Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What do you pray to?“

We develop in our lives until we gradually start understanding that we are in a perfect and whole system that includes all people. It controls us in order to lead us to a certain state where we get to know the system and start using it correctly, consciously, with understanding and in agreement with its goal, and in such a way we start understanding the reason for undergoing the various states we experience, and we can then enter the system we are parts of with all that we have.

This process is both intellectual and emotional, but it is especially an emotional one. The emotions it works on are feelings of stagnation, that it is better to die than to live in a way where we are stuck and confused, where we do not know what to do with ourselves, how to progress in life, what is life and the world, who we are, and we simply become lost. We need to reach a state where who and where we are, and the goal we are supposed to advance to, all become clear to us.

We turn to that system inside of us, in our heart. It comes after we dig within ourselves until we reach more essential questions, and we then reach a place where we receive help, and we receive help in order to organize our questions and hear the answers.

Based on the video “What Do You Pray To?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What should I do when life stagnates?“

Accept that you are stuck. That is, be aware that you are at a dead end.

Ask yourself: “Was I the cause of my life currently becoming stagnant, or not?” Really try to answer this question. Eventually, such a question should lead you to scrutinize that your life is within a greater force of nature: that nature organizes your life, leads you through life’s various events—including your current feeling of stagnation—and from such a feeling, nature invites you to look into life’s meaning and purpose, and where it all comes from.

Justify the stop in your life that you have reached. When you start seeking out answers to life’s deeper questions as a result of your life feeling stagnant, then you can already justify such a stopping point. We can liken the state to a train that we ride, which suddenly stops in the middle of nowhere. We then feel that we do not know what we should do, what we should decide, and what is good or bad from this point onward. It is a very clear feeling that humiliates us, and then leads us to question how we can move forward. We then feel a growing demand for an explanation: “Why is this happening to me?”

Understand that there is a higher program in nature that has led you to a stagnant place, and which you need to discover. Since you start asking deeper questions about life’s meaning and purpose, you reach an understanding that there is a higher program at work that you have to discover. Today, it is easier to discuss the fact that there is a higher program at work in nature, because we are familiar with such definitions from the world of computers. Indeed, there is a higher program organizing our every move in order to lead us to questions about how we can turn to it, enter it, and find out what is going on with us.

Direct your request to nature. You need to scrutinize that you are inside nature and that nature leads you to a point where you feel life as stagnant, and you start asking about what is happening with you, demanding an explanation. In other words, you wish to find out how to act correctly in order to get out of your stagnation, and by doing so, discover the higher program in nature and the sublimity of making contact with it.

Based on the video “5 Things You Should Do When Life Stagnates” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
Photo by Randy Lisciarelli on Unsplash.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How do I overcome stagnation in all aspects of my life?“

By realizing the positive process taking place when we feel that our lives are in stagnation, and contemplating questions such as what we had before reaching a stagnant state, what we will get later, what we would want to have, and why we feel that we get stuck.

We are in a process of life that has a start and an end. We undergo various experiences and states during this process, and a state cannot change unless it reaches its end, from which it gives birth to a new state; and once again the process continues until that state reaches its end and gives birth to the next one.

Sometimes, we have relatively smooth transitions between states, where we understand and feel how they pass with the help of various actions that we perform. Suppose that we are engaged in certain activities, whether we are at work or in the middle of some tasks that we set for ourselves, we sometimes feel as if we are not ready to change these states, that we have no desire to change a good state for something lesser, or we see great difficulty in climbing out of a bad state into a good one, i.e. we are unwilling to exert ourselves. There are all kinds of places where we get stuck in life.

Therefore, the feeling of stagnation in life is very good. It helps us understand what we had, what we will get, what we would want to have, and why we feel that we are stuck.

