Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Have humans been domesticated?”

We are in a developmental process that is driven by a constantly-growing human ego, which will never let us remain pacified and calm. It will lead us to such disasters and suffering that after the ego’s development, we will have to stop and think about what we are living for.

By questioning the meaning of our lives, we will discover that we will need to change the ego that grows in us, directing it toward balance, unification, embrace and similarity of qualities with nature. By doing so, we will achieve a sensation of eternity and perfection.

In contrast to animals, which can be domesticated, we humans are unable to simply sit and consume. Our ego is bound to bring us to a state of immense inner emptiness, a state from which we will need to change our ego and our approach to life in order to achieve balance with nature.

This is where we humans differ from animals. The desire of animals is unchanging. They can receive food and then rest. For us, however, it is insufficient to simply get food in order to rest, and to become pacified and satisfied. On the contrary, we will have to fill the emptiness that we will feel more and more succinctly. This emptiness will bring us to the need to change our attitude and approach to life.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the best way to protect oneself from the evil eye?“

First, what is the evil eye? In principle, the evil eye is the negative effect of negative thoughts from other people. Our thoughts indeed play a major role in our lives, and we are influenced by negative thoughts that others have about us.

The question then becomes how can we protect ourselves from such negative thoughts about us, the evil eye?

On this point, several people believe that they can protect themselves by wearing or using various amulets. But no objects protect us. They can provide psychological comfort, but they do not change reality. They fail to stop people’s negative projections onto us.

The way to truly protect ourselves from evil eye, negative thoughts from others, is by projecting positive thoughts onto them. By thinking favorably about others and doing good to them, we project positive forces toward them, and our projection of positive energy protects us.

We can thus rid ourselves of negative influences and find better luck, blessing and success in our lives by thinking favorably about others. Doing so enables us to rise above negative influences, including the evil eye.

In short, think positively about others and you will find a very powerful, exalted and trustworthy form of spiritual protection.

Based on a talk, “An Inside Look,” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the best way to stop immigration to Europe?“

Solutions come after problems. We see the extent to which the European immigration problem is covered, as if it is nonexistent. Although we see countless amounts of immigrants, it is not raised to any kind of public dialogue.

There are statistics of all kinds of problems connected to immigrants in European countries, but next to nothing is done about it. It is all silenced. Therefore, it is as if there is no problem.

However, it is a problem, mainly in terms of the future of Europe. Immigrants coming to Europe are coming in such large quantities that they will overtake the continent in the future.

Muslims will take over Europe, and Europe’s politically correct atmosphere will disallow resistance. Europe has become old, and Islam is the youthful adolescent appearing to take over.

Therefore, I see no other way now but that Europe will gradually accept Islam more and more.

This is no problem, though. The moment you demarcate it as a problem, you create a mess. It is a phenomenon that has passed its critical point that could have once been battled.

Immigration to Europe thus becomes similar to several other natural phenomena that unfold in the world. Also, in The Book of Zohar, it is written about how Islam will conquer Europe.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What do we do if all the Chinese want to own a car?“

Nothing would change in the world and in ecology, even if everyone would get a car, and even if more than one. Let there be seven or fourteen billion private automobiles in the world. That is not how we evoke ecological disasters. They are sparked by flawed human relations.

We need to understand that ecological disasters take place not due to our technologies, and not at the still, vegetative or animate levels of nature. They are caused at the human level. We, at the level of our interrelations, carry disaster to the other levels of nature. Such disasters in the spheres of ecology, health, depression, drug abuse, divorce, and literally all other problems—come from nature only afterward, in order to prod us toward understanding the cause of these problems. The cause is on a higher level. In nature, the problem always descends from the higher level to the lower levels, and from there, the whole system is brought into action.

I hope that in the search for salvation from these disasters, which appear to us as disasters on our egoistic level, we will have to reject our egoism and understand that we can be in balance with nature on the still, vegetative and animate levels only thanks to the human level—by treating each other with love and understanding. We will then bring unity to nature as a whole and achieve balance with the general nature.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How can we protect the cities from sameness? How can we retain the identity of different cities?“

It is impossible to keep watch over every city’s uniqueness. It is because, in the end, the connection between them is becoming so tight that obviously culture, education, specifics and language are becoming more and more common around the world. This is why it will not help us to treat certain distinctive characteristics of each city carefully. Of course, this will be preserved, but many people today want to develop in a deeper sense, and do not care that today they are in one city and tomorrow, in another one. They are not looking for the city itself, but for its inner content. Such people seek deeper and deeper for what is inside of nature. This is why we cannot preserve the individuality of each city, the “face” with which it will stand out. Instead, we will be able to safeguard the special inner content of each person. In essence, this will be our individuality.

