Entries in the 'Q&A' Category

The Beckoning Light

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Where do my desires come from?

Answer: All desires come from the upper Partzuf that clothes in and awakens you. Your desire is the Light that expanded from the Upper One, a meek illumination that triggers a desire. After all, you are a mere desire, similar to a chunk of metal. When the Light descends to you, it starts “heating” you up, doing something with you.

Where do you get a feeling that you want something? The Light that is already present in you attracts you, if only with its reverse side so far. As to the desire the Light doesn’t fill, we simply don’t experience it at all.

We are living in Malchut of Infinity as we speak. So what? What do we experience? Only this corporeal world and nothing more. Why is it so? Except for this tiny place, all the other desires in me are not illuminated, and that’s why I don’t feel them. I am not even slightly attracted to them.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/10/10, “Introduction from The Book of Zohar,” Article “Who Created These”

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How To Fulfill The Desires Of Others?

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How does a person with the desire “Israel” fulfill the desires of others in practice?

Answer: Everything happens within the desire. As a person gets corrected, he begins to sense the desires of other people, to connect the entire desire of the collective soul to himself. Then he fills it. Clearly, he does not wander among the people and ask what they want to be filled with.

Similarly, to enter the group means to feel the desire of the group in the connection between us, which exists inside the group, even if we do not perceive it. However, I want to participate in this connection consciously, sensing it fully, openly!

I see that we are separated, but Kabbalists write that there is a connection between us. And I want to reveal it clearly, to connect to it with all my mind and heart.

When I connect to the group, when I start working this way and this layer [of reality] becomes revealed to me, I suddenly discover that the entire world functions in the same manner. All of a sudden I realize that all people are the Creator’s workers, and I dwell in Shechina. I only have to help the others realize it themselves. After all, the Creator wishes for this to be revealed to everybody!
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/12/10, “A Handmaid that is Heir to Her Mistress”

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Revelation Can Only Bring Benefit

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How do you feel about WikiLeaks?

Answer: Everything comes from Above, while we perceive it according to our equivalence of form with the Upper Light. Therefore, if everything in the world changes, it will only be for the better. It’s best for things to change in any direction and faster!

Therefore, this great revelation of human stupidity is only beneficial to everyone. Perhaps the masses will begin to understand that "the hearts of the world’s rulers are in the hands of the Creator." Meaning that they are no less stupid than everyone else and they are not really doing anything. Moreover, they don’t think any further than their stomachs and wallets.

Secondly, it will become revealed that the world is absolutely interconnected in its global, universal crisis, and in the involuntary, egoistic unity of people who hate each other. There’s no way to escape this or to change nature. It’s scary to consume each other because what if instead of you consuming someone else, they will do it to you?

Thus, there will be just one solution left: to look for an answer to how to cope with living together. In addition, in the global world the task isn’t simply to coexist, but to find the formula for total and open interaction as one organism! Otherwise it’s impossible to survive! That is how Nature will bring us to happiness with a rod.

Thirdly, it is impossible to stop this process. The revelation of the Upper World entails the full revelation of every one of us and all of us together to everyone and to every person. Let all of egoism’s base evil be bared and then we will all start to make our way out of this garbage dump.

We will then leave behind all of our pride, narcissism, complaints, and anger, putting the Upper Goal that’s determined from Above at the head of everything. Then we won’t advance toward it forcefully, but consciously.
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It Might Be Difficult, But It’s Wonderful!

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: The weekly Torah portion "Vaigash" is full of tears, encounters, and dramatic events that touch many people. What is it about this portion that stirs up so many feelings in us?

Answer: A person goes through very tragic and drastic states, including confusion and disorientation. He is like a baby that is in a forest or an absolutely unfamiliar place. He does not know what to do or whom to turn to. He goes through extremely frightening situations and is completely confused.

Usually we get very emotional when looking back at situations we have gone through in life, and similarly, in spirituality when I remember this, I feel overcome by feeling. Granted, now theses memories hold a certain sweetness. You look back to the past with love, the way people look at a child, while in fact, the states were very difficult back then!

A person does not know how to come out of them and without support from a teacher who is by his side, I don’t think it is even possible. Today the whole world has to reach correction and that’s why we have a group and dissemination, which give us a very powerful and expansive support from millions of people who are together with us in one system.

However, at the same time the path remains individual and every person goes through it based on his own inner impressions. These are astounding states! Even if they are very unpleasant at the time you actually go through them, they are still wonderful! They give you the depth of understanding and sensation of the entire creation, which comes later! A person begins to see, feel, and be included in all the worlds simultaneously!

Therefore, we shouldn’t give up on this and must advance. That is how we will come to the "promised land."
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From the program "Weekly Torah Portion" on 12/9/10

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A Spiritual Trio

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What is the difference between “Zivug” (coupling while striking) and “Bitush” (collision)?

