Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Who were the mixed multitude in Exodus 12:38?“

We can divide a nation—inside and outside of a person—into three parts. Those who aspire for the Creator are called “Israel (Yashar-Kel).” Those called “Egyptians” have no interest in spirituality, and instead deal with their corporeal lives. The mixed multitude are those who, on one hand, fear the Creator, but on the other hand, try to use their connection with the Creator selfishly.

Most people believe in the Creator or some higher force. There are several methods and teachings that express the person’s desire for the Creator. Even atheists have an inner point that aspires for connection with the Creator, and it defines their innermost reasoning for existence.

People are divided into two types. One defines those connected to religions and other faith methods who use their connection with the Creator in order to gain confidence and success in this life. The other defines those who want to discover their connection with the Creator in this life. They demand the Creator’s revelation, and wish to discover Him in themselves. They want to reveal an additional layer of reality above the still, vegetative, animate and human levels, which we perceive through the five senses.

Our deepest spiritual aspiration can be fulfilled through the method of Kabbalah. It leads us to the sensation of the highest governing force in reality, which determines everything. The wisdom of Kabbalah can prepare us for such an attainment while we are alive in this world.

How, then, can people considered the mixed multitude fear the Creator—the quality of absolute love and bestowal—when their sole aspiration is to serve themselves?

We can use our connection to the Creator either selfishly or altruistically. A selfish connection to the Creator positions us as consumers toward the Creator. It makes us constantly demand self-aimed fulfillment as a result of such a connection. It is merely a continuation of our inherently selfish inclination toward life. While aiming at the Creator selfishly, we accept that there is an all-encompassing force in reality that we fear, but we consciously demand a reward for such an acknowledgment. We then hope that we will be rewarded either in this life, and/or in the so-called afterlife. Such a selfish relationship with the Creator is called “mixed multitude.”

The Egyptians (in the Torah) simply want a good life with or without connection to the Creator. Such is the simple consumer attitude we observe in this world. They might observe certain commandments and certain actions, but not in order to become completely altruistic, i.e. to realize the principle commandment of “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The mixed multitude are egoistic desires that reject the exodus from Egypt, i.e., to exit the selfish ego and live a life of love, bestowal and positive connection to others. They cannot cross the Red Sea, and they want to return to Egypt. They do whatever they can in order to stop those who want to escape from slavery in Egypt, i.e., those controlled by the ego. They live in parallel with those who strive toward becoming as altruistic and loving as the Creator.

Those on the path of becoming altruistic and loving as the Creator need to encounter those desires called “mixed multitude” on the way, because these desires ultimately help us distinguish our true desire for connection with the Creator from others: that we wish for no self-aimed reward, but that all the contentment and goodness will be for the sake of the Creator.

In every person on every spiritual degree, a wide spectrum of desires appears. We can learn how to use these desires and sort them out with the help of Kabbalistic sources, i.e., to sort out the qualities of Malchut (reception) and Bina (bestowal), and elevate the value of the bestowal qualities over those of reception. This is done by engaging in a spiritually-supportive environment, where we aim to connect positively to one another in order to become as altruistic and loving as the Creator.

Based on a talk with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Michael Sanilevich, “Spiritual States: Mixed Multitude” 4/1/21
Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the meaning and importance of the exodus from Egypt?“

Passover describes salvation from exile in Egypt, i.e., from the period of slavery to our egoistic desires called “Egypt,” the increasing feeling of distress we develop in that state, and its eventual exit after coming to an intolerable feeling that we cannot exit our egoistic desires, but we feel a dire need to do so.

When we feel these opposites, the waters of the Red Sea (in Hebrew, it is called “the Final Sea” [“Yam Suf”]) open up, and we cross.

We have no idea how it unfolds in such a way. On one hand, it is considered miraculous, but on the other hand, it takes place after we reach desperation from our own inability to overcome our egoistic desires. That is why it is known as an escape at night, in darkness. The darkness symbolizes our lack of self-confidence, i.e., our inability to exit our egos by ourselves. We simply do not understand how we could possibly exit the control of our egoistic desires, which are our very human nature, as we find ourselves powerless to do so with our own strength. Also, we cannot understand how there could be another force in reality that could somehow change our nature. Yet, it is precisely this upper force that becomes disclosed and which changes us.

