunity to go out of himself and pass into the other with the “point in the heart” as quickly as possible, easily and powerfully. And to leave the ego somewhere behind us, to forget about ourselves!
[110173]
From the Convention In Krasnoyarsk 6/16/13, Lesson 5

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Getting Lost Among The Friends

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: While I am talking with the friends, on one hand, I feel that our hearts are close, and on the other hand, there exists an understanding that I am looking as if in an abyss and I will never completely feel anyone. We are so different: each one with his own ego that sometimes interferes and is bothersome and sometimes is helpful and enables us to be with each other. How can we get passed this point so our “bicycles” will finally move forward and we will get back on them and not fall?

Answer: For this one needs to feel that by his feeling himself as the smallest, he enters among the friends and has no need for anything else. He must feel “they are so big, I want to squeeze in between them, and there will be hope that I together with them can move forward.” There is great happiness if a person feels this way about himself.

Question: But here opposition arises. Do we simply need to ignore it?

Answer: You need to work with it, not to object to it, but simply try to listen to the friends.

Look at where people came from in order to attend the convention, how much energy, time, efforts and means they spent, where they live and how the Creator chose them. If you look at them from the outside, you won’t see pretty or smart people. Each one has a different personality, etc.

If you dig inside a little, that is work! You will see that inside there is the spark of the Creator that He placed in each one of them. Of course, there needs to be awe and fear that without them you are lost.

You must understand that. You need to think about that since the thought increases the desire. When the desire is small, but with the help of the thoughts you constantly develop it, then it grows and becomes something strong. But I am talking about a sensation that is very exact and clear. If you don’t enter into a general “mutual carriage,’’ then you stay on the side of the road. You must push, squeeze between the friends, in order to not get lost among them.
[110159]
From the Convention In Krasnoyarsk 6/14/13, Lesson 2

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Everything For The Sake Of Others

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: In one of the lessons you said that the Creator will be revealed to us when we don’t want it. What does this mean?

Answer: Regarding what was said, that the Creator is discovered when a person doesn’t want it; the intent is that a person refuses whatever results there may be for his self, and so we get to a point beyond the “Machsom.”
[110494]
From the Convention In Krasnoyarsk 6/14/13, Lesson 4

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Surround The World With One Hug

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What exactly has this convention given us, to what level did it raise us?

Answer: In this convention I tried to show you the direct way from the person to the group and from the group to the Creator who is discovered within it. I suggest that you listen to this morning’s talk (Lesson Number 5 from the convention) a few times more. Within this half hour I tried to convey clearly, concisely, and emotionally how a person transfers his “self” from within himself to the group and begins to be happy with its happiness, to mix with it, to go into it. He leaves his ego out and transfers his “self” into the group.

When he connects with other friends this way, the Creator is discovered among them. And then each one of them and all of them together are happy already, not from what happens in the group, but from their discovery of the Creator; they are happy with that happiness, with that joy that he feels that He is this characteristic of bestowal.

This is the entire realization of the goal of creation: to give pleasure to the creature, meaning us, specifically through this state, this discovery, this experience, this intense feeling of happiness that you are going outside of yourself into the group and from the group into the Creator. It is up to us to intensify this transition. I would very much like for us in the time that remains until the convention in St. Petersburg, to all practice this, each of us and all of us together.

This is the most important question and in principle the only one. All the particular variations of the method of Kabbalah are derived from this. At the convention in St. Petersburg we will speak about real realization already.

We must maintain a constant connection between the groups in one area and between the areas, so that from the individual connection will be derived a more and more mutual connection. It is necessary to connect according to this kind of method. Specifically, it is very important to connect and not compete. It is unfortunate that there are friends who could have reached the convention and in spite of it all decided it was not for them and that they could sit at home. They have lost much. The Creator did this with them on His account and we can only be sorry for them.

