Entries in the 'World' Category

The Direction Of Thought

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Sometimes when we are working in the group, the Creator gives us an ascent, advanced states. How can we use them to advance the 99% of humanity?

Answer: We need to think about it constantly because everything is resolved in thoughts. Our thoughts are the greatest forces of the world. If the thought is in the right direction, it enters the vector, in connection with the Light, and that is something that can change the world.

The Surrounding Light affects us, and by our vector we make it directed Light. If we light a flashlight or spotlight, it shines directly. Imagine that we can do the same with our thoughts.

If you think about someone being in the correct state, in good thoughts, you will see how you will cure, correct, improve by this. Everything will be successful.
[104034]
From the European Convention in Germany 3/23/13, Lesson 5

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Becoming The Light For The Nations

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Can the system of relationships that currently exists among the people of Israel prevent the entire world from liberating from egoism?

Answer: By all means it is so. If we are not connected to each other, we cause malevolence not only to ourselves, but to the entire world.

The general process impacts us the same way as it does the rest of the world, but our task is to react to it differently. There is no sense in waiting for the entire world’s reaction since all they have is a desire to receive, whereas we also have a spark of bestowal. This explains why our reactions have to be correct and thoughtful. Our mission is to unite and become “the Light for the nations,” a “Kingdom of Priests.”

The lack of unity among Jews in the land of Israel influences not only the Jewish Diaspora, but the entire world that hates us and despises the State of Israel. Today we see that it’s not anti-Semitism that is popular, but “anti-Israel.”  It’s not an accident, since Israel is a very special place where we have to unite, but we don’t do that. If we start taking care of the relationships among us, we will eliminate all hindrances and will see that the rest of the world happily follows us. The nations of the world don’t have such a level of egoism as we do. So, if we apply enough efforts, they will join us on our path.

Moreover, Jews who live abroad will also relate to us appropriately. Today, they hate Israel. A majority of them vote against Israel. They would be happy if this state never existed. That’s what official surveys reflect. We can do nothing about it. It’s triggered by our non-performance in pursuing our mission. Nobody wants us the way we are now. We are egoists, protectionists, literally a “splinter” in the body of the world. All world problems are connected with Israel. Nobody notices our achievements; on the contrary, our accomplishments only irritate them. We have to bring a methodology of correction to the world rather than teach them how to use egoism in a better and more successful way.

Question: The nations of the world don’t realize what the Israeli mission is, do they?

Answer: Subconsciously they do. Why do they say that we are the reason for the overall evil? It’s because they feel that they depend on us. This sensation is not accidental. When Arab leaders claim that Jews are the cause of the world’s wickedness, they really feel it. It’s not just politics, but rather the voice of their hearts, their internal sensation. Jews in various countries realize that contemporary Israel doesn’t contribute much to this world. That’s why today there is a tendency to abolish Israel.

Unfortunately, nobody in Israel listens to the world’s predispositions. We behave as if we don’t care; we continue doing business, making money, raising our wellbeing, arguing in the Parliament…

We live as if nothing is going on. That’s why we can’t exclude a chance that very soon we will be overwhelmed with new immense troubles. External forces that come both from Jews and from the nations of the world might seed a disagreement among the people of Israel which will cause riots and protests, a new round of an “Israeli spring.”

It means that the experiment to create a State of Israel was not a success; how long can the world tolerate it? Why currently are all Jews in the world against Israel? If at this time, on the eve of Passover we won’t unite, then in 2-3 months we will end up in a very dangerous situation. Let’s hope that we will find correct words to address the people of Israel and that they will understand us.

Our salvation is in unity and in spreading unity to the entire world. We have to tell the world openly what our mission is and that unity is exactly what the nations of the world are entitled to receive from us. Then, they will understand how much they need us. Our previous internal relationships only caused them troubles; at this time, let our unity bring everybody benevolence. People will understand and feel it. If we change, then our internal state will change too; otherwise, we won’t live up to a good future.