Answer: Zivug is merging of two spiritual objects that are not opposite to each other and are able to unite according to their equivalence of form, intention, and purpose, similar to how two people unite in partnership or marriage.

Suppose there are two people who have a common spiritual goal. They are in constant opposition and confrontation with each other due to the force of breaking that rules between them. But they discover that they are unable to achieve this goal individually. If I advance on my own, I face an immovable obstacle. If the other advances on his own, he also faces a barrier.

What do we do then? In that case, I nullify my ego, and he nullifies his. In the degree that we succeed in doing so, we are able to unify as one. In this measure, we reach the goal.

This is the Creator’s condition since the goal is achieved only in mutual connection of all; after all, the goal itself is bestowal. Do you wish to reach it? Go ahead! Cancel your ego, and by doing so, you will build a Kli (a vessel) for bestowal. To the measure you do it, you will become filled with the Light of bestowal.

But it happens on one condition: if I nullify my ego and the other does the same with his. Hence, I strike my ego (Hakaa) and the other strikes his, and as a result, we perform mutual unification (Zivug de Hakaa). I perform a strike within me, at my ego, but I perform a Zivug with the other, outside of me.

Now, a question arises: Why then does a Zivug take place despite the fact that even after striking my own ego, I do not wish to unify with the other? It happens because by rejecting my ego with a strike, I draw the reforming Light, which pushes me toward unification, Zivug.
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From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/10/10, Explanation of the Article, “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah”

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A Joke Or A Strict Law?

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: If the Creator’s plan is to bring man to the purpose of creation, what did He gain from the events that took place in Israel at the beginning of the month? What is their outcome?

Answer: I am not going to check how the people changed. We act along the axis of time: There was a state before the fire, then there was a fire that took people’s lives and destroyed vegetation, and when it was over, the rain fell.

What changed in this period of time? You started asking questions: “Why did the rain start the day after the fire had been put out? Was it some kind of joke? During the fire we needed rain so much and begged for it so passionately, but there was no response. And when we didn’t need it any longer, it started raining cats and dogs bringing so much damage. We were struck twice.”

Indeed, it is exactly as the Torah describes: If Israel is unworthy, the rain falls at the wrong time in the wrong place. It is the law of nature. Above there is the Light, and below there is the will to receive (desire) that must reach equivalence with the Creator. The Light constantly works on desire, and the latter keeps changing.

The Creator does only this calculation: two states, the initial and the final one, must be the same. Based on this, He acts. Just as the Light created four phases of expansion of the Direct Light, it continues to develop everything within them.

The Creator doesn’t react; it is the law or Nature. What do you want from Him? Would you be willing to approach an erupting volcano and beg: “Do me a favor, stop erupting for a few minutes, I need to pass through?”

Why then do you think the Creator will respond to your prayers? In this case, you are worshiping an idol. You view Him as wishing stars that bring luck, as if with their help you may change your fate. It’s true that you can learn something about the future, but changing it is beyond your power.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/12/10, “A Handmaid that is Heir to Her Mistress”

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The Perfect Formula For Spiritual Ascent

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How do we calm down the ego which demands constant fulfillment?

Answer: You’ll never be able to overcome your ego with your own strength. Even if you think that in the past you were able to do so, that was only an illusion. You were simply fulfilling your desire to receive pleasure.

We are going through a preparation period, and at its first stage we seem to be able to achieve something with our own strength, to advance with the help of knowledge by overcoming ourselves. But it all ends after our desire to receive gets some fulfillment. However, without this desire you wouldn’t be able to study and gain the foundation for the beginning of spiritual work. In other words, at first you are led by your ego, and this is called “seven years of plenty.”

Then you suddenly cool off to studying; you ran out of fuel and feel tired of everything. Now you’ve entered the second stage of the preparation period. You are no longer led by the ego and you need a new stimulus: studies with intention and the environment.

Now you have to advance by receiving strength from the group and not from your own desire. The purpose of your studies shouldn’t be to obtain knowledge, but rather to build the correct intention for your desires, which you receive from the group. You must unite with the group in order to reveal the Creator.

For now you’re doing it for the sake of self. However, by continuously doing this work and as a result of the Light’s influence, you gradually begin to feel that bestowal is good. You receive the desire to bestow from the group and begin to demand this quality from your studies. Bestowal frees you from the ego, from your evil inclination, and elevates you above this corporeal life.

Later, due to the influence of the Upper Light and connecting with friends in the group, you begin to understand that your goal is not to reveal the Creator and the spiritual world, but rather to adhere to Him, to bestow to Him rather than to receive from Him. By uniting Israel, the Torah, and the Creator into one, by striving to give the Creator pleasure, you receive the perfect formula for your spiritual ascent.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/3/10, “Introduction to The Study of Ten Sefirot”

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Our Help To The World

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How can we understand Reshimot in spiritual work? Can we perceive or understand them?

