A question I received: What specific, practical measures would you advise the governments to take to combat the crisis? My Answer: Kabbalah says that the world’s integrality requires that each person receive what is necessary for him to exist, and give the rest for the benefit of the society as a whole. This shouldn’t be done forcefully, like in the Soviet regime, but should come from people’s understanding that it’s necessary to carry out the law of nature that states: “All people are one family.” Every person will be rewarded for this with the sensation of eternal and perfect existence (outside of one’s egoism), just like all of Nature. The needed actions: In addition to establishing an educational organization, every person must be given whatever amount of money he needs to lead a normal existence. No one should be allowed to have more than this amount in his bank account. Everything else should go into the “common account.” The result: It makes no difference how much funds or resources there are for this. What’s important is the action itself, because it is integral, global, and harmonious with Nature (the Creator). Hence, it will evoke a positive reaction from Nature upon the society. Comment: 1. These actions must be carried out together with distributing powerful educational, explanatory material through all mass media channels (see my “Lecture in Arosa“). Bnei Baruch already has the material! 2. If humanity won’t act as described above, with understanding, willingly and voluntarily - through the study of Kabbalah, then nature will force us to do the same thing, but through a long and bitter path of suffering. The situation will be like a stubborn child who doesn’t want to do what his parents tell him to, and who’s only swayed by punishment into understanding that he needs to listen and do as they say. Only later will he come to realize how correct and good his parents were. Related Material: Transcript of my Lecture at the 3rd World Spirit Forum in Arosa, Swtizerland Share This Less

Before the St. Louis Congress began, I gave several lessons on the topic: “The world in the epoch of globalization and crisis.” The lessons are based on Baal HaSulam’s article, “The Peace.” I recommend watching or listening to them! Share This Less

A question I received: Lately I need to listen to the lessons and read materials on Kabbalah just like I need to eat and drink. Every day I feel as though I just cannot go on if I don’t do it. When I study, I feel great for the rest of the day. But then when evening comes, I have to study some more, or otherwise I will feel like I’ve lost something. What is going on? Is this to my advantage or do I have to overcome these feelings? My Answer: We were created in this world in order to reveal the Upper World while living in this world, and then we will exist in both worlds as one. Hence, according to Nature’s plan, we must devote all of our free time (free from acquiring the necessary things for existence) to the revelation of the second part of our existence - the Upper World. We must enter the Upper World before our physical bodies die, and then continue to exist there even after our bodies die. If we don’t do this in time, then we will continue the revelation of the second, concealed part of our life in the next life cycle. Related Material: Laitman.com Post: Today’s Souls Cannot Be Suppressed Share This Less

During the international children’s lesson that was held on 10.10.2008, we talked about prayer. Prayer is the most secret, concealed desire in one’s heart. It hides so deep down in our hearts that we don’t even feel it. But precisely this desire has a connection with the Creator, or we can say that the Creator dwells inside this desire. In order to reveal the Creator, we must reveal this desire for Him. But how can we influence this desire? A person cannot reach it himself, but only through the environment (the group). He evokes all sorts of influences from the environment, which make his desire for the Creator, for love and bestowal, grow. In fact, these influences have a direct effect on one’s heart. In this manner, through the group, one can evoke such a great desire for love and bestowal in his heart that it will become similar to the Creator in the minimum degree, and then he will immediately sense the Creator within it. This is the meaning and purpose of prayer - to gradually reveal the Creator in one’s heart! [Show as slideshow] During the following international children’s lesson, held on 10.17.2008, we talked about blessings. A blessing is a sensation of gratitude that involuntarily appears in one’s heart. It is gratitude for the corrections that take place within a person under the influence of the Creator’s Light: “Blessed are you, Ruler of the world… Who opens eyes to see the Upper World… Who spreads the earth (the desire to receive) upon the waters (the desire to bestow)… Who gives the heart the understanding to distinguish day (the Upper Light, the quality of bestowal) from night (egoism)… Who clothes the naked (with the Light of Hassadim, in which the Light of Hochma is revealed)… and so on. Share This Less

