Entries in the 'News' Category

Does the System Control Us or Do We Control the System?

929Question: Scientists have come to the conclusion that the human immune system uses chaos theory for the efficient functioning of the body.

Chaos theory says that the cause of chaos is sensitivity to initial conditions and parameters, and any small change at the initial level eventually leads to large changes and dynamics in the entire system.

They give as an example the “butterfly effect”—a butterfly flapped its wings on one side of the world and a hurricane occurred on the other.

Scientists say that in the immune system such a “butterfly” turns out to be a certain protein that triggers the activation of individual genes and thereby changes the state of the cells.

The immune system, in order to respond to the behavior of this protein, which is also very sensitive and changes its behavior, acts differently each time. That is, not formally, but in, as it seems, a very chaotic  order. That is, it is constantly updated, and various processes occur.

It does not stagnate; thus vulnerability does not accumulate, and it is able to repel various attacks.

Does society also move according to this chaos theory, in the dynamics of chaos? What is the correct way for a person in society and for society itself to move toward development, and not toward destruction, diseases, and so on?

Answer: First, we must understand that we study nature based on our own properties. And we ourselves are chaotic; there is absolute chaos in us, in the way we understand, know, and feel. That is, we do not know ourselves at all, and therefore we consider ourselves unpredictable and chaotic, and we consider the surrounding world to be the same.

But in reality, nothing random happens in it. Everything is built on strict, clear laws of nature, but we do not see them all together; we do not understand and do not see their interdependence.

There is nothing random in nature and there is no chaos. So if some butterfly somewhere flaps its wings, it means that it is absolutely certain that it should flap them. All this is strictly defined, established, and recorded in nature both billions of years ago and for billions of years ahead. Otherwise, nothing happens in nature.

Comment: The system is so complex, and it is updated every time.

My Response: This happens in front of our eyes because we do not see deeper processes! We do not see the system that governs all this!

Where is this entire computer, this entire huge program that manages all of nature? We do not see it.

Question: Once upon a time, the Indians who lived on the plateau over which airplanes flew simply did not see them. How can a person break through to this reality where something is happening?

Answer: One must focus their vision on something specific. They need to have a pre-existing concept in their mind, templates such as “airplane” or “ship.” Without these, they truly will not see it. We operate within a system that can very precisely identify something—or fail to—depending on whether it is encoded in our genes, attributes, or memory.

It is like a computer. Essentially, we are computers. For instance, a computer scans texts or images for specific features, and if those features are not in its database, it will not recognize them. Similarly, we have blind spots where we do not see that we lack the framework to perceive.

Comment: The scientist Mensky, who deals with quantum physics, says that between neurons in the brain, “rails” are laid down along which a person moves and cannot turn aside. It turns out that his whole life passes as if with blinders on his eyes. That is, he walks along one track and cannot turn away.

My Response: Naturally. We see this in ourselves and in those around us.

Question: At the same time, Mensky believes that at one moment there are an infinite number of alternatives to various situations. How can a person switch, to be in such dynamics every time? How can one stay in the dynamics of the system? And what will help him constantly switch?

Answer: No, that is not the right approach. Simply switching back and forth does not produce the desired effect.

One must understand that we are driven by the upper force, the unified force of nature, which is itself called “nature.” We can influence this unified force only by gathering in homogenous groups with a shared goal, collective efforts, and mutual support. Through such unified action, we can influence nature with our desires and trigger specific outcomes, positive ones, not harmful ones.

In this way, we can genuinely affect this vast supercomputer in which we exist. Even then, our actions will primarily accelerate our development toward the same goal, but along a kinder, smoother path.

If we align ourselves with each other and desire the same goal that nature has determined for our development, we can hasten our progress with collective effort. However, these efforts must be collaborative.

Question: In one of your Twitter posts you wrote that the upper system operates on us, and we recognize this influence as negative only due to our difference in properties. How can we perceive this positively, as a good influence, in all our actions?

Answer: To do so, we must understand nature’s goal, why it influences us, and how it does so. We must be prepared in advance to correctly accept these influences.

If I understand who is sending these influences, why they are sent, and where they are meant to lead me, then, in principle, I can remain in a comfortable state at all times and be ready to contribute more and more of my own effort to nature’s influence upon me.

Try to understand what nature expects of you and implement this in your life. Then you will see how quickly, smoothly, and positively you can move forward.

Question: How can a person recognize what nature requires from him?

Answer: Nature requires something that we do not like to hear: “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Comment: People ask: “Why do something good for the neighbor? It is easier to just remove them and destroy them, and then I do not have to do anything good for anyone.”

My Response: But by doing this, I am removing my own progress in life. That is, I do not move myself toward a better goal.

The ultimate goal of our development is for all of us to unite as one single whole, through our desires, thoughts, intentions, plans, everything. We collectively form one enormous interconnected system. However, in our current perceptions and understanding, this system appears fragmented. We feel distant from one another, unaligned, indifferent, unwilling to listen to or help each other.

Nature’s vision for our future is the opposite: for all of us to unite and connect all our desires and intentions into a single, mutual system of support.

If I strive toward this, even in small ways, I am already aligning myself with the goal that nature has set for me. As a result, I will not need harsh corrections or even painful nudges from nature to push me forward.

