Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What are individual consciousness and collective consciousness, and how are they different from each other?“

According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, defining individual consciousness and collective consciousness depends on transforming our inborn natural qualities into a new mode of perceiving reality.

Those who transform their perception of reality into one that is above the inborn egoistic mode of perception, where we want to enjoy for self-benefit alone, perceive reality as a single force of love and bestowal that connects all parts of reality.

Those who do not transform their perception of reality into one that is above the ego, instead perceive reality through much more limited self-serving filters.

Reality thus becomes modeled in us according to our desires and their transformation, or lack of.

There is a major difference between the two modes of perception, and the wisdom of Kabbalah is unique in that it describes the need, the process and the method for transforming our qualities in order to shift from one mode of perception to the other.

Based on KabTV’s “Meetings with Kabbalah” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on March 29, 2019.
Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the real essence (true self) of the person? How can we differentiate it with personality? Can you explain more about essence? How do we see the essence of a person?“

Nature divides into four levels: inanimate, vegetative, animate and human. We currently belong to the animate level, because like animals, we engage in maintaining our body and earthly life.

Animals, however, instinctively provide for themselves. We, on the other hand, in addition to instincts, are influenced by society. In other words, animals live in a framework that guides them to secure their survival, whereas we are directed by society in addition to our instincts.

In principle, animals also have families, groups and leaders. However, their hierarchies and struggles are based on a natural and instinctive control that emerges from within, which makes their realization direct and simple.

We have a much more complex situation than animals. We are unaware of how to act in connection with each other, with the surrounding society, and how society influences us and determines our development and values. In this respect, we are much more confused and miserable than animals, which know exactly what they want, and what they need to do in order to secure their survival, as much as their environment and the ecology allows.

We humans, on the other hand, self-destruct. Nature supplies us with additional abilities to transcend our earthly development, and when we use this excess in the direction of our earthly development, solely in the plane of serving our egoistic desires, then we try to fulfill ourselves excessively with food, sex, wealth, and so on. As a result, we find no lasting or meaningful happiness, no real gains, but on the contrary, a life that becomes darker and emptier.

If instead of trying to direct the additional abilities nature gives us to self-benefit at the expense of others and nature, which leads us into a growing chasm, we would use our social desires for money, respect, control and knowledge as a means to achieve a higher level of reality, the human level, then we would reach that level to its fullest: a state of positive connection among us, and the discovery of a new life of happiness, confidence, harmony and balance with nature.

Based on KabTV’s “Close-up” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on August 19, 2009.
Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Where does the prohibition against mentioning the name of God in Judaism come from?“

According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, “prohibition” means “impossible.”

The inability to pronounce the name of God is because it is impossible to realize God in language. On the contrary, it can be realized only within the person’s desire for spirituality.

There are several names of the Creator. The names of the Creator do not describe any kind of objective name that the Creator has. We name the Creator from our attainment of the Creator. When we attain the Creator, we discover how our soul consists of four parts, called Yud, Hey, Vav, Hey (י-ה-ו-ה). When we receive light in these desires, it creates a combination of our desires and the light of the Creator, and this is what we call the sensation of the Creator or “His name.”

We thus name the Creator according to our sensation of the Creator, and there is thus nothing to be afraid of regarding the name of the Creator. On the contrary, according to our development, we will all need to attain the Creator so that it becomes completely ours, as it is written, “May my name be upon you.”

Based on KabTV’s “The Power of The Book of Zohar” #10 with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “In six words, what is the meaning of life?“

To attain the meaning of life.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How can I learn to give without expecting anything in return?“

Giving to someone and helping them without expecting anything in return is indeed incredibly difficult, and even impossible.

While doing whatever deed of giving or helping that you are doing, if you think that by doing so you insert a positive force into the world, then your self-esteem, the greatness of your action, will increase. The key is to think that you want to make the world a better place by bringing more kindness to the world.

If, however, you think that you will gain something in return from your good deed, even something as small as a “thank you” or a smile that gratefully acknowledges your altruism, then you are doing business at the same time. In other words, you end up feeling good from the returns you gained.

Once again, the key to learning how to give without expecting anything in return is to exercise the thought of how kindness needs to enter the world through your thoughts and deeds, i.e., that you want the world to become a better place.

We would be wise to organize ourselves so that we think more about how to do good deeds to others, and how to bring a positive and kind energy to the world.

By nature, we are egoists who always seek self-aimed benefit for our actions. So we should seek how to give pleasure to our egos by doing good for the world. It is positive to respect yourself for giving to the world.

However, in a society full of values that prioritize self-benefit over benefiting others, we need a supportive environment to calibrate ourselves so that we can indeed respect ourselves in our giving to the world.

If we succeed in making ourselves more and more giving in such a way, then the world will change for the better. We will suddenly start seeing a lot of good in the world replacing the negativity, hatred and divisiveness that we see increasing today. It all depends on how we look at the world: If we adjust our intention to be as a positive giving force in the world, then the more we change to become more giving and considerate of others, the more the world will also change for the better.