I had a conversation about the global crisis with Amir Hen – a famous Israeli attorney of economics, business and finance (center), and Avihu Sofer – head of Bnei Baruch’s publishing department for the press and the Internet (right). Summary: What is the right way to create contracts between people, organizations and governments if they are to take into account the global manifestations of nature: that everything is interconnected and interdependent, everyone is conditionally or specifically equal, and the planet belongs to everyone? The transition to the conditions of the last generation cannot be forced or artificial. It is impossible for anyone to understand how to behave under these new conditions of the global interconnection of all people unless one learns this law – the law of life and sustenance of a single system of human society. Just as a person cannot exist in our world without knowing its laws on the still, vegetative and animate levels – knowing what’s useful and what’s harmful, and how to utilize different objects and phenomena - in exactly the same way, a person cannot exist in our times without knowing the law of the “global (unified) mankind” on the “human” level, which is being revealed today. Moreover, this law and all of its manifestations are studied only in Kabbalah. By observing this law in a greater measure (through building a greater connection between the souls), we will ascend the 125 degrees of the ladder leading to the Creator’s Palace. Related Material: Laitman.com Post: The Source of Happiness Laitman.com Post: By Changing Our Intentions, We Change the Whole of Reality Kabbalah Today Article: The Consumer Effect Baal HaSulam Article: “The Last Generation” Share This Less

ReelSolid.TV World Tour - Chicago Hotel Sax Formats available:MPEG4 Video (.mp4) Tags: bill cammack, hotel sax, chicago, illinois, usa Tags: Video Less

Three questions I received on the modern study method of Kabbalah: Question: You wrote that the Mashiach Ben Yosef is the great Ari’s revelation of the modern method of correction, Kabbalah, in the 16th century. Can we make an analogy that the Mashiach Ben David is also a revelation – the one that was made by Baal HaSulam? Or will there be other revelations of the method that will be more complete and have a more powerful effect? My Answer: In Article #102 of Shamati , Baal HaSulam writes the following about the Ari: “That is why the holy Ari, who was the Mashiach son of Yosef, was able to reveal so much wisdom, for he had the permission from ‘the revealed world.’” As for the Mashiach Ben David, there are many mentions of him, but they all indicate something different and can only be understood through personal revelation, but I prefer to quote the primary source texts. Question: What do you think about The Book of Bakhir? My Answer: Baal HaSulam writes the following in the article “Disclosing a Portion, Covering Two”: Ever since the teachings of the Ari were revealed in the world, all Kabbalists abandoned all other books and study only The Book of Zohar and the books of the Ari.” Question: You said that 1995 was the starting point of the current events. What happened in 1995 that you are referring to? My Answer: I felt this because suddenly, the students that started coming to study with me were different: They were serious, diligent, and persistent in their pursuit of the goal. Today they still make up the core of the worldwide Bnei Baruch group. Of course, there were also inner changes that are concealed from the average onlooker - a clearer revelation of new spiritual forces in the world. Related Material: Laitman.com Post: The Coming of the Messiah Laitman.com Post: Worldwide Map of Bnei Baruch Kabbalah Today Article: Isaac Luria - the Holy Ari (1534-1572) Shamati #183: “The Discernment of the Messiah” Share This Less

A question I received: Please explain to me why has this crisis hit the United States? Americans are the most generous people on this planet. They give so much to charities throughout the world. They contribute to humanitarian causes. It is thanks to the United States that I was able to come from the former Soviet Union, and why the Jewish people are safe today and have their own homeland, why the old Soviet Union was destroyed and why the world prospered for a very long time. Maybe Americans do not do this purely from altruistic tendencies as Kabbalah explains, but still their contributions and deeds should not be overlooked. Of all the countries in the world, the United States is closer to the “Love your neighbor” philosophy than any other country that I am aware of. So why did this crisis come to them? What fault did the United States do to deserve this type of judgment? My Answer: Because the United States is the most developed country and the most connected with all other countries and parts of the planet, they were the ones to feel the beginning of the global crisis, which will only continue to expand and will envelop everything. It will then grow into ecological, epidemic and social crises. This will go on until we begin to resolve it by cooperating globally, as one body without boundaries. Related Material: Laitman.com Post: Reflections on the Crisis Laitman.com Post: Virtual Lesson - “The Crisis and the Solution” Wisdom in Action: The 3rd World Spirit Forum in Arosa Book: From Chaos to Harmony Share This Less

