Entries in the 'Q&A' Category

The Elixir of Life and Death

231.01Question: Vlad asks a lot of questions.

I know that the Torah is the greatest miracle that has happened in the world. Thanks to the Torah humanity has learned what morality, ethics, and humanism are. The Torah has become the source of life for the whole world.

And I was surprised when I suddenly heard that the Torah could be the elixir of death. It is written that it can be either the elixir of life, which is understandable, or the elixir of death, which is absolutely incomprehensible.

Could you explain how this is possible? I think something else is implied here. It cannot be death! I am sure of it! 

Answer: It depends on how you use this methodology. You either come closer to the Creator, and then it is the elixir of life. Or you can move away from the Creator, become more and more opposite to Him, and then it is the elixir of death.

Question: How can one move away from the Creator?

Answer: Man does not want to come close to the Creator! He does not want any rapprochement with the Creator at all.

Question: Meaning that initially, when beginning to study, or read, or go through this methodology, I have to set a goal: I study and read this in order to get closer to the Creator. What is rapprochement with the Creator?

Answer: Getting closer to the Creator means constantly awakening the desire for bestowal, love, and connection with others in oneself.

Question: In what case does the Torah become death?

Answer: It is if I do not think about others, about anyone, only about myself, and I egoistically perceive everything around me.

Question: So it is if I study the Torah while thinking about myself. Could it be in order to become famous, to know everything by heart? Does this all lead to death?

Answer: Yes.

Question: “Everyone reads the Torah in their own way,” says Vlad. Someone sees laws in it, someone sees the history of the nation. You are talking about forces, that there is power behind every word and name. Why does everyone see something different in the Torah?”

Answer: Because it is based on themselves. Everyone has their own special, personal spiritual root. Everyone reads it in their own way. You see how it is being interpreted.

Question: Yes, there are many different interpretations. And I, an ordinary person, read this interpretation but interpret it on my own? Or am I already proceeding from this interpretation?

Answer: You interpret it the way you were created. If you want to interpret it differently, you have to work on yourself, make yourself more giving, more loving, and so on.

Question: Then will I accept, for example, the Kabbalistic interpretation?

Answer: Then you will have to take it upon yourself.

Question: And will I interpret it in my own way or how the Kabbalists interpret it?

Answer: There is no other way, only as the Kabbalists say. You will see that this is the only way it works.

Question: Is this the elixir of life?

Answer: Yes.

Question: “When will the Torah become the elixir of life for everyone?”

Answer: This is a problem. It is when the Creator shows everyone how the world really works.

Question: You mean when there will be a revelation for the whole world?

Answer: Yes. Then, involuntarily, all people will come, agree, bow down, and want to master the Torah.

Question: Even if I held completely different opinions, lived in a different way, suddenly the Creator will reveal Himself to me and everything will turn upside down?

Answer: Everything! It is not you who turns it upside down, everything is turned upside down in you.

Question: As if all these lives and years did not exist?

Answer: Yes.

Question: How does this happen?

Answer: We will find out soon enough.
[321272]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/6/23

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Unsolvable Problem

611Question: Israel is now in a situation where its future is concealed from it. Experts, trying to determine how to proceed say there are bad and very bad decisions.

The next step is as if concealed from us. How can we look directly at this unsolvable problem from the point of view of the country and the point of view of the people?

Answer: I would not say that there are decisions here that are in the hands of the country or people because, in general, no one is interested in this, and no one is engaged in this.

Therefore, regarding Israel and its future, we are all in some kind of free-float. Nothing more can be said about this since we do not understand the laws by which we exist.

We simply see from the past that no matter what we say may be completely unrealistic. So, specifically regarding Israel, this problem is unsolvable.
[322011]
From KabTV’s “Kabbalah Express” 11/27/23

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Formula of Immortality

963.5Olga writes:

I was struck by your statement that nothing belongs to a person. You also said that if a person has two desires. On the one hand, he believes that the whole world belongs to the Creator, but on the other hand, something also belongs to a person, then this is a problem.

On the one hand, I understand that if only it were so, then there would not be these terrible wars – nothing belongs to me and that’s it. But is it really true that nothing belongs to a person?

Answer: Yes, nothing belongs to a person. What can belong to him?

Comment: Then she writes: “But still, my life, my family, my apartment, and so on is mine!”

My Response: This is yours. For just a couple more years and that’s it. You will leave all this, just as they, your family will leave it in due time. Nothing belongs to a person. He came, visited, and left.

Question: You said that if a person has two desires, then this is a problem. On the one hand, he believes that the whole world belongs to the Creator. He does believe this, after all. But on the other hand, something belongs to a person. Is this quirk a big problem?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: This means that everything belongs to the Creator, this is your formula that you hold on to.

