I asked God to spare me and my loved ones pain.
And God said: “No.”
He said it is not for Him to take away, but for me to give up. …

I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, “No.”
He said, “Suffering draws you apart from worldly
cares and brings you closer to Me.” (Claudia Minden Weisz, “And God Said,’No’”)

Question: These quotes seem to say that God does not give direct answers to straightforward questions. He does not say: “Take it, please.” He says: “No, you have to do it yourself.” Is this our work?

Answer: Yes, this is our work.

Question: So does He constantly give us work? He does not give us direct gifts, right?

Answer: He specifically created obstacles for us. After all, egoism is the main obstacle.

Comment: Here a person asks to be freed from pain. Is pain necessary.

My Response: Yes, of course! If there were no pain, you cannot imagine what we could do!

Comment: But when I am in pain, I naturally ask: “Free me from pain!”

My Response: That is exactly what is needed—for you to feel the pain and ask.

Question: Is this called rising above the pain?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Is it possible to reach a state where one does not feel pain at all?

Answer: If you could foresee and know in advance how to act, you would not act in a way that causes pain.

Question: So is it possible to rise above the pain somehow?

Answer: I think that through internal efforts a person can rise above all illnesses.
[332796]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/1/24

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In the News (“The Internet’s Final Frontier: Remote Amazon Tribes,” The New York Times):

The Marubo people have long lived in communal huts scattered hundreds of miles along the Ituí River deep in the Amazon rainforest. They speak their own language, take ayahuasca to connect with forest spirits and trap spider monkeys to make soup or keep as pets.

They have preserved this way of life for hundreds of years through isolation — some villages can take a week to reach. But since September, the Marubo have had high-speed internet thanks to Elon Musk. …

The New York Times traveled deep into the Amazon to visit Marubo villages to understand what happens when a tiny, closed civilization suddenly opens to the world. …

Question: What was Elon Musk thinking?

Answer: Elon Musk was thinking about how to sell more to earn more for himself.

Question: So he was thinking about his business?

Answer: Yes.

Question: And what happens when we provide primitive tribes with modern technologies? What does this leap do to them?

Answer: Nothing!

Question: Does it not kill them?

Answer: No. It is like you put something tasty on their plate, and not even on a plate. That is it. They take only the amount they understand what it is.

Question: So you think that their innate primitiveness remains as it is?

Answer: It stays with them, and there will be no acceleration of their development.

Question: Then there is a question. The fact that children are spoiled as the elderly claim, constantly glued to the Internet, stuck in porn sites, and so on, what do you think this will do to the future of this generation? After all, they will no longer shoot monkeys, walk serenely, drink this potion, and call spirits.

Answer: Nothing good will happen. They will get uglier.

Question: They will remain just as primitive, but will be uglier?

Answer: Of course.

Question: So you do not abandon your point of view that they will remain primitive?

Answer: Primitiveness requires very proper care. That is, it is necessary to gradually, in small portions supply them with correct segments of science, literature, art, with everything that can fill them.

Otherwise, they will naturally follow their innate animal instincts. It is the same with us. They will pull out what belongs to them from there.

Question: Can you tell me how all these transformations took place in that case, from the primitive to the slave-owning system?

Answer: The society gradually changes and it gives the younger generations what it considers necessary.

Question: And in this way the slave system arises from the primitive-communal system?

Answer: Yes, it happens gradually. But there were no particular atrocities there. It was all natural for them. It was a natural transition.

Question: We talk about desire all the time. You claim that these primitive people retained the same desire?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Then how did all the transitions from the primitive-communal system to the slave-owning system occur? Did desires change over time?

Answer: Of course. Gradually higher demands began to awaken in them. And in this way they enriched themselves with new knowledge and new services. This is how it all happens.

Question: So we have reached the present time, as it is. Our desire has undergone many changes. What will push us further? And where will we push ourselves next?

Answer: I think that at the end of the day, we will see that everything we have wanted to achieve does not bring us anything good. It does not bring us any special benefits; we get nothing.

Question: And what will it give us?

Answer: For this we will have to work and very gradually develop.

Question: Still gradually?

Answer: Of course. There will be no leap.

Question: So we should not wait for it? That is, the fruit must ripen after all?

Answer: Of course. Why do you need all these leaps and speeding up?

Comment: We want it to be faster.

My Response: Why?

Question: You mean that we have to follow the path of development?

Answer: Of course.

