Question: What are your wishes for people in 2024?

Answer: To strive for peace. That is all. It is most important.

Question: What is needed for this?

Answer: To do this, you just need to strive for peace.

Question: Does everyone need to do it?

Answer: Everyone and in all its manifestations. That is, try to consider where some anti-peaceful actions are visible and look for how we can extinguish them. Today we do not yet have a single methodology, theory, or desire to do that.

Comment: There is not even a single call for peace.

My Response: Yes. So the world is in a confused state.

Question: So is this your wish for each person?

Answer: Yes, for each individually.

Question: And if you see that there is no peace, how should you live?

Answer: We must still strive for unification. There is nothing else. And I hope that our internal movement toward this, toward uniting everyone, will win and change the world.

In general, of course, the state of the world is very, very shaky.

Question: Between what and what?

Answer: Between the possibility of a huge, huge, everyday, all-around war of everyone against everyone.

Question: And will this grief really be for everyone?

Answer: Yes, of course.

Comment: Someone is thinking of sitting out.

My Response: No, I think that in general it will not be possible to sit out. Here we need to make some categorical decisions.

Question: But is this your main and only wish?

Answer: Yes. Only the desire for peace in the world.
[323497]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 1/1/24

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In the News (CNN.com): “Elon Musk warned in a new interview that artificial intelligence could lead to ‘civilization destruction,’ even as he remains deeply involved in the growth of AI through his many companies, including a rumored new venture.

“’AI is more dangerous than, say, mismanaged aircraft design or production maintenance or bad car production, in the sense that it is, it has the potential — however small one may regard that probability, but it is non-trivial — it has the potential of civilization destruction,’ …

“Musk said Monday night he supports government regulation into AI… . Once AI ‘may be in control,’ it could be too late to place regulations, Musk said.

“’A regulatory agency needs to start with a group that initially seeks insight into AI, then solicits opinion from industry, and then has proposed rule-making,’ Musk said.”

Question: What do you think about it?

Answer: He deals with it. Obviously, we should at least listen to him.

Question: Do you think it is possible that a machine would suddenly turn against a human?

Answer: Of course. We may not even feel it, but it will be perhaps directed against us.

Question: So, do you think there could be a conspiracy of machines?

Answer: Not in such a crude form as a “conspiracy of machines.” It is hard to point to anything that we invented that was only positive.

Question: Because we invented it?

Answer: Yes, we did. And we always turn it to the negative side.

Question: You do not find much positive in a human, do you?

Answer: Man is an egoist. I do not find anything positive in it at all. We see in ourselves how uncontrollable we are. And artificial intelligence will also eventually be uncontrollable. Whatever man invents, it is still for his harm.

Question: What can be done and how can we make man invent something for good? In order to squeeze something positive out of us, what needs to be done?

Answer: There will always be something negative about it. Always. Look at what humanity is doing to itself.

Comment: Yes. It goes little by little…

My Response: To self-destruction.

Question: But it will not come to it, right? It will not happen?

Answer: I don’t know if it will come to it. It seems to me that there is a possibility of it, and a big possibility that we can begin to self-destruct.

Question: Yes, but can we rely on the upper force to somehow bring us to our senses? You always talk about upper management.

Answer: The upper force is not ultimately the higher intelligence that we mean. The higher power is something that may be above our egoism, and we have absolutely no contact with it. We have no connection with what is higher than our egoism.

Question: And before this abyss that is right in front of it, can we suddenly slow down and realize that we must rise above egoism, that it was it that brought us to this?

Answer: How can we know this?

Comment: It will come from above somehow. There is no other way, you say.

My Response: I have no idea.

Comment: You don’t want to give us a small chance.

My Response: I would not give man a chance.

Comment: After all, it is God’s creation.

My Response: No, no, we are not God’s creatures, and we cannot hope that the Creator will always protect us and always somehow separate us. I personally do not hope so.

Of course, He is ultimately good that does good. But maybe we achieve this good through huge, huge failures, suffering, and wars.

Comment: We see that this is indeed the case.

My Response: But that is not all. What the Bible says and so on could be much worse.

Question: But the reason that things could be worse, maybe it will still somehow enter us?

Answer: No, we see that this does not calm the human.

Question: I am always trying to find some way out of this situation from you. And you say that a human is still a negative system?

Answer: Yes, of course. Man is a negative system, and is constantly moving toward self-destruction, and before that, practically nothing can stop him.

Question: Can we attract positive things? We can at some point, right?

Answer: We hope so.

