Unite with Your Neighbor

263Question: What does it mean to unite with one’s neighbor and bring everyone to the level of faith?

Answer: To unite with one’s neighbor means to feel that you cannot approach the Creator, the truth, or the purpose of creation without them.

Question: Why do we have such low sensitivity to the power of separation among us? What will help us realize the division in time and come from this point to the point of unity?

Answer: Only the connection between us, we need to ask and pray for it to strengthen. And to develop sensitivity to the feeling of these points, we need to think more about strengthening the connection.
[326213]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/3/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Torah, the Creator, and Israel Are One”

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Socrates’ Tricky Question

555Comment: Many ancient Greeks were afraid of Socrates’ question, which he often asked: “Aren’t you ashamed to take care of money, fame, honors, and not take care of your soul and not think about it, so that it is as good as possible?”

Alcibiades, a politician and strategist of that time, hated Socrates and said: “Socrates made me feel a sense of shame. And how often I wished that he was no longer among living people.”

Answer: That’s right; with a normal egoistic view of the world, if someone points out my flaws to me, I first want him to disappear, and the flaws, if possible, let them disappear too.

Question: From this explanation, it would seem to be a despicable thing to engage in fame, money, and power?

Answer: It should at least be secondary. We need it for existence.

Question: So we are dealing with this out of necessity? But only just out of necessity.

Answer: Yes.

Question: And in principle, all our studies should be to engage in matters of the soul. Why then don’t we engage in them?

Answer: Ask all people and they will tell you: “I do not know what a soul is. I do not know how to do it. I don’t want to…it’s difficult; it’s complicated. It’s against my egoistic nature. I don’t want to…”

Question: Then why are there so many spiritual practices in the world?

Answer: Because people invent things all the time, and they want to trick the Creator around their finger. That is, I will do this or do that, and in this way I will conquer egoism and nature, and the Creator.

Question: So this is all an attempt by a person to somehow bypass the main thing. Because the main thing is difficult to do?

Answer: The main thing is against our nature, and therefore we cannot advance like this.

Question: How can a person determine that he has found exactly that?

Answer: He begins to feel the meaning of life, the real meaning of life, the meaning of existence. He feels that he has found the root of life.

Question: Where do I feel it? Where is the feeling in me that I have found this?

Answer: It is a merging of heart and mind.
[321239]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/6/23

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Fears Shape Prayer

624.01When fear comes upon a person, he should know that there is none else but Him  (Baal HaSulam, Shamati 138, “Concerning Fear that Sometimes Comes Upon a Person”).

Question: There are many kinds of fear. What are the ones mentioned in this article?

Answer: Any of them! Sometimes you are filled with some completely stupid fear, sometimes more serious fear, sometimes fears based on problems that exist between you, and so on. It does not matter. The main thing is that you are busy connecting with the Creator and want to put this connection in order.

Question: How can this fear manifest in working in the ten?

Answer: It is very simple. Your fears form a prayer with which you turn to the Creator. Nothing else is needed, just to raise a prayer.

All fears must pass through us. We must identify them and connect with the Creator through them. Fear is what correctly guides us toward the goal of creation.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/23/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Concerning Fear that Sometimes Comes Upon a Person”

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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 3/20/24

Preparation to the Lesson

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1st part of the Lesson — Writings of Rabash, “Concerning Joy”

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Selected Highlights

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Audio Version Of The Blog – 3/19/24

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The Force Leading to the Creator

934Question: As it is said: “Torah, Israel, and the Creator are one.” It is clear there are friends with whom we unite, and there is the Creator that we want to reveal together. But what is this force between us that we must attract so that it leads us to the Creator?

Answer: It is the quality of mutual bestowal of everyone to everyone. To the extent you can realize this quality among yourselves in the ten, you advance toward the Creator and become similar to Him.

Question: What does it mean to correct ourselves with the friends into the vessel (Kli) of Adam HaRishon?