Based on the video “How to View Stagnation in Life Positively” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
Photo by Christian Newlands on Unsplash.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Why do people get stuck in life?“

Sometimes we feel like we did our very best, that there is nothing else we could have done, but it is as if life itself does not let us move, and we feel stuck. We reach such states where we cannot do anything else by ourselves in order to ask for help. At such points, we hand over our destiny to the greater force in nature, the upper force, and depending on how we turn to that force, we exit that state and move on.

Getting stuck in such ways is excellent because it is the sole place where we can change our destiny. That same force of nature, which is a force that guides our development, leads us to stagnation precisely in order for us to feel that we cannot continue by ourselves, and that we need to ask it for help. Then, if we ask for help in a way that corresponds with the upper force, we gain contact with it, and there is no greater sensation in life than making such contact.

While discussing the upper force in such a way might seem strange, unexpected or disagreeable to many, if we are talking about our destiny and the purpose of stagnation, then leading us to a request from the upper force is the ultimate purpose of our getting stuck in life. There is a program in nature, and according to its program, we are stuck. When we get stuck, we no longer know where to turn. Beyond the life we know is a program in nature that controls us. Therefore, by turning to that program, to the upper force that controls our lives, we can effectively change our destiny and enter into contact with it.

Moreover, we do not have to believe in the upper force. One way or another, we live our lives without choosing how or when we do so, nor what is going to happen in the next moment, and surely not when we get stuck. Therefore, turning to the source that is behind the scenes, controlling our lives, organizes our lives in return. We ask that force to clarify what is going on, and by entering into contact with it, we gain a behind-the-scenes view of our lives, understanding why things unfold exactly the way that they do, and feeling a great source of fulfillment enter those places in life that were incomplete and lacking.

Based on the video, “Why Do People Get Stuck in Life?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Is it possible to love your enemy?“

There is no such thing as a person who does not hate his enemies. However, along with the hatred that we feel for our enemies, we need to also scrutinize how we can reach a state where we will love them. The uniqueness of such an approach is that with our power of good and love, we can force our enemy to love us.

Why then do we find that it is not enough for the good currently within us to overpower our enemies? We first need to build small groups with people who want to be in a common tendency to love others as themselves, where in those groups, we treat each other in a good and kind way.

Therefore, it is possible to love our enemies by exercising the love of others in small cells or groups, and gradually such a process would build a major force that would instill goodness and love even into our enemies. The wisdom of Kabbalah has a lot of material on this topic, and it provides a practical method by which we can reach such a state.

Based on the video “Is it Possible to Love Your Enemies?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Will the James Webb telescope see outside the observable universe?“

The James Webb Telescope can give us a view of more of the physical universe than what we previously saw, but not the forces that control matter, the spiritual forces.

Although the telescope is celebrated as a major feat of engineering, since the human ego is the base driving force behind its construction, then we will only see matter, and not the much greater forces that exist above matter.

The universe was created by forces that are above matter, above human egoistic forces, and to truly discover the deeper secrets of the universe, how it works, and what really goes on in the universe, we need to rise above the human ego, perceiving and sensing through the force of bestowal. Then, in such a newfound connection, in our new sense of bestowal, we will be able to discover the force of good that dwells in the universe and in the whole of reality, including where we are right here and now. Moreover, we will be able to work with the force of bestowal and bring nature’s forces closer to ourselves in a way that benefits us all, knowing how everything works, and for what purpose.

Based on the video “Why Kabbalists Are Unimpressed With the James Webb Telescope” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the most important emotional skill to teach a child?“

Friendship. There is nothing more important than being with friends. By that, children develop closeness with other children, how to talk to each other and connect, and in general, the construction of friendly relationships lets us enjoy happier, more balanced and calmer lives.

A friendship is a different kind of a relationship to one where we try to outcompete others and come out as number one in society. Friendships imply that we develop ties of love between us, whereas the individualistic success approach demands us to be constantly stressed in an attack-and-defense mode.

Today, we see more and more children with all kinds of psychological and psychiatric problems, and we see how these mental problems follow them into their adult years. Therefore, the most important emotional and social skill to develop in children is friendship, to develop a feeling of mutual reliance and responsibility among everybody, a state where we could all literally close our eyes and feel at peace.