Question: So with my actions, do I cause the same reaction in another?

Answer: Yes, I show him that I am doing this because in this way I want the best for both myself and him.

Question: Can we reorient people with such an approach?

Answer: Try. Show others that by doing good for them, you increase goodness in the world and want the entire world to be this way.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 6/20/19

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How Can We Avoid Being Offended?

627.1Question: What can you say about grievances, reactions to them, and how to help people cope with them?

Grievances are put into the concept of corporate culture, where mechanisms are developed for people to report grievances, relying on the offender’s reaction regardless of the initial cause of the offense. A grievance is a person’s reaction to an unjust insult or action, as it seems to them. However, the reaction to an act and the event or attitude that caused it are not always aligned. Therefore, we wanted to ask you, as a Kabbalist, about this phenomenon and how a person should work with it correctly.

Answer: A person feels they have been hurt or struck. Essentially, their egoism has been affected, and they cannot tolerate it because egoism is the most central part of each of us: the desire to feel superior, stronger, more stable, confident, and so on. Suddenly my “self” is brought down; someone has hurt or tried to diminish it.

Here I feel offended, which can only be compensated by lowering the offender even further below me. That is why denunciations and similar reactions come into play.

Question: When we feel bad, why do we want to make others feel worse?

Answer: This is no longer about being offended but simply that our egoism that needs to maintain itself at a certain level and always feel superior to others, in a more comfortable state. Only then does it feel satisfied and it seems to us that life is flowing like it should.

Question: How can one remove an offense from the heart, not just rationalize it, but rise above and let go? How should one work with it correctly using the power of the offense to rise above it? How can one forgive and truly move on?

Answer: It is difficult. There is no simple answer for all situations.

From the perspective of the wisdom of Kabbalah, we need to understand that the upper governance exists between us. We have no direct contact with one another because there is the upper force between us that creates all our communication.

Therefore, if I feel offended by someone, I must understand that it is not about the person who acted against me or hurt me. No, it is about the upper force deliberately placing me in such a situation. I must address not the person who offended me, but the Creator, the upper force that acts upon me in this way.

If we begin to feel that between each of us and others is the Creator, it will become much easier for us to interact. We will be able to find the right connection between us and with the Creator, and suddenly we will realize that we are in an entirely different world.

We will discover a state where a benevolent force exists between all of us that works solely to elevate us toward itself.

But this elevation occurs precisely through our fall. It shows us how egoistic and weak we are, how we constantly endure minor humiliations like small children, and how we struggle to rise above ourselves.

Just as the sea surrounds small islands, we will begin to feel that only a benevolent, warm sea, the upper force, fills all the space between us.

We need to change, to rise above our egoism. Then we will feel like small islands in an archipelago, surrounded by a warm, kind sea.

Question: You described it so beautifully. But how can it be achieved?

Answer: It is not very difficult. You just need to focus on this state.

I have described a picture that truly exists and functions. If we begin to actively seek and discern the upper force between us, we will discover that this force is inherently good, while we are small, selfish creatures. What can we do? We need to rise above our egoism and align ourselves with this benevolent force that fills everything around us.

Question: What is the key factor in transitioning and shifting to this state?

Answer: It is the collective support of the environment you are in. The most important thing, as explained in the wisdom of Kabbalah, is to create a supportive environment of like-minded individuals where we help each other recognize, accept, and realize this state.

In our interactions, we must consistently act on understanding that a benevolent upper force exists between us. Since we are egoists by nature, the question becomes how can we neutralize our egoism so that this force can fill us as well?

When this happens, we find ourselves in a completely different world. We begin to perceive reality through the quality of bestowal rather than reception, through the quality of love and connection rather than hatred and alienation. We truly start to see a different nature.

Essentially, we reveal another force, the positive force that exists in nature, but is not evident in our world. We must uncover it ourselves through our mutual efforts. Then we will realize that two forces actually exist, positive and negative, and we will live in a correct balance between them.

Question: They say that understanding one another is our social “glue.” But since we are so different, this bonding does not seem to happen. How can we learn to understand one another when everyone has their own perspective of the world?

Answer: The problem is that we do not have common points of understanding. This is the most important thing. Because of this, we do not truly understand one another. Sometimes we agree with each other because it is convenient, but even then, we still do not really hear each other. It is simply that I find it pleasing, so I accept it. But what exactly I am accepting is hard to define; it could be beneficial to me at work, in studies, shopping, family life, with children, and so on. But in general, we do not hear each other.

To truly hear each other means to be on the same wavelength where I feel the other person’s state and fulfill them, and they feel my state and fulfill me. All of this happens through the benevolent upper force between us, which allows for constant, correct communication.

But this requires learning. That is why what I teach is called the wisdom of Kabbalah, the science of receiving, meaning the science of how to receive and accept another as they are without being disturbed or distorted by one’s egoism.

Question: How can we help someone who is at war with the world around them?

Answer: This is a miserable person. How can they escape this state? In general, it is a whole science. We can see that the entire world lives in a state of constant irritation, depression, with inner attacks on one another, malice, and egoistic calculations. What can we do? The only solution is to rise above it. But again, for this, a supportive environment is essential.