Question: What can we do on the eve of Passover to halt this negative development?

Answer: Aspire to exit from Egypt, meaning to rise above the hatred, disagreement, and separation among us for the sake of unity. The entire nation, which is now split into multiple groups and parties, as well as each particular individual have to realize that it’s our unity that will define our future, nothing but that!
[103816]
From KabTV’s “Kabbalists write: Exodus from Egypt.” 3/4/13

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How To Unite The Continent?

Dr. Michael LaitmanHundreds of years ago the Kabbalists already spoke about the general impending crisis of humanity that is appearing today in Europe in a particularly acute form. At the beginning of the 20th century Baal Hasulam wrote that at the end of the century, more precisely from the year 1995, a completely new stage would begin, a real stage in the development of humanity. Basically, this period was even born in those days, but it always takes time until a process reaches its realization among the masses of people.

On the other hand, these changes are similar to those changes that take place in a group. And so from the organization of small groups, we can learn what will happen in large blocks like these, like that of the entire European continent.

From the learning material, we know that the moment that people strive to unite, they immediately discover a new level of egoism. Why does this happen? Because when we are found in some stage of development and need to rise to the next level, we can do this only if we overcome our ego.

The next level of development is a greater connection between people. If we connect between us, suppose with the power of 10 kilograms, and then in continuation, suppose, we need to be connected with the power of 100 kilograms. So how is it possible for us to be connected between us with an intensity like this to organize a stronger and more consolidated society in which the upper Light, the force that acts upon us and influences us externally (the Surrounding Light), will be revealed?

For this we need to become egoists between us on our present level, so that all of this ego will be found among us. Then in opposition to it, we will connect with each other, which is to say that we will make a screen above us, so that all of the Light that reaches us will not enter each of us in an egoistic form, but will remain outside, above us, in the form of a community, in the form of a covenant. And then we will feel the collective Light with a collective desire that will connect us. This will be our first spiritual Light, which we call by the name “Nefesh” (“the Light of Nefesh”).

The ego rends and pushes us from within, but in opposition to that, specifically working above it, we compel ourselves to connect. Even though we are all egoists, in spite of this, we unite.

Our unified state is composed of two opposing forces: the egoistic force that separates us causing repulsion, hatred, lack of understanding; and above this, we rise to connection between us.

When these two opposing forces, the negative force on the one hand and the positive force on the other hand, reach a particular tension between them, then in one moment, in the form of a leap, the upper force, the Light, is revealed there. It gives us a feeling of cooperation, a feeling of connection, and together with this, a feeling of existence in an absolutely different space, in another state, called “the upper world.” We begin to feel ourselves beyond space, beyond time, beyond substance, beyond movement, within a world of the forces that run this material world. We need to go out together to a level like this. To rise to it today is our mission.

In a group we see that at the moment we begin to connect with a general common desire, at that particular moment, we get hit. Suddenly a feeling of separation, cooling off, lack of meaning appears: “We don’t need all this…” Many of our friends leave; others, having survived this process of cooling off and rejection, again awaken afterward and a desire for connection is attained.

Together with you, we need to pass through many stages like these in this ascent. We cannot overcome it and pass through it all at once. Suppose we require 150 stages (just an arbitrary number) until we reach that point in which our potential will equal to the Light of Nefesh.

And so we discover within us these two potentials, the negative and the positive; here in this kind of difference between them, the Light is discovered.

This matter is known to us from electronics, from physics, and from other sciences. For example, a lamp comes on when there is enough power for it. If there exists a potential difference (℧), then the Light is revealed, the Light of Nefesh. This is what we must desire in a group.

The same thing happens today for the whole continent, and after that it will spread throughout the world.