It is necessary to go forward and only do everything possible to go outside of myself into the group. The convention in Krasnoyarsk is helping us with this very much, more than in any other convention. Besides this, we have been carrying out great and very useful work by causing an intense feeling of jealousy in our whole “Kabbalistic world”; it is too bad that they are not with us. This makes me very happy.

They really have something to be sorry about and I think it is too bad that they weren’t here even though they participated in all the activities virtually. I don’t want to extinguish in any way the sensation of sorrow that remains with them.

But on the other hand, if we connect with them, then this feeling of jealousy towards us will connect with us and we will receive this immense desire from them that we ignited in them. And they will receive from us that fulfillment that we discovered and aspired to here. So thanks to this mutual enrichment, all of us rise. Therefore, we are inviting everyone to connect all around the world with one big hug.
[110199]
From the Convention In Krasnoyarsk 6/16/13 Lesson 6

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A Soul In Search Of Choice

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: The upper world is composed of 125 levels of attainment. What happens with the soul if it rises to the fifth level, for example, does it have a free choice to advance further or to remain at this level?

Answer: Free choice doesn’t exist anywhere or in anything except regarding one and only one activity: strengthening the connection with the group.

Free choice is only in this. For if you don’t hold onto the connection with the group, then that power that you need to awaken in yourself in a good form to advance forward will constantly push you back through negative influence, through suffering. If you begin to flee from these sufferings, but not from your desire, rather against your will, then you advance like the rest of humanity. But if you understand that it is necessary to rise in spite of it all, then you must connect with the group.

There is no other free choice  in the world besides this choice. All humans on the face of the earth are enslaved and lack free choice. It is impossible to do anything in your present, past, or future if you don’t begin to change your fate with the help of the group and not choose going forward with an individual yearning instead of the stick that is pushing you from behind.

Therefore, the way for everyone is the same, but if you grasp this as desirable and pass through all the inner changes from your own free will, then you will begin to be changed from egoism to altruism. And if not, then nature will obligate you to change through great suffering that will eventually break you and you will agree to do everything yourself.

Question: So if a person doesn’t feel happy about his involvement with spiritual work, this is a sign that he is doing something incorrectly?

Answer: This is saying that he is not advancing. It is possible to advance only through happiness. Forward movement represents my preference for the characteristic of bestowal instead of the characteristic of reception, the characteristic of love instead of the characteristic of hatred. How is this possible if you are not happy with your choice? There cannot be anything like this. It is a sign that there is still no choice.
[110170]
From the Convention In Krasnoyarsk Day One 6/14/13, Lesson 2

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Connecting The First Spiritual Circle

Dr. Michael LaitmanEverything that we want to attain in spirituality, which is the attribute of bestowal, can be attained only by our unity. So if we want to learn something during the lesson in the convention we can do that only if we imagine the unity between us. To the extent that we imagine this, to the extent we aspire for this, even if we don’t understand the upper unity (above our ego) exactly, even if we are only trying to imagine all that in our current attributes, it already spurs the upper Light, which means the next level that bestows upon us and “draws” us to it.

To advance is to ascend as a result of the influence of an upper level, which illuminates upon you to the extent that you are drawn to it. So every time we try to connect before a lesson, especially during conventions, we have to accurately focus on that.

If a person tries to create such inner tension by himself and to search for it, it will lead to nothing if it doesn’t go through the society, through connection, through the attribute that operates when many unite into one whole. After all, we were shattered so we would collect ourselves and feel spirituality independently, so we would be a spiritual “embryo.”

When we descend from the top down unconsciously, from the world of Ein Sof (Infinity) to our world, we have no knowledge yet, no awareness, no feeling, since it all happens as a direct result of the Light, or under the influence of the Direct Light. So we don’t exist yet, we are only on the first levels of our development. We have to develop just as our universe developed from energy to a material form through the levels of the still, vegetative, animate, and human beings.