A question I received: Peace to you. Michael, you are a living sage, though for now you only exist in the virtual world for me. But of course you exist in the real physical plane as well. One of my goals is to affirm Faith in the physical world. How can we join efforts in doing this? I can tell you a little about myself. My Spiritual Birth happened at the age of 27, and there is a stamp on my right hand attesting to this. As I understand it, our plans and goals are the same. I’ve already passed all the main milestones of this path, but I am still driven by the desire to help fulfill the mission of the Upper Light and praise the Almighty. The information that you obtain from various sources, through studying and disseminating the teaching of Kabbalah, has been revealed to me from above without any intermediaries, and I obtain my knowledge directly from the Holy Grail. Nonetheless, our knowledge coincides in many ways, and we have a lot to share for the benefit of humanity. Write to me if you’re interested in my offer and want to collaborate. You know that there are no coincidences. My Answer: I receive many offers like this. The thing they all have in common is a lot of inner confusion. My advice to you is to bring your inner world in order. The best way to do this is by reading Baal HaSulam’s articles. This will put everything in its place and remove everything that’s unnecessary (Faith, Spiritual Birth, the Holy Grail, and so on). After that I invite you to collaborate! Related Material: Book: Attaining The Worlds Beyond Share This Less

A question I received: I converted to Judaism five years ago after a lifetime of study and searching. In these past few years I have been awed by the Torah and its Pardes. Now, due to your lectures, I have fallen into a dangerous question. When Boreh Olam (the Creator) says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts,” and the wise men say that the Torah is the wisdom of Boreh Olam, i.e., his thoughts, does this mean that for the past few thousand years, the practicing Jew has got it all wrong, and in fact my search has brought me to the wrong place? My Answer: Man was created egoistic from the very beginning. His thoughts are opposite to the Creator’s thoughts. The Kabbalistic group (Abraham’s students) was called “the people of Israel” because of their aspiration: Isra-El – straight to (similarity with) the Creator. This is how they lived until they fell from the spiritual level of “Love your neighbor as yourself” into egoism. This is called the destruction of the Temple. Since then, this group has existed in exile from the spiritual level, in egoism and “unfounded hatred for each other.” Instead of attaining the Creator, He is concealed to them. Instead of direct communication with Him, there is religion. Instead of mutual deeds with the Creator (correction and adhesion), they perform mechanical “commandments” based on egoism (Mitzvot Anashim Melumeda – mechanical actions that are taught from childhood and are performed automatically). No one is to blame for this condition of the nation – the downfall had to happen. But today (for nearly 100 years already), we are obliged to begin correcting ourselves and to thereby come out of exile. Those who oppose this are opponents of the nation, the world, and the Creator. Besides this, you should just study Kabbalah. It doesn’t matter what religion you belong to. Kabbalah is for everyone! Related Material: Laitman.com Post: Immerse Into the Waters of Bestowal, and You Will Become Pure Kabbalah Today Article: Kabbalah Chronicles Kabbalah Today Article: Inherit the Land Baal HaSulam Article: “The Revelation of Godliness (Matan Torah)” Baal HaSulam Article: “Exile and Redemption” Share This Less