In Europe, according to a sign from above, in accord with the program of creation, they have begun to unite. Certainly, all the peoples suppose that this will be useful for them from an economic standpoint; otherwise, it would be impossible to attract people to this in any way. We also enter a group because some future fulfillment attracts us towards it. It is also the same thing here: People feel that they can be together, can be stronger, that this will be more worthwhile for them, and so they begin to unite. But in the process of unification, they suddenly discover that there are numerous hidden obstacles and problems. All of Europe is now found in this state.

Naturally, if the peoples of Europe were conscious of what is truly happening to them, that specifically now they need to desire to unite and to connect, they would do what we are trying to do as a group, meaning, in spite of the circumstances, they would strive to unite somehow. Likewise, they already see that they cannot divide and separate from each other.

With the group a slightly different process takes place, we are divided and again connected. New people come, we go, we come and so forth, or we simply leave for a number of days or weeks (a state exists like this), or are even found within it, but as if we are not found, to the point that we descend alone.

But in Europe, the people who manage the financial and economic connections see that this is impossible, that it is impossible to separate further. We see this in the example of Cyprus, and before then, we saw the example of Greece. And this will continue. There is no escape. It will be necessary to transform, to connect more and more.

But problems await them here, because without understanding what needs to be done, this will be a blind search.

And in general, according to the analogy with a group, it is simply necessary to make an effort at mutual incorporation, mutual unification, mutual connection. Then just as in the group, the entire continent would also find a way out, followed by the whole world rising to the level of the upper world. Nothing special is happening here, this is truly a process of consolidation and connection.
[103447]
From the European Convention in Germany 3/22/13, Lesson 1

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Helping Europe To Unite

Helping Europe To UniteQuestion: Essentially, what can we do to specifically help the European groups unite?

Answer: To help with the unification of the European groups we need to be united with them: to connect with them, to push them, to help them, and to participate together with them in their unification. We’re not to stand on the side and watch: “What is happening there in Europe?” but rather to participate in this effort to unify. We need to be aware of what’s going on in all the European groups, to live with them.

We are not just creating a European group at this convention; we are creating the general world group. We need to feel that all of us are one body. Otherwise, we can’t advance. We’ll be in the same state all the time, dispersing and gathering again somewhat, and this will continue for years. We don’t have time for this. We need to unite and work together so much that we’ll see and feel each other as we do now in this convention.

We require one dissemination center for integral education and one management for the entire European group. The center of the world group is found with us. And then we’ll begin to consolidate them all into one united group.
[103678]
From the European Convention in Germany 3/22/13, Lesson 3

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Neighbors, Let’s Be Friends!

Neighbors, Let's Be FriendsQuestion: There are many nations and cultures in Europe that feel separated and divided. How can we build a European continent without any barriers?

Answer: The differences in culture and mentality are irrelevant since we rise above them. We should understand that this is the spiritual distinction that originated in ancient Babel. It is intentional.

Can you imagine what one heart and one mind means? You rise to a different level of communication where there is no need for language or for anything else—you simply feel each other since the information flows from one to another without words. You work according to a single unique plan that is above all differences. This is what we should reach.

So Europe was built that way on purpose, varied and full of contradictions, where for centuries mutual relations between all the nations and the cultures have been very complex. However, there is no need even to understand and to clarify this. The only thing we should do is simply rise above all that together! If you pay attention to the language a person uses, to his character, views, and habits, you will never reach a single opinion! This is the entire problem!

We suggest that we should unite above all the problems, above everything that exists on the ordinary, corporeal level. Then there will be no problems. This is the whole method of integral education.
[103495]
From the European Convention in Germany 3/22/13, Lesson 2

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Breakthrough From Virtual To Spiritual

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: “I, the group, the world.” As long as this picture exists in our imagination, the world endures much, exactly as you said many years ago. But of course, this shouldn’t make us happy. It’s necessary to help people, to support them, especially in our European Convention

Answer: I agree absolutely. First of all, we are commanded, “And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If I must relate to people with love, how can I be happy about their suffering? Certainly, something like this simply cannot be.