Question: Are you against any revolutions?

Answer: Revolution is suicide. Just look at how children develop. Would you agree to give them some pills so that they develop faster?

Comment: No, we want them to develop as children should.

My Response: Yes, this is the only way.

Question: Is it the same with us?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do we have to agree with this course of life?

Answer: Yes, this is the greatest wisdom.

Question: And this is the most difficult thing?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Why doesn’t a person want to agree with this? One really does not want to.

Answer: It seems to him that all the good will come tomorrow. But in fact, if you are ready for this “tomorrow,” then let it come to you today. However, as a rule, we are not ready for this.

Question: Is everything really good today? Can we live with it like this?

Answer: No, all the stages and steps by which we develop are necessary for us. Without it, we will not be worthy of what we receive. In general, we must agree with what nature does to us in quantity and quality.
[331892]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 6/17/24

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Everything is ruled by chance. If only we knew who rules chance (Jerzy Stanislav Lec).

My Response: Actually, it is incorrect that chance is above all.

Comment: But he says: “If only we knew who rules chance.”

My Response: Chance is ruled by idea of the Creator, the path of the Creator. And what else do you need to know about this?

Question: So you need to know that there are no accidents in life?

Answer: Of course.

Question: There are no accidents in life?

Answer: None.

Comment: Everything that happens to me, all encounters, marriages, divorces, everything.

My Response: Everything, everything, absolutely everything! Everything you want is not accidental.

Question: And all these paths–where do they lead to?

Answer: To the realization that a person is under the Creator.

Question: And what does this realization give me? Here I am under the Creator. Let’s say I even felt it in my heart and with all my fibers. What does this give me?

Answer: Cling to Him and do not let go like a little child.

Question: That’s it, just like a child clings to mom!  The child wraps his arms and legs around mom and holds on like that. And what will happen if I can suddenly do this?

Answer: You can be sure that nothing will happen to you.

Question: This is my complete safety?

Answer: Yes.
[332580]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/1/24

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I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is learned (Claudia Minden Weisz, “And God Said ‘No’”).

Question: How can one learn patience?

Answer: You cannot learn it directly.

Question: How then?

Answer: You learn it from your own life.

Question: So when I keep trying and trying, do I at some point reach a state of “What is happening to me? Do I need to start living differently?”

Answer: No, you just change, and that is all.

Question: Do I change and become more patient?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do you consider yourself a patient person?

Answer: Today, maybe yes.

Comment: You used to be fiery.

My Response: Yes.

Question: Does it come with experience?

Answer: With experience, with years, with suffering, with old age.

Question: So is it correct that patience is not granted, but learned?

Answer: Yes.
[332683]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/1/24

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Question: As we know, American universities are rocked by anti-Israel demonstrations. We are disliked at American universities, particularly prestigious ones: New York University, Yale, Columbia, Harvard, UC LA, UC Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, etc.

In other words, at expensive universities where well-to-do, intelligent, thoughtful students study, anti-Israel sentiment flourishes, that is one thing. But at the same time, as has been the case throughout the centuries, there are strange accusations about everything you can imagine. How does this align with intelligence, development, and sophistication?

Answer: It aligns very simply because one has nothing to do with the other. There can be very serious, educated, intelligent, well-rounded people, and at the same time regarding Israel and the Jews, they…

Comment: Will repeat the most terrible, most absurd rumors about leprosy, poisoning wells, and so on.

My Response: Exactly. They will repeat anything you can think of.

Question: Can you explain what this is? How do all these absurd accusations align with a person’s intellect and reason?

Answer: They do not fall within the same domain as human reason. Completely different centers are activated, and a person begins to shift to a completely different mindset and starts listening to and believing what they are told.

Comment: Predominantly, the sponsors of these universities are Jews and Jewish organizations. In principle, both the administrators of these universities and the students understand that they would not have scholarships, for example, if Jews stopped supporting these universities. There would be no salaries for teachers, and so on. What is happening to reason here? It is like I am biting the hand that gives.

My Response: No, I do not think they are so afraid that these donors will stop funding them.

Comment: Really, even though they declare that they do not want to accept donations from anyone connected with Israel?

My Response: They wish to “cleanse” themselves.

Question: Is this above money, above everything?

Answer: Yes. They think that this call will affect those who are still donors, and they will give even more to show that they belong to a different kind of people.

Question: Are you hinting at Jews now?