Preface to the Science of Kabbalah (“Pticha”). Items 3-5, summary: 3. The order of distancing, of the weakening of the desire to bestow, resulting from the development and growth of the desire to receive, from above (from bestowal, similarity to the Creator) downwards (moving away from Him) – happens along five degrees or five worlds: Adam Kadmon, Atzilut, Beria, Yetzira, and Assiya. The World of Assiya includes our world (HaOlam Hazeh). “World” – Olam comes from the word Olama – concealment, because to the degree one grows distant from similarity to the Creator, the Creator becomes concealed. All creatures originate and have their root in the World of Infinity, in the Thought of Creation to “delight the creatures,” in their initial state. 4. The distancing of the creation from the Creator is necessary for the following reasons: To give creation (man) an opportunity to be independent. This is accomplished through the complete concealment of the Creator in our world. The gradual distancing occurs through the Light’s fulfillment and its subsequent expulsion. These contrasting states create sensations, realizations, and experience in the desire, giving it the opportunity to compare, and thus make it suitable to achieve its intended purpose. The creation’s purpose is the following: after its forced descent into our world, it is to use its free will and awareness to compare and to choose bestowal over reception. Thus, by choosing that similarity to the Creator is the most important thing, creation must gradually ascend to Him, until reaching full equivalence and adhesion with Him. 5. The degrees, the structure of creation, and all the actions are determined by the nature of the Light and the desire. Phase 0: Light (the Creator’s attitude to the creature) emanates from the Creator’s plan to create the creature in order to delight it by making it similar to Him (the small state is not considered complete). This phase is called zero or the root. It incorporates the future creature in the form of a point of the future desire, similar to a drop of semen or a seed. Phase 1: The Light influences the point of desire, developing it to Its own size and then filling it. The desire feels the fulfillment, called the Light of Wisdom (Ohr Hochma). Because the desire is fully dependent on the Light, it doesn’t feel anything besides mere existence, like an embryo within a womb. This phase contains everything that the Creator had allocated for the creature. Gradually the desire becomes aware of its distinction from the Light and wishes to become like the Light - bestowing. This new desire is defined as a new phase: Phase 2: This is the desire to bestow to the Creator, to be like the Light. As a result of this, the desire feels a different kind of pleasure than in phase 1 – the pleasure of being similar to the Creator, the Light of Bestowal (Ohr Hassadim). However, gradually the desire realizes that it merely desires to bestow, but does not actually bestow. This realization results in the emergence of a new desire – “to receive for the sake of bestowal,” and this is already defined as phase 3. Phase 3: The desire receives like in phase 1 (the Light of Hochma) with an intention like in phase 2, and feels that it bestows, like the Creator (the Light of Hassadim). Due to the sensation of being on the Creator’s level, a new desire develops – phase 4: Phase 4: This is the desire to enjoy the Creator’s status or position by receiving the following from Him: a) The pleasure of being filled with pleasure, and b) The pleasure of being similar to Him. Since the desire receives everything that can possibly emanate from the Creator, phase 4 constitutes a fully developed desire. Related Material: Download PDF version of Pticha Share This Less

A question I received: I am questioning the practical applications of “love your neighbor as yourself” and whether this should be more than being tolerant of your neighbor. Let me explain. Since everything we see around us is a reflection of what we have inside of ourselves, then our thoughts and desires are just objects that manifest themselves “out there,” but actually they appear within ourselves. I do not know about others, but I cannot say that I love all the thoughts and desires that arise within me. I am aware of most of them and tolerate them, but I do not really approve of all of them and I pass through them as though they are crowds of people. Is this how we should treat others? I understand the need to be aware of other people, be respectful of others and forgive them. But that does not mean I should love or approve of what others are doing, such as blowing up the Twin Towers in the United States, for example. I can forgive them for this action, but they still need to pay the price for killing thousands of innocent people. My Answer: Correction starts with man’s recognition that anything correct and good can only come from the Upper Light. Hence the only thing he expects from studying, uniting with a group, and disseminating Kabbalah is the Light’s influence. Related Material: Laitman.com Post: The Soul’s Correction Is Invisible on the Corporeal Level Laitman.com Post: The Source of All the World’s Problems Laitman.com Post: A Spiritual Revolution Is Inevitable Article: “Arvut (The Bond)” Share This Less

The book Interview with the Future is based on Baal HaSulam’s original manuscripts in our archive that talk about our times and the generations of the future. Among these materials, Baal HaSulam’s newspaper “ HaUma” (The Nation) was the first Kabbalistic newspaper in the world; he published it in 1940. (However, it was immediately shut down by the British authorities because of complaints from Kabbalah’s opponents.) These materials are necessary for understanding the global crisis that’s taking place in the world today. Related Material: Laitman.com Post: How Will We Live In the Last Generation? Laitman.com Post: What Would It Be Like To Live In a Perfect World? Baal HaSulam Article: “Building the Future Society” Baal HaSulam Article: “The Future Generation” Share This Less