Answer: It means to discover our connection in one vessel, in one ten, and from this connection, direct our desires for rising toward getting closer to the Creator. We want to rise to His level to comply with what the Creator expects.
[326161]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/3/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Torah, the Creator, and Israel Are One”

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What Is Considered Luck in Spiritual Work?

938.01Question: When the ten feels that it reached success, i.e., the state of “embrace with the Creator,” how can it return pleasure to the Creator for this luck?

Answer: To do this, one must rise above oneself and perform an act of bestowal with the friends. In this way, we create a state among ourselves where we receive the upper light for the sake of the Creator.

Question: If a person is rewarded with faith above reason, can this be considered luck?

Answer: Yes, this is also luck.

Question: Nevertheless, luck largely depends on the root of the soul, and the environment cannot influence success 100%, right?

Answer: The environment can influence a person, and a person can influence the connection of their soul with the Creator.
[326164]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/29/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Explaining the Discernment of Luck”

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Will AI Make it Better or Worse?

186Question: The Danish Saxo Bank makes predictions every year. According to the forecast, in 2024 the world will be threatened by artificial intelligence that will create almost all content on the Internet, and people will massively stop believing in information; see and hear, but do not believe.

I recently was shown a video of you and me with our voices speaking utter nonsense, and you cannot tell that it is faked. Doesn’t that scare you?

Answer: No.

Remark: They say it will be widespread next year.

My Response: So what? Very good.

Question: What is good about it?

Answer: People are realizing and will realize that all this is deception and lies, and they will already be cautious about everything.

Question: So I should not believe my own eyes or ears?

Answer: No, but we ourselves have built such a world where lies are now becoming more obvious. And it is very good that we understand that it is a lie and that we should not believe anything.

Question: So you think this is the goal of the upper governance, to bring us to this feeling that I don’t trust anyone, I can’t trust?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Who should I trust then?

Answer: No one, including yourself.

Question: Myself too? So I see, hear, and do not believe?

Answer: Of course.

Question: Then where is that rope?

Answer: There is no rope. There is nothing to hold on to, and we just live.

Question: Well, I do not trust information. But the person who is next to me, who I do not see on the screen, I talk to him, can I trust him?

Answer: We will be forced to shorten our lives, shrink it to a state where we can trust each other, trust in some small connections between us. And that is it, nothing more is needed.

Question: After all faith is killed in me, will I want to, as you always say, get closer to someone, be in connection with them, and believe them?

Answer: No, it will only be at a level like, I give you a piece of bread, you give me potatoes; it’s like this and that’s like that.

Comment: It is called “natural exchange.”

My Response: Sort of a natural exchange because at that level, we can clearly understand what we are doing, in what states we find ourselves, in what relationships. And that is it. Why more?

Question: Still, why do they give us this state of cutting off everything: all hopes, all faith, everything?

Answer: So that we understand where we are, within which boundaries we can exist and coexist.

Question: Within which boundaries?

Answer: In natural ones. In the most straightforward, narrow, and concrete relationships, not far from each other.

Question: And what is the point of that?

Answer: Nothing. It is just so you do not get confused! Otherwise, you have woven such a culture, such a science around yourself…and for millennia. You got lost. Get out of the dark forest.

Comment: It turns out that the whole history that has been written, all of it is fictional? Everything that is said now…

My Response: People wrote it.

Question: I see. Holy books written by people who felt the spiritual world, books written for us, why should we believe them? Should we believe them or should we check?

Answer: Do not believe in anything. You can only verify that what they are advising is true. That is, in their advice.

Question: So, I should practically go through the whole path that the prophets have gone through?

Answer: You cannot go through the whole path, of course. But what they advise, you can check on yourself. Something from it will turn out to be true. And you can grasp onto that.

Question: So, they are guiding us to this, narrowing our path? It turns out it is like a tiny eye of a needle. And everything narrows like that, and you have to fit into this little hole?