And on the other hand, when we look at what’s happening, we need to hurry and dedicate as much power and time as possible to dissemination. I hope that we will speak about this at the convention. For it’s very important for us to bring the understanding to humanity that a very clear, very concrete, simple, and practical method exists. Already today it’s possible to implement it and to see wondrous results in a number of days.

We know how rapidly people are changed within the framework of integral education beginning from the first lecture, from the first workshop. If we can only give them the method, they will open their eyes and see how simple everything is. We are preparing ourselves for this, and we already have a few hundred people in various countries that are ready to be teachers and educators.

One way or another, the world will not work it out without suffering, but these will already be sufferings of love, when together with the force that pushes people from behind, a force also draws them forward. This is our obligation, our mission, to show them the way.

In truth, I already spoke about this state many years ago, and frankly, every day I expect that they will begin to hear us. Otherwise, undoubtedly the suffering will grow more and more. And in spite of all this, I have great hopes. Due to the communications media, due to the reactions of scientists and politicians, I see that the world has changed. They are already beginning to grasp the idea and understand that today we require a breakthrough, a new way.

Question: The better that the understanding of the world is connected to the manner in which the group learns, it unites internally. And in spite of all this our ego demands a payoff in the form of conventions, and in general, endless meetings. Has the time not come for a new level? For in a form like this we cannot continue to gather the entire world. Someone will always remain on the sidelines and will feel himself deprived. Has the time not arrived when every one of us, within himself, and simultaneously in another, will come to the thought that we are one whole, not only through mutual physical activity, but also with inner activity? We need to be together internally.

Answer: The world develops from simple “mechanics,” to electronics, to radio and to television, to computers, to a virtual network, and after this, to a spiritual network. Our mutual connection is coming closer and closer to its spiritual form.

Today the world is making a transition to virtual connection, to conference calls, to telephones and chats. And now we need to go out to such a level of connection so that the whole world will know our coordinates in all segments of the network and will have the possibility of connecting with us, easily and correctly.

We need to be accessible to everyone in this virtual form so that the person can find a group, a society, a new image of humanity, a correct connection between everyone. It’s necessary for everyone to understand how to go inward, how to be included in this collective, how to live in it, how to feel included in a mutual connection. The moment that a person will take a cell phone into his hands or turn on a computer, this virtual atmosphere will then embrace him, will draw him inward and begin to work on him, will attract him more and more towards new stages of development.

And in the end, artificial channels and lines of communication will no longer be required, for we will stretch wires from heart to heart. This will be the coming level, yet we cannot rise to it without preliminary communications through these networks.
[103236]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/19/13, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar

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The Time Has Come To Awaken The World

Dr. Michael LaitmanEveryone acts according to the root of his soul, and the Light that reforms acts on him according to the root of his soul. Therefore, when we look at each other in this world, we don’t understand the motives of our actions; we don’t see which informational genes and which corresponding Lights are transformed in us. We cannot properly judge each other, and therefore we say that it is always necessary to judge your friend favorably.

In relation to himself, the person is given free choice and must strive to construct an environment for himself that will awaken him maximally. He must be dedicated to this environment and submit himself to it and be integrated with it as much as possible, as it is written, “All that you find in your hands to do, in your power, do it.”

But together with this there also exists a general plan of development. We are found in a process like this, where the entire world is beginning to wake up. And therefore, our development depends upon the development of the entire world. This puzzle is awakened more and more, and in it each one needs to fill the place that is designated for him. Therefore, the more that the world advances in general, the further we, “Israel,” the people who seek the Creator, advance. And likewise, through our advancement we awaken the entire world.

Therefore, it is impossible to separate these two components in our present work. Everyone is connected and depends upon each other in a form that is impossible to separate: both the inner work, by means of our informational genes and our personal Light that Reforms, and also the group in the group and the general work on the people of Israel in the land of Israel and on the entire world. The time has arrived when we must awaken everyone. But the more internal the layer is, the more important its awakening is.