The ascent from the bottom up, now that we are only beginning to implement it to all of humanity, can be performed only according to the unity between us or more accurately, according to our efforts to unite. We don’t have to unite, it is impossible, but we can aspire for that. To the extent that we aspire for that, we create the conditions to get closer to the next higher level, and then the first spiritual level illuminates upon us. By our attempts to unite, we spur its influence according to our yearning for unity.

If a person aspires for attaining spirituality without this influence, then no matter how he does it, he will only attain the distortions that exist in the world today: religions, beliefs, various methods, etc., many of which are based on different connections. If, on the other hand, we aspire to find ourselves in the center of unity (since we don’t exist otherwise), which means to create something common, whole, spiritual, the general vessel that was before the shattering, then we will draw the Ohr Makif (Surrounding Light) upon ourselves to the same extent. So let’s control ourselves and examine ourselves.

Any personal attempt to learn something, to understand, or to feel is wrong if it is not immediately aimed at unity and through it to exiting. Then the “I” becomes “we” and “we” becomes one whole in which we already begin to feel the upper level.

So the most important thing is to imagine this general state, the general vessel.

We have to train ourselves for this state. Here our very attempts are important, no matter what they are: if our search fails, when you constantly fall into your ego, into your personal desire and feeling. All these efforts are actually good, lead us towards the goal, and are accepted. It is just like a small child who constantly tries to do something and although he doesn’t succeed, it is such attempts that help him grow and eventually turn him into a skillful, understanding adult.

So we have to examine ourselves especially regarding this point. We have to get used to it just as we get used to every action or different perspective that seems strange at first. First, our ego will certainly reject this until we see some benefit in it for ourselves. But it is its help called “help against” that gives us the chance to make certain efforts when we enter and when we exit, that means when we are thrown out of thoughts about unity and by making artificial efforts, we remind one another about it and unite again in our thoughts, no matter what the outcome is, whether we succeed or not and whether it is easy or difficult.

Of course we will succeed less and less since the ego that we need in order to attain the first spiritual level is not a simple thing. Compared to the ordinary ego it is much greater and more sophisticated. It is our spiritual ego and it belongs to a different level, to the “human” level. It is based on the integrality that is above our nature, above the speed of Light, above the understanding of cause and effect that we see in our world. This ego is different not only in power but also in its inner intensity. Its structure is more complicated.

It is as if we build electronic circuits from different components and they begin to communicate with one another. They used to be separate parts: capacitors, resistors, diodes, and transistors, but they didn’t work. Each of them seems to be living a minimal life, but the circuit itself actually begins to work only when it is put together correctly and is connected to a source of energy, to the upper level.

So we mustn’t forget that our ego will constantly grow and that it will always be increasingly more difficult to reach the thoughts about our collective powers about the collective feeling and the collective mind. But in this way we reach the state of our initial connection.

The example of the electric circuit helps us understand that the main thing is the initial connection. Then more and more elements that cooperate better, join it and tune to one another, enter a “resonance,” and adjust themselves to one another. This is the spiritual ascent.

Then it is simpler. If someone starts working and if there is minimal life in this circuit, it becomes easier. After all, now you will work with the spiritual level with new data. You examine these instruments, you know them, you feel them, which means that you constantly adjust the circuit and tune it to work better until it becomes a system that functions fully at its utmost level.

But in the meantime, we have to assemble it first. After all, the moment we reach the minimal spiritual effort, there will be an immediate connection to the source and the beginning of a movement in the circle of connection between us. Then we begin to feel the upper mind and already work according to its laws.
[110009]
From the Convention in Krasnoyarsk 6/13/13, Lesson 2

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The Elevator Between The Floors Of Attainment

Dr. Michael LaitmanIf from our current state we feel that there is a higher state, distinguishing the radiance that comes from it and anticipating its properties, we can use this upper state to advance to it. Then, we will make a step accelerating time (Achishena) instead of waiting for when this state comes naturally (Beito), and in this way we will bring the Creator joy and help our friends.

We need to find out whether by doing this we are going to make an action of bestowal or not. If this is bestowal, do we act above reason inside it? Of course the actions inside reason are preferable because it means that there is a revelation that gives us the power to act.

