Entries in the 'News' Category

A House In Exchange For A Hairclip

273.02Question: In May of 2020 TikTok blogger Demi Skipper from San Francisco took announced on her blog that wanted to start with an ordinary bobby pin [hair pin] and swap her way up to a home. She exchanged it for a pair of earrings, and then continued to make a progression of more valuable trade-ups until in November of the same year she achieved her goal of owning a home.

This isn’t the first case of someone trading up a relatively worthless item to owning a house. In 2007, Canadian Kyle McDonald made 14 exchanges to home ownership starting with a big red paper clip.

What do you think about these tales that seem like fantasy?

Answer: All this takes place in front of an audience. But it is quite possible. From where does wealth, money, steamships, etc. come in general? That’s exactly how it’s done.

Question: What’s happening in the chain? Why? How does it get so hyped?

Answer: These are desires multiplied by human stupidity, swagger, fame, and so on. All this gives value to these amounts.

Question: “I’ll do it, and I’ll give you a car for a paper clip. And they will talk about me.” Something like that?

Answer: Yes, it is a sale, of course.

Question: What would you personally like to launch, something simple like this paper clip, and what would you like to get at the end?

Answer: I would like to launch into the world the popularity of the happiness of the world, the real happiness of the world, and at the end for everyone to get an understanding of it. But there is no such TikTok currently, not yet.

Question: A simple sentence like this: “What is happiness for the world?” And as a result, everyone will understand it. Is there no such thing?

Answer: No. There are no such games like this. A deep awareness is needed by each and everyone, of course, that a person is created an egoist and so on. This is the only way. A  game won’t help here; it can’t wind up just like that. It’s not a show.

A person should really want to connect with others, to take care of them, and to realize that we are on the same Titanic.

Question: Can this Titanic sail?

Answer: If we support it this way, then undoubtedly.

Question: If we unite?

Answer: Yes.

Question: And if not, then this is the Titanic?

Answer: Of course.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/23/21

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Income Growth For Every Third Inhabitant Of The Planet

290Comment: Over a year ago the biggest trade agreement in history between 15 countries was signed. It promised an increase in income for every third inhabitant of the planet and gave hope for the revival of world trade and cooperation. The agreement united China and the Asian-Pacific region countries including Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

The agreement allows trading partners in Asia to gain access to each other’s markets, reduce taxes on goods, and improve living standards, especially for the poorest countries in the region. They say: “The agreement is open to all. We are waiting for India here.”

Why not live like that? They set noble goals. Even though they are egoistic, they are set to provide income for people who are poor and have nothing today.

My Response: Yes, people there live poorly, of course.

Question: Why can’t all leaders rise above their pride, enter into one union and start to slowly revive our world, which is falling economically all the time?

Answer: I do not think it is possible. I do not even hope that it will all be as cheerful as they write. Someone has to win at the expense of the one who loses.

Such is our world! Therefore, agreements are agreements, but then politics and petty egoism come into play, and that is it.

Question: So we will not be able to live normally in this world?

Answer: No. We cannot. And these good impulses, they are all not good. The point is, how will they win? At the expense of whom will they win?

Question: So you think that one way or another, I have to suppress someone?

Answer: Our world is created in this way.

Question: And when they say “equal agreements”?

Answer: It is what they always say: mutually beneficial conditions, mutual trade, wellbeing of nations.

Question: What union will work?

Answer: The one that has a different goal: to lead people to unity, to rise above themselves, above their egoism, and above their nature. Otherwise nothing will work.

Question: So my goal to provide wellbeing to a third or half of the world’s population, to the whole world, will not work anyway?

Answer: No.

Question: And the goal should be that the people of the world will be able to unite?

Answer: Yes. Such a goal is in a state of good balance with the general force of nature and with the general development of humanity. And then of course, it will work.

Question: Can you imagine such leaders who say: “We are now uniting in order to…”?