Comment: Another idea about artificial intelligence is that it will lead to humanity not having to work.  Then the main question will be the search for the meaning of life. That is, we will come to the meaning of life from boredom, from the fact that we will not have a job.

My Response: Is the meaning of life now to work?

Comment: Yes, it looks like it, correct. 🙂

My Response: It is not clear: now the meaning of life is to work, and then the meaning of life will be not to work.

Question: So you do not accept this logical connection?

Answer: No.

Question: Are you saying that we need to look for the meaning of life now?

Answer: We must develop in such a way as to understand that work itself also has meaning. And we definitely need to make our work as high as possible, that is, one that would raise man, turn him into a reasonable human. It is true.

Comment: In principle, work to earn money, work to support the family…

My Response: No, no. It is all going to go away soon.

Question: And if, let’s say, the work in which I had the meaning of life ends. How do I not lose the meaning of life with this job ending?

Answer: When you feel that you do not need to work in order to live, then you have the opportunity for another goal in order to live.

Question: So if I grasp the goal, then any changes taking place at a lower level are no longer important. I do not work or I do work, it does not matter. The main thing is to grasp the goal. What is it about?

Answer: I think that this work will be so that we rise all the time and get closer to the Creator in our unity.
Our job will be in how much each of us will refine ourselves every day to rise above ourselves.
[322371]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/9/23

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Natasha writes:

Hello, dear Michael Laitman! It is very important for me to know your opinion. The fact is that my niece, who is only 18 years old, is dying of cancer. And yesterday the doctors told us that she is to die in about one month.

Throughout her illness, the whole family supported her and told her that everything would be fine and that she would overcome everything. But now the doctors have pronounced their verdict, and she will be gone in a month. I do not know what to tell her. I really do not know. I will be standing in front of her, she will look me in the eye, and I will have to say something. What should I say?

My Response: You should say that there is nothing worse than this world, and all of us will eventually move to another world and it will be better there. A person will meet this with understanding and relief.

Question: So you think this girl already understands inside her that she will leave?

Answer: Of course she understands it.

Question: In the case that she understands it, or in any case?

Answer: She will understand it. This will remain inside her. And she will accept this departure as a good transition to a better state. It is not a lie, not at all. On the contrary, you alleviate a person’s last suffering here in this world. And let her go.

Comment: That is, this world is not the best one.

My Response: It is the worst one.
[322531]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/20/23

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Question: Alexey asks: “Explain how I, such an imperfect, wicked person, can adhere with God? How?”

Answer: God is waiting for those who are imperfect and wicked, but still want to adhere to Him.

Question: Does it mean that Alexey has already made the first step?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do we need to feel that “I am imperfect and wicked”?

Answer: Yes, then you should aim to the Creator and see that He is waiting for you.

Question: What if I do not feel that I am imperfect and sinful? What if I do not feel it?

Answer: Then why do you need the Creator?
[322661]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/23/23

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Question: A wise man was asked: “Why is there no trace of sadness on your face?” He replied: “I do not have anything worth being sad about losing.”

Is it really possible not to be sad about anything at all?

Answer: In principle, it is a good state.

Question: Do you think it is possible?

Answer: It is possible.

Question: Even though there is so much sadness around?

Answer: This is because there are all sorts of unrealistic hopes and dreams.

Question: I build something impossible in advance, and then despair. But how can I not build? How can I not hope for something? Is it possible? This is no longer a human being.

Answer: Why not a human being?

Question: But I am making some plans, right?

Answer: What for?

Comment: This is an interesting question. It is, basically our life, step-by-step we make some plans.

My Response: What are you building? There is no need to build anything. It is what it is. Something will move, it has moved; something has stopped, it will stop.

Question: Is it possible to live like this?

Answer: Yes. And this is not a limitation, this is not from weakness. This is from wisdom.

Comment: So I agree with everything that is given to me. Somehow, since childhood, we always had dreams and goals.

My Response: During childhood, we want to run like little children, from corner to corner, back and forth aimlessly.

Question: Otherwise we will not grow. Are you saying that at some point this growth should stop? Should another growth start?

Answer: Yes, more internal.

Question: What does this wisdom that I am acquiring do within me?

Answer: It gradually slows you down.

Question: What is my inner wisdom to which I come over the years?

Answer: Where to run, for what?

Question: Should I answer this question or not?

Answer: You do not have an answer.

Question: Should I look for it?

Answer: You will be looking. While you are looking for it, you will be running. Then gradually, as you become convinced that there is nowhere to rush, you will stop. And this is right.