My Response: Or vice versa, nothing belongs to a person.

Comment: Either everything belongs to the Creator or nothing belongs to a person.

My Response: Yes.

Question: Then the question is: to whom does everything belong?

Answer: What is the difference?

Question: Is there no difference? Does it mean that I can live with this formula: nothing belongs to me?

Answer: Of course.

Question: Then would there be no wars or borders at all?

Answer: What can I say about it? There would be no wars… As if people live according to this formula. Everyone wants to live for his own sake, for himself, and so that everyone else obeys him.

Question: Then there is this question, and she asks it: “Why then are we given the feeling that something belongs to us?”

Answer: So that you would fight it, correct it, cut out everything that you think is yours, and give it to the Creator!

Question: So, are you saying here that there is a host of everything?

Answer: Of course, there is a host. He was, is, and will be.

Question: Tell me how to come to this state that everything is not mine?

Answer: In general, it is very good and very simple. One just needs to tune in to it. Then from morning to evening, from evening to morning, a person lives as if this all is not his.

Question: In principle, is this the feeling of the Kabbalists who wrote this quote?

Answer: This is their feeling; they live and were living like this. What is wrong or hard about it? Nothing.

Question: That is, in principle, if you come to this state, does the lightness of being appear?

Answer: No! I would not say that this is lightness. As if they are doing this because of the lightness! No.

Question: Do they not recommend it because it will make life easier for you?

Answer: No, of course not! These are not the conditions; these are absolutely not the reasons. These are reasons for a person to change himself to reach this state.

Question: What should disappear in me? What should I kill, crush, or turn over in myself?

Answer: Egoism. That there is nothing of yours in you, including yourself.

Question: Is this my egoism saying: “Everything is mine”? Is this the basis of all the troubles, by and large? That “Everything is mine” is egoism.

Answer: Yes.

Question: It is our nature—egoism. When I say “everything is mine,” is it our nature?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Why complicate the work so much?! To this extent?!

Answer: So that, from this point onward, you would work on yourself and understand that you do not belong to yourself in any way either. When you come to this, you cross the border between life and death calmly and easily.

Question: Do you mean that death is the result of something belonging to me?

Answer: Of course. Life belongs to you.

Comment: My life belongs to me.

My Response: Yes. They take it away from you. This is called death.

Comment: And if my life does not belong to me, then there is no death either.

My Response: There is no death.

Question: Have you and I come to the formula of immortality?

Answer: Yes. So far. There is even further, but at least this.

Question: I want to summarize. Do you think that it is possible for a person to come to this state where nothing belongs to me?

Answer: It is in the person’s power to come to a state that nothing belongs to him, and he does not belong to himself either.

Question: This addition “I do not belong to myself,” why do you add it strenuously?

Answer: Because this is the most important thing.

Question: Do I not belong to myself?

Answer: No.

Question: Do I belong to someone?

Answer: To the upper force.
[320793]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/30/23

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The Answer to All Troubles

292Victor writes:

You Jews were given the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Please explain why the commandments that cannot be fulfilled were given? If possible, concretely. Even if not all ten, at least these four, in my opinion, are the most burning. “Do not kill”—we kill. “Do not steal”—we steal godlessly. “Do not speak of your neighbor with false testimony”—everything today is built on this, to slander another. “Do not commit adultery”—that is all we do. Why are impossible commandments given?

Answer: It is so that we can see that we would like to fulfill them, but we can not. And if we ask the Creator, He will give us strength, and then we can.

Question: What should be the result? You thereby prove that they are impossible for a person to fulfill?

Answer: Just for a person—no. Without the help of the Creator—absolutely not. They are intentionally given in such a way as not to be fulfilled and to ask the Creator to help.

Question: Is there any hope that they will ever be fulfilled?

Answer: When the Creator responds to our request.

Question: So it should be the request of all requests?

Answer: Yes, such a cry.

Question: Today, it seems this cry is maturing. Don’t you have that feeling?

Answer: No! People have experienced such disasters, nothing will calm them down.

Question: Are these commandments given to the whole world?

Answer: In general, yes. Only the order of execution is important. First we have to fulfill them, and then the whole world.

Question: So it is not for nothing that they were given to this nation so that it would be the first to fulfill them and then pass it on to the world? Is this its main mission?

Answer: Yes, it is its mission. And therefore, “and all the nations of the world will be blessed in you.”

Question: If they are fulfilled, what will the world be like then?

Answer: In principle, the world will be different. The world will be stricter. The world will be more restrained. The world will be drier and more open. In general, there will be many opposites that we will need to balance.

