Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the relationship between Kabbalah and the Bible?“

The Bible (or Torah) is sublime and spiritual, but, frankly, it can be a bit long on history with its lists of relations. You read about people marrying, divorcing, cheating on each other, and killing one another. A fair question might be: what’s so spiritual about that?

In the framework of Kabbalah, however, the Bible doesn’t tell stories of people. Instead, it presents relations between spiritual forces.

“First, you must know that when dealing with spiritual matters that have no concern with time, space, and motion, and especially when dealing with Godliness, we do not have the words by which to express and contemplate. …For that reason, the sages of the Kabbalah have chosen a special language, which we can call “the language of the branches.”—Yehuda Ashlag, Talmud Eser Sefirot (The Study of the Ten Sefirot), Part 1, Histaklut Pnimit (Inner Reflection).

The Bible shows the process of the correction of souls through higher forces. This takes the souls on their path of ascent as they rise in their ability to bestow. Characters such as Adam, Noah, and Abraham are not thought of as people who lived somewhere and wandered (or floated) around. They are considered forces that operate over desires that have to be corrected, within each and every one of us. For example, the story of the exodus of Hebrew slaves from Egypt represents not their freedom from physical bondage, but the acquisition of the first Masach (screen), the crossing of the barrier.

Some stories may seem to have no rationality or sanctity in them. When reading them, remember that these are not events, but stories of forces. They are not to be understood or justified in earthly terms.

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When One Follows the Laws of Nature

Question: If I take care that my like-minded friends reach the Creator and this is the best thing I can do for them, is that enough? Does that mean I shouldn’t worry about fulfilling their many other desires?

Answer: No. It is said that the material aspect of a friend is more important than your spiritual one.

Remark: I can’t even provide for my own material desires, and even less so for my friend!

My Comment: This refers to a society that exists only in order to attain the Creator. Then, all of its members will be in a state of mutual guarantee (Arvut) among themselves when they live by this only.

Everything else they need for food, for life, called “conditions necessary for existence,” they obtain together. They help each other in this. They will always have enough of everything because they will comply with the laws of nature.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 2/7/19

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Two opposites in one subject—this is the main point that determines the entrance to the upper world, to the spiritual dimension, that is, to the space where the Creator is the source of two forces. With respect to us, they are revealed as the force of evil and the force of good, Klipa and holiness, bestowal and reception, two opposite forces. However, the Creator has no contradiction and everything is connected into one.

It is only with respect to us, our sense and understanding, that this manifests itself as two forces that contradict each other. The more we begin to learn about creation, the greater the distance and conflict we see between them. Therefore, we cannot perceive spirituality, as it is written, “For in Isaac shall a seed be called to you, and offer him there for a burnt-offering.” One thing contradicts the other: on the one hand, you are ordered to kill him, and on the other hand, he must be the continuation of your path.

How is this possible? We do not understand this with our mind, and we must acquire the mind of the upper. If we exert in keeping these principles, we attract the reforming light, which builds a new reality for us. In this new space that we are revealing, which is called the middle line, these two opposite lines can coexist together, as one whole, completing each other.

It is very difficult, almost impossible to perceive. There must be a society and the reforming light from above that will connect the two lines together to the middle line. The middle line is the Creator. The revelation of the Creator, or the connection of two opposite lines, gradually leads us to the purpose of creation, to the end of correction. Step by step these opposites grow and connect more and more. This is our entire work.

We have already made enough preparation over many years and have gathered many people that are capable of making this step. The rest will become capable of it by clinging to those who have already gone through the correct preparation. It is like in our world, children born today in the 21st century join all the progress achieved before and go ahead of all past generations because they clung to their parents and received from them all that they have.

It is so also in a Kabbalistic group, no matter who is more or less advanced. If everyone tries to achieve the goal according to all one’s strength and preparation, he or she will achieve it.

I hope you have a serious attitude to this topic, because in the wisdom of Kabbalah, in spiritual work, in the attainment of the Creator, the upper reality and the perfection of nature, there is nothing more important than this principle of the connection of two lines. This combination of opposites is the spiritual space that is revealed to a person. When he enters it, he begins to feel the next world. There is no doubt that by working together we can advance and achieve all this, drawing everyone to this degree, that is, to the beginning of the true spiritual ladder.

From this moment onward, we always continue in three lines, in faith above reason. Then the entire Torah and the entire world become clear to us. All of reality begins to gain perspective, dividing into three lines and revealing their interaction. After all, now we do not know where the plus and minus come from and where they lead us. Yet, if we know how to correctly tie the opposites above our world and our earthly mind with the spiritual senses and mind, we achieve unlimited revelation, understand how the Creator is operating, what He does, and what we need to do to become like Him, becoming “like God, knowing good and evil.”¹
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah lesson 12/23/19, “Two Opposites in One Subject”

¹ Minute 0:20

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Love Thy Neighbor

Question: The purpose of creation is to become like the general power of nature, the Creator, in terms of properties. His property is to bestow.