Question: What am I waiting for then? I stopped.

Answer: You are not waiting for anything. You just see that no movement can replace peace.

Question: Am I coming to a state of peace?

Answer: Yes. Both internal and external.

Question: What do you call the peace that I come to?

Answer: The lack of motivation to move.

Question: Then what is movement?

Answer: The desire to change your state.

Question: Is the right thought not to change my state? It is what it is. What about this phrase “Honor the madmen who can trace gay dreams, to please the human race”?

Answer: Why would you want to drive the world crazy? Let them just understand that annulling their egoism before the Creator is our highest movement.

Question: Is this what we are coming to? Is this peace?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Is this what we call bringing the Creator into this world?

Answer: Yes.
[322577]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/9/23

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Irina writes:

I had everything: happiness, love, warmth, affection. The war came and took it all away from me. My husband and I thought we were going to be together forever. I understand everything you’re talking about, or rather, I did. I don’t understand it anymore. I do not know how to live anymore.

Question: She is asking how to go on?

Answer: Day by day, that is how to go on, without looking either at yesterday or tomorrow. Just automatically live through today.

Question: What should you invest in to call it life?

Answer: You don’t need to invest in anything. Just live.

Question: So I live, I go to work, meet people, eat, and so on. That’s it?

Answer: That’s it.

Question: Is that a way to live? Without plans for tomorrow or the future?

Answer: Yes. No plans! This is the best thing. Then there are no disappointments or expectations.

Question: But how can you cope with the feeling that you had everything: happiness, love, warmth, affection, then the war came and, as I understand it, even took Irina’s husband away?

Answer: I don’t know what to say. There are usually no words for this.

Question: But those close to us try, as do others, to make us feel better, give us some kind of solace. What solace can we offer Irina?

Answer: To be more involved with our programs and get closer to us. This is what I can advise her.

Question: I don’t think she is our student. She is watching our programs and is clearly familiar with our clips. She writes: “I understand everything you’re talking about.” Or rather, she understood, but no longer does. When a person receives such a blow, what is the advice?

Answer: Still she should not distance herself from us. Hold on to us. And then everything will fall into place.

Comment: You said, and I believe she’s heard it in your lectures and all our materials, that you must accept what comes to you.

Answer: Yes, there is nothing more you can do.

Question: What lies behind this word “accept”?

Answer: Everything that happens comes from above, but we must still agree with it. We must agree. What are the options? It is very painful, and thoughts keep straying to the past, to how things used to be.

Comment: To how kind and warm it once was.

Answer: Yes. Yet the same question, why? The best thing is to keep on going about your day, try to act automatically.

Question: To such a degree on autopilot? What would happen if I lived like this, if I heeded your advice?

Answer: You would slowly get used to the fact this is how it should be, day after day. That’s all.

Question: Would a new understanding, a new happiness, and a new life emerge if you keep on going like that?

Answer: It would no longer be the same happiness, but things would calm down.

Question: Tell me, why is this given to a person?

Answer: So that, first of all, a person would justify what is happening. This is how things work, and this is how it all comes from above.

Question: You always say that a person is not given more than he can bear. Even when the most precious thing is taken away?

Answer: It doesn’t matter what.

Question: Does this mean a person is strong and is able to endure it?

Answer: Possibly.

Question: Can I tell Irina this too, that she can endure? Does this apply to her as well?

Answer: Absolutely!
[322481]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/13/23

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Michael Laitman on the Times of Israel: “Is Israel a mature state?”

We might just be going through a significant maturation phase right now. Without fully comprehending what is happening within us yet, we can see how our concerns have shifted significantly to what they were before October 7 last year. What worried us before the tragic events of that date and the ongoing war ever since seems trivial in retrospect. Many are introspecting differently to what they were before, and are revising their next steps in life.

It is like a girl who was fixated on her baby doll. Her world revolved around the small little bundle of plastic and cloth, and she poured her heart into every aspect of its care.

While the girl engaged herself with her baby doll, there was a real baby in her same house. The girl, however, was uninterested in the “real-life doll.” Her mother, however, held an almost complete focus on the baby. These differing levels illustrate what we deem important at different stages of our maturation.

Our society resembled that baby doll. In terms of values that permeate society, self-concern, indifference to others and a divisive atmosphere of each one living within their personal tanks against everyone else, standing up for their own opinion against all others, reigned supreme – at least until the events of October 7. Then, all of a sudden, it is as if we started waking up to see that we share a real-life common baby needing our constant care to nurture its healthy development. This common baby has since forced us to grow out of our childish ways.

