Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How has technology changed our interactions with each other at both local and global levels?“

The more we develop, the more globally interconnected and interdependent we become, technologically and economically, i.e., with more and more external connections to each other.

We have built systems where if one country switches off in even one of its parameters that it supplies to the world, then the entire world suffers.

It has become impossible to disconnect from the world. Our increasing global technological and other external connections are a stepping stone toward the discovery of a much deeper connection that we share.

We have reached a stage of development where we can understand that we are globally interconnected and interdependent. Moreover, the more we connect in a superficial manner, the emptier we find ourselves.

On one hand, we are reaching the realization of our need for connection. However, we experience myriad negative effects from our current external form of connection. If we crack how to positively connect with each other—a deeply-felt positive connection beyond merely sending each other short, pleasant messages, smileys and heart emojis—then we will start unraveling another world that will fulfill us all.

In other words, our increasing technological interconnection is a preparation for a much deeper feeling of our connection to each other—a feeling of our complete interdependence.

When we learn how to realize our interdependence positively, we will come to understand that we can find the source of our fulfillment in other people and that we need others to fulfill ourselves.

We will then seek connection with others according to a common desire to connect positively to each other. That is, we will seek out other people who will want to be together and who will find fulfillment solely from our togetherness.

The Internet will then become free from the control of people with money and power interests. Our sincere desire to positively connect to each other will leave them no room to manipulate us.

Such a desire to positively connect will bring about the next major revolutions in the virtual world, one which will see a complete remake—and a whole new usage—of the Internet.

Based on KabTV’s “I Got a Call. What Is Technology?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on February 27, 2011. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
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Question: Why is such a thing as sex so hidden? What is sex?

Answer: Sex is a fusion of two opposite qualities that connect with each other in order to rise to the next level.

Initially sex was conceived in nature as a connection of creation with the Creator. Creation is a feminine principle that wants to receive fulfillment from the masculine principle, from the Creator. And when the Creator gives it fulfillment, this fulfillment develops in the feminine principle and generates their next, mutual, middle stage.

The purpose of all creation is to come to such a combination with the Creator. This act of spiritual copulation of the one creation with the one Creator is described in the “Song of Songs” by King Solomon.

Since the state of fusion of creation with the Creator is the highest, it gives the greatest pleasure in our world. Therefore it is said that love and hunger rule the world as two basic instincts.

Hunger is understandable to us; it also exists at the animal level. And sex on the animal level exists instinctively in the same way as food does. The animal needs sex and does it according to the program at certain times of year.

But man does not, because it is precisely in this that he has freewill to come and merge with the Creator. Therefore this feeling in a person is not dictated by nature, but is given to him in perfection so that he can control it himself.

Since we are in an egoistic state, we manage it completely wrong. And if a person comes to a spiritual state, then, on the contrary, he begins to correctly control his sexual impulses.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. What Is Sex?” 2/27/11

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Question: For a long time The Book of Zohar was hidden from people, and now some have a skeptical attitude toward it: “Well another book has appeared.” How do I explain to them that this is actually a very important book?

Answer: It is impossible to explain. Until a person receives a certain amount of blows and matures, there is no way to explain it to him. He will say: “But I don’t believe it!” Well don’t believe it! You’ll learn gradually. Nothing can be done.

We see that a huge number of people in our world are engaged in all kinds of nonsense! What can you do with them? Can you approach a person and explain to him, show him, and tell him what The Book of Zohar writes about?! He will turn away from you and that is it. But when he gets hit hard, he immediately begins to listen. That is how we are built.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. A New Religion?” 4/4/11

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What do you know about the system in which we live?“

We live in a single global-integral system, and it has a specific demand from us.

What is its demand?

It is that we adapt to its global-integral laws.

The system we live in urges us to connect to it in a harmoniously-interdependent manner, like parts of an analog system.

We, on the contrary, act negatively to each other. We prioritize self-benefit over the benefit of others and the whole system.

Such an attitude is destructive.

It leads to a proliferation of exploitation, manipulation and abuse in our connections, and the depletion our planet’s resources. In other words, we currently want, think and act oppositely to the laws of the global-integral system we exist in.

