Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What will be next after the coronavirus?“

At some point, we will recover from the coronavirus. However, we can definitely expect another crisis to hit humanity soon afterward. Whether it will be another strand of the coronavirus, or another pandemic entirely, or some other crisis, the reason I am saying that we can expect more global-scale crises is because it is part and parcel of nature’s way of raising us.

When we understand how nature guides us to a defined goal, how nature reveals toward us on the way to that goal, and what we are required to change in order to balance with nature, then we can understand blows such as the Covid pandemic as essential parts of nature’s plan.

Nature sends us blows in waves, one at a time, because its goal toward us is to raise us to a higher degree of human development, one that is balanced with nature. It can be likened to loving parents who sometimes crack down on their children in order to teach them a lesson, and expect a certain change in the children’s attitude or behavior as a result. After inflicting a blow, nature usually gives us time to contemplate it and implement the change that it expects of us. The coronavirus is thus one blow in a series, and we can expect each successive blow to be harsher than its predecessors if we fail to step up to the change that nature expects of us.

Unique to the current pandemic is its global nature. It affects everyone around the world in a wide variety of ways, whether medically, economically, socially and/or psychologically, but all in all, nature sends us all a reminder that it is bigger than us, and moreover, that we are all interdependent.

By illuminating our global interdependence so clearly, we would be wise to think about how we should best relate to our interdependence—that we help, support and encourage each other, and consider others’ needs as preciously as we relate to our own. This is the lesson that nature wants to teach us, and if we fail to make a shift in our attitudes to each other so that we realize our interdependence more positively, then we can expect more and more global-scale crises to bring us to such a determination.

Similar to how cells in the human body operate in order to serve the whole body’s health above their own individual needs, likewise through global-scale crises, nature aims to show us that we are all parts of a single global system. We would thus be wise to start thinking of humanity as such, lovingly, with care, like how we think about anyone who is precious and important to us.

Key to this challenge is that we have nothing to do with our hands and legs—it all points to a change in our attitudes to each other. If we develop an atmosphere of mutual care and consideration that dwells among humanity, then we will see how such an attitude shift brings about myriad positive changes in our lives—from stopping further pandemics and other global-scale crises, to vast improvements of relations on personal and social scales, and their byproducts, which include more happiness and confidence, better health, and lives that become filled with meaning and abundance.

Based on the Writers Meeting with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and a writing team on June 8, 2021.
Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What are some great short jokes?“

A cannibal is having trouble sleeping. He turns in his bed and sighs. His wife pokes him and asks, “Why aren’t you sleeping?” The cannibal sighs and responds, “I can’t stop thinking about why we’re alive! What is the meaning of our existence here?” His wife responds, reproachfully: “How many times have I told you, don’t eat kabbalists!”

Written/edited by students of Kabbalists Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the highest form of freedom?“

Freedom means rising above ourselves, i.e. our egoistic nature that wants to enjoy on account of others and nature, to another level of existence, one where we acquire nature’s qualities of altruism and connection.

We experience freedom relative to the previous level we used to be on. However, regarding our next level, we are not free. We exist below it and need to rise to it in order to once again experience freedom. We progress accordingly until we attain the final level of complete balance with nature.

Balance with nature is the highest level of freedom, which includes all the other levels, and we are all destined to reach it.

In other words, the highest form of freedom is our final state, the goal of our existence. While we are all headed there in a long drawn-out process of evolution, which involves a lot of suffering on the way, the wisdom of Kabbalah is a method that lets us reach that state in a single lifetime.

Based on a Kabbalah lesson with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on July 2, 2017.
Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Is there any connection between Kabbalah and astrology?“

The wisdom of Kabbalah has been connected to several teachings over the course of history, but authentic Kabbalah has no connection to other teachings.

There is no astrology in Kabbalah, no divination by stars, nor any connection between Kabbalah and red strings, holy water, Tarot, mysticism or Kabbalistic meditations, even though if you look up such connections, you will find a lot written about them.

The wisdom of Kabbalah is a method for attaining no more and no less than the purpose of life while we are alive in this world: attainment of the Creator, the higher force in reality. We develop ourselves through this method in order to attain spiritual qualities and a spiritual perception that has no connection to this world’s qualities. As such, Kabbalah has no connection to stars or anything else around the person, but only to that which is inside the person.

Based on “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on March 3, 2019.
Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Would a new government mean a profound shift for Israel?“

A profound shift for Israel would mean remedying the tensions and divisions in Israeli society, which have been getting out of hand recently, and I doubt that the new government is capable of impacting such a shift.

The new government is an assemblage of politicians who each pull in their own direction, and who are unwilling to make the necessary concessions for the sake of uniting Israeli society. They have formed their current bond against a common foe. After they get their way for now, we can expect them to each soon return to pursuing their individual interests instead of setting them aside in favor of unity.

However, while the new government cannot be expected to bring about a profound shift for Israel, we would be wise to view Israel’s current turbulence as a timely situation that can serve to change our outlook on Israel and its future.

We, the people of Israel, have but a single virtue on which our success or failure depends. It is our unity. If we calibrate ourselves to unite above our divisions and tensions, then we set foot on a positive path of development. By aiming at positively connecting to each other above our deepening rifts, we awaken the support of a positive unifying force dwelling in nature to hold that unity together. Without any unifying inclination among each other, then we also get no support for unity, and our ties then loosen and break.