Baal HaSulam writes in his article “Love for the Creator and Love for the Created Beings” that one cannot just jump over and acquire the property of the Creator because one can deceive oneself.

To make sure that I indeed achieve this property, an image of our world was created with all kinds of creations: inanimate, vegetative, animate, and most importantly, human. I must correct my attitude toward people.

Therefore, as it is written in all the original sources, the basic law is “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” What does it mean? Everyone understands this in their own way.

Answer: “Love thy neighbor as thyself” is the goal that a person must achieve if one works on one’s correction. This goal is a very distant one, but in the beginning there are other preliminary stages of correction.

“Love thy neighbor as thyself” means that just as today I love myself and I instinctively, consciously, and subconsciously put myself at the head of the whole world and only through myself do I perceive this world, and only from myself onward do I look at the world, and only for my dear own self do I work and do everything, so I must change myself for the whole world, work for the improvement of the world only, and only feel pain for it as if it were my beloved little child.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 2/7/19

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Kabbalah—The Key to the Laws of Nature

Question: Why did nature create us as egoists and opposite to it? What is the purpose?

Answer: So that precisely because of our egoism, we become aware of how terrible we are as creatures.

The question arises: if we see that our egoism is the only obstacle toward achieving an eternal, perfect life, how can we correct it? How, with the help of the ego, can we change ourselves, society, the environment, everything?

At this point, a need emerges to actually change ourselves. There are many different methods, theories, and ideas on this topic, including religious and non-religious, mystical, Eastern, etc.

One of these methods is Kabbalah. It stands quite apart from everything else because it emerged long before their inception, 6,000 years ago. According to Kabbalah, there was a man named Adam. He was the first to comprehend the whole matrix, the whole system of nature, and he unraveled its plan, its beginning, its course, and the end.

Adam laid the foundation for the science of Kabbalah. His students were Sim, Ham, Yaphet, and others who were allegorically described in the Torah. They continued to develop this science up until Abraham in ancient Babylon.

Kabbalah speaks of how to unite above oneself, over one’s egoism. In this case, we will begin to feel the general power of nature, its overall picture. It will become clear to us that nature is eternal, perfect, infinite, and most importantly, integral and whole.

If we treat it like that, then we begin to unravel its true laws, its true form. After all, today we do not feel it. We do not really know it, and we do not really see it.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 2/7/19

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Question: In what way does the teacher depend on the student in the transmission of spiritual knowledge?

Answer: In many ways. The teacher needs to try and open up the student, to help him attune to a common wave with the teacher. They should try not just to understand each other, but to live together through one idea gradually being imbued with common sensations.

Question: What does it mean to become a student of a Kabbalist?

Answer: To become a student of a Kabbalist means to want the same feeling, understanding, and thought as the teacher.

Question: What rules should a student observe in relation to a Kabbalist teacher?

Answer: The student should try to attach himself to the thoughts of his teacher and try to enter into him as deeply as possible. Nothing else is needed. In order to do so, there are such auxiliary methods as helping the teacher in his activities.

Even in ordinary science a lot depends on how close a student is to his teacher. In Kabbalah, it is even more so because a Kabbalist passes to his students not simply knowledge, like professor to a student, but sensations that cannot be felt by the ordinary senses and qualities. Therefore, a much greater proximity is needed here—a common connection between them. However, this is achieved gradually.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals in Kabbalah,” 10/27/19

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Question: For a long time there was a ban on disclosure of the wisdom of Kabbalah in the world. Baal HaSulam wrote that the first ban is unnecessary, the second, impossible, and the third is the secret of the Creator.

What does it mean that it was unnecessary?

Answer: Was there a need, for example, for creating a nuclear bomb? Yet, as you can see, it was revealed to the world. Although on one hand, Einstein did not want to, he nonetheless gave the formula because it became clear that scientists of Hitler’s Germany were successfully working on this issue. Then the formula was stolen, and from this started the development of the nuclear industry in the West and East.

Question: Does this mean that Kabbalah will bring no obvious benefit?

Answer: Kabbalah will bring no obvious benefit if it is placed in a person’s hands, like a nuclear bomb to a Neanderthal.

If a person is not yet ready for this, if one does not have a clear yearning for understanding the meaning of life, that is, one is not yet completely disappointed in this existence, then the disclosure of Kabbalah will begin pushing the person to mysticism, to the opportunity to earn money from it, etc. That is, Kabbalah should not be revealed to one who wants to receive some kind of privileges, some benefit in this world.

If a person already understands that he does not need this world at all, he is not attracted by wealth, knowledge, power, or honor, nothing at all, he only wants the upper world, only the connection with the Creator, then Kabbalah should be disclosed to him.