It is time to stop looking at the still level, at the buildings that we erect and the characteristics of the animate level in nature. We must pay more attention to the human level, to the uniqueness of the person, to what is unique within. With such a focus, we will see how unique we are, and the extent to which each person is a unique creature in whom lies a unique character and unique wealth. As such, we will discover the world in all its fullness at the human level.

We should not divert our attention to levels lower than the human. We created and built all the other levels—beautiful buildings and so on—by means of our ego. When this becomes removed and does not bring us fulfillment, then the things we built will also be removed and will no longer be felt.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Do you support the use of genetically engineered crops and foods?“

Regarding genetically engineered crops and food, we have no choice: we are compelled to use genetic technologies and replications, because otherwise we will be unable to feed everyone. Today, we are obliged to think about how we can provide food for everyone.

Since we are egoists and are unable to control the specifics of food, then we will be able to do so later by means of a method that guides us to positively connect above the ego. At that stage, we will do everything for people’s benefit, and there will be no calculations of developing anything with the primary goal of profiting as much as possible. People will change internally and will relate to others as to their loved ones, as to themselves, and this will already compel us to think about the optimal technology and the use of the developments of biology and genetic engineering, thanks to which we will be able to provide ourselves and humanity with the best food possible.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What needs to be changed in humans?“

A Global Trends Report by the US National Intelligence Council predicted the pandemic back in 2017. They warned that the next 20 years will be chaotic and turbulent: the slowdown of population growth, major aging of the populace, and climate change; storms, hurricanes, floods and heat waves will lead to an increase in migration. International relations will become unpredictable; ties will not be established and potentially break apart. There will also be an increase in famine. The pandemic will have a long-term impact. There will be growing distrust of medicine, science, authorities and politics, and eruptions of protests and riots. In short, according to the report, we face a bleak future.

We see that many reasons are emerging for us to change.

Give humanity a good future and it will go completely wild. In the Soviet Union, we were told that things would get better, that in ten years we would arrive at communism and capitalism with the promised slogan: “Don’t worry, business will grow, and everything will get better.” Seemingly the promise of a better future is not a very good idea today after all. Those who propagated this ideology tell us “Let us lead and everything will be great for you in the future. In the meantime, go on as you were, and be content.” However, having clear hope and faith that everything will be better is no solution.

If nature’s course and our course are unaligned, then nature must force us to correct ourselves, to change. It is a process, and we initially need to see a bleak picture of the future in the event that we fail to change. We need to see a clear dependence and connection between the person’s internal state and nature’s external state. In other words, if we change, everything around us also changes. Nature influences us this way, through an opposite, negative connection. It will force us to change through all sorts of problems, and by doing so, we discover this dependence.

We will come to the realization that we have no other way out and that the only way to break out of this rotting corporeal existence is to become a self-changing being. A human being is one who strives to be like the Creator. This is expressed in Hebrew, where the word “Adam” (“human being”) stems from the words “Domeh le Elyon” (“similar to the most high”). The Creator is the immense unified force of nature, the giving force, which births everything emanating from itself. We need to become like that force. We need to reach a state where we treat everything outside of us with total love, and then everything will fall into place.

Indeed, we must change and reach a state of likeness to the Creator, where we emanate love, kindness and warmth. One day, we will desire this state more than life itself. Moreover, we need nothing but such an alignment. Also, we should think beyond mere self-transformation and consider global transformation—that the whole world will acquire the quality of love and bestowal. Through the human level, the animate, vegetative and inanimate levels will also change. In the end, absolutely everything—the still, vegetative, animate, and human levels—will be at the degree of mutual, eternal and boundless love. Then, in this huge desire, which will be common on all four levels, the upper force will manifest and envelop everything within itself, and the world will take on a singular form.

The foundations for this transformation are being laid and we must give the optimal shape to this act of nature and our personal aspiration, to aim it correctly through our appeal to humanity. Since we are sentient beings, then it will happen. We can be intimidated, brought to our knees, coerced, and we can thus be taught. At the moment, nature is relating to us more and more like a misbehaving youth, giving us blows in order for us to wake up to the change we need to make. While we can train an animal to the point of becoming a well-behaved animal, we can change a human being in a way where he rises above his nature.

The report from current-day experts is very acceptable and realistic, to put it mildly. There will be various waves from different sides, and they will batter us. We will be unable to keep up and to react with effective remedies unless we get smarter. We will gradually reach an agreement with the upper force that coerces us. The current pandemic will subside and give way to the next wave. And we will try to cope with the next wave too through our own efforts, trying to do something about it. We will come to see how selectively these waves of all kinds of suffering will affect us, forcing us to change.