Based on “News with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman,” on February 18, 2021. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How do we improve spiritual health?“

Spiritual health is a state where we positively connect among each other in order to draw closer to spirituality, i.e., to a state where we are united with a common intention to love and care for each other.

It is a state where we establish a connection with the upper force of love, bestowal and connection that fills reality through our common intention to connect as a single soul with such qualities in our connections.

By doing so, we evoke the upper force of love, bestowal and connection, a force that in the wisdom of Kabbalah is called “the reforming light,” into the connection between us, and this force binds us together with a common intention to love, care and bestow to each other.

Several people try to reach a state of spiritual health and well-being on their own, assuming that it is possible to do so. However, it is impossible to attain anything spiritual alone.

In order to attain spiritual health and well-being, we need to feel that we are in the field of the upper force, a force of love, bestowal and connection, and that we depend on this force. If we understand the extent to which we depend on this force in order to hold any sort of connection with spirituality, then we will aim our requests, demands and prayers at this force, similar to how a child holds its parents’ hand, not letting it go. We will then turn to this force in order to make improvements and corrections on ourselves, that whenever we discover anti-spiritual egoistic thoughts and desires in ourselves, i.e., thoughts and desires that prioritize self-benefit over benefiting others and nature, then we will request a change the direction of these thoughts so that they will be loving, giving and positively connecting, similar to the bestowing direction of the upper force.

We thus move toward a state of spiritual health and well-being by learning about spirituality, participating in a environment that supports our spiritual progress, and drawing the influence of spiritual forces (the “reforming light”). Such a process takes place until we discover where we are spiritually unhealthy, i.e., by reaching a state called “recognition of evil” in Kabbalah, where we see how our egoistic nature opposes and resists spirituality. Through such states, we gradually develop a true demand for spiritual health and well-being, a state called “correction” in Kabbalah, i.e., the correction of our ego that brings about division and hatred among people, to its altruistic opposite, which brings about unity and love among us—the qualities of the soul.

This is how we become spiritually healthy. We place ourselves in the place of the upper force of love, bestowal and connection, and become more and more like that force until we completely discover spirituality.

Thus, we should consider how to strengthen human connection and make it more positive, with bonds of love, care and giving. We will then eventually discover the great single soul that we are all parts of, perceiving and sensing how we are all like its cells and organs, mutually complementing one another to sustain the spiritual health of the entire system.

For the time being, we are still far from such a state. We have yet to begin a process of realizing our interdependence and interconnectedness in a positive manner, where we each aim to love, bestow and positively connect above all the egoistic forms of indifference, apathy, division and hatred that surface. We would thus be wise to learn and scrutinize the laws of mutual guarantee and mutual responsibility that bind the spiritual system together, which should lead us to actively seek how we can draw the spiritual forces into our connections and establish a spiritually healthy, peaceful, harmonious and balanced state among us.

Based on a Kabbalah Lesson at the World Kabbalah Convention in New Jersey, on May 12, 2012. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Comment: Iliya writes to us: “I watched your video clip where you say that if you want to help someone, you must not expect any kind attitude, or gift, or gratitude, not even simple “thank you,” nothing. This is what you call real help. But this is impossible. To do something good and not to expect at least a grateful glance or a smiley face for it. Dear Michael Laitman, this is utopia! You have to agree that this just cannot be!”

My Response: I understand you. It is really very difficult, even impossible. However, if at the same time you think that you are bringing a good force, a good state into the world, then your self-esteem, the greatness of your action, will increase.

Question: Does pride also increase at the same time?

Answer: No. Provided you think that you want to make the world better, to bring kindness to the world.

Question: If I do a good deed and think that I will get a thank you, some gift, even a small smiley face, or at least a grateful look, do you think this is not a good deed?

Answer: You are doing business at the same time. One will say thank you, give you a look, a woman will smile, a child too.

Comment: And right away I begin to feel good.

My Response: Yes, of course.

Comment: What you are suggesting is a very tall order.

My Response: No. Anyone in the world can say that our world needs kindness or it will fall apart, and let us arrange so that we just think about how to bring good actions, deeds, and good force into it. Let us do it and be thankful that our egoism allowed us to do it.

Comment: That sounds really nice.

My Response: Yes. Is this a big deal? Can you do this?

Comment: But I am an egoist by nature.

My Response: But you do give pleasure to your egoism: “I will do good for the world.” I can respect myself for this.

Question: Does this require some kind of preliminary education or is a person really capable of it?

Answer: I need to calibrate myself so that I respect myself for this.

Question: How will the world change then?

Answer: The world will change for the better. I will suddenly begin to see a lot of good in the world instead of what I see today, that there is only evil in it.

Question: Is it just because I changed my intention?

Answer: Yes. After all, it all depends on how I look at the world.

Question: That is, I am changing and the world is changing?