Therefore, it is necessary to be very careful. However, in our time this ban has already been lifted because people, in principle, are so disappointed in this world and are in a general depression that even if they wanted to use Kabbalah in some way, in the form of magic and other things, no one would take it seriously.

Question: Is there a certain stage in the development of humanity when the revelation of the Creator can harm a person?

Answer: Yes. When a person still has a desire for this world and at the same time becomes acquainted with the method of attaining the Creator, then he or she begins to think, “How can I attain the Creator in order to profit in this world?” This is wrong and will never bring any benefit. It is because the revelation of the Creator can be only in order to rise from this world to the upper world through our attainment. The body will remain, but the spirit of attainment will begin to break through to the next world.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 1/8/19

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Temple— a Place of Connection

Question: Why did Kabbalists travel so much? Why were they leaving their cities, wandering for several years, and then returning? What was this giving them?

Answer: There apparently was such a commandment, an instruction that the Kabbalist was obligated to leave his house and wander on the roads, visit other settlements, get acquainted with nature and people, and see the manifestation of the Creator in everything. This would give him energy and expand his consciousness.

Question: In ancient times, were there temples in many cities?

Answer: There were not temples but simply houses of prayer. There was only one Temple. First it was in Samaria, then in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount, depending on what periods considered.

The Temple is a special place where every person can come, both Jews and non-Jews, and convey to the Creator their hopes, wishes, and requests.

Question: Why was it necessary to come to some specific place?

Answer: It is because in it all geographical and spiritual conditions and human aspirations come together into one point.

Question: As Kabbalah says, a person is connected with the Creator by his heart. Does the Creator feel my heart, my desires?

Answer: Naturally, but in addition, there is also a geographical similarity to the upper world.

Question: Does this mean that there is something in the fact that many people were gathering in one place? What were they doing there? They could not just be sacrificing some animals.

Answer: Sacrifice is the reflection of a person’s desire to stop using his egoism, to stop working with his egoistic self. Therefore, he wants to sacrifice it.

As a result, people were bringing salt, bread, meat, fish, and wine to the Temple. All these products correspond to certain types of desire on which a person makes a restriction. People were praying, asking, roasting meat, eating.

Question: Was this somehow connecting them?

Answer: Yes, of course. The Temple is the place of connection. That is of utmost importance.

Question: Does it mean that as a person sacrifices his egoism for the sake of the other, he shows signs of respect and love for him?

Answer: Imagine that there is a special restaurant where you can come, bring your food or money, it doesn’t matter whatever you have, and you participate in a common meal, common singing, common merriment. This is the place that connects all the people. This is how the Temple always worked.

People of all nations could connect there. The entry was open for everyone.
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From Kab TV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 1/28/19

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Question: When you, as a student of Rabash, discovered internal disconnection from your teacher, how did you reconnect to him?

Answer: It happens very often. We must follow this and try to get closer literally every minute. In principle, any advancement is based on closeness with the teacher. It is the only way.

Question: New students want to get close to the teacher as soon as possible. But they do not yet have an understanding of the subject. How important is it to restrain them and explain that they need to first learn the basics of Kabbalah, and then rush to connect to you?

Answer: On what basis will we build connection? It is not pointless. It comes down to the fact that together we advance toward the goal. They support themselves, I support them, and this is how we advance.

In the beginning, when a person is beginning their study, one does not even know what it is all about, what one is rushing to, why one was brought here, and what one should desire.

Therefore, I think it is good that for the first six months, we meet once a week.

When I started studying with Rabash, I came to his classes every evening for two hours. Only after two or even three years did he allow me to move closer to him.

I do not know how often you study, but if you can devote 10% of your general activities to communicate with me, I will be very happy.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals in Kabbalah,” 10/27/19

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Basis of the Wisdom of Kabbalah

Baal HaSulam, “The Essence of the Wisdom of Kabbalah”:  “This wisdom is no more and no less than a sequence of roots, which hang down by way of cause and consequence, by fixed, determined rules, interweaving to a single, exalted goal described as ‘the revelation of His Godliness to His creatures in this world.’”

The wisdom of Kabbalah says that being in our world we can, with the help of consistent study and discovery of the laws of nature, come to the attainment of the upper world, the upper force, the Creator. Moreover, we will reveal Him as an absolute, clear, upper law that connects together all parts of creation. By revealing the Creator, we will fully attain the entire creation because He includes everything.

Everything is inside of Him including us. It is just that on the way to attaining this oneness, this common force, the common system, we get confused in various small, private forces and connections. Yet, in general, we reveal only the Creator because there is none else besides Him.

This is also written, “There is none else besides Him.” This is the first condition of determining what the basis of the wisdom of Kabbalah is. That is, the wisdom of Kabbalah deals with the revelation of the Creator by a person in our world, who in one’s research goes through the entire chain of forces from oneself to the Creator and thus, gradually reveals Him.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 8/18/19

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