Entries in the 'Q&A' Category

Where Do I Objectively Exist?

539Question: Essentially, do I have to absorb absolutely the entire world?

Answer: It is already in you. Let us say you are sitting in front of your computer right now. In it you can see the whole world. If you see it on the screen, it means it is in your computer system; otherwise, you would not see it.

But the problem is whether anything is outside of you at all. Maybe not. I see what arises in my feelings. But what is behind these feelings? I do not know. Maybe I am in some kind of matrix that projects some images and sensations to me, and makes some suggestions to me. I have nothing but my feelings.

Where do they come from? Maybe now I am in an unconscious state, and this whole world manifests itself in my sick imagination: I am talking to you, I exist, and so on.

But in fact, you are missing one more state in relation to which you could measure this.

Comment: You once gave an example that there is a computer system that includes the processor itself and a screen on which all the processes occurring in the computer are projected. It seems to us we see something. In fact, we do not feel the processes themselves.

My Response: This is why we need to get to this processor, to all its internal parts. They are our system, only they are hidden from us.

When I get to them, I will find out why it all exists, and at the same time I will discover that it was created for my sake. There I will find my eternal, perfect state, I will be able to control myself and not be controlled.

Today I automatically react when someone evokes certain feelings and thoughts in me. I myself am this screen, this guidance, and I have no opportunity to enter an objective state. After all, the fact that I am now talking and in contact with you is all some kind of reaction to what is in front of me.

Where do I really separately and objectively exist?

We do not have this. This is what we need to achieve.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Swallow the Whole World” 4/10/10

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The Creator in Man

963.5Question: According to Kabbalah, the Creator clothes Himself in every person, in each of us. For example, when you talk to someone, do you perceive that person as the Creator speaking through them?

Answer: It depends on my focus and what I need from the interaction.
If I need to respond to someone on their level so that they understand me, I engage with them on that level rather than connecting with the Creator within them.

In this case, I view the person not as an individual, but as nature. They appear to me not as a personality but as a part of nature through which the Creator manifests in relation to me. So, I do not see the person before me. I see a mass of nature, of humanity, through which I observe the Creator, His actions, and His attitude toward me.

However, when I wish to see the person and his individuality, I need to perceive the Creator as He descends to the level of that person, wants to elevate and shape him, and He addresses me.

Then I address that person directly, while considering the Creator’s influence on him and my own influence on that person so that our influences—mine and the Creator’s—align within him and enable him to rise.

Question: Is this such a complex scheme? Do you separate people into two streams?

Answer: Of course! If it is a person with a point in the heart who needs to move forward, if it is my student with whom I must interact this way, I relate to them as the Creator does—as a unique, distinct spiritual individual and not just a mass.

This approach applies only to people with a point in the heart who work on themselves and reach a level where they represent a spiritual individuality. There are not many such people. But there are not supposed to be many of them.
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From KabTV’s “I got a call. The Creator in Man…“ 3/20/10

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Is Our Whole Life Just a Dream?

928Igal writes:

I wake up in cold sweat. I was 100% sure it was really happening to me, but it was a dream. If that is the case, maybe I am still dreaming? Maybe this whole life of mine is a dream? My wife, the children, my job, and the war—all a dream? If that is the case, I want to wake up. I am not happy with too many things in this dream.

My Response: His fears overwhelm him.

Question: His fears are overwhelming. He does not like this dream. Here he asks, “After all, is our life a dream or not?”

Answer: Our life is a dream but actually on a different level, meaning, not at the level of suffering or not-suffering, but at the level of existence in general. We do not understand or feel this world correctly.

Therefore you can call it some kind of dream. But, in general, we can get rid of this dream and wake up.

Question: So he asks: “How do I wake up?”

Answer: How? This is the method of Kabbalah.

Question: He continues: “When I wake up, will reality be better or worse?”

Answer: Reality itself may not change. You, your outlook, and your feelings will change, for the better.

Question: Does this mean I woke up?

Answer: Yes.

Question: So there could be the same war in reality, you say?

Answer: It does not matter.

Question: What does it mean if there is a war and I wake up? What are my feelings? The reality is that there is a war.

Answer: On one hand, you see a war going on, people are killing, dying, and so on. But on the other hand, in this you see the necessary action of armies, nations, and so on, which enter into such relationships with each other. And in the end, it leads to the best outcome.

