Entries in the 'Unity' Category

Birth Is A Breakthrough Out Of The Dark

Dr. Michael LaitmanIf we are connected in mutual love in the group, then everyone should feel what everyone else feels. Then there wouldn’t be the case that someone feels good and another feels bad; everyone would feel what is happening in one heart. Whoever doesn’t share the general concern will not feel the general joy that follows.

We don’t know why the Creator suddenly creates such situations in which some people are more connected than others. It depends on many factors and especially on everyone’s preparation and to what extent one feels that it is his group.

In that case even people who were always part of “Egypt,” which means that they seemingly harm the “sons of Israel” who suffer because of them, now have the same chance to advance to spirituality. These two parts of the group have an equal chance to advance and it becomes clear that these are two sides of the same “coin,” of the same state.

Those who don’t find themselves physically in the dark can feel as if they actually experience the general suffering, thanks to their adhesion to those who have received the blow. The whole global group cannot feel the same problem physically, but it all depends on our adhesion, on the connection between the friends.

Then everyone feels a foreign pain, like an illness of a beloved person. The whole global group can share the same pain. Even the whole world can do that, if we correct ourselves, grow stronger, and rise. Then the waves of our worries, different types of waves, good and bad, will spread in every direction and will make a “noise” in the world that can be joyful or worrisome. Then the general state will be corrected together with us.

The Light is born from the dark. Thus there will be an opposite result to all the critical problems. The next state is born in the dark and every birth is oppositeness. It’s always like a breakthrough out of a dead end.
[104531]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/4/13, Shamati #36

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In One Sheaf

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How do we work together in a group that surrenders itself to the upper?

Answer: For this, each one bows his head to each of the friends. With the help of the shattering of the Kelim you have been given the opportunity to work with the friends as with the Creator. You cannot see and attain this with your uncorrected desires; therefore, you work with the group.

The further you are from the upper Light, the further you are also from the friends. This builds the right state in you, a “shared field” where you can “play” and train with them. Your attitude to them is precisely your attitude to the Creator, but here you see results, you work together with them on changes of state, both in you and in the friends.

The Creator is absolute, and within the group there is reciprocity, the changes there prepare you much better for an encounter with Him. For you have two desires in you—a desire to receive and a desire to bestow—that appear before your ego and the ego of the friends; and through this you acquire a complete Kli ready to face the Creator.

The truth of the matter is that everything is prepared through divine wisdom, which supplies you with everything necessary in the form of the group for the entire path.

Suppose that you need to rise from level 120 to level 121. There, you find yourself in concealment also, and even further concealment, in absolute darkness, where there is no memory of the Creator, and inexplicable thoughts and feelings overwhelm you… so how do we rise from this terrible darkness to the next level? We do this only with the help of the group, as did the students of Rabbi Shimon. And you again discover that all the relationships between the friends are precisely adjusted for shaping this new level.

Question: So what can the group do to submit itself and to rise to the next level?

Answer: The group doesn’t need to submit itself; rather every member needs to submit himself to the concept of connection and unity. And then all of us together build a backing for revealing the Creator, a place for His residence, the Shechinah.

Question: But doesn’t there have to be a shared surrender when we pass through different states?

Answer: You feel what it is to be together, in one “sheaf” (omer). The main thing is to nullify, in other words, to submit yourself, with all your strength to build a connection between the friends. You humble your pride about the connection and are concerned only that everyone in the group, including the women and children, will be connected; that they will relate to each other with love, with understanding, without a single complaint against another. The Creator gives us a place for efforts, and we simply must build a connection among us. And if not, then there will be no continuation for this…
[104383]
From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/5/13, Writings of Rabash  

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As The Call, So The Echo

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How will the force of unity in Europe help us reach our next level at the upcoming convention in America?

Answer: Europe and America have a strong influence on each other. But the fact is that the crisis in America is felt much less; there’s a possibility to gloss over it there. In America, there is one government, one power; there is no need to negotiate anything with anyone. They can do whatever they want and that’s it. They decided to print a hundred billion dollars more and printed them. The printing press is operating.

In Europe, it is much more difficult because it requires coordination between all the countries. That is why the crisis is felt much more there. If Europe had united, it could have dealt with the crisis easily. First, the crisis would have subsided quickly because the EU citizens had united above their egoism. In general, Europe is today’s Babylon.