This is why the exodus from Egypt, i.e., the exit from the control of our egoistic desires, is considered miraculous. It is an act performed on us from the upper force, above our egoistic nature, in response to the need we prepare for that exodus on our behalf.

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

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “In Exodus 32, God calls the Israelites “stiff necked people”. What does that mean?“

The people of Israel are given blows, such as the ten plagues of Egypt, in order to reach a realization that individually, their egos will not be able to sustain them, and that they will need to demand a force outside the ego—the Creator’s force of love and bestowal—in order to unite above the ego and overcome the blows.

They are called “a stiff-necked people” because as soon as they receive such blows, they immediately forget about them and their purpose—to rise above their egoistic desires in order to connect with the altruistic quality, the Creator—and thus they return to their egoistic desires.

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

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What does maror symbolize?“

When we set off on the spiritual path, it initially appears very enticing, attractive and interesting. We become fueled with a new sense of purpose in life, and understand that great attainments and revelations await us.

After some time on the spiritual path, we reach the understanding of what spirituality means—to give, bestow to and love others—and enter a tough period where the initial spiritual attraction wanes and we feel confused and rejected by the notion of spirituality.

This latter period is known as Maror (bitter herb).

How is it possible to endure the period of Maror? The dark sensations of this period come to us in order for us to remain locked on the spiritual path and goal, sharpen our senses, and eventually enter into a new dimension and attain a new sense for perceiving and sensing reality.

In order to stay locked on the spiritual path and goal, we need to be part of a spiritually-supportive environment, which encourages, helps and raises the importance of the spiritual goal of love, bestowal and connection above all the transient corporeal goals in our lives that can seem all the more attractive as they supply instantaneous pleasure, despite such pleasure being short-lived.

This Maror period of the spiritual path is when several people leave it, and the sole advice to reach the other side of the darkness and distastefulness of such a state is to participate in a spiritually-supportive environment that increases the spiritual goal’s importance above all else. This is why it is written that heroes (heroes [in Hebrew, Giborim] as those who overcome [in Hebrew, Mitgabrim] the ego) emerge from that period, by having no other choice, and also by feeling a sense of mutual responsibility toward everyone in the spiritually-supportive environment—that they each depend on one another in order to raise the importance of spirituality (love, bestowal and connection) over corporeality (the desire to self-benefit).

Therefore, those who establish themselves on the spiritual path—to move toward love, bestowal and positive connection with others, detached from egoistic self-interest—reach what is called “the path of exiting the exile (i.e., the darkness of living for the sake of corporeal self-aimed goals) to the Land of Israel (i.e., to connection with the spiritual force of love, bestowal and connection).”

Maror is self-aimed fulfillment. To the human ego, Maror is sweet, tasty and enjoyable. However, when we want spirituality, we discover such sweetness as bitterness. That is, we find how we want to achieve love, bestowal and positive connection among people, but that it is impossible because our egoistic nature constantly desiring self-aimed pleasures stands in the way.

Therefore, the principle spiritual work in Egypt (i.e., while immersed in our egoistic desires) is in chewing Maror. It is the feeling of being unable to exit Egypt (the ego), and the constant effort to hold a desire and prayer to achieve the spiritual goal. If we stay locked on the spiritual path and goal while we endure such a state, then our spiritual desire turns into a true yearning for help from the upper force in order to give us its spiritual nature: love, bestowal and connection.

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

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How would you summarize the purpose of life in one sentence?“

The purpose of life is to achieve the center of connection between us in order to perceive and sense our exit into a higher dimension, where we are balanced with nature.

Based on a Virtual Kabbalah Lesson with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman given on October 30, 2016. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Can left handedness be corrected? If yes, how?“

There have been cases in the past where people tried forcefully re-educating left-handed children to be right-handed, despite the children usually being very talented and versatile.

There is a generally negative attitude toward the left side. In the wisdom of Kabbalah, it is also written that “the left rejects and the right adducts” (in Baal HaSulam, Shamati (I Heard), article 1). This stems from spiritual roots, where qualities of love and giving come from the right, and qualities of reception come from the left. We thus instinctively incline toward love and giving that the right represents.

Figuratively speaking, we would like to present ourselves as “right-handed,” although by default we are “left-handed.” In other words, we generally want to present ourselves as good, generous and loving, when in reality we are the opposite. Inside, we all only think about how to receive.

Therefore, instead of trying to change children’s or anyone’s left-handedness, we should change our will to receive at the expense of others to its opposite: a will to love and give.

