Demanding Goodness Is Ignoble

549.01He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another than he whom you yourself have obliged (Bnejamin Franklin).

Answer: That is good, it is true.

Question: Is that another way of saying, “Do not expect good from someone to whom you have done good”?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: But I secretly expect good things.

My Response: Yes, as if you paid and now want it back.

Question: Yes, I did good to you, so you also do good to me. Is it wrong?

Answer: It is not that it is wrong, it is ignoble.

Question: So, it is in our nature, right? We have a sordid nature.

Answer: Certainly.

Question: So if I do good to someone, does it turn out, according to Franklin, that it is contagious, and I can do it again and again and again?

Answer: Yes, it generally happens as a habit. And a person already develops a need to do good.

Question: So, you can develop it like a muscle? Simply exercise it?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do you advise a person to do this?

Answer: Of course, why not?

Question: When you say “good,” what does it mean? To do good to another, what is good for him?

Answer: I don’t know what is good for him! What is good for him, that is what I should do.

Question: But before I do it, do I need to find out what is good for him? Or am I deciding based on my perception?

Answer: You still need to find out. You need to know the other person and put yourself in his shoes. And you need to do such a good thing, such a good action that would fit in precisely.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/28/23

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The Spiritual Treasury

212We have been lost in the terrible desert along with all of humanity, and now we have found a great, abundant treasure, namely the books of Kabbalah in the treasure (Baal HaSulam “The Last Generation”).

Why does Baal HaSulam call Kabbalistic books a treasury? The fact is that all Kabbalistic books describe the origin of man, our Earth, and human society—where it should move, based on what laws it exists, and how it can change itself in nature and nature to suit itself.

All this applies to Kabbalah, and even more so if we are talking about the last generation. After all, we are talking about a state we must reach in the future.

The information contained in the book shows humanity how it should exist. In this way it can ensure its good development for many, many years until it reaches the highest stage of its development as the last generation.
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From KabTV’s “Era of the Last Generation” 2/4/24

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The Creator Connects with the Child through You

627.2Question: One mother asked an old sage when it is best to start raising her daughter. “How old is she?” the teacher asked. “Five,” the woman replied. “Five years old?! Hurry home, you’re already five years late.”

At what age should you start raising a child?

Answer: In general, the feeling should be there from the first day of birth, and even before that. This is mentioned in many places, it is not that I am so smart. So parents should understand that a child is like an adult. They just react a bit differently. Basically, you’re talking to an adult, even an old person.

Question: So, you’re instilling wisdom in the child?

Answer: Absolutely!

Question: What do you invest in the word “upbringing”?

Answer: Upbringing is primarily your personal example.

Question: You said, “From the first day of birth.” What does the child see? What does the child feel? What example can there be?

Answer: It is not about that. It is about how you react to the child; the Creator reacts to them.

Question: So, the Creator reacts to the child through you? If I live with this thought, is it called “upbringing”?

Answer: Yes. You are opening channels of communication between the child and the Creator.

Question: Through me, the Creator connects with the child, and I should introduce the Creator to the child?

Answer: Yes. You are introducing them to each other so to speak.

Question: When you said, “Upbringing even before birth,” should this thought come to parents before birth?

Answer: In general, yes. We have talked about this many times.

Question: We’ve talked about it, but we have a million questions after that. It is not just interesting to people, it is vitally important to them.

After such upbringing, as an example of warmth and kindness, how does the child go out into this cold world, after being brought up like this?

Answer: If they perceive the world correctly, they won’t have any problems. He will feel the world is multifaceted. So, at least, he, his parents, home, and others, he will properly link all of this together.

Question: Does this mean that parents have managed to bring the Creator to the child?

Answer: Yes
[325262]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/28/23

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What Does the Science of Kabbalah Teach?

942Comment: The science of Kabbalah aims at the development of feelings. There is a strong desire to feel everyone in the ten. We are working and uniting, but there is a lack of feelings for each other.

My Response: Your egoism prevents you from being in clear connection with each other so that together, you can force the Creator to unite with all of you.

Question: So, do we need to run away from egoism?

Answer: Do not run away, but organize the correct connection between yourself and the Creator. That is what the science of Kabbalah teaches us.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/28/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Mind and Heart”

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Difference between States

528.02Question: How can I feel what state I am in, Katnut (small state) or Gadlut (big state)?

Answer: Check with your friends what you want when you are connected.

Comment: We want to reveal the Creator together.