But in addition, they would have begun to adopt a single solution and could do the same as the Americans. The whole crisis has spread only because Europe is divided. One part of Europe from Brussels dictates to the other part of Europe: And the other part doesn’t want this; in Nicosia, Cypress, the parliament refused to accept their decisions.

What kind of union is this? They will have to either truly unite or disintegrate.

In America, the condition is better from the point of view that they have simply decided, “We have no crisis.” They have determined this and live as if nothing has happened. But later of course, everything will “collapse.”
[104435]
From the European Convention in Germany 3/24/13, Lesson 6

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Don’t Fall, But Rise In The Middle Line!

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Why at the end of the Passover holidays does one feel heaviness of the heart, and how is it possible to help your friends who feel it harder than you?

Answer: I didn’t think that you would already reach heaviness of the heart. I thought the opposite, that during the holidays we felt the need to advance in two lines: right and left, in order to connect them at each moment to the middle line, to the Creator, to “There is none else besides Him” Who directs us. We are incorporated within Him and adhere to Him in that we all connect to one man with one heart and merge with Him into one whole.

And in this way we remain adhered and happy in the most difficult heaviness of the heart since we are able to connect it to the same state of unity, rise even higher, and be even more dependent on the Creator. And that is a wonderful action that is given us, and one needs to give the effort in order to execute it.
[104117]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/2/13, Writings of Rabash

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So The Group Will Absorb Everything

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What is the meaning of adhering to the group?

Answer: To adhere to the group is to be with the friends in the entire process through which they are passing, to perform the tasks, to participate in all the events: in studies, dissemination, duties, gatherings of friends, workshops, and paying maaser. I need to try to be a useful and active participant in all this. These are mechanical actions of joining a group, which are visible.

Besides this, within myself, I wholeheartedly try to be included in this image called a “group,” to disappear, to melt there. I want to be absorbed within this concept of the “group,” the “society,” so that nothing of me remains.

If I try to do this according to my egoistic motives, to the extent of my efforts, I become closer to the Light, and It brings me thoughts about this and shows how appropriate I am to it or not. So, I begin to demand that the Light correct me more. I begin to relate to my inclusion in a group in a more practical way, connecting this inclusion with the Light that influences me and helps me to enter a group.

It follows that the more I am included in it, the more states I begin to discern: greater or smaller inclusion, how much I forget about myself, how much more I belong to the friends, how much more or less I love them. Only according to this do I evaluate my ascents and descents, since no other ascents and descents exist.

And so together with everyone, I turn to the upper Light that makes of us one whole. And here the work begins. All measurements and evaluations take place only in regard to the group because without this there is no correct measuring scale, there is no correction with which I would be able to examine myself.

I have no indication and evaluation of my emotions, not in relation to the Creator and not in relation to myself, if we don’t do this within the group. The group is the place where I feel, measure, and carry out all spiritual actions.

There is no other place outside of it! There, in the group, I need to discover hatred and my ego, all of my characteristics. All that is discovered outside the group doesn’t require any correction. Only what is discovered in the relationships between the friends, this is the only thing that we need to correct. Pharaoh, the ego is the force of mutual rejection and of hatred that is discovered in a group. And outside the group, this is all the physical life of the animal body.
[103976]
From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/31/13

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The World Has Become Noah’s Ark

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: In what way can each of us invest effort in the common Kli; what do we need to do?

Answer: Every one simply needs to think about what he would want to have happen to him, to the group, and to the entire world: men, women, children, the old, all the peoples, all of humanity. Today, we are all in the same boat, a real Noah’s Ark.

It is said about Noah’s Ark that all were stowed in it and nobody ate anyone else, rather all lived in peace. For this ark is the characteristic of Bina, which encompasses and holds everything within itself. And therefore they were saved from the deluge, from the great ego, that erupted outside the walls of the ark and appeared in all its terrible forms: volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tsunamis, blizzards, and burning fire.

The ark protected all who were found within it, for they wanted to save it. The more we protect the ark, the more the ark will protect us. For the ark is the characteristic of Bina. Entering the characteristic of Bina is like entering a womb, into an ark that will protect you from all bad and harmful external influences; nothing can harm you anymore.

This is what specifically needs to be explained to the world—that all the problems of humanity are derived from its raging ego. But if we all build an ark for ourselves and do not eat each other, instead, all of us will dwell together within it, in our small closed world; if we make an ark from our small closed world, then we will be saved. Otherwise, what happened to all those who remained outside of the walls of Noah’s Ark will happen to us, all of us will sink into the waters of the deluge.
[103932]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/28/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Unity And A Little Chutzpah

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: This evening we are arranging a special lesson symbolizing the end of the Passover holiday, the departure from the ego. How do we need to approach this with a maximum request to cross the Machsom?