Our first and most important realization is that pain will be the source of wisdom. Nature will continue battering us, and through the relatively continuous blows we will receive from nature, we will grow in our understanding of where nature guides us. These waves will depend on the extent of our intelligence. Here, we can already engage another higher and more connected level of consciousness, and the people in touch with that consciousness should pass it on to the best of their abilities.

Based on a talk with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Semion Vinokur. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Question: “What to do when your children fall below the base and do not want to ascend spiritually but continue to chase the golden calf? They say: ‘Do not teach us how to live better, help us financially.’ I want to hear Laitman’s answer, not in general, but specifically, in essence. Thank you in advance. Raya”

Answer: Dear Raya. If your children have grown up so that they are chasing the golden calf, then you should help them in some way to enter this field.

The rest is God’s will. You do not have to fully participate in this, but you must give them an initial push, you must help them at the beginning, as they are your children. It is written: “One learns specifically where one’s heart desires.”

If they really have an aspiration for something, help them a little, not hundred percent, but help normally, so to speak, push them forward. But no more than that.

Question: So I should not load them with the pursuit of spirituality? I shouldn’t tell them: “You are not looking for spirituality, you are only looking for the material. What are you doing?!”

Answer: No.

I looked at my teacher’s family and saw how calm he was about it. There were many children and many grandchildren there. He always used to let them do whatever they wanted, move out, separate, have children. This is their business. If they want to, they will be interested in life, the source of life, the purpose of life. If they do not want to, that is their business.

Question: Does that mean to let them go? Help them in whatever they want, and let them go?

Answer: Yes.

My daughter also wanted to go to a certain university, please, go. The second to a different university, no problem. The son wanted a certain direction, please. That is it. In whatever I could, I pushed them forward.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/8/21

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What were the justifications of Barcelona FC to insist on playing against Beitar Jerusalem, not in Jerusalem?“

There was supposed to be a friendly football match between Beitar Jerusalem and Barcelona FC, but the game was canceled. Why? Barcelona decided that they did not want to play in Jerusalem because of pressure put on them by various pro-Palestinian bodies who stated that playing in Jerusalem would disrespect Barcelona’s Palestinian fans, who want Jerusalem as their capital. Beitar Jerusalem owner Moshe Hogeg since canceled the match stating that

a game against Beitar Jerusalem deserves to take place in Jerusalem, and if the motive for its not taking place in Jerusalem is political and I submit to it, I will not be [at peace] with myself. I cannot betray Jerusalem.

Now the way I see it, it was the right decision to make. It is respectful toward Israel, and in general, I think that we need not concede to anyone in this regard. It has nothing to do with the game. If you look at things from a broader perspective, the international arena is applying more and more pressure on us.

It seems as if the Palestinians are doing better and better in their explanation, and we are doing worse and worse. Why?

It is because we are failing in our correction of “Love your neighbor as yourself.” First of all, we lack this correction among each other, Israelis. If we reach a common state of love, where all of Israel are friends, then we will see how the entire world will start treating us positively and favorably.

Can we separate the terrible attitude of Israelis toward each other inside Israel, the relations between us and the world, and between us and the Palestinians? No. We cannot put our attitudes toward each other aside.

We cannot separate what goes on inside of Israel and what goes on in the world, Palestinians or no Palestinians. This is because we are a miniature model of the world. Being Israeli is not a nationality. Israel is a gathering of the nations of the world who have since forgotten about the special connection they shared.

If we connect with each other lovingly and with mutual assistance, then we will project positive forces to the world. The positive force of love and connection that we would draw to ourselves and pass on would compel others to think and act positively to one another.

The world would then relate favorably toward us. Everything and everyone would calm down. It all depends on Israel. In the meantime, in Israel, we are always in each other’s faces. That is the problem. It is why so many people hate us and want to do us harm.

It is up to us. The forces of the world will not change. The laws of nature are absolute. If we aspire to make our connections positive, then we will draw a positive influence onto ourselves, and become a conduit for that positive influence to spread throughout humanity.

Based on a talk between Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi, “An Inside Look.” Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How can we create a balance between the preservation of local cultures and the development of a global community?“

We can create a balance between the preservation of local cultures and the development of a global community on condition that we treat each other according to the law of “Love your neighbor as yourself,” i.e. with mutual love, when we feel other people as cells feel other cells in the organism to which they belong. Each cell helps the others, and is obligated to support and complement the body’s other cells.

This is how we need to treat each other. It is also what nature demands of us. We belong to a single village, one humanity and one species, so in essence, we belong to a single organism. If we start relating to each other as such, then we will develop optimally, in the form and speed that is suitable for us. By doing so, we will achieve balance between different cultures and humanity as a whole. We will each then be able to add something of ourselves to the community.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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