Engaging solely with self-interest seems outdated and nonbeneficial to anyone in the current situation. However, by the same token, embracing genuine relationships is still unfamiliar territory. Transitioning from self-centeredness to focusing on the benefit of others cannot be done in an instant, and we thus hover in a state between self-love and social cohesion.

Despite the girl’s attachment to the doll, her mother encouraged her to spend time with her baby brother. Gradually, she began to connect with the baby, finding ways to calm him down and comprehend his needs, becoming increasingly attentive to his growth.

There is a driving force in nature that continually urges us toward states of increasing connection, to mature in our attitudes to each other, and to engage in live dynamic relationships. October 7 and the war that has followed put spokes in the wheels of our hateful and divisive conduct toward each other leading up to that date.

We have since turned our attention to a new common engagement that has somewhat brought us more together, and it is my hope that we do not merely let tragedy and war hold us in such a state, but that after the war ends, we will take further steps in becoming even more mature – by voluntarily cultivating positive connections to each other above desires and opinions that will emerge to once again challenge the strength of the direction in which we hold ourselves.

Embracing and exercising the need to continually enhance the quality of our connections will not only secure our safety and peace, it will also serve as an inspiring unifying example for other societies around the world. Moreover, the positive rippling effects throughout human consciousness hold the potential to impact a major shift toward global peace and harmony, the likes of which we have never yet experienced.
[323223]

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Dimitry writes to you:

Michael, I have been enraged lately. Why do we succumb to politicians and propagandists who are throwing us off? They are the reason there is so much grief. You see clearly blood spilling, people killing each other, and hating each other. It is all because they are egging on, but everything is, after all, illusory and fake. We die for this lie while they get fat. They make lots of money off this bloodshed, their children roll in luxury, and they too are doing well. Why are we giving in? Where is our basic reasoning? Where is the fear?

Answer: We do not have basic reasoning. As for the fear, we are so lost we do not feel it.

Question: So they can steer us?

Answer: They can do anything.

Comment: But a person still feels it, Dimitry writes here with so much pain in this letter that people feel it and still fall for it.

My Response: Of course.

Question: What is this mechanism that steers us?

Answer: It is politics. They are not just steering a person, but entire nations and countries by any means. They know how to brainwash people who follow them as if to the slaughterhouse.

Question: What do they pinpoint in us that they can turn on and throw us into hell?

Answer: They control our little egoism, and thus we succumb to it.

Question: It turns out they are specialists? That is, they know what you keep saying, that a person is an egoist. They know it.

Answer: Yes, they know it very well and use it.

Question: Is there a way to resist? Dimitry is actually hoping you may have a solution, a way to resist all this, what to do.

Answer: Only if we truly understand our nature and how we are led will we be able to see their work for ourselves and not be on board with them.

Question: You pointed to egoism. You said: “This is our vice we need to work with.” How do you work with it to break free from them?

Answer: I think for this we just need to understand that good relations between us, between people, are above all other benefits they try to bribe us with. After all, it is always about buying and selling.

Question: So, if I have great relationships, will they not be able to steer me?

Answer: If I cherish these good relationships, they will not be able to.

Question: What kind of relationships are these?

Answer: When I realize that the best thing is to live in peace with my neighbors, when I say neighbors, I mean from everyone around me to other countries.

Comment: But it is not a secret, there is understanding in us that it is really good to live in peace with neighbors.

My Response: These are just words. There are so many ways and methods to pit one country against another, and it is very hard to stop.

Question: What should I imprint on myself, which rule or law to never circumvent?

Answer: To live peacefully is above all. This should be clear to people.

Question: Can it be imprinted, let’s say, in laws, in man?

Answer: It can be imprinted in society so if someone wants to lure one society into a war against another society, they will not succeed.

Question: Do you think it is possible to accomplish?

Answer: Yes. Peace above all. This should be the direction of our most important aspiration.

Question: Let’s talk a little above the corporeal. You have always said the Creator is associated with the word “Shalom“—peace. You tell us we are somehow attracting this state here?

Answer: Yes, you can attract a good state to yourself, gain confidence in yourself and others, and unite to never be separated or crushed. This is called the upper force dwelling among us, the upper one.
[322117]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/20/23

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Question: A sage sat at the city gates as a man passed by he turned to the sage and asked: “Tell me, Father, what kind of people live in this city, good or evil?”

The sage replied: “Tell me about the city you’re from, what kind of people live there?”

“They are evil, cruel, and selfish,” the man replied.