There should simply be a direct connection with the laws of nature, with the Creator. This is a very strong response to any sicknesses of man and humanity.

Question: What is the spiritual meaning of these commandments? “Thou shalt not kill,” what does this mean from a spiritual point of view?

Answer: You have to be responsible for the existence of another person. Our egoism constantly pushes us to start showing ourselves egotistically cruel. And we have to dodge it. That is what all these commandments are.

Question: Can we say that these are commandments that constantly divert from the use of egoism?

Answer: Yes.

Question: At the same time, you say that egoism will not be destroyed, it is not killed?

Answer: No! Life cannot exist without it.

Question: That is, it is life and it is impossible to kill it. Do we have to maneuver all the time? Until the end?

Answer: Until the last moment of life’s existence.

Question: So these commandments will exist until the last moment?

Answer: Of course.
[320627]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/26/23

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What Should One Do if Your Wife Is Lured Away from You?

565.01 Igor writes:

Dear Michael Laitman,

I never thought that this would happen to me! I had a misfortune. My closest friend lured my wife away from me! It is a primitive triangle, but I can no longer breathe and live!

You say: “We must accept the situation.” But how? I now understand what hatred is and what despair is when one gives up and tears flow uncontrollably. I am crying for the second time in my life: the first was at my mother’s grave and the second is now. How can I survive this?

Answer: I do not know what to advise a person in this case. I think that you need to think about others and not about yourself. Was she happy with you? Apparently not so much, and that is why she left.

What could happen now? Suppose you force her back or in some fantasy you make her feel bad so that she comes back to you, throws herself at your feet, cries, and all that. I do not think that would reassure you because the very action when she left for someone else is already irreparable.

The best thing, of course, is to change the environment, get married, and start a new family.

Question: That is, let it go? She was a part of me, my “I,” that is why Igor is suffering, and you say: “Let it go”?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: A part of his “I” was cut off and you say…

My Response: This is generally a huge loss and a very strong defeat, of course. Let her go!

Question: Let her go? Do you even say: “Let her be happy there”? And do you think that at that moment he will begin to feel a relief if he comes to this thought?

Answer: I think so. It is very difficult to change your hatred to some kind of love, that you love the person with whom you were maybe even happy, and everything was good. But she did not feel good, and she exchanged you for someone else.

And you make it so that despite the fact that you were happy with her, you raise yourself here and think: “But if she really did not feel good, and now she feels good, can I be happy because she is happy?” Here you have to answer this for yourself.

That is, you must rise above your egoism, above your jealousy, ambition, above all this, and say: “If she is happy, then I am happy.” Otherwise you will not fix it.

Question: You will eat yourself up as a result. Will you feel much worse?

Answer: Yes. And if you find out that she is happy, and you will feel happy because of this, then you resolved this problem.

Comment: This is beautiful! But how hard this is! How difficult!

My Response: It is very hard in feelings.
[318241]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/16/23

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Even if a Sharp Sword Is Pointed at the Neck

222Dana writes:

I began studying quite recently. And today I listened to the morning lesson for the first time. I was very impressed. I have the following question. During the lesson, I heard the following quote from the treatise Brachot: “Even if a sharp sword is put to a person’s neck, he should not despair of mercy.”

I often felt like I was empty, that I had no future, that there was no point in living. It says not to despair. How not to despair? How do you stay in hope even when there is no hope?

Answer: Everything comes from the Creator. This is the first thing. Secondly, everything is for the better. This is absolutely accurate. And in the end, we will all know, understand, and be grateful.

Question: Be grateful for whatever has happened? For something so scary, for even the worst? Even wars, tragedies, everything?

Answer: Yes, for everything. I understand you, and I understand people who are going through suffering and terrible problems, but in general this is how it is.

Question: So a person needs to somehow absorb this?

Answer: Yes. People must attune themselves to the fact that this is how the Creator’s program operates, and hold on. This is called that mercy comes to him little by little.

Question: Another question: why do such states come to us?

Answer: So that we can detect the good attitude of the Creator toward us in any condition. In any condition!

Question: Do you understand how nervous people are listening to you now?

Answer: I understand all this, but there is nothing you can do. This is simply unbelievable. However, I have spoken many times in my life with special people who have experienced great losses, who have wandered through the icy desert. My relative was a pilot and he perished. And they all said only one thing: a person must agree, bow his head, and move forward.

Question: What do you mean by “move forward”?

Answer: Do what needs to be done. We must do what our heart orders, that is, not our living heart, but the heart as a torch that should illuminate our path.

Comment: But the path, you keep saying, is the path, one way or another, to the conclusion that everything comes from the Creator.

My Response: Yes.

Question: Is this really the way? Even though we are always led astray from this path?