And the action above reason is the means of ascending to the next degree by the path of Achishena, accelerating time. But it is not entirely in our hands, we do not have the strength to rise to this height; rather, we use the elevator that is divided into two halves. First, we perform the action above reason and thus attract the force of correction, and then with the help of this force we carry out correction and rise to the next degree.

It is good if we clearly, “within reason,” see the means that enable us to rise to a higher degree. But it is better to work with them in “above reason” because it will be the path of the Light (Achishena).

Gradually, a person learns these principles and begins to work successfully. I hope that we are at this stage of discernment and soon everyone will accumulate enough impressions to become clear in everything and see the map of the route of his development in all its features.

It is worthwhile to keep in mind that the upper degree is achieved by faith above reason, that we use as the means of ascent, time acceleration. But we should seek not to remain in faith above reason but to go “inside reason,” that is, to attain more and more. The goal of each state is to reveal the Creator in our corrected desires.
[109015]
From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/3/13

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Two Methods Of Dissemination

Dr. Michael LaitmanWe have two methods of dissemination: physical dissemination through the usual system of connection and simultaneously an inner dissemination in the spiritual network that is discovered to the degree that we apply the integral method between us. Our success depends on the degree to which we aspire to this, that our efforts will somehow be able to enter the system of creation, and then gradually will enter it.

Therefore, inner work in the system of creation in the connection between us and between all of humanity needs to be primary and the external work needs to be secondary. Then after that, paradoxically, the secondary external system will begin to act since they will require our method. If we work among us in groups in the right form, our actions and efforts will extend into the inner system. Then the people around us will suddenly begin to feel how relationships in couples, in the workplace, internationally, among peoples, and so on, should be organized. This will attract them, they will come to us and will aspire to this.

Do you see how each of us suddenly feels and understands where the origin of this higher knowledge is to be found? I personally searched for truth everywhere until I found it “coincidentally,” as it seemed to me. But the truth is that nothing is coincidental in this world since from our side there is some kind of distinct desire to bring ourselves out of depression from a blind alley; it seems there is everything, but there is nothing, on one hand.

On the other hand, my teachers Baal HaSulam and Rabash tried to disseminate. So it happened that I was influenced by this inner force that they tried to insert into the system of creation. Therefore, I advanced towards them like a charge in an electromagnetic field advances toward its origin. So it is for each of us.

We must understand that the main thing is unity between us. We dedicate much time and effort to dissemination, but the main thing is dissemination between us. The groups are now essentially involved with external dissemination.

But unless we are ready for internal dissemination, we will not get anywhere. In the spiritual world, everything is interconnected: In the beginning of the action is its end, and in the end, the beginning. The opportunity was given to us to reach the method of correction, the ascent, because the rest of humanity requires this. In an integral system you require others—each requires all and all require each—you see this is an analog system mutually connected, so we have no other choice. It is even forbidden for us to think in an individual form.

If we are detached from spiritual thoughts, immediately we must think about closeness between us, meaning the basis, the bedrock, upon which our dream can be realized, a higher state. We have to think of the matter: where it will manifest itself, in what medium. The carrier is our common connection between us. So it will be with the entire world.
[109942]
From the Convention in Krasnoyarsk 6/13/13, Lesson 2

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Two States

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: It is very important for us to transform the inner states rapidly. State number one is: “There is none else besides Him.” And what is the second state? There must be at least two if there is a change of states.

Answer: In contrast to the state of “There is none else besides Him,” its opposite is found, my ego. What else can there be?

You are like Moses found between the Creator and Pharaoh and both are plagued by it. The Creator says to him, “Go to Pharaoh.” And he, the poor man, stands unable to decide, “Where am I going? Where are you taking me to this gigantic snake?” The Creator intentionally pushes Moshe towards the ego because it is only when you face it that you need the Creator. This means that the Creator pushes us into an abyss so that we will be caught there. This is all the work in exile from spirituality since we are detached from the oneness of the Creator.