“The same people live here,” the old man answered, and the man left.

Some time later, another man came to the gate. He asked the same question. The sage replied in the same way: “What kind of people live in your city?”

The man said: “I have a lot of friends left in the city, and the people there are good and kind.”

The old man said, “You will find the same people here.”

My conundrum is that it seems quite strange that what kinds of people live in my city it depends on me.

Answer: In general, yes.

Question: Meaning, if the first one said bad people live there, he was told the same is awaiting you here. And if there were good people there, then he’d find similar people here.

What is it? How does this mechanism work?

Answer: It is based on a person’s attitude toward society. The way one relates to society, that is what he feels.

Question: What if they hate me?

Answer: But why do they hate you? It didn’t just appear today. It is a result of your behavior.

Question: So if I see haters who dislike me, I have to ask myself: why do they hate me?

Answer: Yes, that is the only way.

Question: And what if I don’t determine, for example, why they hate me, as it usually happens?

Answer: It means you are justifying yourself.

Question: So basically I have to find the answer?

Answer: You have to find positive feelings in yourself and the same in others.

Question: So I should find why they hate me within me, and try to change something about myself. And if I can do something in regard to the hater, will he change toward me?

Answer: He will change. Help everyone and they will change.

Question: So should I even bother to justify this hatred coming at me?

Answer: This is human nature. If you perceive it correctly, you will perceive him the same way.

Question: In this case, should I consider it my nature or his selfish nature?

Answer: It is his selfish nature; that is how people are, but I’m showing them an example of the right attitude.

Question: And if I’m triggered, obviously inflamed, and want to respond in some way?

Answer: Then don’t. I will not respond or be enraged. I will extinguish it within myself.

Question: When you say extinguish, it seems almost forced?

Answer: Maybe in a way I am forcing myself because despite the fact that I want to answer, I don’t answer; I want to enter into an argument, but I don’t. And this will have a result.

Comment: But you know, they usually say when you bend the bow too much, it springs back hard.

My Response: That is when we don’t apply effort. If we go about it the right way, consistently, then acting this way prevails.

Question: Do you believe in these exercises?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do I develop a habit of turning to myself and examining myself all the time? Will I develop something then?

Answer: Yes, you will develop an even, correct attitude toward people. You will learn to forgive them, and then everything will work out.
[322067]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/20/23

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Question: Let’s talk about Israel today.

Our youth has matured a lot lately. There are many dead, many lost friends, many in the army. Those who are not in the army help in any way they can. Today, especially among young people, there is a feeling that it is good to be united, not only for young people, but for everyone. This is a good state.

There are already talks that when the war is over and everyone will return home, it is our youth who will want to build a new country based on this sense of unity.

How  can we not lose this hope? At least the hope that they will return with this feeling.

Answer: To do this, you need to be fed from our Kabbalistic sources all the time, because they say how necessary it is, how true it is always, and that you have no other way. If you don’t hold on to unity, then it disappears and troubles come.

Question: If I don’t hold on to unity, then troubles come; is it good if this formula enters into a person and he lives with it?

Answer: Of course.

Comment: But it is still based on fear.

My Response: It doesn’t matter, it’s good. A person has to hold on to it. Man is an egoist. He must constantly understand that if he does not hold on to others, and so each one on to everyone else, then we will not survive.

Question: Where is the protection from above that we are talking about here, from the upper force?

Answer: To the extent that we protect ourselves, the Creator protects us.

Question: What does it mean to protect ourselves?

Answer: Whatever we think about our unity, about supporting, saving each other, and so on, then we will be provided with the same support from above.

Question: How can we inspire our people, the Israelis, with this?

Answer: It is said in our sources, in everything: If a person is not for others, then there is no protection from above.

Question: So, I have to be for others all the time. And everyone should have this thought?

Now we watch, impressed by how the men hug before the fight and go into battle; that is how united they are. Could it be a symbol of such a state, an embracing country?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do you believe that this is possible?

Answer: It is possible, but it depends on how much people understand that they won’t survive without it. If we don’t start living like this, then nature will destroy us.

Question: What do you call nature in this case?

Answer: Our ego. It is going to destroy us.

Question: In the form of these enemies that are coming?

Answer: It is us who invent our enemies, not that they exist on their own. We invite them.

Comment: We invite them, but they exist. Here they are, visible.

My Response: And you create them by your lack of unity.

Question: So, it’s like some kind of spirits?

Answer: Yes. That’s the way to see them.

Only our unity, only the responsibility of everyone for each other will save us.
[322427]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/16/23

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