The person needs to understand that if he falls all the time and thereby feels his inferiority, this is done for his good, and thus he is shown his true state. It is necessary to be thankful for the bad as well as for the good, for the good and the bad are weighed together. The form in which the good and the bad will be revealed depends only on the Light that Reforms. And it is always necessary to examine ourselves according to our integration in a society: How much are you ready and strive, are concerned to see the entire group, and in general the entire world, as your soul?
[103364]
From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/20/13

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Europe Is The Center Of The World And The Modern Babylon

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe wisdom of Kabbalah says that all of nature is a desire for pleasure, a desire to receive fulfillment. This desire developed over billions of years from the still, to the vegetative, to the animate, to the level of the speaking. In the course of development, a person passes through the same stages of the still, vegetative, animate, and speaking.

Throughout all these stages, humanity passed from one stage to another, from one area to another. Life was created somewhere in Africa and from there wandered somewhere in the east, and after that moved to Europe…

And today, we have reached a particularly unique stage. Now Europe is found at the center of the world, and according to its mixture and integration, it has become a kind of modern Babylon. It sets the tone for the world: culturally, scientifically, and technologically. Despite the fact that America seems separate from Europe, it is in fact the same civilization. Thus, we need to speak about Europe as the center of the world. In a general way, what happens in Europe influences the entire world.

There was a time when humanity spread from ancient Babylon over the face of the earth. It existed there as a community of an immense number of different tribes who were united by a common area by means of a relatively common culture and level of existence. Today, the same thing is happening in Europe.

This is a huge number of people, a nation, if it is possible to say this, which is composed of a large number of tribes, peoples, and nations who as a whole are united by a particular culture, uniform level, comprehension of the world and mentality. Even though they are different from each other, they have, generally, the same common pattern. And this pattern has gradually spread throughout the world.

Europe is the origin and the spirit of modern existence. But it is itself passing through very painful changes, for our whole world is changing, and not only in a technological sense, but also because the desires found at the base of our system have changed lately in a particular, qualitatively acute form.

Throughout millennia, humanity was developing in a simple way through increasing desire. People wanted more: to earn more, to get more, to expand more, to enjoy. They simply wanted to fulfill these desires. In general, they developed quantitatively and, practically, very little qualitatively.

But today a very complicated transition is taking place towards new desires. We have gradually drifted from the traditional direction of development that leads to wealth, fame, power, and knowledge. Humanity no longer searches for these things that formerly interested and fulfilled it. Today it is passing through a passive, “amorphous” existence, because it is found in a transitional stage.

In our spiritual changes, sometimes we are found in great ascent and after that find ourselves in descent, indifference and even despair. And so we cannot do anything, we don’t want anything. And after that again something “explodes” from within, and again we are drawn in some kind of direction, and again we are filled with energy. With us these states transform very rapidly, and in humanity, in its development, they change very slowly.

And today we are passing through that stage. We have been found in it for quite some time: It is expressed in nihilism, denial, apathy; it originated in the years after the Second World War, in the fifties and the sixties. From that time, these phenomena received new forms: an increase in the number of divorces, people not wanting to establish families or to give birth to children, wanting to be alone, and abandoning their parents. There is no sense of a community that once provided for the family, a group of people who were connected by a feeling of family. This also is lost.

As a result of this, a person is found in a state of confusion. And this is felt in particular in Europe as the most developed part of humanity.

But in a fundamental manner, this process is only a transition to a state in which we search for meaning. People have lost pleasure, lost desires, lost the urge for the former fulfillments. There is nothing to do here. There is simply no urge! It is difficult to compel people.

You yourselves at work, at home, at various events, probably meet people like this: a little disappointed, empty, and indifferent. Various communications media, advertisements, try to arouse them all the time for something: sports, soccer, shopping, and so forth. All this looks exciting, but in fact it is not. A person is attracted to this only because he needs to fill himself with something.