The state of “There is none else besides Him” is not happiness but immense tension, so as not to fall and open this state further, for the moment that you leave Him, that’s it! He disappears.

Therefore, I wish you to be only in a single state like this all the time. There is no need for a second state because you see it is contrary to the first, everything is disconnected within it, you don’t see anyone or anything managing our world, so you begin to invent something by yourself.

In order to discover “There is none else besides Him” it is necessary to use the principle, “If I am not for myself who will be for me”.

Question: Actually we pass through a multitude of different states….

Answer: There is no multitude of states. There is either the Creator or myself. There are no other states! Who establishes the state? Either I understand, see clearly, and feel clearly in every one of my cells that everything around me is the Creator or I think that everything depends on me and a few other sources. One of the two! There cannot be three. It is either the ego or the Creator.

Question: Which is to say if I hold onto the Creator like a leech, then nothing else concerns me and I don’t replace this state with anything?

Answer: It is not that nothing concerns me. There is a constant tension that doesn’t allow you to let go, don’t miss, don’t miss, and don’t miss. But if the group helps you this becomes a pleasant journey because together with the others when everyone helps, everyone acts, everyone awakens, then you are freed from tension.

Anyway, you cannot hold onto a position in this state by yourself. But when the group encompasses you, then your shared work begins. And the Creator, instead of personally illuminating you with some very small ray of Light, begins to be revealed between you as a whole range of feelings like a sea overflowing its banks.

And you begin to play with this level of power between you. But this is already an easy game. It is difficult only as long as you are individually held by the Creator. But when you feel Him among you, already you begin to play with this characteristic: how it can be increased, how its form can be changed; it’s in your hands.
[110403]
From the Convention In Krasnoyarsk 6/14/13, Lesson 3 

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Working With The Right Line

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How is it possible to understand that I am found in the right line? How long can this feeling continue and at what moment does the rejection into the left side occur?

Answer: The expression of being found in the right line is a feeling of joy, happiness, security, spiritual elevation, and a mutual yearning for this. A feeling of good energy is the right line. It is impossible to cry and be thankful simultaneously.

Theoretically, we can advance in the right line only by constantly growing, extending, and expanding in connection with the friends, the group, bestowal, and love. But in practice, this is impossible. In spite of it all, we are not that strong.

In practice weakness, laziness, and so forth comes, we leave the right line and are thrown into the left. For the sake of the work, the ego enters, drawing us to the “left,” to comfort, relaxation, and letting go. We no longer want anything, we begin to criticize others and no longer want to work with the group, with the friends. It is apparently necessary to leave this state, but we don’t succeed in doing this.

What can one do? In a situation like this, the group needs to “shake and squeeze” us. It needs to declare: “You must leave this state!” It must agitate a friend in this manner to influence him with the power of persuasion and joy, with everything possible, just so he will not remain in a descent and will leave this critical state.

It is necessary to understand that if a person falls, his departure and descent from this fall depends on the group. The group must try to help him at least twice. If the group works on the friend for a particular time and there is no result, then it is necessary to let him rest; after a number of days the group can seriously begin to take care of him again. If they don’t succeed again, only then are they allowed to let him go, but he can also remain.

Question: Will there be a time when we become so strong that we can all advance together in the “right line”?

Answer: To advance together in the right line is our goal. It is necessary to work on this. For when we are found in the right line we attract the Light, the power of bestowal, maximally, we constantly thank the Creator and we are welcomed by Him. But this is only on the condition that there is serious cooperative work, because in general we become weaker in these states, we begin to enjoy our sensations, and this is liable to lead to a descent.

When we are found in the right line, we need to say to ourselves we are enjoying the friends and in this way, we are giving pleasure and delight to the Creator. If I hold on to my yearning for the Creator through the friends, then I will not fall.
[110166]
From the Convention In Krasnoyarsk Day One 6/14/13, Lesson 2

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