Question: So, I see that no matter what happens, everything leads to the best outcome. Is this called waking up?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What is the best in this case?

Answer: The best is closeness with the Creator.

Comment: You are unshakeable in this.

My Response: Yes, there is nothing to add here.

Question: Another question from him: “Could it be that I am sure I woke up, but it turns out to be a dream again? And so on endlessly.”

Answer: Yes. So what? How do you know if you are awake or not?

Comment: This is the question: how will I know that I am awake?

My Response: There is no way to know.

Question: Is this how we are destined to live?

Answer: No, we are not destined to live like that at all. But there are states called reincarnations when we exist this way.

Question: From dream to dream, from dream to dream?

Answer: Yes, some such actions. But in fact, we come completely out of the boundaries of our world. And then we see it from the outside.

Question: So what do we see?

Answer: We see that everything is controlled by a single Creator, and we are around Him.

Question: What kind of force is the Creator?

Answer: It is a force that by gradually teaching us, leads us to a state of complete harmony.

Question: And the last question: “Is it better to wake up or not?”

Answer: We must wake up in order to achieve a more and more true state and so that all dreams, fantasies, and everything else would disappear from our world.

Then we would not fight, we would not exchange bad words, bad deeds, or bad actions.

Question: Do you mean in the relations between us?

Answer: Yes.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 5/6/24

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When Will the Rich Feel Ashamed?

589.02Arina asks:

Why are people not ashamed today to be wealthy and even flaunt it; they build palaces, villas, buy diamonds, cars, and do all this ostentatiously? How can people have a clear conscience when there is so much poverty and sorrow around?

Answer: It has always been this way, at all times. There are those who hide it. There are those who show it.

Question: So you do not think this is indicative of the present time?

Answer: Yes, today of course people are not ashamed of anything.

Question: Why did this happen? Why is one not concerned that someone has nothing to eat while he builds…?

Answer: It is a lack of upbringing, actually. Great people, though they may have immense wealth are not focused on that; what matters to them is inner wealth.

Question: Please tell me, what kind of upbringing should there be to address all this?

Answer: A person should be taught, first of all, to be content with their destiny, whatever it may be.

Second, to not consider themselves above others in wealth, knowledge, or anything else. Only in wisdom concerning the Creator, in modesty. That is the main thing.

Question: Can this be cultivated in someone?

Answer: It can.

Question: Is this not a natural quality?

Answer: No, this can be cultivated, and it must be cultivated.

Question: In principle, will a normal society, even let’s say the society of the future, follow such upbringing?

Answer: Yes. People will not flaunt their cars, houses, and wealth.

Question: So this will not be so valuable to a person?

Answer: It will say a lot, that perhaps he has earned something, but in principle, it will not be as important to a person.

Comment: You said that it is important for a person not to look at either the rich or the poor, but at his own destiny—this is my destiny.

Answer: He should focus on his connection with the Creator—that is what he should look at. A person will only delve deeper into himself: me and the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 5/13/24

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Spiritual Children

947Question: Sometimes during a lesson your students start walking or doing something. How do you have patience?

Answer: When a person gets up to get a cup of coffee or cold water, I understand that he is tired, he did not get enough sleep, he is having a hard time. But I treat my students with love and understanding.

These are the people for whom I do everything; they are more important to me than children. Essentially, these are my spiritual children.

What do I have beside them? Who else will I pass this information on to? Who do I want to train? Them, to give out as much as possible through them so that they continue dissemination in the right way.

Therefore, my attitude toward them slightly softens the interference that they create. Just like a mother cannot hear her child when he or she makes noise. For her, this is normal, but for a stranger, something flickering and noisy is unbearable.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Kabbalist’s Supersenses” 3/11/10

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Non-Jews Who Became Great Jews

632.3Leonid asks:

Dear Michael Laitman, I recently learned that many great Jews were not originally Jewish. For example, the most famous Rabbi Akiva was not born Jewish, but became the leading teacher of the Jewish people.

King David, the greatest king of Israel, had a grandmother Ruth, who was not Jewish. The well-known Torah commentator Onkelos was a Roman who converted to Judaism and translated the Torah into Aramaic; his translation is the most famous. My question is: how is this possible, and is there an explanation for it in Kabbalah?”

