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Kabbalah: The Bnei Baruch Association – Kabbalah Education & Research Institute.
Kabbalah Revealed
Kabbalah’s role in
creating a new
planetary consciousness
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by Rav Michael Laitman, PhD.
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Rav Michael Laitman, PhD
in an interview with Tal Asher
February 28, 2006
Asher: Greetings. We are meeting today to interview Dr. Michael Laitman. We want to discuss what happened in Arosa (ed. referring to the World Spirit Forum in Arosa, Switzerland, January 2006) and find out what the World Wisdom Council is. How did you become involved with it? Can you give us an introduction?
Laitman: I have studied Kabbalah for about thirty years. This science studies the general structure of the Universe, which includes the world that we see and feel with our senses as well as another part that our senses do not perceive. We investigate the latter directly, by using additional instruments. In principle, my profession is bio-cybernetics, cybernetics in general, as well as the theory of knowledge and philosophy, all of which I have studied. Together with Kabbalah, these studies comprise one whole.
It turns out that the field of philosophy comes from Kabbalah. The famous German philosopher Reuchlin and mathematician Leibniz both wrote about this. They also studied Kabbalah and describe it in their writings. I can show you these sources afterwards.
Kabbalah does not just describe the structure of otherworldly realms in general, but it mostly describes how they influence us and our world, meaning it describes the forces that govern our world. These are not physical forces that we can discover using our senses or instruments that we develop. They are forces that our regular instruments and senses cannot grasp or perceive.
Nevertheless, this is a science and I have written many books about it. Our organization is a worldwide scientific, educational center with a huge system devoted to disseminating and studying it. We provide instruction in twenty-seven languages and publish books in eleven languages. As a result, this activity is obviously noticeable in the world, including in the scientific world. It is because Kabbalah is studied in approximately 1700 departments in Europe and America. Specialists are very interested in it, especially in the real or authentic Kabbalah as opposed to other things that go by the name “ Kabbalah,” such as lucky amulets, pills that are supposed to help a person, and other things of this kind.
I often participate in American universities’ lecture series, which includes international conferences with scientists. I am a member of the international organization called “the World Wisdom Council.” We met in Tokyo very recently, in December. In February, we met in Arosa, Switzerland, and in a month we will meet again in Düsseldorf, Germany. After that, we are planning our next gathering in Toronto, and after that probably in Israel, at our place.
In other words, we constantly socialize and gather more diverse and qualified scientists around us, who begin to participate with us depending on the theme of the conference. In principle, we work on different themes, but in general they are all directed towards finding a solution to the global crisis that humanity unwillingly finds itself in. We want to somehow find out what its source is, the ways it can be resolved, and what states humanity can reach in the future.
Asher: This is exactly what we wanted to ask you: On what basis did you conclude that the current threat to civilization is different from previous threats?
Laitman: It is because there was no threat in the past. The threat to civilization is not a cosmic threat. Do you see any asteroid flying at us? In principle, lately we are even discovering that the threat is not ecological, which is what we thought before, nor is it demographic, like we thought in the decades when people fearfully expected Malthus’ predictions and demographists agreed with him.
In reality, the problems of ecology, demographics, and the tension that is currently emerging between civilizations are menacing. However, the actual problem is on a completely different level than these problems, their occurrence and the solution to them. That is, we perceive the problem on the earthly level, but the solution to it is completely different and on a much higher level.
Therefore, the crisis does not lie in the fact that menacing changes are happening, such as the crises in science, ecology, and demography. There is also the general lack of understanding of how to act towards the world and society from our present state onward. Today, any serious monetary or economic planning program cannot be projected ahead for many years as we once did. In the past, planning for fifty years in advance was normal. Over time this was reduced to twenty, ten, five, and finally to just one year. Today it is no longer possible to make such plans.
Asher: Why?
Laitman: It is because the whole system is out of our control. We do not understand how it can develop further. Firstly, everything changes so quickly; professions and technologies change, and the whole world changes. It turns out that the world is interconnected and therefore interdependent; everything influences everything else. On one hand, we are discovering that we are very tightly interconnected and interdependent; and on the other hand, we cannot live together in peace, reach any agreement or compromise on any issues, nor find a “golden middle” between us.
This is happening to a person with regard to his family; there is a crisis in the family unit. A person also experiences this internally within himself, causing the problems of depression, drug abuse, alcoholism and many others. Social distinctions become problematic. We are forced to be seemingly together; integration seemingly connects us and stuffs everyone into one small village as if into one room. However, we cannot live in peace and harmony within ourselves, and even more so with others.