Nature created both forces—giving and receiving, right and left—on purpose, and we need to learn how to make the left (i.e., reception) act as the right (i.e., giving). The wisdom of Kabbalah (“Kabbalah” is Hebrew for “reception”) grants us this ability, i.e., how to receive (Heb. “Lekabel”) with a giving intention.

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

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Why are there people hostile to Israel?“

The role of the people of Israel is to show the world the method of correction, which teaches how to positively connect to one another. However, the longer it takes to bring the method of correction to the world, the more people consider Israel unnecessary.

Some special individuals still feel from the root of their soul the unique importance of Israel. They are called the “righteous of the nations.” According to their root, and not according to Israel’s current status, they feel that Israel is a good place, and that the people of Israel will reveal the method of connection to humanity.

The people of Israel’s role is to come together, and by doing so, become a conduit for the force of love, bestowal and connection to stream through to humanity at large. The revelation of such a force will clarify to everybody how to live together with positive attitudes dwelling in everybody’s connection. This is what the “righteous of the nations” feel about Israel.

At the moment, the people of Israel are positioned opposite that state. Egoism and divisiveness tears away at the nation, which distances them from connecting positively to each other. This is the reason for so many people’s hostility toward Israel. Beyond various reasons that appear on the surface that many people come up with for their hostility toward Israel, on a deeper level, it is the fact that the Jewish nation is divided and failing to realize its fateful role in the role—to unite and become a conduit for humanity to positively connect through their unifying example. This is what it means that Israel needs to bring the world the method of connection and correction, and for the time being, more and more people feel that Israel is a source of division and hatred in the world.

If the people of Israel became a connected whole, the world would also change, and all hateful and hostile attitudes among the nations of the world toward Israel would disappear.

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

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the spiritual significance of the Passover?“

Passover signifies a transition from exiting the control of our corporeal, egoistic and divisive world, and entering the control of the spiritual, altruistic and harmoniously-connected world.

Such a transition requires the emergence and development of a spiritual desire. In other words, Passover relates to the spiritual process that any person can undergo, on condition that they develop their desire to give, love and positively connect with others above their egoistic drives.

The transition is marked by the exodus from Egypt, i.e., the exit from the human ego. The time in Egypt of the people of Israel (i.e. people who have a desire for spirituality, “Israel” from “Yashar Kel” [“straight to God”]) signifies a stage of growing egoistic desires that do not let the people of Israel unite.

Pharaoh signifies the ego’s control. He is ready and willing to supply for every egoistic fulfillment we could wish for. However, Moses, which marks the desire to connect above the ego, drives the people of Israel’s desire to discover the Creator, i.e., the quality of love and bestowal, in their connection. When we find that we cannot connect, we feel that we are in the darkness of Egypt. In that state, we become ready to do just about anything in order to free ourselves from the control of the ego. That state is the escape from Egypt.

In relation to a person on the spiritual path, it describes a stage where a person becomes ready to do anything just to break free from the ego, to rise above it and reach the Creator’s quality, i.e., love and bestowal. We throw ourselves into the sea, which parts, and we cross it, i.e., we cut ourselves off from the ego, and by doing so, by being above the ego, we become ready to work with it and transform it into altruism.

This is the exodus from Egypt that we celebrate at Passover.

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

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the key to success in life?“

The key to success in life is in building a society around ourselves that focuses on creating a balanced life for us all, a society that makes us happy, calms us, and that gives us a sense of meaning.

Based on the above video “Kabbalist’s View” 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 does it mean to be environmentally friendly?“

What does it mean to be environmentally friendly? Does it mean protecting the ozone layer, not polluting, and/or replacing fossil fuels with renewable energies, or are we missing something in such acts?

We have to care about nature on all levels, from the still, through the vegetative, animate, and of course, humans. It is forbidden to harm any level, and especially the human.

How does our attitude to each other affect nature? If we would prioritize positive human connection, we would then relate positively to nature’s other levels. We would then likewise see how nature reacts positively to us.

According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, hatred among people has negative rippling effects throughout nature. It is the cause of negative phenomena in nature toward us. Nature is constantly communicating to us, and the sooner we wake up to its message, then the sooner we would see how it requires first and foremost that we relate positively to each other. Even the slightest movement in that direction would positively impact nature, and we would bear witness to a harmonious reaction from nature boomeranging back to us.

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

Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash.

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