Answer: Exactly!

Question: Is it possible?

Answer: It depends on you! So, it is possible.
[281111]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 2/18/21

Relater Material:
A Day Of Spontaneous Kindness
What Is Good?
All Of Us Are One Family

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What does Amalek mean in the Bible?“

Amalek is a quality that is very close to us. It appears to be absolutely evil, a disturbance that needs to be destroyed, and not only destroyed, but it is written that even its memory should be erased. However, nothing was created unnecessarily. Everything in existence was created solely to benefit our development.

Amalek is a quality that helps us develop optimally, and it constantly guards us. It is as if we walk along a path, and wherever we can fall or deviate from it, thorns appear and send us a “Keep away!” warning signal. That is how Amalek stands guard to guide us in the right direction.

The desire comes from Amalek and unwillingness also comes from him.

In Hebrew, Amalek is a shortened form of the words “Al Minat Lekabel,” which means “in order to receive.” It describes the egoistic intention over a desire—to receive for one’s own personal benefit. It is written about such an intention, “I have created the evil inclination; I have created the Torah, a spice.” The evil inclination (the egoistic use of desire) is positioned directly against the Torah, which means both spiritual light (Ohr) and also spiritual instruction (Hora’ah).

They both operate on us in order to guide us to a balanced state between the two.

We thus need to relate respectfully to Amalek, i.e., to the ego, since it is a necessary quality for us to establish our spiritual connection. The evil inclination—the ego—which resists and incites us against spirituality—the quality of love, bestowal and positive connection—helps us discover our spiritual connection by showing us how to find such a connection where we initially discover the qualities of Amalek, i.e., the egoistic intention.

Amalek is thus a very cunning quality that shows us the extent to which we are immersed in thoughts and desires for self-benefit, and when we see this egoistic intention operating on us, we can then identify how we need to act in an opposite direction.

Amalek, the ego, thus develops our spiritual skills, letting us attain more spiritual qualities of love, bestowal and connection by showing us the opposites of those spiritual qualities within us.

Based on the Daily Kabbalah Lesson with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on April 18, 2021.
Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is a good solution to the worldwide drug addiction problem?“

Behind every drug addict are unanswered questions about the meaning and purpose of life.

We are all born, live and die against our will, and we thus all question the meaning and purpose of our lives. Drug addiction emerges as one of the means by which several people try to turn away from these questions. However, the questions will always remain and work away at us no matter what we do to try and distract ourselves from them.

Therefore, I see no solution to the problem of drug addiction other than the need to learn the meaning and purpose of life, the process of our development, who we are, what our nature is, how nature works, what nature wants from us, regardless of our different opinions and beliefs.

If we solve the problems of meaninglessness and purposelessness by learning the answers to these fundamental questions, we will then solve the problem of drug addiction.

Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What life lesson did your first love teach you?“

Our first love gives us a wonderful feeling, totally overwhelming us and making us feel alive.

However, most of us don’t end up marrying our first love. It is as if we are tricked into receiving a divine taste, which is then taken away from us.

Why do we experience these elevated feelings that soon fade away?

It is in order to develop our feelings, especially regarding the special feeling of love. After losing our first love, we can then learn to work on ourselves in order to understand what love truly is and how to reach it.

We can then add intellect to the original emotion of love that we had from childhood, before our hormones developed, and which swept us into a frenzy. Afterward, we can discern how our initial feeling of love gave us a special sense of life.

According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, we are given the elated feelings associated with our first love in order to show us that the light of love—an eternal creative force beyond our current perception and sensation of reality—is greater than anything else we feel in our lives.

We can bring this light into our lives by wanting to love as the force of love does: with no calculation of self-benefit embedded within. It was this same force of love that illuminated upon us and gave us the feeling of love through what we felt as the object of our first love.

We have the opportunity to reach a much greater sensation of love by thinking about the source of love from which we receive everything, including our first love. However, we have problems connecting the eternal force of love that is behind everything we feel (which is called “the Creator” or “nature” in the wisdom of Kabbalah) to the original juvenile love that we felt.

All love comes from the same single source. Hatred also stems from the same source, existing in love as its opposite, like the opposite side of a coin. We are given such emotions in order to develop ourselves and become as loving as the force of love itself—with no shred of self-interest in our love—and by doing so, experience eternity and perfection.

Therefore, the elated feeling of our first love is given to us and then stripped from us in order to help us work toward achieving it by ourselves. Love is the ultimate source of all life, the force of nature that creates, sustains and develops everything in existence, and toward us.

Instead of receiving an object of love and yearning with no choice, as we did with our first love, we can learn from such an experience in order to apply our own yearning to love all humanity, nature and the reality surrounding us. By doing so, we acquire the greatest possible love, and we all develop toward such a sensation. Everything happening to us ultimately comes to develop us in order to discover the perfect and all-encompassing love that exists in reality.

Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
Photo by Nellia Kurme on Unsplash

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