Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How do you define good and bad?“

Good is when we progress in a direction that brings us closer to balance with nature, and not in directions concocted by the human mind.

The more we develop, the more nature trashes man-made ideological directions for the world, and pressures us to discover balance with itself.

“Good” thus becomes our voluntary motion to the balance that nature wants us to experience.

If, however, we move involuntarily, then we feel bad.

Our growing imbalance with nature gives rise to myriad problems and crises on all levels of life—personal, social, economic and ecological—in order to ultimately pressure us to change our direction to a good one.

Alternatively, we can also say that nature’s pressures are also good, because the more we experience negative phenomena in our lives, the more they prod us to examine the direction our lives are headed, and then reach a decision to change direction sooner rather than later.

The point is that we should not feel good while we grow in our imbalance with nature, and instead progress toward balance with nature, which is where nature pushes us. A bad feeling in our egoistic approach to life, where we exist in opposition to nature, is thus good, because from the negative sensation in our egoistic lives, we come closer to finding a solution in a new altruistic direction, balanced with nature.

In order to pay more attention to what nature wants from us, we should consider where we are, and what is our surrounding nature?

Nature is an interconnected and interdependent system. Everything exists harmoniously in nature, and so if we organize ourselves with harmonious relations, then we can realize the harmony existing in nature in our own relations.

We should consider that nature consists of four levels—inanimate, vegetative, animate and human—and we humans comprise its highest level, the center of creation. Balance with nature comes down to us at the human level developing positive connections with each other. We should thus listen to nature, pay attention to what it wants us to understand, trust it and go with its flow.

Everything will work out when we reach balance with nature. Most importantly, we should discover a new world in the positive connections among us, as such connections hold the key to a positive life for everyone and for nature as a whole.

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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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “TV is a very powerful communication medium. Why do we use it to spread such unimportant information?“

Television is a source of information for the masses, and since the lowest and basest desires are what the masses have in common, then television mostly caters for such desires.

The problem, however, is not with the level of the masses.

If those behind TV programming would think about how to elevate the level of the masses, instead of being led by the lowest and basest desires, then it would become a great and respectable educational tool.

Instead, however, TV is mostly used to sell what the masses like, catering to their most common desires. The top priority of those behind TV programming is to profit as much as possible, which is achieved through selling as much as possible. Therefore, there is little to no consideration about the education of society and raising the consciousness of the masses.

If the people behind TV’s programming would consider humanity’s future, and together with psychologists and education experts, think about how to increase the consciousness of the masses, then TV would become a major means of raising a more harmonious and happy society. In fact, we can place our hopes for a better future into using our communication means in order to raise human consciousness. Authorities should ideally put an end to such a lowly use of the means of mass information as it exists today, and seek to replace it with programming aimed at raising human consciousness. The course to humanity’s positive future depends on the expansion of such education, which TV and other mass media can aid if their owners so choose.

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: “Are cities the future?“
Thanks to technological development, humanity will not be concentrated in big cities, but just the opposite, it will expand outwardly. People will be able to work at home, and they will also have consumer products delivered to their homes. The house will be the bedroom as well as the workplace, and generally the place where we spend the greater part of our lives. The notions of “the city center” and “downtown” will disappear from the world, and our cities will acquire an expansive and balanced form.

Also, I very much hope that as soon as humanity understands that human interrelationships need to be altruistic and mutually considerate, then correspondingly, cities will also reform: everything will be for the person’s benefit, in order for the person to take care of society, and for society to take care of each person. This will lead to very big changes in city structures.

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 produce renewable energy?“

We use only a very small proportion of the possible productivity of energy sources that we receive from nature, and it is because we use nature egoistically. In other words, since our principal consideration is how to benefit ourselves at the expense of others and nature, we accordingly extract only a tiny amount of nature’s available energy.

If, however, we were to treat nature altruistically, if we were able to work with nature according to the same altruistic principle by which it treats us, then we would be able to receive all of nature’s available energy.

What humanity lacks is an understanding of what nature is at its source, and how it operates. Put simply, nature is an altruistic quality. It relates to the entire creation on the still, vegetative, animate and human levels with no consideration of self-benefit, but only for the benefit of the creation. If we would exercise such an attitude among each other, aiming to implement an attitude of “Love your neighbor as yourself,” then we would be able to extract much more energy from nature, and we would achieve balance and equilibrium with nature and feel no deficits. We would join nature harmoniously, integrally, and receive a positive reaction from it instead of a negative one.