Accordingly, we receive myriad negative responses from the system, all kinds of problems and crises on personal, social, economic and ecological scales: from increasing depression, stress, anxiety and loneliness through to various wars and other conflicts, and all the way through to ecological disasters and pandemics.

The global-integral system we live in responds to our attitudes to it, i.e., to our attitudes to each other and to nature in general.

We can make of it whatever we like, but we will eventually have to learn how this system functions with total interconnection and interdependence among its parts, its integral laws, and reach the understanding of how to lead harmonious and peaceful lives while living in it.

If we do not learn the system’s laws, we will then feel increasing negative feedback from it, because the force of protection in the system will always prevail.

Based on the video “We Live in an Integral System” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Comment: A student who watches almost all our videos, writes: “Dear Michael Laitman, My beloved husband, my soulmate, passed away a month ago. I try to ease my pain with thoughts and hope that our souls are connected and that I lost the body, but not the unity we had when he lived. Has a part of my soul gone with him? How can I feel a part of his soul in me? Maybe you can answer me. It is very difficult to live without him.”

My Response: Yes, it is difficult to answer such questions, moreover, obviously to a lonely elderly woman.

I think that the main thing is that we should not blame anyone for anything. The upper force moves all parts of nature including us. We need to look at this in a completely practical, pragmatic way. Let us prepare ourselves for the state when we will know and see everything and feel our world from above.

Question: Could you tell what state she should be in? He is gone, and there is no physical body in front of her.

Answer: She must be in a state of submission. What is there, let it continue. Time will change, and fate will change, and then we will feel a new life.

Question: If you pass all this obediently?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: That is, to return to this all the time and torment yourself with it…

My Response: No, none of this is necessary. Torments are not needed.

Question: And what to submit to in this case? To fate, to the upper providence?

Answer: To both. It is the same.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 4/20/23

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Question: If everyone is controlled by the Creator, where is their freedom?

Answer: We have to disseminate the knowledge of Kabbalah, realize it on ourselves, and show an example to the whole world. And the whole world has to accept it and implement it with our help. If it does not want to, that is its business. If it wants to, it will slowly understand.

Question: But this is not the desire of creation, is it?

Answer: No one asks the creation, just as no one asked you whether you should be born or not. You are brought to the opportunity to act freely. If you want, use it; if you do not want to, then do not. Then you will be led in circles by a long way and through a lot of problems.

If you implement freedom of will through your correction, yearn for it by yourself, and do not resist with all your might, then you go forward and everything is fine. But if you resist, then you will be led by force, like all stubborn ones.

If you understand what “reward and punishment” means, then you will understand that there are two reins that will pull you back and forth. By being prodded from behind by punishment and attracted by the reward ahead, you will always go where you need to.

Comment: It turns out that in this case, the Creator is a sadist.

My Response: The Creator is the upper force. The force! What right do you have to apply any epithets to it?! Merciful, cruel, and so on.

Everything that Kabbalists write comes from what a person feels. The Creator does not feel anything. This is a force of nature, an absolute force in which there is no pity, no anger, nothing. It is the force that should bring all creation to a single end.

It has a certain program. According to this program, the will to receive and the will to bestow gradually come closer to each other according to a certain formula of equivalence between them. This formula is known: between the will to receive and the will to bestow, there must be a screen that balances both forces.

A very simple formula for the interaction of these three values forms the entire program of creation and implements it. This is the Creator, the creation, and a system of interaction between them, which brings them closer and closer at each degree.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. What Is a Parallel World?” 3/1/11

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Question: What is science in your understanding?

Answer: Science is the exploration of the world through our sensory organs and devices that expand their range of perception of reality to the extent that it is available to us.

Any science is characterized by the repeatability of experiments and receiving real results. In no case should you add any of your guesses, additions, or theories! They take place in science, but only as assumptions, not its basic truths.

I, like scientists, absolutely follow this definition of science. I have no disagreements with them on this. The only problem is that they do not understand that Kabbalah is the same science that studies reality, only the reality that is not available to everyone.

Animals cannot explore our reality. Plants cannot explore the reality of animals and our reality. We cannot explore the reality that Kabbalists discover, only after they have created an additional sensory organ in themselves and thus feel the next dimension, a deeper world, on another wave, which we cannot feel, but which everyone can feel if they develop this sensory organ in themselves.