It is crucial to create the right environment where a person can naturally transform themselves under its influence. A positive environment is the most important factor. This is what we constantly work on, and we are always striving to align ourselves with a true and correct worldview.

Typically, we do this in a group of ten. Ten people come together, and they are given a task: to relate to each other as one collective whole. To achieve this, everyone must lower themselves before the others. I lower myself before my nine friends. Then I feel that I must help them, which means I must rise above them. After that, I must be equal to them, and so on.

These exercises allow us to develop the internal flexibility necessary to establish the right connection between us. Essentially it is psychological training that leads to absolutely amazing results.

A person suddenly begins to feel that there is nothing inherently their own within them, that their character, state, and mood are given to them as initial conditions, and they must adjust these to fit the surrounding environment. When they perform these exercises of internal flexibility, they see that it is not difficult and even start to wonder, “Who am I, really?”

The most optimal state for me is when I adapt myself to the collective. And in this way, each of us in the group adjusts ourselves to everyone else.

As a result, we achieve a homogeneous, integrated, and correct state where we merge and unite together. We understand each other perfectly and almost need no words. We develop an internal connection where we are all included in one another.

According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, this is the method for elevating humanity to the state of one single, unified, benevolent group, a single entity. When this will be fully realized is unknown. But at the very least, we can accomplish this in small groups.

Question: How can one feel and understand what is truly good or beneficial for another person and what is harmful?

Answer: To do this, you must feel the other person. How can you know what is good or bad for them? The most important thing is to feel them. This requires training, as I have previously mentioned. You need to lower yourself to zero, as if you do not exist, and only then will you begin to hear and feel them.

Suddenly, you will start to feel that you are inside them, feeling all their thoughts, aspirations, dreams, memories, and everything within them. And you will feel it as they do, not as you might imagine it if you were in their place. There are many nuances here.

At the same time, you will begin to show them from within that your attitude toward them is warm and kind, and they will not be able to resist this, they will transform into kindness.

Question: Should one strive to show empathy to absolutely everyone?

Answer: No, our world is not like that. I am talking only about specific cases, such as when you want to establish a very close connection with someone. This can work, but only with someone who is somewhat understanding and deserving, not just with anyone you meet on the street.

This is indeed a gradual training process. You can achieve such a state when, by lowering yourself to zero, you effectively bring them to zero, but in a kind way.

You need to nullify yourself, immerse yourself in them, see the world through their eyes, and empathize with them with whatever is happening within them. You become their companion, a part of them, constantly and inseparably connected to them as if dissolving, merging, and bonding with them internally. Then, you begin to see the world as they do.

What happens next depends on your goal. Do you want to learn more about them? If so, through this approach, you will understand them. And then, what kind of response do you want from them?

Comment: Mutuality, perhaps.

My Response: For that, something a bit different is needed. When you feel them and see the world through their eyes, you must show them that you are close to them, ready to walk alongside them, and help them. In other words, you must become an inseparable part of them.

By doing this, you will “win them over,” and they will no longer be able to be without you. Women often instinctively use this approach, and rightly so. Female nature is naturally attuned in this way. When a woman shows a man that he truly needs her and backs it up, not with words, but through actions, he “buys into” it.

This is what is called “winning love” like any other relationship. You dissolve into the person, start to feel how they see the world, what they want, anticipate their actions, desires, thoughts, and reactions, and help them. They see that you are an inseparable part of them. How could they part from you?

When a person studies Kabbalah, they do not feel personal offense because they view themselves the same way. They are constantly battling their egoism, trying to suppress it, crush it, and push it deeper down until it disappears entirely.

So when others treat them the same way, they do not feel defeated. Instead, they feel how these actions affect their spiritual work. It might even help them or it might hinder them.

I have observed this in my teacher. When he was gravely insulted, he would find pleasure in it, saying: “Ah, how good this is!” It is like being in a steam bath where the sting of the birch broom brings both pain and enjoyment. It is a similar state.

You already perceive your body and ego as your enemy. You even align with the one who offends you, and recognize that ultimately, this benefits you.

However, if this interferes with your mission, with your life’s work, then your reaction is different. You must “grind down” your ideological opponent.

Question: And how does it all end?

Answer: It ends with the need to persuade them. Otherwise, everything will have been in vain. The upper force that exists between you will have done all it could, but you will have responded incorrectly or incompletely.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 4/14/19

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Surrogacy

721.03Comment: There is growing demand for surrogacy volunteers around the world. In recent years, Canada has become increasingly attractive to future parents who are looking for altruistic surrogate mothers.

In Canada growth in these services has reached 400% over the past ten years.

The mothers themselves, who provide services on a pro bono basis, have their own families, many children, and they say that surrogacy is a life-changing experience. This may partly explain why women sacrifice their time and potentially their bodies for this.

They say: “I cannot imagine life without children, even as a surrogate mother. It is like bringing light back to the world. I give birth to a child for these people, but I also leave my mark on the world.”

My Response: This is a huge service for people who love each other but cannot have children otherwise. Of course, this is a huge favor.

Question: What is the connection between a child, a surrogate mother, and a biological mother? Who is the mother in the end?

Answer: A mother is the one who raises the child. A mother is the one the child follows; she is the one who takes care of him, the one to whom he feels affection and need, etc.