Answer: And they will explain that “might goes before right,” that you cannot go against nature. And it turns out that going against this basic law of nature is stepping on some kind of a rake again, on one side or on the other, under some other pretext, it does not matter.

Question: That is, if a person does not change and is a wolf to another man, or will be in competition with another one …?

Answer: They are originally wolves. And they will not cover it up with some good external deeds. This will come out and lead them perhaps to an even bigger war among themselves.

Question: Are you saying that if we are wolves, then we cannot achieve anything in this world?

Answer: Nothing, only suppressing each other, only rising one above the other. We must play our egoism.

Question: Who does the wolf have to become for everything to happen? For everything to be good?

Answer: He must understand his wolf nature, and understand that nowadays we cannot act any other way, but only by being aware of our nature and gradually resisting it together. It is not easy, but we should at least admit it.

Question: What advice would you give to these leaders in this situation, in this world? If you were listened to, what would you say? Take care of yourself?

Answer: Yes, take care of yourself. Write a general memorandum of your intentions and how you expect them to be realized; explain it to each other. This is possible only if you advance alongside the development of nature so that your development coincides with its development.

We see over the course of millions of years (with humanity it is over thousands of years) how nature develops us egoistically and at the same time creates such conditions that we must somehow cope with this egoism and balance it. And if we do not, then it is done through war.

So we have no choice but to first understand our nature, what state we are in and what the path of our development should be and that it must necessarily be in connection between us above our egoism.

Question: And is this your advice to leaders?

Answer: Yes, to admit that we all are egoists. It is not that difficult. But the fact that we should work on our egoism and get closer to each other, this is already a problem. How can we see us rising above egoism and acting against it? How can we weaken the egoistic ties between us and replace them with some kind of more or less altruistic, equal ties that are actually based on mutual understanding and mutual connection? It is not easy.

Question: Would the law of mutual guarantee that we are talking about suit them? Can it be included in the memorandum?

Answer: In principle, this implies that we commit to act in mutual assistance.

Question: Mutual assistance to what?

Answer: Mutual economic assistance, which in fact provides for universal development, the one in which no one acts at the expense of others, so that no one suppresses anyone else.

And how is this possible if we are in a closed space, in the closed world? We must initially determine for ourselves the norms of our behavior, each one in relation to all. It is, as it were, a group of 15 people who must work out some kind of a system for relating harmoniously.

Question: And if they decide to build some kind of common territory in which everyone will, in general, be satisfied with this connection, then should they follow these principles?

Answer: They must develop the population. They must explain to the population that the future of the world lies in a good connection between people, otherwise war in our time will destroy them in a second.

Therefore it is necessary to act in such a way so as not to lead these 15 countries to a fierce war in which they have already been, each in their own way; but here it can explode in general. So this association will split into many different small associations, which will begin to fight among themselves, hog the blanket, and this will all end.

Question: This striving for a good connection is necessary, isn’t it?

Answer: Who will lead this good relationship? Who will promote it? Who understands what this good connection means? Who will oppose the egoistic one-man politicians, each of whom in turn wants to climb over everyone and be above them? This is the nature of our world. And who is in charge of these states? The biggest egoists.

So I do not know. Personally when I look at it all, I just care that it does not explode.

If they do not follow the path of the correct education of the population of their 15 countries, then in the end they will see how angry they are with each other, how much their inner egoism does not allow them to connect with each other at least to some extent, and as a result a trade war will begin, then a political war, and then a real war.

Question: So isn’t education the only way?

Answer: Only education, changing a man.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 1/3/22

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Is It Necessary To Fight With Stress?

627.1Question: It is known that stress increases the likelihood of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke, and it shortens life.

But at the same time, other research  concludes that the absence of stress has a bad effect on a person’s tendency to empathize and that their positive emotions are less vivid. And it is very interesting that embryos that have been stressed during fertilization are more successfully attached in the uterus and fathers with high levels of the stress hormone take better care of the child.

Is it necessary to fight stress? What is it and why is it given to us?