It is as if nature unwillingly shares its energy with us today, as if it is obligated to free up a small part of its energy resources for us. However, by achieving balance with nature, we will be able to receive the inexhaustible energy that is inherently placed in every atom. That is why, in essence, the solution for our positive future lies in our transition from egoistic relationships to altruistic ones, and undergoing the required education in order make such a transition smoother.

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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Question from Facebook: Is it realistic to unite everyone into one society? If so, how should it be done? The fastest and safest way is when two enemies unite when confronted with a third enemy, and the third enemy is another civilization. But I may be wrong.

Answer: It is good that you understand that you may be wrong. Where is the third civilization that can unite all the enemies?

Do you think that if some giant spaceship or a flying saucer that covered half the planet and totally darkened it, hovered above us, we would begin to love one another? No, this does not mean to love.

We cannot be forced to love. The only way is to begin to educate ourselves, through our consciousness, and not under pressure, to develop a yearning for each other, like mutuality, love, and bestowal. Love is when I feel what you want, and you feel what I want and we fill each other. But no one can fill himself.

So, a third civilization will not help. Our civilization is quite enough. We are the only ones in the universe and we do not need to look for anyone or anything. All we have to do is to correct ourselves, to fulfill, and to attain the most sublime state of eternity and perfection, which means a civilization that no one has even dreamed of. Let’s do it!
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From KabTV’s “Answers to Questions from Facebook” 3/10/19

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How can the increase in access to the Internet among low-income communities help to promote social and economic development?“

With the help of the Internet, every person in the world can access unlimited sources of information almost at no cost. This means is equal for everyone all around the world. Even though the human ego is behind its development, nevertheless it is bound to awaken in us an understanding of humanity as an interconnected single body. Through increasing awareness about our true state as an interconnected humanity, I hope that we will experience positive global transformation, as quickly as possible, even in our days.

In the end, information, communications and technology might not achieve socio-economic development of the poorer layers of the world’s population, but we will understand that we must change our attitude to the world and to our connections—from egoistic to altruistic.

As such, we will become equal. We cannot remain in the illusion that if we will now divide everything equally, then the world will change. Such a division will not lead to beneficial changes in the world. We have already seen how this happens. By doing so, we only interfere with people working and developing. On the contrary, we need to bring a new realization to people, according to which everyone should be treated as a single family, altruistically. We will then make the world equal, happy and perfect.

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 everyone acquire access to clean water without conflict?“

It is impossible to achieve positive results by means of conflict and war. Instead, we need an approach of raising global human consciousness so that we will understand the extent of our interconnectedness and interdependence.

If anyone has negative feelings, it means that I have negative feelings; if someone else feels bad, the bad feeling boomerangs over to me and I will feel bad.

We are like one person with one body, connected in one system. If the life and health of another person will be as important as our own life and health, then we will obviously not have to engage in conflict for clean water, as the general attitude that spreads throughout human society will obligate us to make sure that everyone’s needs are sufficiently met.

The global solution to this problem is in education. Just as we teach our children to be altruistic, since we understand that altruism gives us confidence, invites a positive response from others, and makes our lives easier, then likewise we need to expand such altruistic education to human society at large.

If we fulfill ourselves altruistically, then we will experience greater health, happiness and well-being. We should consider our future generations, our children and grandchildren, that they will receive a positive example from us of the fact that only thanks to an altruistic upbringing can they achieve a good life. When we express such care for each other, then we will be able to provide the world with a healthy and pure life, including clean water and food.

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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Comment: Igor writes to us: “I have discovered the ability to heal with my hands. At first, I healed my relatives as I continued my regular job. I am a master cabinet maker, I make fine furniture. Somehow it just so happened that people started coming to me and I began healing them. They suggest that I leave my job and earn money as a healer, but I am not sure about it. It doesn’t feel right to charge money for this kind of work. I want to ask you what I should do? Why did the Creator give me this ability? And can I make a living from it?”

My Response: I don’t know. I can’t advise you here. If you can help people, then this is a good thing. So by all means, try it and do it. And if you can also free up from your job and earn money by healing people, there is no prohibition against it. I don’t know.

Or you can keep it as a hobby. Although, the work of a wood carver is also a very interesting job.

Comment: It’s rare today. And it is clear that he loves this work. That’s why he is having these doubts.

My Response: This is a very special kind of work. Such people are worthy of envy. He creates with his hands, giving pleasure to himself and others.

Comment: And if he’s given the ability to heal, what is it given for? This, too, follows along the same lines?