Question: What is an ideal mother?

Answer: One who knows how to raise him correctly is an ideal mother.

Question: What should a mother invest in a child? What should she pass on so that he grows up as a harmonious person?

Answer: First of all, it is love, responsibility, and of course, self-sacrifice. In addition, this is work on oneself; this is the knowledge of what to prepare the child for, how to teach him, how to get him on his feet, and how to accompany him in the first years of life, how to properly increase his independence every year, to each time step back a little so that he grows, and not to suppress him.

A wise woman is needed who can position herself in such a way that the child will feel good and warm next to her. And at the same time he will understand that his mother is taking care of him correctly, that is, adjusting her love with her demands.

Comment: Nowadays many people hire nannies who come to look after children and spend more time with them than their own parents. A very close connection arises between the child and the nanny; he grows up under her care within the framework of her upbringing, and thus fences himself off from his parents a little.

My Response: It all depends on how the environment the child grows in is organized. But it does not necessarily have to be that his mother sits over him all the time, or constantly revolves around him. On the contrary, this can spoil the child.

Comment: We are now moving toward some new model of the world where we have all the services for rent. Everyone buys in the “supermarket:” mom for rent, dad for rent, grandpa for rent. The child grows up in a certain society of those “products” that the parent has bought in the “supermarket.”

My Response: Personally, I do not see any problems in this, since in any case it is all for rent; it only depends on how we pay for it, and how obvious it is to us or not. It is clear that if I pay attention to my son, it is because I am his father.

And here too there is a problem: how much I love him and how much I should make an effort, versus being strict and demanding. There is a father, and there is an educator. These are different functions. Therefore it is difficult to replace a father, although it is also possible. But this is a completely different profession than a teacher, lecturer, or educator.

And the same with a mother. A mother can be nurturing, warm, and caring or demanding and instructing.

These are different functions.

We study this from spiritual objects. We have a spiritual father and mother, which are divided into two parts: father, the upper and lower system, and mother, the upper and lower system. All four systems influence the child, and this is where their functions are divided. This is a very interesting, complex system.

How do the father and mother influence with their upper properties and lower properties? Or how do they replace themselves with other people who must fulfill these upper and lower properties from both father and mother and in no case confuse them with each other. This is what is called Aba ve-Ima and Israel Saba ve-Tvuna. These are very serious, large spiritual objects, and all four are aimed at the development and education of the soul.

Question: How can a person attach to these components called father and mother?

Answer: In the spiritual, we cancel ourselves, and to this extent all four spiritual objects educate us. And in our world, they simply must be created in this way and function in relation to the child. Humanity has yet to discover and build this, to create such a system of servicing children.

But for now, I am very glad that there are such surrogate mothers, women who can provide this service to those couples who for some reason cannot have children.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 1/28/19

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Nine Tips for Avoiding Trouble in Life

541Comment: I read about an expert’s advice who proclaims there are vital lessons that a person should learn as early as possible. By mastering them, it is purported that you can prevent some troubles in your life.

Tip 1: “Follow your own path.”

People love to judge others. Peer pressure can force you to stray from the path that you started paving for your future. It is advised to ignore the aspirations of others and never let someone else’s goals and dreams influence your life’s direction. This is your path, and only you can decide where you need to go.

My Response: Absolutely correct. A person takes his own path in life. He must feel what he wants, what attracts him internally, and pursue this goal. Along the way he can use all sorts of tips, advice, and methods.

Comment: Tip 2: “Do not hesitate when you act.”

An old Roman saying goes: Carpe diem—seize the moment. Most often we fail to act due to uncertainty or lack of courage. This hesitation hinders progress and traps us in a cycle of questioning: “What could have been if I had acted…?”

My Response: I do not think this is correct. In reality, every person has his own purpose, and he will have to achieve it eventually. Even if someone avoids an issue they face and does not impulsively rush to resolve it as you suggest, the issue will resurface and compel them to deal with it.

Question: So just move forward?

Answer: Yes, nothing terrible will happen. Relax, take a break, wait—it will wait for you too.

Comment: Tip 3: “Test in practice what you have learned.”

My Response: There is no wisdom greater than that of someone walking the path themselves and drawing conclusions from it. Only when a person has gone through specific experiences, understands them, and can offer one’s opinion about them, only then can that opinion be taken seriously.

Comment: Tip 4: “Good things do not come easily.”

Luck can take you far, but everything else depends on you. Do not think that someone else will fight your battles with the same energy and dedication as you.

My Response: No one will fight for you. You must clearly understand the challenges before you, assess the desirability and necessity of reaching your goal, and then you can fight for it, primarily with yourself.

Question: Why with yourself?

Answer: Because we are inherently lazy, cautious, and so on. You will need to convince yourself that the goal is more important than your own comfort.

There is a higher goal, and a person must define it (if we are talking about someone who wants to uncover the meaning of our world and their place in it).

Once the goal is clear, he moves toward it to the best of his ability, measures his strength, does not become discouraged, and understands that even if he does not fully achieve it, he will still have made progress. A person will try to realize as much as is destined for him.

Comment: Tip 5: “Never miss a chance to try more.”

