The problem of modern science is that we have reached a threshold where we can feel, supplement, and control our senses. This is why all scientists say that science has reached its limits.

And Kabbalah says that in our five senses we have practically reached the limit, that we cannot see anything beyond it anymore. We do not need to invent new devices that can only slightly expand our sensory organs but expand the senses themselves.

Science cannot do this because it deals only with mechanical addition to a person. We need to change man himself, to develop him a little from the inside. This is what Kabbalah does.

Therefore, we come to the conclusion that Kabbalah should replace sciences as their continuation, and give an answer to how to expand the limits of our attainment and come to a state where we can develop a person so that one attains greater depths of nature.

In Kabbalah, the object of study is man himself. He can measure his changes by his own instruments, which are inside and not outside of him.
[289467]
From KabTV’s “A Conversation about Science”

Related Material:
The Wisdom Of Kabbalah And Corporeal Sciences
The Wisdom Of Kabbalah And The Rest Of The Sciences
The Sixth Factor

Filed under: Kabbalah Study, Perception, Science | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Why is human suffering disproportionate due to some people suffering much more than others?“

We each have different roles in the intricate interdependent system that we live in.

Similar to how a human body is a complete system, but which has different parts with different functions, likewise we each occupy different places in the system we share. For instance, some of us are closer to the system’s “brain,” and others, to the system’s “hands,” “legs,” “body” and so on.

The complete perception of the full extent of our interdependence is beyond our current narrow individualistic worldviews. However, if we saw the complete picture of the system we all exist in, then we would see how each person holds a unique and different root in this great big system. We thus each have different destinies, initial conditions and final states.

While it might seem unfair that some people suffer disproportionately in relation to others, if we discover the perception of the complete system in which we exist, then we would see exactly why everything unfolds as it does.

Likewise, the purpose of all suffering is ultimately to awaken in us questions about its cause and purpose, and such questions serve to lead us to a point where we become willing to rise above our narrow and limited worldviews, and enter into the perception of the complete picture of reality. By doing so, we discover the reason for all suffering, and how to conduct ourselves harmoniously and peacefully in the system we all share, alleviating the need for further suffering.

In short, if we positively connect to each other so that we would realize our relationships in this system harmoniously, i.e. where we each complement each other and achieve a state of equilibrium, then we would discover our interdependence in its positive form, and why we have each been given specifically the place and the function that we have been given in this system. In the end, while we each hold different roots and functions in this system, we will find how we are all equal in relation to what is required of us—to positively connect to each other above our initial conditions and states—in order to discover a harmonious and peaceful existence.

I also recommend reading an answer I wrote to a similar question recently for further detail on this topic: “Why do bad things always happen to me?”

Based on a lesson, “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on February 16, 2016. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora | Add Comment / Ask Question →

The Book of Zohar was written in the second century by ten Kabbalists who gathered together in a cave, wrote it over a long period, and then hid it. The Book was found in the eleventh century, but it was not truly revealed until the twentieth century. Since that time it has become suitable for understanding and use by Kabbalists. And before that even Kabbalists could not understand it.

The great Kabbalist of the 20th century, Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam), wrote the Sulam Commentary on The Book of Zohar, and it became a working book for us. Why? If we gather among ourselves in dozens, as did those who wrote The Book of Zohar, trying to unite with each other in order to reveal the upper world and describe it, we act in the same way they did, and then we begin to understand what they wrote.

In our time The Book of Zohar becomes especially relevant for us, since now souls who are capable and ready for such comprehension have descended into our world. And although this book has passed through many generations, it is in our generation that it has really become a tool for comprehending the true universe and managing our own destiny.
[289071]
From KabTV’s “Conversation about The Book of Zohar”

Related Material:
The Book Of Zohar—The Book For Our Generation
The Book Of Zohar – This Is Our Tree Of Life
Zohar For All

Filed under: Spiritual Work, Zohar | Add Comment / Ask Question →

In the News (CNBC): “‘James Bond’ actor Daniel Craig says his children won’t be receiving his multimillion-dollar fortune.

“Daniel Craig may command eight-figure Hollywood paychecks…but the 53-year-old actor isn’t planning on sharing much of it with his children.

“In the most recent issue of Candis Magazine, Craig detailed his philosophy on inheritance, saying he doesn’t plan to have much money left to give to his children by the time he dies.

“Craig says that he finds it ‘distasteful’ to leave heirs massive amounts of money. …

“’My philosophy is get rid of it or give it away before you go,’ Craig said.”

Question: What do you think. about his solution? How does it feel for children to hear this? Here they are, sitting and listening and dad says: “You will not get anything from me.”

Answer: No, “nothing” does not mean “nothing.” This means that everyone will have a house, some kind of bank account, a couple of million.

Comment: There will be a launch pad.

My Response: Yes, this is the correct approach. That is, paying for university, a good wedding gift, and so on, that’s okay. But nothing more.

Question: That is, everything is not transferred to the family, everything to the estate? Just what is needed? What does this do to a young man?

Answer: It prepares him for life. He understands that he must prepare himself for the basis of life. He must work, study, and acquire a specialty, perhaps create some kind of enterprise with the money that his father will give him that will help create this. But not that he will be a rich dummy all his life.

Question: That is, if he gets all the money at once, as you say, and becomes a rich dummy, what does that do to him?