Answer: No one pushes us aside from the right path; it is we who want to escape somewhere.

Question: Look what is going on! All the time you think, “How can this come from the Creator? How?! What is this? Mercy?!”

Answer: Who else can it come from?

Question: It is confusing when such questions arise. Should we hold on?

Answer: Hold on to each other, and to the Creator, all together.

Question: When you say “for each other” do you mean for those who are looking for the same thing as we do?

Answer: Of course. And for whom else?

Question: In the article that we read in class, it was said: “Even if a sharp sword is put to a man’s neck, he should not despair of mercy.” It was said that a sharp knife that is pressed to a person’s neck is the selfishness that a person feels; it simply cuts him.

You must not despair of mercy, that is, you must believe that the Creator will give the property of bestowal and love, and one way or another you will come out of this state.

Will every person feel this or is it only given to Kabbalists to feel that egoism is just…?

Answer: I think not everyone feels it.

A person experiences such questions, such problems, such tests in accordance with his or her readiness for these kinds of things. Moreover, the person does not know. He may feel like a weakling, but when problems come, he straightens up.

Question: How do you find the strength to suddenly straighten up?

Answer: You won’t find it in advance. It only comes at that moment.

The Creator does not lead all people to this, but only those whom He wants to bring closer by giving them trials, so that they build a little more understanding of the world.

Question: Understanding that human nature is evil, and that I want to get out of it, and the understanding of the Creator who gives me the strength to get out?

Answer: I ask for nothing more than one thing: to overcome your weakness in whatever form it may be, to move on.

Question: And He gives strength?

Answer: Yes. He will.
[320456]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/26/23

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“How can the world be better?” (Quora)

Dr. Michael LaitmanMichael Laitman, On Quora: How can the world be better?

The power of connection, unity, mutual responsibility and care is the key to making a better and more balanced world.

Today’s calamities and threats are ultimately in order to make us open up more to each other, and by doing so, draw ourselves to a more unified, harmonious and peaceful state.

We should thus use today’s crises in order to better connect, and to spread unity and mutual responsibility as the solution to our every problem.

Based on the video “What Is the Key to a Better World?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

“How can we prevent future wars?” (Quora)

Dr. Michael LaitmanMichael Laitman, On Quora: How can we prevent future wars?

The suffering and sorrow in the present war should awaken the feeling that we lack positive human connection.

If we want to prevent future wars, then we need to connect harmoniously to each other, and to relate to such connection with paramount importance.

Moreover, in our closeness, we should discover a state of mutual responsibility. That is, if one person does something detrimental to others, then we all take responsibility for that act—that we have yet to create the required unifying spirit throughout society that would make everyone willingly rise above their divisive and negative drives.

We should thus pray with all of our strength for our hearts to soften and understand that only our heart-to-heart connection can save humanity. We can then progress to a state of world peace.

Based on the video “How to Prevent Future Wars” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

“Beyond Blaming Others – A Time for Unity Above Differences” (Quora)

Dr. Michael LaitmanMichael Laitman, On Quora: Beyond Blaming Others – A Time for Unity Above Differences

In these trying times when the people of Israel face a grave crisis and heartbreak, our only desire should be to set aside our differences and come together above them. That is what will lead us all to a better state.

Some still point fingers and argue about who is responsible for these troubles and where it all began. But the truth is, we are all at fault. Each of us should acknowledge that this catastrophe is happening because of us, and we must refrain from blaming others. It is our individual responsibility to recognize that we have not done enough to foster unity among us.

Therefore, as the people of Israel, we must unite as one with a shared purpose.

The way to improve our situation is through our unity. Ultimately, all of humanity must unite into one interconnected system, forming one collective entity.

It might seem far-fetched to discuss unity when there is so much hostility and differing opinions among us. However, deep inside, we all have our inner conflicts and opposing viewpoints. We encompass a swathe of contradictions within ourselves, and yet, we must still strive to connect and take responsibility to enhance our unity for the sake of world peace.

Accordingly, we need to reach a state where our unity transcends all limitations and disturbances.

Based on the Daily Kabbalah Lesson with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on October 9, 2023. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

“What can Israeli society do to ensure the safe return of the Israeli hostages in Gaza?” (Quora)

Dr. Michael LaitmanMichael Laitman, On Quora: What can Israeli society do to ensure the safe return of the Israeli hostages in Gaza?

We should do everything possible in order to increase our unity.

We should not pay attention to other people and nations, but come closer to each other in a way where we will become “as one man with one heart.”

That is what will help us: the connection between us and with the upper force, the Creator.

We will then succeed in getting back all the people who were taken hostage.

Based on “An Inside Look” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi on October 15, 2023. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.