Answer: Yes, why do you need more?

Question: Where do we end up after this hole narrows: I trust no one, believe in nothing, and want to pass through it? Where do I end up? What is there?

Answer: You end up in a state where your entire essence and your entire destiny are determined. It is all there. And when you see it in front of you, you are already acting correctly.

Question: So you are saying that I am breaking through to my core? That is where I am real?

Answer: Yes, there you are, yes; you begin to become acquainted with yourself. That is where, I hope, we shall come.

Comment: Look, there is no evil in the world. Artificial intelligence will lead us into the depths, and as a result, it will actually direct us.

My Response: Yes.

Comment: They also believe that the year 2024 will be the year of obesity. People will start refusing to do sports and will switch to unhealthy food. It is for sure hard to believe in that.

My Response: I do not know, it is so unimportant; let them talk.

Question: They say that this whole fitness club and healthy food industry with such crazy promotion might collapse. What do you think, could this empire that has been built collapse?

Answer: It could collapse because it all depends on the importance in people’s eyes.

Question: So, the importance might suddenly decline. I eat what I want, live how I want, walk, or sleep, sit, it does not matter. I feel good and that is all. Is it possible that people will stop running?

Answer: For me, it is possible. I am ready for it.

Question: What is being turned off here, can I ask you?

Answer: All talks about how sports are beneficial, diet is beneficial, they are being turned off.

Comment: And suddenly a person feels that…

My Response: Relax and float. That is also philosophy.

Question: This is really an empire. Tell me, please, do they have even a fraction, even a little bit of the fact that they are helping people to be healthy…?

Answer: No! They only want to profit from it, that is all.

Question: You do not allow pure thoughts?

Answer: Nothing! Neither those for it nor those against it want anything except to profit!

Question: Not even a little?

Answer: To earn money and elevate themselves are the two goals.

Comment: In that case, it will eventually fall. If there is not even a bit of good intention, then it will definitely fall someday.

My Response: Yes.

Question: The next prediction: the USA will face the end of capitalism. How is that possible? After all, this country did not know any other formations, it is built on capitalism. How likely is it that suddenly—boom—and it collapses?

Answer: I do not believe it will collapse because it is all built on absolute egoism. There may be various profound changes in society, in human nature, but I cannot imagine it collapsing. Because the whole world is built on it.

The capitalist structure is the most correct, true structure, because we are egoists. It fits us most directly. Until we change, it will exist.

Comment: And all attempts to come to a different system…

My Response: Will not yield anything; you will end up with the same thing.

Question: So, what system should we eventually come to?

Answer: We should come to connection, to friendship, to love.

Question: What kind of system is that?

Answer: Communism, a true communist system.

Question: Were all attempts to build communism premature?

Answer: Yes, nobody thought to build it! It is all talk. But to build real communism, it is first of all knowing that there is no other way but “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Question: Is that what you call communism?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: And sooner or later, one way or another…

My Response: It will happen. Because it is already planned in nature, and it already exists.

Question: So for this, as you say, we have to change our nature?

Answer: Yes. And everything should be directed toward that.

Comment: Next: the bank predicts that for the first time in US history, an independent candidate will win the election. They even name him: Robert Kennedy Jr.

My Response: Honestly, I do not know who he is, what he stands for, what he wants. But it would be good if the one who would be for uniting people on peaceful grounds won. But that is not obvious yet, there are no prerequisites for it. Although what is being done today, these are all the right steps of nature to tame human egoism.

Question: So there is still some good in this assumption that it will be an independent candidate?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Robert Kennedy Jr. is a lawyer. And since we touched on Kennedy, there is a term: “The Kennedy curse.” There are 22 unfortunate, fatal incidents. Tragedy follows this family! Is there some kind of law in this?

Answer: Yes, of course! It exists.

