Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Should children be allowed to choose their gender?“

I understand that there is an inclination in some people to fervently yearn to feel themselves in a foreign body of the opposite gender, as I have known such people. However, they were individual cases that happened without any propaganda or coercion. But in terms of what is happening today, where such an ideology is fed to society regularly with a “So, who else is with us?” attitude, I think it is completely wrong.

On one hand, it goes against nature-given circumstances. However, on the other hand, every quality of nature has exceptions to the rules. We thus naturally have men, women, and a number of individuals with feminine traits among men, and those with masculine traits among women, i.e. people on such a borderline. There are indeed psychological nuances, and a lot goes on in nature, and each instance needs its own evaluation.

Nonetheless, what is promoted throughout society greatly affects our development, especially children’s. Influences in children’s social, educational and media settings shape the children. That is, children can go to school and get convinced of just about anything, including changing their gender.

For instance, children who have no proclivities whatsoever for changing their gender could reach the conclusion that they have to do it. Why? It is because of social influence and pressure: that such a topic circulates the children’s social influences, and children constantly consider where they fit in with others, in terms of their inferiority or superiority to them. They require the approval of their peers and their social environment, so they could go to great lengths for that approval.

However, despite today’s increase in the promotion of such influences, nature will sort everything out. The promotion of gender change to children is one of several scrutinies that humanity is undergoing in order to lead us to a point of helplessness, a dead end. We can already see how nature continuously guides us through many different paths, and each one results in a dead end, i.e. that we find no ultimate happiness or satisfaction through the various directions that we take.

In short, my advice on this topic is to simply advocate that whoever has no such inclination naturally should be kept in their own natural state of being.

Based on the video “Should Children be Allowed to Choose Their Gender?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Semion Vinokur. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How do you explain war to a child?“

Children can understand war because they also fight with each other. The human ego, which makes us want to primarily enjoy ourselves without considering anyone else, operates from a very young age. So we need not hide anything about war from children.

Indeed, if we fail to raise children correctly, teaching them how to rise above the human ego and positively connect with others, then just as children play—wanting to take things away from each other in order to please themselves, and sometimes resorting to bullying each other—then this is how they continue into their adult years, which is why we end up with wars. Grownups no longer have sand shovels, sticks and toy guns in their hands, but weapons capable of doing serious harm.

Therefore, we should explain to children that they need to become accustomed to communicating, making peace and learning how to compromise. By doing so, they will not end up with terrible problems like those big people who go to war.

They should not be told about the enemy and the hatred in the conflict, and who is right or wrong, as they have no concept or basis for it. Rather, they understand words like giving and taking, wanting and taking, not wanting to give what they have to others, etc. and it is possible to explain war to children in such terms. Nevertheless, give-and-take relations are at the basis of war and all kinds of international relations. War is a dangerous and terrible outcome when these grownups could not reach any peaceful compromise in time.

Therefore, we should teach children from as early as possible that disputes should not be resolved by force, otherwise we will destroy each other. Disputes can be resolved by discussing how to reach peace together, with mutual concessions, rather than with an approach of “I am right and you are wrong, and now you will understand it.”

The most important aspect in education is learning how to compromise. Otherwise, what is all this education for? To teach how to hit first, harder and to inflict as much damage as possible? No, we need to learn how to stop and compromise. It is extremely difficult to do, especially for children, because they have a very direct and straightforward egoistic approach to life, shamelessly wanting things for themselves without any concern for others. Therefore, education should consist of explaining such concepts, learning them together with the children, and seating children in circles to engage in practical engagement on such topics. That is, if a dispute arises among children, then it is time to sit down and sort it out. They should develop such templates from their youth on how to not resort to fighting, but to resolve disputes through conversation and compromise. It is a very long process, but if it is not implemented at these early stages, then it will only get worse later.

Such education is not only necessary for children, but for teachers too, the adults. It is the same human ego in both children and adults, and it requires the same kinds of explanations and training in order to rise above it and realize that conceding for the sake of peace is much more worthwhile than going to war.

Based on the video “How to Explain War to a Child” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Semion Vinokur. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Why is the world facing so many crises and problems?“

We are undergoing a cleansing process. It is as if we are inside the drum of a washing machine, and our attitudes to each other, to life, and our worldviews, are tumbling and turning.

It is indeed a sign of our times, and as a result of this cleansing process, we are supposed to revise the way we relate to each other, to the world and to nature—to reach a clearly defined inner frame of reference through which we view everyone and everything.

We need to go through a process of revealing just how uncertain and incomplete we are within ourselves, how far we are from any kind of objective view of reality, that everything in our worldviews has been imposed on us and is subject to change according to the various influences we encounter throughout our lives.

In order to overcome our constant drifting in our worldviews and attitudes, we have to zero in on life’s ultimate goal. When we grab hold of our life’s purpose in such a way, as if harpooning it, and then it will start pulling us closer, and we will constantly progress toward it.