Even when we feel most prepared, it is quite possible that we will not achieve our goal. The main thing is not to despair.

My Response: Of course, we need to try to achieve the goal. If this goal is important, if I check it, and see that this is really what I need to achieve, then I should include myself in it completely.

Comment: Tip 6: “Value every moment.”

Live your life to the fullest because it is short, and we never know what tomorrow will bring.

My Response: I would not follow such advice because life has its purpose. If I believe today that I already know what is most important and only need to achieve it today and I disregard tomorrow, this is incorrect. It is like being reborn and dying every day, an inaccurate attitude toward life.

I must see myself walking a long road, constantly moving forward until I reach the ultimate goal. Every day I must reevaluate, redefine, and align myself with this goal, and strive toward it. And so what if tomorrow I am no longer here? I am still heading toward it today.

Question: And what on this path allows you personally, as a great person with great experience, a Kabbalist, not to give up?

Answer: The importance of the goal. One must constantly work on it. For me, there is nothing more important in life. I have dedicated my life to this, starting from the age of 20 and even earlier. I wanted this, and I have been walking toward it all my life, certainly for the last 50 to 60 years.

Comment: Tip 7: “Do not impose your ideas on others.”

They say you should not impose your ideas on others. Let those who seek your help and guidance come to you.

My Response: I do not think I am intrusive. I calmly accept those who come to my lessons, just as I calmly observe those who leave. My principle is entirely Kabbalistic: there is no coercion on the paths of life. Everyone must choose and realize their own way. Advice, however, is always available to those who seek it.

Comment: Tip 8: “Be flexible in your goals.”

It is important to analyze your current position and how your actions might affect the future. Sometimes it is better to pause a goal, adjust it temporarily, and return to it later.

My Response: In what I do, there is a constant reassessment of the path, goal, efforts, and implementation. So this is not an issue. Kabbalah provides a person with an almost continuous, constant rechecking of the goal, the path, and oneself, far beyond a daily or hourly basis.

Question: Will people find it just as easy to work with this constant data flow to adjust their goals continuously?

Answer: People will have more and more demand for a purpose in life. They will try to draw it before themselves, to define it. They will see that they can define it together, in connection with each other, and in this way they will move forward.

Comment: Tip 9: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

Here many people are faced with the following situation: people seem to agree and want the same thing, but they have different opinions; they want to express them, to defend them, and then nothing good comes out of it. Where does the understanding of the consequences come from?

My Response: In Kabbalah this is not an issue because achieving the goal depends on the correct integration of people with one another.

The key is not to insist on your own perspective or any single viewpoint. Neither I nor others should cling to our opinions. Instead we must combine all opinions into a unified whole that produces the correct result. If each person relinquishes his own self for the sake of the collective, the right outcome is achieved.

Question: Even if someone believes that their opinion is one hundred percent correct?

Answer: Especially then. This is a Kabbalistic principle. We must rise above our egoism, and there is no other solution to this issue. Only when each person relinquishes his or her perspective for the sake of collective unity can the outcome be both harmonious and correct.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/16/19

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Why Do Jews Have Everything the Other Way Around

549.02Question: Igor asks: “Why do you Jews have everything the other way around? Why does everyone write from left to right while you write from right to left?”

Answer: Not just us, but in general, yes.

Question: Why?

Answer: The right side is the spiritual side and the left is not. That is why in Hebrew, they write from right to left.

The right side is the right, and the left is the left.

Question: In general, how do you define closeness to spirituality? What does it mean?

Answer: It is a spiritual root that exists in nature. And it is closer to the right side than to the left.

Question: What is this root?

Answer: It is the spiritual force, the quality of bestowal.

We shake with the right hand. We still treat the right side better than the left.

Question: So a person is even unconsciously drawn to this because it is his root?

Answer: Yes.

Question: “Why does the whole world celebrate birthdays, but you, on the contrary, celebrate the death day?”

Answer: We do not celebrate the death day, but simply honor it for the deceased because we believe that this is an important date for him. That he has departed from us and entered completely into the spiritual world. The death of a person, the exit from this world, the ascension to the upper world, is the correction of the soul.

Question: What ascends into the spiritual world?

Answer: The soul.

Question: What do you call the soul?

Answer: The soul is the inner essence of a person.

Question: What is it like?

Answer: It is impossible to point a finger at it. But a person ascends and becomes closer to the Creator.

Question: When you say a person becomes closer to the Creator, what do you mean?

Answer: I mean the spiritual entity, the one that does not die.

Question: “Why does the next day begin with the sunset for you and with the sunrise for everyone else?”

Answer: This is a really interesting question. The next day begins with sunset for us because everything begins with darkness. Our nature, our world, space, and everything else, everything begins with darkness. And the next day also begins with darkness.

Question: And when dawn comes, what does it represent?

Answer: It represents a person’s attainment, one’s contact with the world, with the Creator. And therefore, on one hand, the 24 hours are measured by the hours after sunset, and the days are marked by sunrise.

Question: Then he asks: “Why do Jews wear a headdress out of respect for God, while the rest of the world, on the contrary, takes off its headwear out of respect?”

Answer: I do not know how the rest of the world views it. Headwear is a sign of respect. When I honor someone, I put on headwear. I don’t think it is important. The main thing is what you feel.