Answer: I do not hear how they are “clicking,” but I feel how I change from one moment to the next. These changes are the result of Reshimot that awaken along the chain that was built during my soul’s descent along all the degrees from Infinity down to this world. Now I ascend back along the same degrees, but only on the condition that the Light comes and the Reshimot change.

In reality, everyone ascends up this ladder, but every person does it differently: either by way of suffering or by way of Torah. The Light pours upon everyone, but each person uses it to the degree he is able. Inside this integral, single system, we all influence one another, and therefore the personal corrections on the path interweave with the group and universal corrections.

If we could take a bird’s eye view of the whole system and discern all the phases of its development, we would see the connection between the events in our world and would understand how inside the complex they advance certain parts toward correction. And this also happens either by way of suffering or by way of Torah.

In addition, we would see how by working with each other, we awaken the world more and more from the inside, and thereby help everyone take the right steps. Thus, the world advances toward the goal quickly and easily, instead of by the lengthy and painful way.
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/12/10, The Zohar

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The Benefit Of Pretense

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What should I do if I don’t wish to be part of the group and am only pretending because I am told that it is necessary for reaching the goal?

Answer: I should pretend not because I must but in order to help the friends, give them strength. In truth, I play against and confuse my egoism. I put in all my strength, but it is insufficient. In the meantime, I realize that if the group radiates all its might toward me, I will get inspired and be able to rise above myself. So how do I instill such “illumination” in the group?

To achieve this, I perform bestowal to the friends. I pass my awakening onto them, envelop them in warmth, and inspire them despite lacking it myself. I intentionally pretend in order to receive the same from the friends in response, only one hundred times more. After all, my pretense ignites them, whether they like it or not. And it doesn’t matter that I am lying; they get inspired nonetheless and radiate it back to me.

Hence, it turns out that my artificially blown out spark becomes a real flame. I started with pretense, but as a result, got truly ignited. And all this fire coming from the desire is mine. By utilizing the environment, I have accomplished the goal of transforming egoism into bestowal.

The group, like an amplifier, has multiplied my first meek inspiration manifold. And now, with this hard-earned desire, I turn very seriously to the Creator and without any falsehood.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/6/10, “Introduction from The Book of Zohar,” Article “Who Created These”

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Don’t Try To Argue With The Creator

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: I wish to see the whole world awake and aware. How do I achieve that?

Answer: You cannot step out of the boundaries of what the common system of the souls’ correction reveals today. And it reveals a great deal. The question is: To what extent can we can affect it?

The world does not yet feel the need for Kabbalah as it cannot tie what is happening to its correction. Man doesn’t want it. When something bad happens to me, I seek someone to blame and never blame myself. That’s natural for egoism, so we always turn our back on correction.

In such a setting, we must do whatever we can. And what we can’t, we should then at least lay a path by which the next generation will be able to walk upon and follow. The place of work is given to you by the Creator, and He can’t be argued with.

The world is awakening but not at the rate we would like. The Creator has other plans. After all, the impressions that are being imprinted in the souls on the path of evolution have to reach their depth. And this takes time.

We would prefer to charge forth; however, having learned the design of the soul, we realize that between its two states, there lie millions of actions performed in the will to receive (desire). At times, a computer “freezes” for thirty seconds, and there is nothing you can do but wait.

And still, with time the process accelerates. It used to take half an hour to download one simple program from the Internet, and now we download whole movies in half a minute. And yet, in any case we need to be patient: There are too many actions that have to manifest in the collective desire of Shechina (Divinity). Our urge to rush derives from our ignorance of the importance and necessity of each such action.

Therefore, we simply “press the gas pedal to the floor,” meaning that we give the world as much as we are able, regardless of whatever its response. It isn’t up to us. The world has its own evolutionary pace. Look at the tremendous efforts there were made by Baal HaSulam, and only 60-70 years after his desperate appeals something is beginning to move.

We don’t see the entire scope of egoism approaching correction. We need to thoroughly count our modest forces in order to utilize them for dissemination with the utmost efficiency. If not, our words will miss people’s ears and won’t plant anything in their hearts.

I spoke about it with Rabash and some other Kabbalists with whom we used to visit. I saw them burning within and being patient at the same time. They were truly “charged,” but what can one do with a child who is playing with his toys? He needs time to evolve.

Therefore, we need to work harder within, among ourselves. In this way, we will be able to pass the awakening onto the world, through the inner network of souls, and people won’t even have to turn on the TV or attend introductory lectures.

Put all your desire in action aimed at building the correct connection in the group as previous Kabbalists used to do. As to the outside audience, release the necessary knowledge in small doses in the degree of their readiness. Feed it from a teaspoon, as you would feed an infant.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/6/10, “Introduction from The Book of Zohar,” Article “Who Created These”

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