Answer: Our life is stressful all the time. And inside it, at all biological levels, there is also constant stress. Life is a clash of opposites and their combinations. It occurs on the border between plus and minus. And therefore it can always be described as stress.

Question: So is the combination of opposites such an explosion? Is stress good or bad?

Answer: It’s all necessary. When it is necessary, we don’t define it as good or bad. Rather, we need to talk about how we can manage these states.

Question: So stress can be managed?

Answer: Absolutely! Otherwise, why are we given brains and our whole environment? In order to adapt ourselves to proper stress management.

Question: How can stress be managed?

Answer: It is by understanding that the combination of plus and minus at all levels, in all circumstances, is necessary and should exist, and we need to learn how to do it.

Question: How do we do it?

Answer: It is very simple. Build love over all manifestations of hatred.

It is the same principle. There must be hatred, rejection, and any negative and above it undoubtedly a positive.

This is what the science of Kabbalah speaks of—how to get a plus from a minus, to leave a minus and leave a plus, and so that they exist in addition to each other. In Kabbalah, this is explained as the correspondence of darkness and light.

Question: But how do I attract love if I hate, and hate intensely?

Answer: This must be achieved through education, when a person realizes that there is no plus without minus and no minus without plus and that the correct combination of the two creates life. When a person comes to this understanding, he becomes calm and reasonable, follows the middle line, and builds himself and the world.

Question: What are my actions if I hate?

Answer: Realize that everything comes from an upper force and is given to us so that we balance all negative qualities, properties, and circumstances with positive ones. And all this can happen only in our awareness. When we realize this, we begin to treat everything with kindness, we do not denying anything, but rather we accept everything as an absolute necessity.

Question: So is this hatred a necessity now?

Answer: It is necessary for us to rise above it and exist above it and in it. And then we will balance these two forces of creation: plus and minus.

Question: That’s the whole difficulty: above it, is it possible somehow?

Answer: No, it will only be possible egoistically. In order to exist with it, it is necessary to rise above it and balance all negative properties by adhering to the Creator.

Question: It’s not easy. Can you give some simple formula for rising above hatred?

Answer: The formula is such, that minus equals plus. That is it. Where there is a minus, you should see a plus.

Question: What I hate now is a minus?

Answer: This is a minus until you realize that it is also a plus at the same time.

Question: So it’s good that I hate now?

Answer: Yes. But why is it given to you? So that you can turn it into a plus.

It means to understand that your attitude to the world depends on your attitude to the world. You have to change your attitude to the world. And how? It’s very simple. Replace egoism with altruism and hatred with love. And everything will be fine.

Question: So I hate this person, but I say to myself: “This is given to me so that I love him”?

Answer: You are given just the opposite properties. Replace them with the reverse ones and you will receive a wonderful world.

Question: Is it within my power?

Answer: It is not within your power to transform or to accomplish it, but it is in your power to ask the Creator to make it so you reach a state where you really crave it.

Question: Is this what hatred comes for? So that I beg that I want passionately to replace it with love?

Answer: Yes. And then you will realize that all this was not for that, but in order for you to have contact with the Creator. And that’s it.

Question: Is He calling us to turn to Him?

Answer: Otherwise we would not have turned in His direction.
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From the TV program “News with Michael Laitman” 12/23/21

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A New Form Of Power Over The Individual

961.1Question: Today, in the era of neoliberalism, the power of the state over the individual is gradually waning. Is this good or bad for the development of mankind?

Answer: I do not think that the power is diminishing because the state does not give up its positions, its power, and does not transfer them to the individual.

Comment: But a person feels freer than a few hundred years ago.

My Response: He feels this way only because he is constantly inventing all sorts of mechanical machines, toys, and tools that give him the illusion of freedom, but nothing more. Are we free? Today I depend on everyone: they listen to me, everyone can see where I am, what I am, and so on. Where is this freedom?

Comment: Anyway, a few hundred years ago, any ruler could do whatever he wanted with an individual without any punishment. Today, there is no such thing in democratic countries.