Question: Why do observant Jews wear a Kippah on their heads?

Answer: A Kippah is the minimal head covering that a person should never part with and should always wear. In this way, he expresses his respect for the Creator. He covers his brain.

Question: Next. “Why do most nations celebrate the New Year in winter, and Jews do so in the fall?”

Answer: It is written in the Torah that we should celebrate the New Year in the fall. There is nothing we can do about it. This was long before January 1st was adopted.

Comment: Christmas and so on.

My Response: Yes, none of this existed yet.

Question: But our chronology is different, naturally. We are already approaching the 6,000th milestone. Tell me, where does this chronology come from? All years are different. Where does it begin?

Answer: It all comes from Adam. He decided everything, he initiated it, he substantiated these facts, and from here the years begin.

He revealed the Creator, the connection with Him, from which day, on which days are which holidays, which special days. That is why we continue like that.

Question: You are now saying “he.” Can we even say that there was such a person Adam?

Answer: Adam HaRishon, yes.

Question: That is, the person who revealed the Creator? And from that moment he said: “We begin the chronology”?

Answer: Yes.

Question: And is this the correct chronology?

Answer: It is correct because he is the first. That is all.

Question: That is, if this is the revelation of the Creator, then it is correct?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Further. “Why do Jews bury the dead as quickly as possible, while in the world, on the contrary, it is customary to say a long farewell to the deceased?”

Answer: The Jews believe that the deceased must be buried on the same day.

Question: Why so quickly?

Answer: From the earth you came, to the earth you return. And there is nothing you can do about it.

Question: That is, long mourning for the body, farewells…

Answer: No, that is also not allowed because there is the upper mind above all of this, and it commands everything. So, we have no right to do what is beneficial or convenient for us, or what we think. No, it must be done very clearly and very simply.

Question: And quickly?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Tell me, what does placing the body into the earth represent?

Answer: Returning to the earth. From the earth you came and to the earth you will return. The spiritual root is that we are connected to the earth.

Question: And the last question: “Why does the Jewish tradition begin the new year with the Day of Judgment and not with a celebration?” Everyone celebrates the New Year, but for us it is Yom Kippur and so on.

Answer: Because this is the end of the previous year, and a person must evaluate his actions and in this way appear before the judgment as if to start a new life.

Question: So, it is judgment first?

Answer: Of course.

Question: Should I admit my guilt, or should I be declared guilty?

Answer: You should admit it.
[337125]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/21/24

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The Impostor Syndrome Is Cool

504Comment: In the high-tech sector, 58% of workers suffer from impostor syndrome. Researchers state they surveyed numerous IT companies, and 58% of the nearly 10,500 respondents said they experience this syndrome.

They feel like frauds, even after working in the same position for 14 years. They believe the job is beyond their capabilities and that their promotions are undeserved.

My Response: In general this is a good thing. It should put pressure on a person and push him toward self-improvement. After all, what drives a person forward if not the feeling that there is room to grow and that he is unworthy of his position?

They feel that there is still a lot of work ahead that requires continuous learning, acquiring additional skills, and gaining more knowledge. What is wrong with that?

On the other hand, it is important to ensure that they simultaneously develop confidence in their ability to overcome their insecurity, but not in a way that fills them with excessive complacency, rather, in a way that fosters continual growth. This is commendable.

In the science of Kabbalah, this is a constant state. I cannot imagine ever being completely satisfied; that would be something animalistic.

Question: What is the concept of the impostor syndrome in Kabbalah?

Answer: In truth, I feel that in this world we are all to some extent impostors. We have received our desires and aspirations for a perfect state as a kind of gift, an advance that we must work to repay. I always feel this way, as do my students and teachers.

Question: What does it mean to repay it?

Answer: To repay means that I must reach a state where I genuinely align with it. That would be my complete correction.

Question: How can one use this feeling correctly without falling into self-doubt?

Answer: Progress must be made along three lines: the right, the left, and the middle. On one side there should be no arrogance; on the other there must be a thorough assessment and acknowledgment of one’s inadequacies.

And based on these two lines, the middle line emerges, where we move forward on the realization of the previous two. And we always see a goal ahead where these two approaches converge. I feel both perfect and imperfect, and their union pulls me forward.

Kabbalah explains how this works; it is an entire system. Without it, it is impossible to move forward correctly. Perhaps that is why people struggle to find new solutions. But Kabbalah offers guidance.

This process leads to an interesting expansion of consciousness. When you follow the middle line, your consciousness expands. You move forward, and even outpace the tasks set before you.

You foresee both the challenges and their solutions. You pull them along with you, rather than being overwhelmed by them. Instead of struggling to keep up, you find that the work chases after you while you move ahead.

This must be learned. Those who are interested will join us.
[235470]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/19/18

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Public Displays of Affection

294.2Question: Local authorities in Guadalajara  approved a law allowing sexual contact in public places as long as no one complains about it. What is this stage in society when you want to reveal everything?

Answer: I think this is just a step toward defusing the antagonistic situation.

Question: What is sex from the point of view of Kabbalah? Why are people so attracted to it?

Answer: Sexual need is the highest in a person. “Of the pleasures of life, music is inferior to love alone.” This comes from our spiritual need to be in touch with each other and with a higher power; i.e., it has a very deep root.