Moreover, our path to unity is not contingent on the government and politics, and should not be viewed as such. Rather, unity should emerge from the people. It requires recognizing the basis for our divisions: that our very nature is egoistic, i.e. we each seek to benefit ourselves at the expense of others, and instead of letting this ego lead us into conflicts and other outbursts, we would be wise to look deeper into why we always encounter crises, and why we never seem to overcome our divisions.

Also, if we haven’t already, then we need to wake up to the world’s attitude toward us. On one hand, we supply the world with much innovation by way of technology, medicine and science. But on the other hand, the attitude toward us becomes increasingly negative and hateful. The more divided we become, the more the world frowns upon us, and it is not far-fetched to think that it could lead to our isolation.

The gray clouds forming over us are in order to make us realize that we will have no other option but to unite. Any motion we make in the direction of our unity, even if it is a single thought of our need to unite, will act positively toward such an end. While negative emotions are ablaze toward us and between us, we should view this situation as the chance of a lifetime: that times of change are upon us, and if we want that change to be positive, we should take the initiative to start implementing relations of unity above division using the method of connection that was made for uniting us and leading us to a harmonious existence.

Based on a meeting with a team of writers and Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on June 3, 2021.
Written/edited by Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
Photo by Rafael Nir on Unsplash.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “In one sentence, what is true happiness?“

Happiness is a state in which the upper light fills us with the sensation of an eternal and perfect existence.

Based on a Kabbalah lesson with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on December 11, 2016.
Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “In one sentence only, why do you believe or not believe in God?“

I don’t believe in God. I have been studying and teaching the wisdom of Kabbalah for over 40 years, which is the method for the revelation of God to every single person in this life, in this world, i.e. “revealing” not “believing.”

Based on a talk between Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Larry King.
Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is love in one sentence?“

To love means to fulfill the other, to live according to the desires of the other.

Based on the talk “Communication Skills: Love Is a Law of Life” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Michael Sanilevich on October 23, 2020.

Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the book ”Zohar” about?“

The Book of Zohar is an internal commentary on the Torah. The most important effect of The Zohar is that we attract the illumination of the upper light upon us when we read it with a correct intention. This illumination is the reason for its being called “Zohar,” which means “radiance.”

This light that we draw through the reading of The Zohar enlightens us and brings us to a state where we start “floating” along with its flow of words, letters and sentences.

According to what we read, we change internally. The impressions we receive are different from those of a novel. They are rather changes that take place within.

Accordingly, the more we advance in our correct reading of The Zohar, the more we include within ourselves the transformations that the Book describes. Eventually, such a process of attainment leads us to the final point of our evolution: complete adhesion and merging with the Creator.

When we first approach The Zohar, we may feel no impact from its reading. However, the impact is taking place without our feeling it for the time being. This is why the first period of reading The Zohar is considered preparation. We practice absorbing what The Zohar wants to give us while we read, hear and try to understand it.

During the period of preparing ourselves for attaining what The Zohar describes, we undergo development in forces, qualities and thoughts. After some time of undergoing this latent stage while reading The Zohar, we will afterward start feeling the phenomena it describes. It is a relatively long and complicated period because we have no clue as to the extent to which we need to change in order to truly understand and feel what is in The Zohar.

And this book shall be called The Book of Zohar due to the influence of that Light from the Upper Radiance [Zohar]. Through its Light, all who engage in it impart by Divine Providence, for the Upper Light and abundance above the reason would was imparted in the secrets of the Torah. Since it flowed from there, this composition was called The Book of Zohar, meaning that it extended from that Zohar [Radiance]. – Ramak , Know the God of Thy Father, 2

Based on KabTV’s “The Power of The Book of Zohar” #8 with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
If you’re interested in finding out more about The Zohar, then we recommend starting with the following course: Enter the Zohar.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Are we all one consciousness?“

Nature relates to humanity as a single and whole system. Our current perspective, however, is fragmented because we are detached in our sensation from nature’s wholeness.

Nature is a pure altruistic quality, whereas our nature is the opposite—egoistic. In other words, nature relates to us in a manner of giving and love, and our attitude is opposite, where we wish to enjoy on account of each other and nature.

Accordingly, even though nature relates to us as a single whole, we make no such distinction, and exist in constant opposition to nature. Our opposition to nature is also the cause of all problems and suffering we experience.

However, nature is developing us to a state where our egoism will be replaced with nature’s altruistic quality, and we will then fully perceive ourselves—all of humanity—as a single consciousness. When we reach this shift in consciousness, we will discover a new harmonious existence that comes from abiding by nature’s laws.

We are currently in a transition from our individualistic egoistic consciousness to an altruistic consciousness that is balanced with nature, however our desires have yet to ripen sufficiently to such a level.

In order to aid and accelerate this inevitable shift in consciousness, so that we experience it enjoyably and with awareness, we need to learn the wisdom of connection. The wisdom of connection explains how nature functions in an altruistic manner, how our nature is opposite, and how we can make the shift from perceiving ourselves as separate egoistic beings to perceiving ourselves as a single system and soul that is balanced with nature. Without such learning, we can expect more and more suffering and problems to enter our lives, as the human ego will continue growing in opposition to nature.

Based on the online lesson “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on March 17, 2019.

Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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