Answer: Yes, at Jews of course.

Question: So Jews will pay for anti-Israel propaganda?

Answer: Of course.

Question: Where is the logic here? We keep circling around this, that there is no logic here either.

Answer: There is no need for logic.

Question: What am I “cleansing” myself of? I continue to pay to Harvard University, let’s say, I am a Jew…

Answer: Yes. You think this is a good university, and it produces good specialists, and you are for pluralism.

Question: I see. So I am for democracy, freedom, and so on, right?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: Now please tell me. I am Jewish, I am studying at this university. Everything around me is full of posters and demands for the destruction of Israel.

My Response: It does not affect you; you walk with your nose held high and do not notice these posters.

Question: Is this me, a Jewish student?

Answer: Yes.

Question: But is this a good situation? I mean, I go on and still feel like a Jew, and I go…

Answer: I don’t know how you feel like a Jew. Even if you feel like a Jew, you must show where you agree and disagree with the Jews.

Question: So I can even join them?

Answer: Yes of course. Absolutely!

Question: Tell me, is there a connection? If I continue studying at this university, does it mean that I support all this anti-Israel fuss there?

Answer: No, not necessarily.

Question: But I continue studying there? Is that right? Or should I leave this university in protest?

Answer: You are asking me about completely different things now.

Question: Yes, it is a different area. I am asking you what is the right thing to do?

Answer: I believe that Jews should not be in such universities. They are exposed to a direction of hatred that will force them to renounce their Jewish identity.

Question: Then tell me, do you think Jewish sponsors should withdraw from these universities?

Answer: Of course!

Question: How do you think Israel should fight this?

Answer: I don’t think Israel can fight it. It is just a phase. I hope that someday it will pass, although it is still unknown when. But if Jews start leaving these places, others will feel it in their wallets, in the support, in everything.

Question: So, you think if you feel it in your wallet, in your salary, in the fact that the university is becoming poorer, your brain will start to work?

Answer: Of course.

Question: So should Jews leave such universities both as sponsors and students?

Answer: Yes.

Question: They should not support them in any way?

Answer: In no way.

Comment: All right. I see that graduates from these universities: Yale, Harvard, and so on will be leading the country in 10 to 15 years. That is definitely in America.

My Response: Yes.

Comment: So in 10 to 15 to 20 years America will no longer support Israel in any way.

My Response: Probably.

Question: Will Israel be able to exist without this support on its own?

Answer: It is certainly difficult. But here arises the question of the survival of the State. I believe we need to turn to the upper force, to the Creator.

Comment: You are saying it will be difficult.

My Response: It will be difficult.

Question: It will be difficult and therefore we must turn to the upper authority?

Answer: Yes.

Question: In principle, this is where things are heading?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: As I see it, America will eventually become anti-Israel. We understand about Europe, too, that it will also abandon Israel. In one way or another, looking at the future, Israel remains alone. That means Israel must become a kind of fortress.

Answer: Yes.

Question: How can it become this fortress?

Answer: By firmly standing its ground.

Question: And what is my Israeli ground?

Answer: It is that I unite around our goal and bring the people closer to the Creator.

Question: What is our goal, the goal of the people of Israel?

Answer: The goal is to explain to the entire world the method, the intention, and the purpose of the existence of humanity.

Question: What is it?

Answer: To attain the upper force.

Question: Is that the goal?

Answer: Yes.

Question: So must the people of Israel unite around this goal and stand as one?

Answer: Yes and then, no matter what happens, they will stand strong.

Comment: And all these enemies around us, and everything they will do…

My Response: There will be none…

Question: So if we connect to the upper, our security is guaranteed?

Answer: That is why we are placed in such conditions.

Question: So you just said that America, Europe, and our surroundings are being pushed from above to make us turn to the upper?

Answer: Yes that is what is said and what is written.

Question: Without such suffering, is it possible to turn to the Creator through reason or heart without being pressured?

Answer: No, it is impossible.

Comment: You have a very firm rule: you always say that without these sufferings no progress is possible.

My Response: No.

Question: So are you a materialist here? Are you saying this material must be squeezed?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: And only then will it…

My Response: Start to move.

Question: Is the movement the address to the Creator?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What do we say? How do we address the Creator?