We don’t yet understand the whole problem; we have not realized the need to develop a sexual culture in order to create such a correct framework for society when humanity could not feel squeezed in some way.

After all, if there is no outlet for sexual energy, then a huge number of problems arise that are purely physiological, social, etc.

This all needs very clear research.

Question: Can we say that by solving this problem, we can turn the movement of all mankind along a harmonious path?

Answer: Undoubtedly! In any case we will be able to better equip the entire human society in a radically different way.

Comment: You often say that the realization of many desires that a person shows (the desire for art, for music, in this case for sexual pleasures) is all a person’s desire for connection.

My Response: To connect with each other, with others, and with the Creator.

Question: How can this distance be expanded and shortened?

Answer: Education is necessary here. We really need to understand that sex is not just sex. It is a coincidence, a fusion, a union, a coupling, the transfer of certain feelings and energies to each other; it is a belief in another person, a feeling of him as a part, a partner.

But it requires education, proper awareness of what sex is. It is not just about satisfying sexual desire, no matter with whom, where, or how. It will not be enough for a person to simply satisfy himself.

He will be interested to know with whom he can do this so that he has the right impression and inner fulfillment so that he feels that at the same time he is in a special, inner, high contact with another person.

After all, according to Kabbalah, bodily intercourse is a consequence of spiritual intercourse between people when there is unification and the creation of a platform, a place, for the revelation of the Creator. As it is said: “Man, woman, and the revelation of the Creator between them.” That is what is called a proper contact.

This contact is already on a spiritual level, but it comes from an animal that needs to be raised to such a level. It is possible. However, this requires learning and being truly spiritual partners.
[234567]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/3/18

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What Can We Do if a Child Has Lost the Taste for Life?

627.2Comment: Question from Natalia: “I have an adult son. When he was a kid, he was happy about everything. Every new discovery made him genuinely smile: books, camping, movies, and music. Now that he has grown up, it is like the world has dimmed for him. He looks around, but he does not see anything. His heart is closed as if he has lost a taste for life. I often wonder where we made a mistake as his parents? Perhaps we have not given him enough? Perhaps we have missed something important? I am scared to watch how my son is losing interest for this world! I do not know how to help him.”

Answer: Basically, our entire life is made so we would lose attraction to this world, to this life. This is a problem. But what can we do?

Comment: This is exactly what she is asking you: “I do not know how to help him.”

My Response: To help him is just to explain how the world is structured, how it should be transformed, and how we should see a different world.

Comment: But you understand that parents do not really know how to explain this to the child. “The child” is a grown young man.

My Response: So get used to it.

Question: is this the way he will go on and develop?

Answer: The way all people live.

Question: But do you think that everyone is losing a taste for life today?

Answer: Of course. They either disconnect themselves from the question, or they think that they are doing the most correct thing.

Question: So you think that precisely this question has matured in him: “What do I live for?” This is why this change happened?

Answer: Yes, the lack of goal-setting.

Question: Meaning, “Where to go and why do I keep going?” That is it, and the person lies down and disconnects?

Answer: Yes

Question: This kid’s joy, where did it disappear?

Answer: There is no basis anymore to be joyful about life. What should I do next? Nobody knows.

Question: At what point does this transformation within a person come? It is not necessarily at this age; it can be at any age. How does it come, at what moment?

Answer: It comes the moment a person seems to have everything, but there is no goal.

Question: Does the upper one, the Creator, take away the goal? Why does He do that?

Answer: So that a person would consciously understand what he lacks and would consciously seek the Creator in his life.

Question: Tell me please, people are asking: “Should the parents help their adult child, or is it better to give him freedom?”

Answer: Parents can shorten the child’s path by a lot!

Question: Do you mean the quest?

Answer: The quest, yes, but in general, it does not matter. It depends on the nature of a person. If they wish to help their child, they have to be good psychologists.

Question: Where to direct him? Here he is in this state. Natasha and her husband write: “We are unable to help him.” Where to direct him?

Answer: You are unable to help, but you still have to point him to that state, a place that can direct him. I think that we should give the child the maximum development, and he will find it. There is no way without that.

Question: Tell us please, how can parents cope with the sense of guilt? Natasha writes, and one can feel that there is a sense of guilt for what has happened to him. How is it possible to get rid of this feeling?

Answer: If the parents had a clear sense of the goal, they would not be disturbed so much. However, since they do not have it themselves, then the child does not have it either, and they do not know what to give him.

Question: Does it mean you think that this moment is the time for the parents to search in addition to everything else?

Answer: Yes, of course.

Question: Does it mean it is like he is directing them to search for the purpose of life?

Answer: Yes

Question: Can parents in their efforts to return this vital force to their children harm them?

Answer: Yes, it is necessary here to select some very fine middle line that will be directing the child to the search without pressure.

Question: But the most important in your answer is the search?

Answer: Yes, our entire life is like that. It is given to us for that.

The Creator is doing that so that the child would find the source in this life, the source of his states so that he would want to reveal this source. Then he will not have any more questions. He will be attached to this source, he will be revealing it more and more, and the source will fulfill him more and more.
[334992]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 9/1/24

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How to Prevent Stress at Work

566.01Comment: One of the major issues in modern society is work-related stress. Regardless of the type of work, emotional exhaustion including burnout eventually sets in often more than physical fatigue.