Comment: Granddaughters perish, children perish, it just keeps happening! What is it in them that they still rise up and go, and again want power, and so on?

Answer: It is also written in the Torah.

Comment: So a person is not afraid of…?

My Response: That is fate; nothing can be done about it. He feels like he is doing the right thing, that drives him, and no dissuasion helps.

Question: And not even fear helps—just to sit somewhere quietly, calmly?

Answer: No.

Question: So, this exists, you believe that fate follows an entire family, a dynasty?

Answer: Of course!

Comment: Next. In the European Union, in the year 2024 finally, a 2% wealth tax will be introduced. The question is only: where will the money go? Where does the money go when a tax is imposed, let’s say on the wealthy? Increase the tax and where will the money go in your opinion?

Answer: No one will notice them.

Question: What about those billions that will be collected? Then what is the point of taxing the wealthy?

Answer: It is all about race for power—anything goes.

Question: So, the one who announces this tax will become like Robin Hood for people?

Answer: Yes.

Question: And this is not done to help the poor, the unfortunate, and so on?

Answer: No, what can you help with just 2% anyway?

Question: Then, here is a question: how would you solve the issue with the super-rich people, with the wealthy people?

Answer: I would assign them to rebuild the world. So they would do everything to make the world more peaceful, more balanced, more pleasant, and so on. And I would give them honors for their successes.

Question: So in a way, you would redesign them?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: So, they will have honors, to get in Forbes, into the top names.

Answer: I would prohibit all of that.

Question: All these magazines, all these rankings?

Answer: Yes. The rankings would be different: here are the people we should respect, here are the people we should honor.

Question: Because he helped the world in such and such a way, he helped the world in such and such a way? Do you think that this respect is the most effective?

Answer: Yes, if we inflate this, it will have a great impact on everyone.

Question: So, you think that their desire to earn will turn into a desire to earn in order to give?

Answer: Yes, and not just that, but to this is the best janitor in our city, and this is the best doctor.

Question: So it would be distributed among everyone?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: And especially for them, probably they helped the world change.

My Response: Yes, that is not bad!

Comment: That is beautiful. But you were saying this back in 2006 in Arosa. There were some quite wealthy people sitting there listening, applauding, nodding.

My Response: 2006 Arosa, that was many years ago.

Comment: 17 years ago. It is called “The Arosa Document.” You can find it on Google and take a look. So, you still maintain this position that if this had happened, the world could have…

My Response: Yes, it needs to be arranged.

Comment: Maybe then there would be no wars.

My Response: What wars are you talking about? There is no escaping them.

Question: So, bringing it all back to the forecast for the year 2024, do you still think it will be better or worse?

Answer: I think the year 2024 will be a year of serious upheaval. People will start realizing that we need to decisively address our affairs. Well, that is all.

Question: So, you believe that in the year 2024 we will be brought to some point?

Answer: Yes, because it is clear to us: either it is endless warfare in different places and maybe even a world war, or let us get down to business.

Question: And maybe they will get down to business?

Answer: Yes, they will put their own house in order.
[323743]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/7/23

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Studying the Torah

528.04Question: When reading the Torah, we study the quality of bestowal and love. How can we attract this force upon ourselves while reading the article?

Answer: Studying the Torah is a multi-step process. Initially, we simply learn to read, translate, and analyze what is in our materials, replace words with spiritual elements and connections, and begin to understand what is really said. These are the conditions.

Question: What are these spiritual definitions that stand behind the words?

Answer: In Pticha (Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah) or in The Study of the Ten Sefirot, we study about them. They explain how the light coming to us from the Creator affects us, what desires it reveals, and how it connects us.