Answer: We ask for help. Help us unite. Help us be stronger. Not stronger than anyone else, but just by ourselves. We do not need strength to oppress anyone. We need strength to counter our own egoism. Then everything will fall into place.
[333143]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/29/24

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Comment: Stanisław Jerzy Lec escaped from a concentration camp twice. The first time he escaped, he was caught. The second time he escaped, he was caught again and was given a shovel and told, “Dig your own grave.” He used that shovel to kill the guard, dressed in his clothes, and escaped for good. The rest of his fate is known to us. He came to the Land of Israel, then went back to Poland where he experienced various sufferings, anti-Semitism, and so on. But at the same time, he wrote amazing things.

Please comment on his statement:

“People are lonely because instead of building bridges, they build walls.”

Question: It is so sad and accurate! Tell me, we are always looking for a cure for loneliness, ministers of loneliness, and so on. He writes: “We need to build bridges, and everything will be fine.” Why do we build walls?

Answer: We cannot tolerate each other.

Question: So it is better to build a wall?

Answer: Of course. And a wall is not just a limitation from me but for me as well.

Question: So when I am physically next to someone, I cannot adapt to them, it is hard for me to build bridges. But we should, right?

Answer: Yes. But how? I have not learned how to do this. I just see over the years that only life, as explained by the Torah, will probably lead to this.

Question: Only follow the Torah?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Then can you say in one sentence what it means to follow the Torah?

Answer: Always, little by little, getting closer to everyone.

Question: To everyone? To enemies, to non-enemies?

Answer: Absolutely everyone.

Question: What happens to me then?

Answer: It changes you. It changes your DNA.

Question: Even my whole genetics?

Answer: Yes, all your genetics.

Question: So, just keep aiming in that direction?

Answer: Yes.
[332468]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/1/24

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Many a zero thinks it is the ellipse around on which the Earth travels (Stanisław Jerzy Lec).

Question: Today is a time when it seems that many zeros are sure that they are the orbit in which the world revolves. Why is a person given this feeling of “I am the orbit in which the world revolves. Am I building the world”?

Answer: Yes, I build the world. Why is it given? So that a person realizes what a low creature they are.

Question: That this is not exactly so?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What, in your opinion, should be the feeling of a true leader?

Answer: He should feel that he does everything to set a correct example for his people.

Question: What is the correct example?

Answer: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Question: Should he live like this in relation to his people?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Have you seen such leaders? Were there ever such leaders?

Answer: I hope so. It is not noticeable from the outside. I think there were such leaders.

Comment: Our kings, who were in their time…

My Response: Maybe.

Question: Maybe Solomon and David?

Answer: I do not know.

Question: I see. But is this a true leader?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Will the future leader also be like this?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Will then the world change immediately?

Answer: Of course.

Question: Will the world also become loving?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Does the Creator instill such leadership in a person?

Answer: Of course. Who else?
[332633]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/1/24

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I asked God to give me happiness, and God said no.
He said He gives a blessing, and whether I will be happy or not depends on me.
(“I Asked God,” a Russian parable)

My Response: Indeed.

Comment: The Creator blesses us with happiness, but for some reason we are unhappy.

My Response: We do not accept the blessing.

Question: Why?

Answer: We do not want to be happy.

Question: So all this comes from us?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do we understand that He blesses us with happiness? Or do we curse everything He gives by saying: “You gave the wrong thing…”?

Answer: No, we do not understand. All of nature, all life, all of this is given to us for happiness.

Question: What kind of creatures are we? We are given happiness, but we run from it. We say: “It is not there.” We are looking for it all the time. We say: “We are looking for happiness,” but happiness is what it is. Is this how it works?

Answer: Yes. That is us.

Question: What can you do to make a person happy?

Answer: Nothing. A person must learn to be happy.

Question: In principle, I must agree that only happiness comes from the Creator, that happiness is all around and I just have to feel it?

Answer: Yes.

Question: And what should I do?

Answer: Remember my book about the wizard?

Comment: Yes, it says that He is always waiting for someone to become his friend.

My Response: Basically this is a story about whether happiness can be achieved.

Comment: This book is even available as an audiobook. It is called Together Forever: The story about the magician who didn’t want to be alone. It is an amazing book!
[332430]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/1/24

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We call a situation hopeless when we don’t like the way out (Jerzy Stanisław Lec).

Question: So Jerzy Stanisław Lec is saying there is always a solution. We just do not go there because we do not like it. Are there really no hopeless situations?

Answer: I think not. There is always a solution. In principle, a person always has a solution. The fact that the situation seems hopeless is because his egoism traps him within itself.