Moreover, this process in Europe has added to other processes. You see, in principle, the unified force of the Light influences all of us. To the same degree it influences the mental and moral level, all the levels. And as a result of this, we feel a collective descent.

However, the crisis has influenced not only the family, education, and culture. The most important thing for us at the moment is the economic, financial crisis. You see, the economy, finances, have always connected people. If people were not dependent upon each other economically with the need to earn money in order to exist, they would not have organized into cities, peoples, nations, and all kinds of associations; they would not have had the incentive to do so.

What, in principle, stimulates connection between us? We need to make a living, to exist, to enjoy, and to develop in a shared form. And when there is a crisis, the financial, economic gap between us already becomes a basic, fundamental separation, and it represents the most significant transition to the next stage.

And here, the role of Europe is very important: Europe is found at the focal point of events today and can show the whole world the right approach to a solution to problems, with which, sooner or later, everyone will need to contend.
[103443]
From the European Convention in Germany 3/22/13, Lesson 1

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There Will Not Be Divorce

Dr. Michael LaitmanOpinion (Evgeny P. Bazhanov, President of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Russian political scientist, historian, writer, and diplomat): “In a globalizing world, even the countries located at opposite ends of the earth cannot live without each other. Moreover, the neighbors must learn to work together. In Europe, which for centuries was torn by conflicts and bloody wars, the most advanced integrated alliance has been forged, which practices a common strategy for security and development.

“In South-East Asia, they have learned to co-operate in the framework of the ASEAN states with a complex history of relationships with each other, with different ideological and religious preferences. Integral processes are developing in North and South America, in South Asia, and Africa. There is an understanding of the importance of integration in the blazing Middle East.

“In its turn, the post-Soviet region is bound to integration by a common historical heritage, geographical proximity, economic  interdependence and cultural closeness, similarity of the addressed problems. Integration processes will develop gradually, not without delay, even failures, but, of course, no divorce threatens us.”

My Comment: As a result of our development, the complete unification of all of humanity must occur in full similarity to nature, but the question is in what way will we come to a common decision about it and its realization as the only true condition. Kabbalah says that the third state, the corrected state, already exists, but the path to it is to be selected—the short good path or the long painful path.
[103280]

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400 Years Of Preparation To The Exodus

Dr. Michael LaitmanToday’s Egypt, which keeps the people of Israel in exile, and Pharaoh, which doesn’t allow us to get out of slavery, are our ego and the egoistic relationships between us. It is what does not allow us to become a people free from egoism and to feel the next degree both in a spiritual and in a material sense. That is why we cannot eliminate the external threat and hatred towards us from other nations. All this is because of the inner egoism that rules over us instead of the property of bestowal and mutual love.

Once, we seemingly managed to get out of this slavery, to mark the future when we would be able also to get out of our inner Egypt, from slavery to freedom. Today we are slaves because we are dependent on the entire world and on our egoism that governs us from all sides. We need just to realize that we are in a terrible and dangerous situation.

The most important is to feel that we have a duty for ourselves, for the whole world, and the Creator and we must realize the goal. This mission is entrusted to the people of Israel because we have received the method of correction and connection and are obliged to implement it.

Having gathered today at the festive table, let’s discuss these questions, and this is called the preparation for the exodus from Egypt. To get out of Egypt, a person prepares himself for “400 years,” that is, he goes through four full stages of egoism. At the beginning he has to experience as if egoism advances him and brings him advantage, what is called the “seven years of satiation.” And later there will come “seven years of hunger” and the Plagues of Egypt. Then, he has no choice but to flee.

It is important to move from the material perception of these events to spirituality and to hold the Passover meal in that spirit.
[103535]
From KabTV’s “Kabbalists Write: The Night of Passover Seder,” 3/4/13

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