By reading the sources, it gradually becomes clear what happens to us during this process: what rises, what shifts, what descends, how we attract the light, how we open ourselves to the light, and what it does when it enters us.
[326167]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/3/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Torah, the Creator, and Israel Are One”

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Tears Reduce Aggression

276.01Question: Researchers from the Weizmann Institute in Israel have found that human tears contain a substance that suppresses aggression. For the study, they collected emotional tears from women. Then, men were given the opportunity to smell these tears or a physiological saline solution. It turned out that female tears induce changes in the brain that reduce male aggression by more than forty percent. What is the spiritual root of tears?

Answer: Tears are excesses of the desire to bestow. In Kabbalah, this is called Ohr Hozer, the reflected light that comes out from the source of the light and envelops it. In other words, tears are a great force.

Question: Even in a spiritual sense?

Answer: Especially in a spiritual sense.

Question: So, it overwhelms me, I want to bestow, bestow, and bestow?

Answer: When a person feels that he cannot solve the problem of bestowing, then tears manifest. I really want to bestow, but I cannot; my nature is different.

Question: It is one thing when a child cries. Another thing when an adult cries. Are tears still a form of helplessness?

Answer: Yes, it is helplessness every time.

Question: So, I have to reach a dead-end and then tears come?

Answer: And then tears appear. These tears are the reflected light in which the direct light from the Creator is dressed.

Question: Can you explain the terms reflected light and direct light more simply?

Answer: It means that a person appeals to the Creator and receives help from Him. This is called light.

Question: Is this the direct light?

Answer: Yes, and reflected light is the light that comes to a person and reflects from him in the desire to merge with the Creator.

Question: In our world we have tears of happiness, tears of sorrow, pain, hatred, and all of these are still tears. Why are they all tears?

Answer: Tears are a lack of the ability to embrace the immensity.

Question: Do I want to embrace the unattainable?

Answer: Yes, those who want to encompass the unattainable and find that they cannot do it, they cry. This can happen to a little child or an old person as well.

Question: In Kabbalah, there is a concept called “gates of tears.” They say that the gates of tears are always open. Can you explain?

Answer: When a person has a complete realization that he has done everything possible to come close to the Creator and sees that he still cannot achieve it, he then explodes from within in sobbing, thus opening the gates of tears. In other words, all gates are closed, but the gates of tears are open to a person who comes to them in this way.

Question: When you said that he has been through everything, already done everything, does that mean that all gates are closed? So, he checked all the gates?

Answer: Yes.

Question: So, one must still check all the gates?

Answer: Otherwise how will one explode in suffering and prayer?

Question: Can we say that, in principle, our life is to check all the gates? Is this our life? And all the sufferings we get along the way, are they because the gates are closed?

Answer: Yes.

Question: We come to it with age, with wisdom? What do we come to the gates of tears with?

Answer: With a plea out of helplessness. With a request that we have done everything, and besides the Creator no one can help us, and only to Him do we turn. But we are capable of it! Not just crying and screaming like a child. But when you have been through everything and your despair is greater than all the problems that came to you.

Question: Have you ever cried?

Answer: I have cried. The last time I cried was when my friend was drafted to the army. And with this I felt that childhood and youth were ending.

Question: Was it your childhood friend leaving?

Answer: Yes.

Remark: So, you had that period of happiness called childhood, and it ended.

Answer: Yes, something like that.

Question: This is an overflow of what?

Answer: It is an overflow of emotions. We were very close friends, and it was the end of it.

Question: Another question: Your teacher Rabash, did he ever cry?

Answer: No, I imagine that it could have happened, but I never saw a single tear.

Question: Even, as you said, when his wife died, when he was distraught by that blow?

Answer: No, he did not cry and did not show any emotion.

Question: Why?

Answer: He did not have it in him. He did not have anything like it. I was with him for 12 to 13 years; he passed away in my arms, and never did he cry.

Question: But when you think about him, very often tears come to your eyes?

Answer: I am not him.

Question: What do you feel at that moment?

Answer: I feel bitterness that I could not bestow to him more than I did. And sometimes, it caused him a sense of offense toward me. So… I still have to figure this out.
[323852]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/25/23

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