A question I received: Lately I feel that many of my actions are not performed by me. It is as though I observe my actions from outside. This realization - that certain actions are not done by me - makes me wish to obtain freedom of choice. But the only free choice I have before the Machsom is the choice of the correct environment. What are these states and how do I work with them? My Answer: Everything you say is correct! Keep doing what you’re doing, and continue strengthening your connection with the common Kli. The technique of the process is as follows: 1. By pressuring yourself, put yourself under the influence of the environment (see the article, “Freedom of Will”). 2. The environment will exert a direct influence on your “heart,” and you will begin feeling the importance of bestowal and connecting with others. 3. During the lesson, don’t forget what is important to you, and you will then attract the influence of the Surrounding Light (Ohr Makif) upon you. 4. Under the Light’s influence, the quality of bestowal will be created within you. If you constantly proceed along this chain, then after a period of time (3 - 5 years at most) you will cross the Machsom, entering the perception (attainment, revelation) of the Upper World. Related Material: Laitman.com Post: Overcome Yourself by Raising the Importance of the Goal Laitman.com Post: The Surrounding Light Influences Us Only When We Evoke It Lecture at the Educational Center “Nekuda Shebalev“: Unconditional Love Talk: Five Worlds - Five Levels of the Will to Receive Baal HaSulam Article: “The Arvut (Mutual Guarantee)” Share This Less

A question I received: I have a question about Anti-Semitism: Last week, the world’s leader of Christianity, Pope Benedict XVI, said that he concords with the attitudes of the World War II Pope (Pius XII), who helped the Nazis. We know that the Vatican has influence on world politics. What can we hope from the society if we aren’t welcome to them? How can we show them Kabbalah if the leaders think and act against all that is related to the Jewish people? My Answer: Everything in our world is governed from above, as it is written: “There is not a blade of grass below that doesn’t have an angel above, who strikes it and tells it: ‘Grow!’” The angel “strikes” it because growth can only happen under the influence of suffering, which forces us to replace the current state with a different and more advanced state. Kabbalah allows us to avert the blows by recognizing that spiritual development is necessary and to grow on our own, without waiting for the angel to strike. In so doing we will advance at our own rate, drawn forward by the good force. We will then reduce the time it takes to go through the process and make the path pleasant. This is what the Kabbalists do. Since all the governance descends onto the world from above, we shouldn’t criticize the things taking place, because people are governed by angels. Instead, we should act in such a way that will cause better forces of governance to descend onto the world. The “Introduction to the Book of Zohar” talks about this from item 66 on. Related Material: Laitman.com Post: How Do You Get Rid of Anti-Semitism? Laitman.com Post: Why Does Everyone Hate Israel? Laitman.com Post: What Is the Spiritual Root of the Holocaust? Attaining the World’s Beyond: Chapter 20-2  “The Path of Kabbalah” Basic Concepts in Kabbalah: Chapter 6 “The Essence and the Purpose of Kabbalah” Share This Less

A question I received: You look serious and wise, but your ideas and proposals to humanity are utopian. Are you really sure they can be implemented, or that there is even a chance of implementing a spiritual revolution of all humanity? My Answer: Because I understand human nature, I know that all our desires, thoughts, and actions are absolutely egoistic and cannot be any different. However, because I also understand the nature of the Upper World and the Light, I am absolutely sure – and know from personal experience - that the Light which created our egoism can change it to altruism in an instant. However, It will do so only if we desire it. We can develop this desire only by recognizing that our egoism is evil for us, by seeing how much suffering it causes us. The question is: How much suffering will it take? We can do it by studying a small crisis - such as the present one - and recognizing that our attitudes to each other are opposite to the global “village” of humanity. We can recognize this so deeply that we will start advancing to “Love your neighbor as yourself,” to equivalence with Nature or the Creator. For example, we can institute a global education system that will teach everyone about the fact that we live in a world where everyone is interdependent. In addition, this can be explained by all the mass media and the educational institutions worldwide, from kindergartens to universities. (For more on this, see my “Lecture in Arosa.”) Any attempts we make to this end – even the smallest first attempts – will already reverse our opposition to Nature, because through these actions we will turn to face Nature (the Creator) and come closer to It. If our overall desires will be to change, then this will happen easily, because the Creator hears none other than the request of the society. Nature will execute its plan one way or another, and this plan is already complete and existent in the spiritual world. Still, it would be best to avoid the catastrophes, whether social, ecological, military, biological or others, which will force us to detach from egoism. There is a pleasant path to Nature’s goal (see the article “The Essence of Religion and Its Purpose“); this is why we were given the science of Kabbalah. At the very least, we have to do everything that’s up to us, but the spiritual revolution will happen in any case! A Parable: A man walked along the seashore and saw a boy picking something up from the sand and throwing it into the sea. The man came closer and saw that the things the boy was picking up from the sand were starfish; he was completely surrounded by them. It seemed like there were millions of starfish on the sand; the shore was literally filled with them for many miles ahead. “Why are you throwing these starfish in the water?” asked the man, as he approached the boy. “If they stay on the shore until the morning tide, they will die,” answered the boy, without interrupting what he was doing. “But this is stupid!” yelled the man, “Look around you! There are millions of starfish here, the shore is filled with them. Your efforts won’t make any difference!” The boy picked up the next starfish, thought for a moment, then threw it into the sea and said, “No, my efforts will change a lot… for this starfish.” Then the man also picked up a starfish and threw it into the sea. And then another one. By the time the night was over, there were many people on the shore, and each of them was picking up and throwing starfish into the sea. When the sun rose, the shore was empty – no soul was left unsaved. Related Material: Laitman.com Post: What Would It Be Like To Live in a Perfect World? Laitman.com Post: Reflections on the Crisis Laitman.com Post: The Need to Nurture the Proper Perception in Children “Attaining the Unity of the Universe”, Lessons Share This Less