Therefore, anyone can be a Kabbalist, that is, can receive this additional knowledge.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. What Is Science?” 3/28/11

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is abundance, and why is abundance usually associated with money?“

Abundance is the feeling of our ability to realize ourselves.

We feel wealthy when we feel like we can do anything we have the ability to do. Likewise, we could have billions in our bank accounts, yet feel poor.

As for the association of abundance with money, it stems from a spiritual root.

In Hebrew, the word for “money” is “Kesef,” which stems from the same linguistic root as the word “Kisuf,” which means “covering.” When we cover our egoistic desires, i.e., desires for self-benefit at others’ expense, we can then rise above these desires—developing an intention to bestow above our inborn desire to receive—and we then experience wealth and abundance on a spiritual level.

In our corporeal world, we consider abundance as having a lot of money that we can use to pay for all sorts of goods and services, whereas in the spiritual world, abundance is the amount by which we can cover our egoistic desires and operate with an intention to bestow.

The altruistic cover upon our egoistic desires is called a “screen” (Heb. “Masach”). It is essentially the feeling of the importance of qualities of love, bestowal and connection above the importance of fulfilling our self-aimed desires. When we cover ourselves with the importance of love, bestowal and positive connection to others, then we become rich—and feel rich.

We then feel that we have everything we want, that we become equal to the upper force of love, bestowal and connection. By doing so, we achieve complete fulfillment and abundance because we attain connection with the source of every pleasure and delight.

Based on KabTV’s “I Got a Call. What is Abundance?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on February 27, 2011. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash.
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Question: Does modern technology, meaning mobile phones, social networks, and everything else have some kind of spiritual root? Why did technology develop in this way?

Answer: Today humanity is developing only in the direction of communication and connection with each other because it is pushed to this by the upper governance.

What difference does it make to me why I should be connected with the whole world? Why do I personally need that? I would rather eat and sleep first. Family and children are in second place. Then there is work, salary, and so on. But why do I need this whole world? Why do I need to know what is going on here? Why do I need these eight billion bugs that are just swirling about in front of me?

But the thought of the upper governance is to bring us to a state of universal interconnection. Therefore, look at what is given to people: SMS, emails, iPads, and so on and so forth. Why do we need all this?

To ensure that we were tightly connected to each other and could not get away from it. Gradually, we will discover a great emptiness in this and realize that we must change this connection. After all, we will not be able to get away from it, but we will be obliged to change it. This is what we are being led to.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. What Is Technology?” 3/20/11

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Question: Does any word existing in the material world have spiritual ties behind it? Is there no word that does not have its root?

Answer: Of course.

Question: Even modern, made-up words?

Answer: No, made-up words do not have a clear spiritual root because they are artificially created by humans. Of course, they have some kind of secondary or tertiary spiritual root, otherwise nothing would have appeared. Everything comes from the fact that you cannot invent anything out of nothing.

Nevertheless, all new combinations are created artificially; they do not exist in nature.

Nature has its own inherent properties, and from them stem simple human actions that help them to come to correction. Although bread, wine, various dishes, products, a table, a chair, etc., are artificial things because such objects do not exist in nature, they exist in the process of human correction. He has to make them, and therefore, their prototypes exist in nature.

All this is described in the creation of the Temple, because the Temple represents what a person must do during his life in order to achieve complete correction and ascent to the upper world. Therefore, everything we study about our world, we learn from the actions that are described in the Torah (Bible).

These are 39 earthly works: how to cultivate trees, harvest, prepare bread and all kinds of dishes, press olives, make wine, roast meat, treat skins, write on them, sew clothes, etc.—many different processes. But they are natural, although in nature they are not inherent in us, as in animals.

Animals do not have these processes. They live in their body, eat ready-made food, and produce offspring, i.e., everything is ready for them. Sometimes they dig holes or weave nests, but it is very limited.

But a lot of all kinds of artificial actions are characteristic of a person, they are all described in the Torah and only because of that, it is thanks to them that we are corrected.

If we do something other than these actions, then it already fits into our egoism to fill it. However, it goes back to us, we have to pay for it and pay dearly.

Thus, it is possible to calculate how many actions humanity has done in vain and what it has done in excess in its history. That is why it has not yet reached its correction.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. What Is the Word?” 2/27/11

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