My Response: It does not mean anything. The freedom that we had before has taken a different form today. But this does not mean that we are free. Just as you let a child out of your arms, he runs around on the lawn, and it seems to him that he is free. But you are watching him.

That is, the nature of man has not changed, just the power over people has taken other forms, even more defined, rigid, and restricting. They watch you; they see right through you!
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From KabTV’s “Spiritual States” 3/22/22

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What Prayer Does The Creator Answer?

236.01Question: Today people have begun to pray. Those who were pragmatists are praying. The question you are asked is: “What kind of prayer is a quality prayer?” Which prayer does the Creator hear?

Answer: The Creator hears all requests, all prayers, in general! Which of them does He answer—that is the question?

Everything that every person demands, shouts, asks, and begs for, all this is heard. Now the question is what does the Creator react to? Only to the extent that the request of the people from below coincides with His plan, with His aspiration from above. If our desires coincide with the desire of the Creator, then it happens.

Question: What kind of desire should there be in this case?

Answer: Rapprochement, connection, a fusion of people with each other in full equivalence to each other, in a state of love. This is what the Creator wants. Because His highest property for people is love.

Comment: Which means, no matter what kind of conflicts we are in, no matter how much we hate each other…

My Response: We will have to come to this.

Question: Do I pray that love for this hater of mine will come to me?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What is love?

Answer: Love is when all of you, with all your physical, moral, psychological, and whatever properties, qualities, and forces, completely switch to helping and filling everyone who is outside of you.

Love is when you switch from thinking only about yourself to filling everyone outside of you.

Question: Will this prayer be answered?

Answer: It will definitely be heard if that is what you want. It is not that you just say it, but that you really want it.
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From KabTV’s “News with Michael Laitman” 3/3/22

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Stick To The Creator

594Question: Question about the truth. Where is it?

Answer: Truth is the best state of creation because, with regards to creation, we can speak. The perfect state of creation can only be in full equivalence with the Creator.

If we take, for example, a foil and begin to apply it to some statue, then the full equivalence, the full form, the absolute form that the foil will take when it is completely dressed on the statue will be the truth, the verity. Such is its state.

Question: Does it mean that we, dressed on the Creator are the truth? Then, do I need to know what the Creator is?

Answer: Of course! What the Creator is. You do need to attain some element of the truth to measure everything relative to it.

Question: But what is it? What does it mean that I dress on Him?

Answer: To be dressed on the Creator means complete equivalence to the Creator. Relative to us, we cannot give this any other practical definition.

Question: What is the Creator?

Answer: The quality of bestowal and love emanating from my absolute egoism. It is when our complete egoism, precisely created by the Creator, is totally, to the full extent like the Creator.

Question: Does our egoism become material?

Answer: Yes, it becomes a foil dressed on the image of the Creator.

Question: Do I take my egoism and start sticking it on the Creator to become like Him?

Answer: Yes, part by part. In this way, you conclude that, in principle, this is the only thing you need.

Question: What does my egoism turn into? What does the foil turn into if it is stuck in such a way?

Answer: Into the form of the Creator. That is why you are called Adam—like the Creator. That is, this material from which you are created, you must put it on the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 3/7/22

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Punishment Is Not What We Think

627.2Question: Today everyone is demanding punishment; this cry rises from all sides. What really is punishment?

Answer: I don’t think there is an understanding of punishment in our world at all, as people think. There is no such thing.

I believe that a person should reach such a state of empathy, critical empathy, so that all his aspirations and prayers are only about becoming similar to the Creator. And with respect to this similarity, he would measure himself. And the revelation of the difference from the Creator would cause a state of repentance in him, and only this he would like to destroy.

Question: So the punishment is that I do not come closer to equivalence of form with the Creator? That I’m not moving in that direction? Is this the punishment?

Answer: Yes.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 3/7/22

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Love Will Cover All Our Crimes

624.04Question: Victor asks: “Dear Michael Laitman! You say: “Love will cover all our crimes.” Don’t  you see that it’s impossible?”