Response: Then you need a big state—Gadlut.

Question: Is Katnut a constant state in the ten?

Answer: No, not Katnut, that is just a constant desire.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/24/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “There Is a Discernment of the Next World, and There Is a Discernment of This World”

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Keep the Image of the Upper World before Yourself

263Question: How can your students, who have not felt the spiritual world, rise above material things and advance toward the goal without feeling the spiritual system?

Answer: They must keep the image of the spiritual system before them, and try to envision that they are in it because they are actually in it, just not yet with feelings. But by imagining it for themselves, they need to try to act in such a way.

Like a small child who tries to imitate an adult while sitting behind the wheel of a toy car, so must we imitate as if we are in this system and driving it forward.

That is how we need to invest in the spiritual system. That is called practical exercises.

Gradually, we will begin to feel where we are in it and where we are not. There are many articles and much advice from Kabbalists devoted to this topic.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Laitman’s Negative Properties” 1/5/12

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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 3/14/24

Preparation to the Lesson

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1st part of the Lesson — Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”

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2nd part of the Lesson — Writings of Rabash, “What Is A Groom’s Meal?”

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Selected Highlights

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Audio Version Of The Blog – 3/13/24

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Practical Work with Intention

222How can you practically work with intention when you receive corporeal pleasure?

It does not matter whether I receive spiritual or corporeal pleasure, I must thank the Creator for it. Any pleasure can be clothed in the intention for the sake of bestowal. To do this, you need to analyze the pleasure received and surround it with your attitude toward the Creator and want to thank Him for the pleasure given to you.

I understand that pleasure comes from the Creator and I want to accept it with blessing, in reflected light, that is, in my response to the Creator. And I feel how this brings me closer to the Creator. It is as if the Creator takes a step toward me, gives me pleasure, and I, respond to Him with my grateful attitude, also take a step toward Him, and we become closer to each other. This means that I can now receive pleasure in the Kelim of bestowal.

The Creator dresses in corporeal clothes, because only in such low clothes are we still able to feel the pleasure given to us. The Creator is present in everything we enjoy: in a piece of bread, in sweet sugar, in a sip of water, in pleasant smells and sounds. The Creator clothes in all this and that is why we notice different changes.

When we unite and receive pleasure, we can bring contentment to the Creator. After all, it is He who, every moment and in every state, brings His light into every form of pleasure, unity, and mutual bestowal.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/28/24, Writings of Rabash “What Is the Work of Man, in the Work that Is Attributed to the Creator?”

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Where Will the River of Life Take Us?

760.1Roman writes:

I regularly watch your shows. They help me live, especially in these difficult times. But sometimes I am puzzled. I watched your video today about the four candles when all the candles go out, and only one remains: hope. And suddenly I hear in your response that one just needs to live through this day. What does it mean to live through? Right now, you know, it is not easy with work, money, life in general, and the age is not the same anymore, and illnesses. So, what lies behind this phrase that you keep repeating: “You just need to live through it”?

Answer: You need to go with the flow of life as if you are in a boat, in a river, and it is carrying you somewhere, not onto rocks, not onto waterfalls, just the current carries you. That is how we should still look at life. And what else can I advise people who live in our time? You just need to keep going.

Question: And at the same time, I know there is the current and there is the boat?

Answer: There is the current, there is the boat, and there is me in the boat. And I have to agree that I am floating with the current. I cannot swim against the current. I cannot get out of this river anywhere. The only thing I can do is accept where the current takes me.

Question: Who is this answer directed to?

Answer: To myself first and foremost. That is how a person should understand.

Question: Are my friends also in this boat?

Answer: If you put it that way, then yes. We are all floating in the boat with the current of life, in the river of life. And it is best to understand that this is how it is. We survived through the day, we survived. Another day, once again. And so on and so forth.

Question: So you are not in favor of making any plans?

Answer: No! Those plans never come to fruition anyway, and we only worry about them.

Question: So, are you concerned that we are heading toward disappointment?

Answer: It depends on what goals we set for ourselves in life.

Question: And still, what goals should we set? I am floating in this boat; do I want to reach somewhere or not?

Answer: If you have such a goal.

Question: If the goal is to reach somewhere, then…?

Answer: Then yes. You should check it: is it worth it? Can you achieve that goal? If you can, then yes. And if not, then slowly row a little closer to it, but still calmly. Do not rush.

Comment: This complicates things a bit.

My Response: Why does it complicate things? Should we be striving?