Based on the video “What Is the Most Important Emotional Skill to Teach a Child?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Children, Education, Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What’s so special about the Mojo Vision’s AR contact lenses?“

One of my students was impressed by how these contact lenses let their users connect directly to the Internet through the contact lenses, and asked about what we could invent that would be even more advanced.

It is that we would not even need to think about what we do not have, and then we would have it, i.e. that everything would exist in us to begin with.

However, such an invention would not make the world a better place. I have yet to see any person, even the smartest, achieve goodness because of having more knowledge.

Happiness does not come from having things that we think we lack. Happiness rather depends on our connection to the source of life, to understanding the secret of life: What is life’s big question? Also, where and what is the fulfillment that is supposed to happen? In short, our happiness depends on getting answers to questions about life’s meaning and purpose. Such questions become clear, and we also find their answers, in the study of the wisdom of Kabbalah.

Based on the video “What’s So Special about Mojo Vision’s AR Contact Lenses?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the highest cause of cancer?“

Cancer is an outcome of the human ego, which is a desire to enjoy at the expense of others and nature. It is a phenomenon that is very close to spirituality: cells suddenly begin to consume their own environment, and then they themselves die. Nonetheless, however, they begin to consume their own environment. Usually, we more or less correctly relate to the environment that we live off, but then without being aware of it, we destroy our environment as if to our own benefit, and then we die. We can see how such a scenario sometimes plays out, whether between countries and neighbors.

Similarly to how we relate to each other egoistically, the ego also dwells in each and every one of our cells, and it can turn some cells against others.

As long as human society behaves egotistically, we will continue having cancer. Moreover, among all illnesses, cancer will especially continue developing among us. However, it does not work in a direct manner. That is, just because someone is a bigger egoist than others, it does not mean that such a person will have cancer. It could happen to the best of us without any apparent reason.

According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, a cure for cancer requires dealing with our ego. Also, the ego is behind literally every negative phenomenon, problem and crisis that we suffer from. Therefore, by correcting the human ego, i.e. by inverting the desire to enjoy at the expense of others and nature, to a desire to enjoy by benefiting others and nature, we would not only cure cancer, but we would enter into a harmonious, peaceful and healthy existence free from disease and every other problem.

Based on the video “What Is the Highest Cause of Cancer?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash.

Filed under: Health, Q&A, Quora - No Comments →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Is a hologram a potential spouse now? If so, what are the benefits?“

Akihiko Kondo is a young Japanese man who married a hologram of a virtual character three years ago, and he is not the only one. Thousands of people in Japan have relationships with fictitious characters. Kondo says that thanks to his relationship with the hologram, his wife, he was able to overcome severe depression.

We live inside a hologram. That is, the world is a kind of a virtual entity, and therefore there is nothing special about it.

One of my students asked me about this phenomenon, whether we could establish a spiritual connection with a hologram, since in Kabbalistic sources it is written, “man and woman, and Divinity between them.” A spiritual connection needs to be a result of people wishing to exit themselves, and entering into a realm where they bestow, love and connect. It does not necessarily have to be toward a male or female spouse.

It is beneficial for us to practice various forms of our relationships with the world and the universe on holograms, because what we perceive surrounding us are nonetheless images that we ourselves depict. Through such exercises, we can discover a connection to the upper force, with which we can enter into a mutual connection.

The upper force is a spiritual force of love, bestowal and connection that governs our lives. Ultimately, behind our every aspiration is a deeper wish to connect with the upper force, and it is possible by developing an equivalent force of bestowal within us. We can do so by training ourselves to be in a state where we wish to love, bestow to, and help everybody exit their egos and enter into the same intention to bestow, love and connect.

Based on the video “Relationships With Holograms – A Kabbalist’s Response” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Oren Levi. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora - No Comments →