Answer: I do not know the explanations. I just know that it does not matter. A person who wants to be closer to the Creator accepts all the laws stated in the Torah, and thus becomes Jewish.

“Yehudi” comes from the word meaning “connecting with the Creator,” “drawing closer to the Creator.”

Question: Does “Yehudi” mean more like “Jew”?

Answer: Yes, so it doesn’t matter.

That is why we welcome, respect, love, and honor these people.

Question: So it is like there is a navigator—if I want to be closer to the Creator, I get closer to the Torah?

Answer: Yes, of course because the Torah speaks about how to be closer to the Creator.

Question: So initially there is this desire “I want to be closer”?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Who instills this desire in a person?

Answer: The Creator.

Question: So it turns out that He is the one who calls upon a person?

Answer: Of course.

Question: Are these selected individuals? Leonid mentions selected individuals like Rabbi Akiva, Onkelos, Ruth?

Answer: Yes.

Question: So there are certain people whom the Creator calls and they come to the Torah?

Answer: Yes and they come to the laws and conditions stated in the Torah.

Question: Next Leonid asks: “What does it mean to go through the conversion process and become a Jew?”

Answer: It means accepting the obligation to fulfill the conditions for drawing closer to the Creator.

Question: Is that what it means to “go through conversion”?

Answer: Yes.

Remark: He asks: “Why is it so difficult to go through conversion today? I know from my own experience.”

Answer: It depends on the time, of course. But mostly, it depends on bureaucracy.

Question: So there are such barriers?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Is it good that there are barriers?

Answer: Yes, it is good.

Question: So it is good that they initially push you away and make it difficult?

Answer: If it is within reasonable limits, then yes, of course.

Comment: We know that it was easier for King David’s grandmother. She said, “This is my people; I want to be with my people.” And that was called conversion.

My Response: Yes.

Comment: Today that would not happen.

My Response: A lot of time has passed, and people have become much more complex.

Question: It turns out that someone who goes through conversion can even become a leader of the generation, higher than those born Jewish. Doesn’t this offend Jews?

Answer: Not at all. This person who has gone through conversion is 100 percent Jewish and even a bit more. Because he came from outside and made an effort.

Question: So in principle, it turns out that someone who truly goes through conversion and becomes a Jew is even higher than a natural-born Jew?

Answer: Of course.

Question: So a true Jew, who is that, what is that, and how is that? If you could summarize it once more?

Answer: A Jew is a person who desires to draw closer to the Creator. That is it.

Question: Such a simple formula?

Answer: Yes. “Yehudi” comes from the word “Yichud“(bringing together).
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 5/13/24

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The Hidden Corners of Your Heart

420.06Question: When you studied with Rabash he surely told you: “Do not ask questions. The time will come and you will understand everything yourself.” At the time, did you believe that you could reach spiritual attainment?

Answer: There is a concept of “faith in the sages” where a person has no choice but to trust those who have attained the upper world. You may not believe it and you can go check with others or try to do something yourself; this is your choice.

In our world, you are in a suspended state. The question arises: how will you move forward? With your own intellect? Then you will spend your whole life inventing a perpetual motion machine, going from blow to blow, like everyone else or like various inventors, enthusiasts, and experimenters.

You have no other choice but to trust your heart: what does it suggest and to what should you attach yourself? The world is full of sages, all opposed to each other, and all of them are right and all of them are smarter than you. What can you do? You have only one thing—your heart. Your mind is filled with who knows what! Your heart is also confused!

Therefore, you need to try to feel with the most hidden corners of your heart, with all your inner self, where the truth is and what you need. But at the same time, try to cleanse yourself from all sorts of layers imposed by life and feel from within: where is mine?

Maybe you will find that you need meditation, Scientology, new psychosomatic inventions, or whatever. Or maybe you need to try yourself here in Kabbalah. It is the heart that should show a person his place. Nothing else.

Do not take anyone into account. Our world has already learned that there are no geniuses. You talk to any smart person and after a couple of days, if not the same day and in the same conversation, you begin to understand that all of it is limited, and derived from some sources built on semi-deception, semi-guesses, and and semi-beliefs.

Why trust someone or something that the human mind has invented? You should trust only your heart.

After all, beyond the heart, there are no Kabbalists, no philosophers, no Buddhists, no one; trust what lies in its very depth.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. To Believe a Kabbalist” 1/28/10

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The Language of the Kabbalist Researcher

525Question: Is your Hebrew based on a limited vocabulary?