Answer: I see that, generally, in the end, it is possible. It is possible! That is how it will all happen, although it will go through us with a rake. This egoism will be torn off from us with a rake, leaving torn flesh, wounds! But a little altruism will appear through them. That is how we will gradually get rid of it.

It is not good. But we have no other way. Otherwise, we will not appreciate the power of egoism, the power of altruism, and the relationship between them. It is precisely on the contradiction and on the connection between them that love arises, which is the final stage of the revelation of the Creator’s plan.

Question: You say that there is hatred and that we must cover it with love, and they must exist together, hatred and love. Isn’t that the most incomprehensible thing?

Answer: It is not clear because when you hate, you shake, you do not know how to burst. When love bursts you, you spread out to the whole world, you do not know where to go.

These two parts should join, complement each other, and then you will feel the perfection of creation. Exactly in this way. Now we do not feel either part. When they begin to unfold in us, then we will feel it.

Comment: This is elevated wisdom.

My Response: It does not matter, we will have the strength, brains, everything.

Question: How can an ordinary person attain this height?

Answer: We should start with a little, like all of us. Starting with little, we should just understand, formally studying, that we have no other way out. We, the creatures, are obliged to grow to the level of the Creator, and this can only happen if we climb the steps of the ladder.

From small hatred to love, from greater hatred to more love, from the most terrible hatred to the greatest love. We connect them together all the time, step by step, and do not destroy them.

You will see that it will be so, and very soon.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 3/3/22

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No Need To Kill Egoism

962.1Comment: Eldar writes: “Dear Michael Laitman, show us all how to kill egoism.”

My Response: To do this, you need to turn to the Creator and beg Him many times, for a long time, insistently and, most importantly, together with others, with your friends. Moreover, this request should be continuous, constant, and increasing all the time. Then you will achieve it.

Question: When a person has a question about wanting to kill his egoism, is this already an advancement?

Answer: Of course! This is already a great achievement! And this is the great help of the Creator from above, when a person begins to understand what he needs.

Question: Is it possible to kill egoism?

Answer: No, absolutely not. You can only correct it, complete it, and use it correctly. You cannot rid the world of the engine that really moves the world, rotates, turns, and awakens it all the time, and brings everything into motion.

That is, the negative force is the one that drives. The positive force cannot manifest itself as much as the negative one. It manifests itself only when it is required, that is, it is more passive.

Egoism is a feeling of lack. I do not have enough! I am suffocating! I need fulfillment more and more! This is why it is so full of energy.

Therefore, the Creator is proud of Himself: “I created egoism!” Look how this great force works, how every second it is in everything and all the time. There would be no life without egoism. It is because a positive force is just a positive force, and nothing more.

Question: But still, how can I take this negative force, which dictates to me that “I must be filled,” “I am not filled,” “I need to be filled more,” and turn it over and make it a positive one?

Answer: You need to ask a positive force to show you that in fact everything in the world is yours. Everything around me is me. I need to collect all these scattered, torn, broken parts, put them together in a way when they mutually complement each other. This is all mine, my treasure. This is me. I want to bring this all to a perfect state.

Question: What state do you call perfect?

Answer: When all the parts will be mutually connected and will complement each other and be filled with an absolute state of love.

Question: Is this what is called “everything is mine”?

Answer: Yes. It is “mine” because I have to bring them to this state.

Question: So, is this my responsibility?

Answer: Yes. This is my state, I have to bring it. These are my parts, and I have to put them all together. I have to make sure that they all are connected and filled. That is, I am a worker of the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 3/7/22

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What Is Justice In Practice?

962.2Question: Today everyone is talking about justice; everyone is looking for it in just wars, a fair trial. What is justice in practice?

Answer: It is when everyone feels good. Absolutely everyone!

That is, a person should not take himself into account, but rather accept everyone and create such conditions that they are approved by everyone.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 3/7/22

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