A question I received: “In the beginning G-d created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Why? What was the motive? What was the plan? How could the Creator make this world without thinking through all the consequences!? This is proven by the story of the flood where G-d said “I will blot out man whom I have created… for I am sorry that I have made them” (Gen 6:7) – as if He didn’t know this was going to happen. My Answer: There are only two things in existence: the creation - the will to receive Light, and the Creator - the Light, the will to give pleasure. As long as the creation is equivalent to the Light and wishes to receive “for His sake,” in order to please Him - it receives the Light. And if the creation does not desire to act “for the sake of Creator,” then it is opposite to Him, because He desires to please the creation. Then the creation does not feel Him or His Light, but instead feels complete darkness, a black copy of the Light – our world. “In the beginning G-d created the heavens and the earth” means that He created the qualities of bestowal and reception. What for? In order for man to intermix these qualities within and make a free choice about which of them to use: egoism or altruism. You can read the rest in my books (available for free download). Related Material: Laitman.com Post: The Source of Happiness Laitman.com Post: Adhesion with the Creator, from the Primary Source Texts The Path of Kabbalah - Chapter 2.1 “The Purpose of Creation” The Secret Meaning of the Bible - “Seven Days of Creation” Share This Less

News Report (from The Independent ): In an article called “Scientists prove it really is a thin line between love and hate,” Steve Connor, The Independent’s science editor, reports: “Scientists studying the physical nature of hate have found that some of the nervous circuits in the brain responsible for it are the same as those that are used during the feeling of romantic love – although love and hate appear to be polar opposites … the ‘hate circuit’ shares something in common with the love circuit.” My Comment: According to Kabbalah, the difference between love and hate lies only in the aim of one’s intention: “toward oneself” or “away from oneself.” Furthermore, if we begin doing systematic work to acquire the feeling of love, then we will feel that we “come out of ourselves.” There - “outside of ourselves” - we will feel a completely different flow of time, space and perception, to the point that we will cease perceiving ourselves, and replace “self” with “others.” By transferring the center of perception from “inside of us” to “outside of us,” we will feel the Upper World, the Creator. We will feel this precisely in the desires of others! Question: What is the spiritual root of unrequited love? My Answer: There is no such thing as unrequited love in spirituality! It exists only in our world, when one’s egoism doesn’t feel that it could be fulfilled by one’s partner. It’s because our egos distance us from one another, and everything is built upon using one another. However, when there is a spiritual connection, then everything is built upon bestowal and complementing one another. To the degree we are corrected, this definitely happens. Related Material: Laitman.com Post: Love Is Providing Others With the Means to Fulfill Their Point in the Heart Laitman.com Post: Kabbalah Deals Only With the Actual Attainment of the Creator Kabbalah Today Article: Love, Deciphered Lecture: Unconditional Love Share This Less

Here are some of the most interesting things sent to me by my students: Best quote (sent by Elisheva Shapiro): “In the modern world, happiness is a well chosen set of antidepressants.” Best video (sent by Ludmila Ivachenko): It All Comes Back to You Best video (sent by Irina Asher): On the Thought of Creation and Union Without Intention Best photograph (sent by Vadim Ermolchik): Love Thy Neighbor: Share This Less