Answer: This comes suddenly. Nobody knows exactly when, nobody can predict anything. But Baal HaSulam writes that the time of Passover is a very important time; in our world it’s a special time regarding the Surrounding Lights.

Indeed, the departure can take place any time, any day, but at the same time we need to do as much as possible according to the communication of the physical branch with the spiritual root. We have a chance, and for this a great cooperative effort is required, likewise a little chutzpah (audacity).

– We deserve it!

– Why?

– Because!

This is compulsory. Regarding this it’s said: “My sons have defeated me.” Though I know that I don’t deserve it, in spite of it all, I demand, apply pressure, and this audacity is very useful because it shows that I am going beyond the limits of my ego, I believe that I depend on the Creator and it’s specifically from Him that I demand what I want. Here lies not just an emotional outburst but a deliberate shout, a necessary assault in His direction: “Do it!” That is how new Kelim, additional deficiencies, are aroused in me.

Question: What is needed in order to build this demand throughout the day?

Answer: It is necessary to concentrate on the opposition formed at the time of the departure from “Egypt,” on connection and elevation above our individual and collective ego. In general, we require a demand with the addition of audacity. And the main thing is unity. And don’t be distracted by anything else.

Question: How must one be audacious about this request and at the same time ask on behalf of everyone, together with everyone?

Answer: It’s written that we leave Egypt in the dark of night. This doesn’t say that it’s necessary to wait until it gets dark outside and to turn out the lights at home. No, this is darkness of the ego, which we feel inside of us when nothing more can save us and there is no possibility of escape.

We need to run toward the center of the group, toward love of friends, toward love of another. It’s necessary to concentrate on this; we require the importance of only this. The Light reveals the Kelim and corrects them. Everything comes from that except for the request for help.
[103943]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/31/13, Writings of Rabash

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Cleave To The Creator More Strongly

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: It is said that he who cleaves to the Upper One does not fail, that he is above all problems. How can we increase the desire to cleave to the Creator, to overcome all adversities, and rise above everything that we feel from the Creator?

Answer: We have already discussed that a person cannot do anything alone. Those problems that the Creator gives us just seem personal. No one has personal problems because of the Kli (vessel) that became shattered in the world of Nikudim. In other words, the soul of Adam that was in the world of Atzilut was common, and all the problems are the demonstration of the shattering of the correct, common state. That is why it is impossible to say that I am uncorrected. There is no human being who was like that because I am uncorrected only in my attitude toward the common state that was originally created.

The shattering occurred not in every one of us but between the parts of the common soul, and that is why we need to correct the connection between us. This is very important. We need to remember this and constantly try to imagine the corrected state, and then we suddenly will see how the general mosaic comes together and turns into a beautiful, joint Lego, and the upper world is manifested in this combination.

Question: When we are connected together, the Light passes through us to the 99% of humanity. In this case, do we need to cleave to the Creator more strongly to be able to transmit the Light more?

Answer: Of course. This is because the world will demand more and more from us. It is in a critical state even now. We need to perceive its state as a plea to us because when a baby who is feeling bad is crying, his parents guess what he wants. So, are we: The world screams, it feels bad, and we must guess what it needs. It needs unity. That is why we must act in this way.
[103921]
From the European Convention in Germany 3/23/13, Lesson 4

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I Want To Rise To You…

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: If the group has someone with an addiction and he has fallen from the general process, what efforts does it have to make in order to be in partnership with the Creator and to overcome our enemy, the ego?

Answer: The Creator doesn’t respond to a person’s individual requests. He actually does respond but not really in the person’s favor, since the person doesn’t give Him a chance to be revealed.

Suppose, I cry out now that I expect the Creator to be revealed to me. I have books and everything that I need! I lock myself in a room and begin to think, to shout, and to suffer.

Will the Creator be revealed to me? No. Why not? Where is the resistance that we build between us? Where is the enemy? He is gone. Where is the place in which He should be revealed?

The Creator should be revealed in the resistance, in the ego, in the fact that I cannot connect with the friends and ask for His help. Only then is He revealed!

But if I think about myself and only mumble: “Well, reveal Yourself to me,” then it will lead to nothing. Why should He reveal Himself?