Answer: It kills a person. There is nothing worse.

Question: He will not be able to start at some pace, continue, and so on?

Answer: Only if he is squeezed.

Question: Do you think that proper parenting includes pinching too?

Answer: Absolutely! Without this, absolutely nothing sensible will come of a person. It is written in the Torah that in no case show your children that you are rich, and much less that you are preparing to leave something for them.

You promise to help them prepare themselves for a good, normal, intelligent, productive life. And that’s all.

Question: You mean you should not spoil your children?

Answer: No way!

Question: Help them a little and let them go?

Answer: Yes.

Question: So you are in favor of what Daniel Craig says?

Answer: Yes, I agree with him!
[289124]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 8/19/21

Related Material:
What To Do If Children Want Money
Generation Gap, Part 2
The Problem Of Fathers And Sons

Filed under: Children, Economy, Education, News | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Question: If I try to do something good to a person, does it mean I want to do something good to the Creator?

Answer: What does it mean: you want to do something good for a person? As the saying goes: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

Comment: But you always say that the Creator is in the good connections between people.

My Response: You need to understand what good connection means. This must be learned. Maybe, on the contrary, by sincerely wishing good things to a person, I push him to some kind of misfortune.

Comment: Probably the simplest thing is to satisfy his desires.

My Response: This is the worst thing! Certainly not good!

The only thing we can say: what is good for a person is to teach him to distinguish between good and evil.
[289650]
From KabTV’s “Spiritual States” 10/19/21

Related Material:
Why Do Good Intentions Not Lead To Anything Good?
What Is Good?
What Are Good Deeds?

Filed under: Spiritual Work | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Correcting the Egoistic Nature

Question: What is the current tendency? What is the world coming to?

Answer: The tendency of humanity is very simple: this year and especially next year we will feel that we can no longer exist like this. Humanity will hit a wall.

Question: Is the current crisis calling for recognition of evil? Is nature pushing us to understand that excessive consumption leads to relationships that separate us from the Creator?

Answer: No. Our egoistic nature separates us from the Creator! Excessive consumption is the consequence of egoism.

However, I do not have to consume a lot. I can just lie on the couch and twiddle my thumbs, watch football from morning to evening, and drink beer. Is this excessive consumption or not? I do not bother anyone, I do not exploit anyone, I drink a case of beer a day and watch 20 matches. Am I doing any harm to someone by this?

Question: Is this not egoism?

Answer: This is egoism but clearly revealed.

Question: Do we need to correct such egoism?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What for? After all, I am not doing this at the expense or detriment of anyone.

Answer: This is where the problem arises. We will need to understand why any egoism needs to be corrected.

Question: Even if it is not at the expense of others?

Answer: Even if you do only good to people from morning to evening and they see only a kind attitude and receive pleasure from you. Up to that point.

The fact is that all types of communication are egoistic. We must correct our nature at its very core. Even if I live without doing anything wrong to anyone, I am still an egoist, and I still have to correct myself.
[254557]
From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” 1/3/19

Related Material:
Kabbalah And The Consumer Economy, Part 6
Kabbalah And The Consumer Economy, Part 5
Kabbalah And The Consumer Economy, Part 4

Filed under: Crisis, Economy, Globalization | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Question: Can the property of one and the same person be simultaneously in all the worlds, or does the development happen in sequence?

Answer: Development happens strictly in sequence because a person cannot change his attributes in leaps. One reveals desires on each level (0, 1, 2, 3, 4) and must create a Masach (screen) over them, then the so-called Zivug de Haka’a (coupling with striking), and receive the direct light in the reflected light, etc.

That is, all actions are clearly predetermined as a sequence; none of us can skip a level, or several levels, or be in several levels simultaneously.

If you are on one of the upper levels, you can clothe yourself in any lower level to perform certain actions. It is the same in our world where an adult can play a child’s game with a child. But at the same time, you still remain on your level.
[254554]
From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” 10/6/19

Related Material:
We Are In the Center of All the Worlds
A Hologram Of The Spiritual Worlds
The World Of Assiya Is The Lowest Of The Worlds

Filed under: Spiritual Work | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Preparation to the Lesson

Writings of Baal HaSulam, Shamati #64 “From Lo Lishma to Lishma” 

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “The Freedom,” Lesson 5 

Selected Highlights

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Listen to an Audio Version of the Blog
Download:MP3 Audio

Filed under: Audio Version of the Blog | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Why can’t AI create a soul?“

Artificial intelligence is not intelligence.

Is a machine that can accurately calculate different moves intelligent? We have no possibility of creating a machine that will be as intelligent as a human. I say this first on the basis of my background in medical biocybernetics—a teaching about devices and cybernetic apparatuses in living organisms.

We can create machines that can think and calculate much faster than us, but intelligence is a quality that we inherit from above our minds. Since we inherit intelligence from above our current level of understanding, then we cannot create this quality in mechanical or biological material.

Machines will never be wiser than humans. They might be smarter, but not wiser. They can conduct calculations faster, and operate with less or even no errors, but they will never become more intelligent than humans.

Likewise, as the soul comes to us from above, we thus cannot create the soul through any mechanical or biological material.

Based on the lesson, “Fundamentals of Kabbalah: Is the World a Reality or an Illusion?” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 15, 2019. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

Filed under: Q&A, Quora | Add Comment / Ask Question →