Our life’s purpose is to reach a clear perception and sensation of the laws of nature, laws of love and bestowal, by equalizing our qualities (egoistic) with nature’s (altruistic). We will then experience an eternal and perfect state of existence, and likewise exist in harmony and peace, free from the accumulating crises and problems we currently experience.

We will then see that nothing else actually exists. That we currently find ourselves in a state of exponentially-increasing crises and problems is already the beginning of such a state of being.

Moreover, we approach the revelation of the final state of existence scientifically, by means of experience: research, reviewing and reproducing the results, like scientists. We go through this process quite naturally, through trial and error, with various experiments, seeing what works and what does not.

In aviation, there is a mechanism called a gyroscope that maintains the aircraft’s orientation in space. It is a motor with a clear aim, for instance, at the North Star, and therefore, regardless of how it rotates, from any direction, the motor aims precisely at a certain set of coordinates with its inner axis.

The result of the accumulating crises and problems we are experiencing are thus in order to develop within us a similar inner device, an inner attitude that relates to everyone and everything with our final purpose in mind—a state of absolute love, bestowal and connection that we are bound to reach.

When we develop such an inner device, we will then see how everything will calm down, and achieve a newfound sense of balance, harmony, peace, happiness, safety and confidence.

Based on the video “Why Is the World Facing So Many Crises and Problems?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Semion Vinokur. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Why do so so many people try to live longer?“

People generally do not know why they want to live longer. Therefore, I encourage first stopping to ask “Why do we need to live longer?”

Let’s say that I have an elixir of life. You can take one drop and will live for another hundred years. Then what? How will that help you?

We have a very strong instinct for life. If we could choose to live another round of life, then most would go for it, solely out of the fear of dying. In other words, our impetus to keep living does not stem from a positive motivation, but from a negative one—our fear of death.

We fear death and try to escape it when we lack a clear purpose in life. Alternatively, there are also a lot of elderly people who agree with death, who have a willingness to lie down and to never get up. They have simply grown tired of life and see it pointless to endure the same motions day after day.

On the other hand, if we find life’s purpose and see that reaching it justifies prolonging our lives, then we can feel free to request a longer life: to go to the cashier, write our statements, and order the elixir. However, if I had such an elixir to give, then I personally would not give it to anyone. Instead, we should fit our movements toward our life’s purpose into the natural time frame that we have been given.

While people chase various goals in life, the ultimate purpose of life that we will all eventually reach is an eternal sensation of the force of nature that created and sustains us, which is a force of love and giving. As I have previously mentioned, the meaning and purpose of life cannot be a true one if it does not involve reaching an eternal sensation, and it involves aiming to benefit others and nature.

I understand that it is quite complicated to reach a decision to aim for such a goal, and it is even more complex to implement it. However, if we aim ourselves in such a direction, and use the method, the tools and the social environments at our disposal in order to strengthen ourselves toward that goal, then we would eventually discover a newfound balance with nature. Likewise, questions about living longer would disappear from our scope.

Based on the video “Why Do So Many People Try to Live Longer?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Semion Vinokur. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is consciousness?“

Consciousness is the energy, matter, information and qualities that we receive and that forms in us when we connect to the general collective volume of information.

There are forces that we receive from outside of us, and these forces form the picture of our world. If we connect in a balanced manner to the information outside of us, then we experience a state of peace and harmony. On the contrary, if we fail to connect in a balanced manner to the forces outside of us, we experience imbalance and disharmony.

We should thus not consider how we receive information from the outside, but how we connect to the general collective information field. The the extent of our balance or imbalance with the external field is responsible for how we feel the world, whether pleasurable or painful.

The quality of the general informational field outside of our perception is that of love and bestowal. If we wish to create the same quality within ourselves, then we connect to it and start sensing its information without any interference. We then achieve a state of total peace and harmony, a complete understanding and feeling of nature, the creation and the universe. In other words, by balancing ourselves with the quality of love and bestowal that exists outside of us, we become as eternal and perfect as that quality, i.e. as nature itself.

On the contrary, our inborn desire to separate, assort and compartmentalize distances us from the eternity and perfection of nature. It gives us a transient and incomplete perception of the universe. As a result, we experience an accumulation of suffering throughout our development, which is necessary to prod us to a point where we will desire to undergo a fundamental transformation of our paradigm: to wish to exit our detached perception and sensation, and enter into a balanced, harmonious and peaceful connection with the general informational field.

Based on KabTV’s “Close-Up. Hologram” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on July 28, 2011. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Question: Why does a person who studies Kabbalah have states in which his memory and what he has achieved is erased?

Answer: It is necessary in order for us to begin to feel new states that are better and higher. After all, an integral, analog, continuous system works according to the principle of a clock: input-output, input-output—always in pulses. Therefore erasing the previous one is necessary for renewal at the next level.

Question: It is so strong that a person does not have any sensations, any memories left. How can one avoid the situation so he is not completely thrown out?

Answer: If a person does no harm, even if he is neutral and participates in something, attaches himself from the side, then this is already enough so that he does not go somewhere on his own flight.