My Response: But this already gets tricky. Now he can heal without any self-benefit, without taking any reward for it. Therefore, his healing is more effective. But when he starts charging money for it, this already poses a problem, what will he do? That is, will he be healing for the sake of money or in order to heal?

Once my teacher Rabash and I came to Haifa to see my friend, a good doctor, and he cured Rabash. And then I paid, although he was willing to do it without taking money. I was surprised. He named the exact amount, for example, 363 dollars, and began to write out a receipt.

I said: “Are you writing me a receipt?!” He replied: “If I don’t write out a receipt, I won’t be able to think right. I will have the wrong attitude and thoughts. I will be looking at things differently. I will think about crooked paths.”

And when Rabash heard this, he was so pleased! He said: “Wow, this is a real doctor, he does not allow himself to think crookedly.”

Comment: That is, crooked means thinking about money, and straight means thinking about a patient’s recovery.

My Response: Yes. I treated you, you have to pay. And the amount was, I remember, some very odd number. “I have to write out a receipt for you, and everything must be absolutely proper!”

If you go into healing with your special abilities, you should think about making sure these abilities do not disappear. And this can only happen if you have the right attitude to the world, to life, to what you do with people.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/1/21

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How will the world compensate for the growing energy needs and resource consumption of developing nations like China and India when nations like the United States consume resources disproportionate to their populations?“

It is impossible to stop the struggle for natural resources used to produce raw materials. This struggle will lead to major problems such as imbalances between countries, and also wars. The extent to which our world lacks balance and equality is only now becoming apparent.

The balance between what we need and how much we can receive from the world is possible if the world will accept the altruistic law upon itself.

What is the altruistic law? It is a law present in nature, which human society is obligated to reach.

The countries of the world will then start sharing everything they have, including their production, raw materials, energy and information—equally for everyone, according to the population numbers, their culture, education and consumption, taking into consideration the conditions of the climate, and so on. In other words, only the realization of the fact that we are in a single global system and are thus obliged to treat everyone accordingly will bring us to balance in how we use the world’s natural and technological resources.

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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Comment: Irina wrote: “How can I explain to my husband that he has no right to leave me? We have three children. I forgive him everything, all his infidelities, his lack of love, and so on. I told him: ‘Do whatever you want, just don’t leave.’ He’s leaving. And I realize that I won’t be able to manage without him and neither will the children. What should I do? Tell me. Beg him to stay or let it be? I don’t know.”

My Response: My rule in life is that anything can happen, but if children are involved, then one is obliged to live with them and raise them. It cannot be any other way!

Comment: What should this woman do?

My Response: Well, what can you do? You understand, you can’t keep him by force. There are no such laws.

Question: What is it about us, that is just so…?

Answer: Dumb male egoism, which is spoiled by the mother’s attention. So nothing is good enough for him.

But women, too, are not brought up to make a place for a man that he wants to call his nest, his home, etc., so that he wouldn’t want to leave. Not even to go to work or anywhere away from his home. A place that would be calming and inviting. This should be taught, and it is not.

Building a family should be a subject taught in middle school—a separate, serious lesson, held a couple of times a week, when all of this is discussed from an early age by both boys and girls. It should be discussed seriously so they will gradually get used to such relationships that they will build between them in the future. This is very important! It doesn’t exist. This is real home management.

It is amazing how much we are advancing in some things, but in this, we have an absolute regression. And we can’t replace it with anything. It’s not like creating another machine or a new technology to replace another. This is simply irreplaceable!

Comment: Well, they say that a person has become freer, he has become…

My Response: One becomes freer! From the duties necessary in life. And in the end…

I think this pandemic and a few more such waves will come our way. It will force us to create a home, home sweet home, as they say, for each of us. It sounds like an outdated, repulsive word.

But we will be forced by this pandemic and by some other things because in the end, it will turn out that a person will have to stay at home more, and he or she will need to be looked after. A man according to his ways, and a woman according to hers. And the children as well. Nature will put us in our place, but it will take some time.

Comment: So we would tell this guy who is about to leave to think many times about the children he is leaving behind?

My Response: Certainly! If he has such a wife and children. There is no better woman than the one you live with and have lived with for a long time. You have children and you raised them together. This creates a bond, of course, that is clear.

Maybe you already have grandchildren too, or something. This is all set up by nature and there is no substitute for it.

Question: This has to enter the heart right?

Answer: Yes. Everything happens in life, even things that are too difficult and shameful to recall or mention. But there should be one taboo: the family should not be broken up. Even a bad family, no matter what it is, should not be broken!
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 6/24/21

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