Answer: Yes, indeed, but no more is needed.

In the last century, there were two great Kabbalistic sages: our great teacher Baal HaSulam and the great Kabbalist Rav Kook. Rav Kook always told Baal HaSulam that he envied his small vocabulary, with which he could convey huge layers of knowledge, sensations, and insights.

Rav Kook himself was, so to speak, the master of the spiritual word, the literary language. His language is very flowery, verbose, complex, and confusing. As long as you read one phrase, a page and a half long, like Leo Tolstoy, you can hardly understand anything. But that’s how he expressed himself. It also depends on the character of the person.

As for me, since at my core I am still a researcher, scientist, and systematiser, I do not tolerate anything superfluous. Therefore, in my speech, in my explanations, I try to make everything concrete.

I believe that this is the most important thing in human education. And feelings already depend on his inner work.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Kabbalist’s Limitation” 4/17/10

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A Tricky Question from “Truth-Seeker”

961.2Comment: A person under the avatar “Truth-Seeker” asks, “Why does the whole world hate Jews, and I do too?”

My Response: Because the world is arranged in such a way that Jews have the only true point of this world. This is the feeling of the Creator. For this, everyone hates them.

Comment: But ideally, it should be the other way around.

My Response: No, the truth is attained only from the darkness. Therefore, we must constantly be on the transition between darkness and light.

Question: What does this indicate?

Answer: This indicates that the Jews, the people of Israel, have a tool. This tool can determine whether I am following the Creator or anything else.

Question: Does a Jew have such a tool?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Why hate them for it?

Answer: Because they have it.

Question: Is it like they have it and I do not? Is that the game?

Answer: Yes, it is even higher. It is because the Creator makes it so. If it were at the level of our world, it would be only half the trouble.

Question: So if it were just between us, you say it would be half the trouble. Does that mean the Creator directs this hatred toward us, the Jews?

Answer: Yes.

Question: The fact that Truth-Seeker admits as he writes at the end, “And I hate them too,” how do you interpret that?

Answer: That is how he feels inside. If he feels it, then that is how it is.

Question: Tell me, please, when he says, “And I hate Jews too,” is there pain in this, that “I hate you”? What do you think?

Answer: This is the pain of the Jews’ connection with the Creator. I can have anything, but if I do not have this point of connection with the Creator, then I am simply nobody.

Question: What should we do to be truly connected with the Creator?

Answer: We must justify that we are Israel. “Israel” translated means “straight to the Creator.” That is all.

Question: What do we need to do for this?

Answer: Leave everything aside except this yearning to the Creator; it is the most important thing.

Comment: So everything else is just toys, you say.

My Response: Yes.

Question: Should only this remain?

Answer: Yes.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 5/6/24

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Harmonious Symphony of the Universe

232.01Question: Is spiritual pleasure not a form of longing or psychological pressure that you want to escape from, but the same kind of pleasure we get from something in everyday life?

Answer: It is the pleasure of unity with the entire universe. We are designed in such a way that a person feels the perfection of all creation in this state. This sense of perfection is the highest fulfillment, the highest pleasure!

Question: Is it not comparable to our earthly pleasures?

Answer: Not at all! Absolutely incomparable! Nothing else can replace it. It is our highest, greatest, and strongest desire, and it is filled with eternity, perfection, and harmony. You feel the interconnectedness of all opposing elements and how they complement each other and resonate.

This infinite, harmonious symphony fills you so completely that you almost have just enough capacity to think a little only to understand how vast and perfect it is.

Question: Do you perceive this even while sleeping?

Answer: Sometimes.

Comment: It is interesting to live in such a world.

My Response: Do not think that living in such a world means being in a constant state of nirvana. It is a world that you must constantly maintain within you, rise up, analyze, and elevate yourself. It is not an easy world, no. But, of course, it is an amazing pleasure from being connected with perfection.

Question: What is the result of all this?

Answer: The result is that you begin to feel your responsibility to everyone, the need to diligently study the wisdom of Kabbalah and do everything possible to ensure that everyone achieves this state! You cannot enjoy yourself if others are not enjoying it. You must descend to them and do something so that they can taste at least a small spoonful of this pleasure!
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From KabTV’s “I got a call. Infinite bliss“ 3/7/10

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