Question: Then what does his participation mean? He is on the verge, as if he dangles on a string and can be dropped at any moment.

Answer: Everyone has their own way. Some people immediately accept all the conditions and decide at once without any hesitations: “This is me, this is mine, I do not agree to anything less; I delve into this completely, and I do not want to think about anything else.”

And there are those who doubt all the time and do not know for sure: yes, no, and so on. We do not limit anyone; we do not tell anyone what to do. A person is free in this, and everything depends on him.

Many people go through all sorts of long-term doubts. They sway, they come and go, or they hear something completely different from what they should until suddenly it clicks somewhere inside. A person begins to understand: “It turns out that this is about connection. It is exactly in the connection between people where I will find the hatch to pass from this world into the next world.”

Time passes until this picture is revealed in him, this clear feeling that it is exactly where all our sensations connect together that there is a passage to the next dimension. There is a curvature of space, and the exit to the next level of existence is only in common unity, to which humanity is now being driven by a general crisis.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Memory Loss” 2/28/14

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How will people and society change in the future?“

We will eventually reach a state where everyone in society will have the same level of prosperity, receiving what we need for a normal life, realizing our full potential to participate in social life by caring for others, and increasing the importance of mutual consideration and responsibility throughout society.

In such a state, we will be able to completely fulfill our passions and desires. We have characteristics such as competitiveness, envy, fervor, fame and control for a reason. Such characteristics will remain the same, but we will find a new way to use them, where instead of using them at the expense of each other, we will use them to benefit and uplift each other.

Reaching a state of mutual consideration and responsibility does not only mean that we will have life’s essentials guaranteed, such as food, shelter, safety, health and education. In addition to receiving life’s essentials, we will be able to continually elevate the quality of life worldwide, while maintaining our balance with nature. Suffering in all of its forms will decrease in such a state, and we will be able to provide all the abundance we want for each other. It is far from being a state where we simply limit ourselves to only supplying for the physical body’s minimal requirements. However, supplying life’s essentials to every person would be an initial target toward such a state.

The future society has several factors that we will need to consider. Will the current experienced systems continue to exist or we will need to create new systems that will be under the constant influence of the same environment and social control? These are very interesting scrutinies, but ultimately we will need to learn how to perfect ourselves and our social environment. That is the basis of a harmonious and peaceful society.

Based on “A New Life” episode 8 with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi on January 5, 2012. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Question: You meet a great number of people. How much time do you need to make contact with the person you are talking to?

Answer: Practically I do not make contact with anyone. As a rule, the people I am talking to are my students with whom I discuss not only the issues they are interested in, but also the general issues of our enterprise, the dissemination of Kabbalah in the world, and so on. I do not need to find special contact with them, I just need to understand what they are talking about.

I have a very narrow circle of people with whom I communicate. Mainly our communication is that they ask for my opinion. In addition, I receive a selection of the most interesting materials from scientific or other sites. I take extracts from these materials, write my comment on them, and insert them into the blog.

My blog is designed for a wide range of readers. Of course, Kabbalah or what leads to Kabbalah and why we need it is covered there. But, in general, it is quite simple. It provides material on economics, politics, and teaching so that a person who enters it will receive general information as well.

My students who are engaged in the dissemination of Kabbalah or the methodology of integral education in all types of media also take material from there or simply read them to broaden their horizons. Blogging does not take much time a day, but still, I do it systematically.

In addition to working on Kabbalistic materials, processing and preparation them, I spend the rest of the time mainly shooting programs in our studio. They take three hours a day, in addition to the lesson. This is how my time passes.

I practically do not communicate with anyone else, I do not feel the need for it. What for? What does it give? Once upon a time, I engaged in receiving visitors. Dozens of people came to me every day with their problems.

I very rarely leave the house, go somewhere, or do something outside my office. This is my character, I have no need for it. Also, knowing in advance that this world, in principle, is a theater and vanity, I am not drawn to it, it distracts me. I have always lived and live now within myself; I am this kind of a person initially, even before Kabbalah.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Laitman’s Contacts” 2/7/13

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Does God have feelings?“

The Creator’s feelings are limitless. However, we cannot discuss them because our perception and sensation of reality is encased within certain limits.

Based on “Ten Blitz Answers about the Creator” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on May 21, 2022. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Comment: In one of the lessons, you said that the whole reality was created so that I could give it up.

Answer: That is right! Because your egoism shows you the true reality and demonstrates all your inner states so that you rise above them.

Question: We usually perceive life differently. Any person looks at this life as a way of existence. The Kabbalist’s task, on the contrary, is not to use this reality for his own sake. How is this possible?

Answer: The Kabbalist looks at everything revealed to him as the means to ascend.

In our world, a person treats everything from the point of view of how can I swallow it all? The Kabbalist on the contrary from how can I throw it all out of myself and rise above it? This is the use of our world, either one way or another.

For a Kabbalist, this world is needed only as a springboard to jump to the next one. An ordinary person wants to stay in it, live more comfortably, and that is it.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. New Matrix” 2/2/13

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