Scientists suggest that to combat constant workplace stress, one should practice compassion and mindfulness. Burnout, chronic illnesses from unhealthy lifestyles, and similar challenges could be called the plague of the 21st century.

The key to overcoming burnout and its associated ailments is compassion. The central message of compassion is: “If you feel bad, stressed, or exhausted, help someone else. Show compassion, and you will feel better yourself.”

My Response: This approach meets no resistance. In fact, the act itself will first and foremost heal you.

Question: To treat others this way, must one first show compassion toward oneself?

Answer: Without self-compassion, you will not be motivated to act kindly toward others. You need a foundation, a reason to suddenly develop a positive attitude toward others. For this, you must convince yourself that it is necessary for your own well-being, a form of self-preservation.

Comment: When we are stressed, our bodies activate processes and muscles for a “fight or flight” response. However, when we show compassion, the body relaxes and operates in an entirely opposite system. It calms down.

Scientists add that besides compassion, empathy is also essential; meaning, engaging with others and understanding their situations helps offset stress.

My Response: But this is not simple. The issue is that we do not teach people how to give correctly, which creates a significant problem. We are forced to give at any work: whether I am working on some piece of hardware on a machine, tending cows, or making money, it does not matter where or how. Even if I work with people.

We are not taught how to give. We are taught to quickly complete tasks and take what we need, but this is incorrect.

Such an approach creates a disconnection between the work itself and my desire to derive something from it. The work becomes a source of depletion rather than fulfillment.

If I approach my work in a way that allows me to feel fulfilled while giving, I will feel great at the beginning, middle, and end of the day. But teaching people this mindset is not easy. It requires the correction of one’s nature.

Regardless of my job or role, I should be able to work joyfully and feel that by giving, I am filling myself up. This is the art or the science of fulfillment, of reception—the wisdom of Kabbalah.

Question: What does it mean to “give”?

Answer: If I were working for the benefit of my children, would I feel depleted by giving to them? No, not at all, because I already work for their sake and do everything for them.

The issue lies in learning to feel others, strangers, as close ones. This requires education. People must be taught to understand the system we live in, that we are all interconnected in an integral network. In this system, anyone who fills others is, in turn, filled through them.

We need to uncover this system and begin to feel it. Then there will be no difference between giving and receiving or between strangers and loved ones. We will realize that we all exist within a unified system.

Question: You once explained the difference between animalistic and spiritual energy exchange. In the corporeal realm, one gives and the other receives, leaving one depleted and the other filled. In spiritual energy exchange, however, the energy flows through everyone, filling all without stopping at anyone.

How can we achieve this? What steps are involved in learning and applying this method?

Answer: I would advise people to attend our classes and learn how to work in a true collective where giving to others simultaneously fills oneself, and this applies to everyone. Ultimately, this leads to a state where the more people in the group, the greater the fulfillment each person experiences.

Such a person feels that when he comes to work tired after sleeping, and so on, he gets a lot of energy at work and leaves with bright eyes and cheerful after eight or ten hours of work. He goes home full of energy. In the evening, he thinks about how he will return to work. And all his relatives and family are delighted to meet and greet him like this.
[238953]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 1/1/19

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New Technologies

599.02Comment: Thanks to digital medicine, we will become healthier and live longer. Artificial intelligence will take over burdensome household chores and work functions, and if we want, will be able to travel through virtual worlds, and so on.

We are developing artificial intelligence, robots that take on a human appearance, adaptive control systems, etc.

On the other hand, humans are adapting themselves to artificial intelligence—implanted chips, programs, and artificial body parts. Along with the development of machine technologies, humans are also being turned into a machine. Will there be any difference between them?

Answer: And how does a robot differ from an ordinary person in our world who also behaves according to certain canons acquired from nature or from the society in which he grew up and developed? How does one differ from the other? I see no difference. You can make a mechanical toy that will be completely human-like. Only if you cut it open will you see wires there.

We can program absolutely everything. I can create a suitable spouse for myself, one who will fully meet all the parameters of a person and of a woman. Only she will not have a soul.

Question: Will a person still have the desire to develop what is called the soul?

Answer: I think that after the period of revealing the robot in himself, when a person realizes that he is no different from a robot, he will start to wonder what makes him different.

And then he will begin to uncover the existence of a special substance in himself called “soul.” It has to be revealed. It is in its embryonic state, but it is in every person. And he will work on it. And everything else will be provided. For some, pizza and Coca-Cola will be delivered at home by drones. And someone else will connect to a power outlet to fill up instead of pizza and cola.

But living people will differ from artificial ones in that they will need to correct their soul. And this will become their inner need that calls out from the depths of their being and demands realization.

Question: That is, after playing with toys enough, will they come to the genuine question?

Answer: These are not toys. They must put their external animal life in order. We develop through the levels of inanimate, vegetative, and animate nature and humans. Only then will it be the turn of the development of the human. In the meantime, we are not yet at this level, because we can nurture the human in ourselves only when we begin to develop the soul.
[221615]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 1/7/18

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