Comment: We are used to striving for a goal, we are used to pursuing a goal.

My Response: I do not think it is wise in our time. There are periods that carry you, and that is it.

Question: So, in our words: “There is none else beside Him”?

Answer: Yes.

Question: And is that how I should live?

Answer: The Creator still creates new conditions for us, and whether we wish it or not, we will still implement them—what He desires.

Question: What does it mean to surrender to this? On one hand, it means giving up?

Answer: No, agreeing with where the river of life is carrying us does not mean giving up. It means truly perceiving the flow of the river of life and moving along with it, understanding that you cannot go against it. There are no heroes who could go against the current. And yet, we might still wish to change something, but that something can only be very, very small in our lives.

Question: Where is the joy in this? We still want to be joyful.

Answer: Joy is not in creating something like throwing myself into the water and starting to block the river, and so on. Joy is in finding special points of movement in my ordinary, simple life path and trying to move along them.

Question: What do you mean? Special points, are they joyful points? Is that what you are saying?

Answer: They can be joyful or sorrowful; nevertheless, we must go through them. Therefore, we need to accept life more as a flow.

Question: Still to nullify oneself, surrender to it. Like that?

Answer: If you do not nullify yourself, it still does not mean anything.

Question: But what about the fact that we get used to and found joy in it: to swim against the current, for example, to go against nature?

Answer: That is your inner feeling. In reality, no one can go against it anyway.

Question: We repeat with you more than once that a human nature is egoistic. And a person must somehow rise above his nature. Can you relate to this?

Answer: Yes. Rising above one’s nature is precisely realizing that you are still floating with the current of the river. And still, you perhaps might want to get out of it, but you do not even know where or how, and who is waiting for you on the shore if you suddenly emerge from under the water with your boat, and so on. So, I do not know if that is wise.

Question: Do we need to know or at least have a premonition of what awaits us in the end? After all, rivers flow into the sea.

Answer: You have to choose a goal that seems realistic to you and that aligns with your abilities, and try to achieve it somehow. So, we must somehow understand that we are leaving the river of life, getting out of it, and then somehow continuing to sail on.

Question: So, these milestones of stops should be along the way?

Answer: Yes, but frankly, in the end everyone, even if during their life they aspire to become a revolutionary in something and so on, ultimately agrees that this is life and it ends with death, and then, what will be will be.

Comment: It does not sound very optimistic, of course.

My Response: Why doesn’t it sound very optimistic?

Comment: Still, we want to set goals not that necessarily we defeat death, but at least internally, within ourselves, you know.

My Response: On the contrary! When you agree with this, you acquire a special tranquility and a special perception of life, and you perceive it realistically. I am not talking about death. I am talking about really perceiving this flow.

Question: But I will ask again. If those engaged in our science are in this boat, and let’s say it has been many years, should their behavior be the same; what do you think?

Answer: Their behavior should be as they, like any person, strive toward their goal.

Comment: So if the goal is to rise above one’s nature.

My Response: If the goal is to rise above one’s nature, then it is with you in the boat. You should not jump anywhere and swim to the shore, you should not shout: “Hey, who is there on the shore?”—there might be someone. You do not have to call anything to yourself. It all depends on your mood, your attitude toward what you are sailing through. And in the end, you enter into another dimension.

Question: How does this happen? How am I pulled out of my nature? I am just sailing in the boat, with our idea.

Answer: You are not pulled out, you are not going anywhere. Simply, the illusion in which you existed is gradually replaced by another, a third, and so on.

Comment: And I no longer pay attention, like Roman writes here that life is hard, age, illnesses.

My Response: No, no, no. I am no longer interested in that. I am already thinking about how I will calmly live through this and then enter into a new life.

Question: How can you deal with this? With this life which overwhelms, with illnesses, sufferings?

Answer: The best thing is to surrender to it and not resist. Because resistance will not give anything, and we know that. Everything around us goes through such stages and ends similarly. Treat both life and death kindly.

Question: And is this called “also treating the Creator the same way”?

Answer: Yes, agree with Him, with what He has done, with what He has done to us, placed us within certain boundaries, and given us such a vector of development.

Question: When it is said that everyone has their own path, what does it mean? Their own path to the Creator?

Answer: Yes, nothing else. And there is nothing particularly new here except relative to the individual.

Question: So, each person has their own path to the Creator?

Answer: Yes, if a person understands this, then it is called that they have gained wisdom.
[325576]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 1/11/24

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