“I want to rise to you…” what does it mean to rise to Him? It means to become equal to Him, to be close to Him in my attributes. What does it mean to be close to Him in my attributes? One unique and special. This means that the more we connect, the closer we are to Him, and so He is revealed in us.

There are seven billion people in the world. When we begin to rise, then in the next level we will feel that we are like one billion and then like one million, and then as one hundred people, and finally as one. This is the ladder upon which we ascend to the Creator.

But if I cry out: “Raise me, reveal Yourself to me!” Then, how can He reveal Himself? There is nothing in you; you are but a point. Only our world can be felt in a point.

Today, His condition is that you can succeed only if you begin to connect and at the same time worry about the whole world. See what a crisis He has put the world into. This is what Baal HaSulam writes about. Only by thinking about the whole world do we gradually begin to rise.

On every level humanity will feel that it is becoming smaller, more compact, and its members will feel closer to one another like in a group, until we all become one. Only when we become one, will we be equal to the Creator.

So we have no other choice but to start connecting in order to reveal Him and to see that we cannot do it by ourselves,

How many times have we read the passage from The Zohar about Rabbi Shimon’s students who were great sages and were on the level of Arich Anpin of Atzilut, the highest level of attainment, which is the revelation of the Creator, the feeling of the upper world. See how they hated one another so intensely that they were ready to kill each other when they started writing The Book of Zohar.

We have to reach such states in which we demand that the Creator be present so that He will connect us. But the relations between us are cold: I don’t really feel like it; I am in a bad mood… we haven’t even reached the feeling of hatred yet.
[103862]
From the European Convention in Germany 3/23/13, Lesson 3

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The Secret Of Success

Dr. Michael LaitmanOur main mission is to unite between ourselves. We need to understand that this is our destiny. This is what has brought us to a science that investigates the nature of the world, the management of the world—to the science of Kabbalah.

As you know, the first book on this subject was written 5772 years ago by Adam. Today, it is up to us to disseminate this knowledge as quickly as possible to all of Europe, and certainly to the whole world. We must show that everyone passes through this process. We began a little earlier; we study it and understand what is taking place. And without learning and understanding, in spite of it all, the entire world is sharing in this.

We have already had the chance to be convinced about this: We are speaking about it today, and in another few years the world begins to approach our ideas and understanding; people here and there suddenly are beginning to say the same things. Although, in fact, nobody used to speak about connection and the requirement for human change and connection between people, today many speak about this. On the Internet network, there is already an enormous amount of material and writing; conventions and conferences have been held on this subject. This message is gradually penetrating humanity, and we are like the “brain” from which this influence comes, spreading signals and waves. These seem to spread below the surface, acting upon everyone.

However, we need to strive to do this much more rapidly, effectively, and consistently. This is our mission. And therefore we, who are found here, and all of our friends all over the world, including those who are not present here and yet are found in this convention together with us, must understand that it was specifically for this that we were led to the wisdom of Kabbalah.

At the time when I came to my teacher Rabash, I found myself around old men. Rabash was more than forty years older than me, and all the rest were around his age. There was nobody there less than 65, and I was 30 years old. I asked him.

– “Exactly what do I need in order to advance?”

– Rabash answered, “You need a group.”

I began to give lectures and to teach; I brought new people, and a group was formed.

– “And what else?”

– “Continue.”

I continued. I wrote books, organized lectures; I was always concerned about expanding the range of people. And so when Rabash saw that I was occupied with this, he transmitted the method of spiritual development to me. I saw this really clearly. Baal HaSulam also writes about what a person needs to do. It was very clear to me that the secret of all of my success in the wisdom of Kabbalah is to be found solely and only in dissemination.

It is impossible to reach discovery of the upper world alone since it is discovered through the right cooperation between people. Even though I am an egoist, an individualist in my manner, a scientist, closed in his own room (I am like this even today, my manner has not changed), in spite of all this, I must work with people. Since otherwise, if I had not actually been involved in dissemination, in expansion, in bringing people in, I would not have attained anything, I would not have discovered anything.

You know from all the Kabbalistic sources that nothing is discovered in one person; rather, it is only through his connection with others. This was once a small group. Today, since the world is completely different, an entirely different relationship towards it is required of us: We must be concerned about it; we must disseminate. For us realization of our connection through the method of Kabbalah is the inner work. And we need to disseminate that method in its external form—the method of integral education.

So, our mission is to help Europe to be integral, connected in a mutual form, unified. And our elevation depends on how much we invest in this dissemination, in this education.
[103591]
From the European Convention in Germany 3/22/13, Lesson 1

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