Question: So it blocks the way out, and a person must somehow trick their egoism, do something. Tell me, please, is there a universal solution?

Answer: Only love.
[332530]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/1/24

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Question: UNESCO plans to send information about the cultural heritage of humanity to the Moon. They are translating it into 275 languages and significantly investing in this. The capsule will be sent aboard a Japanese automated module. This decision was explained as a necessity to preserve some information about the human race in case of a global catastrophe on Earth.

Do you think anyone will need the experience of humanity that managed to destroy itself?

Answer: No, but that is just what we are accustomed to do.

Question: Do you think no one will need it after all?

Answer: I think humanity is still in such an embryonic state that any possible other civilizations are several levels higher.

Question: So are we some kind of children?

Answer: Yes, therefore it is very easy to scan us.

Question: Are we, as you said, petty egoists on the surface of this Earth and that is it?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: And all the experience, all culture, all the science, all the millennia of development—all of that…

My Response: What about science? Science exists in nature and is open to all. Art is also very relative as it depends on the organs of perception.

I believe that no one needs this. But humanity wants to cheer itself up a bit, to uplift itself, as if to say: “Look at what we are doing, we are declaring to everyone who we are and what we are.”

Question: What do you think if we received a message now that once there were people who created a civilization here, some living beings, and then they killed each other and disappeared, would that study teach us anything?

Answer: No, that is how it was, but it did not teach us anything.

Question: Do we even know why they destroyed each other?

Answer: It is the usual human egoistic nature.

Question: Did this knowledge not lead us anywhere?

Answer: Nowhere, of course.

Question: Why does experience not teach us?

Answer: It is not even in our genes to be afraid of this. There is nothing at all.

Question: Why did the Creator exclude this possibility in us?

Answer: So that we would be independent from our nature.

Question: So if we are dependent on our nature, we learn nothing?

Answer: No.

Question: And if we become independent of it, then who do we learn from?

Answer: That is impossible!

Question: Is it a catch-22?

Answer: Yes.

Question: How can we navigate through this?

Answer: We need to reach the level of anti-egoistic interaction with each other.

Question: What is that?

Answer: As it is said in Kabbalah—faith above reason.

Question: So is all our interaction egoistic?

Answer: It is absolutely egoistic. And we have no possibility to exist if we do not rise above this nature.

Question: On the other hand you say that it is also not easy to rise above nature.

Answer: It is not easy, but it is possible.

Question: Do we need to have a proof of this—that there were people who rose above? We come back again to the fact that people who rose above have some experience?

Answer: No. In principle, we did not have such examples in the past.

Question: Where does your confidence come from that this is possible?

Answer: Because the Torah states so, and it was given for this purpose. We need to use the Torah to rise above our nature.

Comment: Please tell me, you just used the phrase “faith above reason.” This is actually the basis of Kabbalah.

My Response: Yes.

Question: Can you explain it simply to ordinary people? What is “faith above reason”? I live according to reason, right?

Answer: Yes, we live entirely according to reason. But we need to rise to the next degree, the degree of faith above reason.

Question: Does this mean that I just believe?

Answer: No, it does not mean just believing. It means governing yourself from the degree above our egoistic nature.

Question: Should I imagine myself being on this degree?

Answer: It is impossible to imagine. So it is a problem, but it is solvable. I think that ultimately humanity will solve it.

Question: Basically, we understand what faith below reason is. It means that we are told: “Believe.” Is that below reason?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Faith at the level of reason is also more or less understandable. This is science, which says: “I have proven it.” This can be so. But faith above reason, you say, is a degree above reason that we need to reach?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Essentially, is the Creator on this degree?

Answer: I think the Creator is beyond this degree. But to rise to this degree, we need the Creator.

Question: Does He want us to do this?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What does He do to help us rise to this degree?

Answer: He responds to our prayers. If we truly want this, desire it, and ask Him, He will do it.

Question: If I truly rise to the level of faith above reason, if we rise to this level, what does my state become?

Answer: You begin to feel the force of the Creator who fills all of nature, and you are in contact with Him.

Question: What is your definition of the Creator whom I begin to feel?

Answer: The upper force in which we exist.

Question: What is it like?

Answer: The force of goodness, the force of care.

Question: Do I begin to flow in this state?

Answer: Yes, it becomes your natural state.
[332354]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/1/24

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