In other words, human egoism has increased, exponentially exploded so much that together with so-called globalization and the feeling of interdependence, we find ourselves in a dreary situation. We do not know how to deal with all of this. This is also true with regard to our search for a solution. In the past, even as recently as two or three years ago, we considered that perhaps a solution existed on the level of ecology, society, or demography. We thought that perhaps we could help the starving nations or regions, but today this is no longer workable.
We now understand that all of this is completely unproductive and does not lead to the goal. Moreover, this even directs us against it. By helping the suffering population, you raise people who hate you because you put them in the position of being the ones who receive from you, depend on you and so on. Education does not give us anything either. In principle, the world does not need people today, whether educated or not. One person can feed thousands. One person today produces such a great amount of merchandise and everything else that we simply do not understand how to act in this new world.
In addition, the latest scientific research of all previous phases of our development (meaning our understanding of nature, society, and this whole tendency) points to the likely solution existing on a much higher, Upper level compared to the methods which we currently possess. The solution is not on the level of governments, family relationships or social changes. Big money will not help here. In principle, only one thing can help. We are reaching just one single conclusion: that in principle, only some kind of “instrument of agreement” between people can help here. This is the crisis.
Humanity has never faced this problem before. Meaning, people have solved this problem with war, peace, monetary grants, compensation, and other things. They were somehow able to solve it using these purely normal, technological, technocratic means. However, today we are discovering that all of this is ineffective. Instead, we have to increase respect, love, and the importance of others to us. We have to consider others as our fellow travelers on the path, our fellow-countrymen, inhabitants of the Earth, and simply consider them our loved ones, as one family on one small globe, and so on.
That is, we clearly see that things are moving in this direction, but we are not ready for this internally, in the ethical and moral sense. Moreover, not only are we not ready, but our egoism also begins to control us so much that it takes away our reason. That is when even regular systems of prevention, logic and diplomacy no longer work. There are people who now understand the problem, who understand that, in principle, the problem or crisis is a person’s relationship with himself and the world rather than a crisis in science, ecology or anything else. People who understand that it is an internal crisis are looking for a solution. This solution is not to be found in our philosophies or in the systems of social sciences we have built.
This is why today we are turning to different teachings, the natural and ancient teachings that contain great wisdom and that were somehow forgotten or unnoticed throughout past centuries, especially during the last few centuries of technological development. In reality, we hope to find the solution to these problems there, in these ancient teachings or wisdoms. Sometimes we cannot call them “sciences” from our point of view, meaning from the point of view of modern science. This is because they do not accurately fit our empirical system, such as the ability to perform a precise experiment using certain devices. Instead, this way to penetrate nature is based more on feeling; it is when we perceive it directly, perceiving its forces and influences.
One of these ancient sciences is Kabbalah. It is the basis of many sciences, even our modern philosophy and ethics. This is proven by ancient sources, documents and writings of ancient philosophers as well as philosophers and scientists of the Middle Ages, beginning with Plato and Aristotle, then Newton, Reuchlin, Leibniz, and up to our day. Therefore this science is attracting a lot of attention today. And this is not the type of attention caused by mass-consumerism because Kabbalah does not offer miracles, or how to control your destiny, change something, cast spells or cure people. Kabbalah does not include any of this.
Firstly, Kabbalah is the sheer revelation of the structure of the world to a person. Meaning, it is a science about the perception of the world, about how we understand and perceive the world objectively, without distorting it with our feelings, thoughts and desires.
Currently a significant circle of international scientists is paying attention to authentic Kabbalah. When I give presentations at these international congresses, people are happy to listen to me and I find many interested listeners.
Asher: It is clear that scientists listen to you. Generally, every person lays out his concept and other scientists listen to him. This is customary in philosophy. However, I have a life-related question: Do we have to change our current way of life? If yes, then does every person have to change as well?
Laitman: Kabbalah says that before anything else, first of all we have to understand what kind of a world we live in. Who are we? What is the world around us? How are we interconnected with it? Generally, what is existence before birth and after death, beyond a person? What would exist if I did not observe that which seems to exist? What exists when there are no people who observe it through their eyes, ears and other senses? How would it appear? Relative to whom would it appear? How? First, we simply have to understand where we are and what we are.
Of course, a person changes after understanding and delving into this whole picture (and this is generally what our reality today is forcing us to do). However, these changes happen internally because one’s inner awareness increases. One ascends and identifies oneself with something more global that is beyond time. A person begins to see the eternal flow of nature and all of his transformations, including ones that are beyond his current short life. Of course, his opportunities and values change, and according to this, he obviously behaves and feels differently. This does not relate to regular life, where he remains a normal citizen and family member, for example, as a father if he is a man. He works and lives normally, but his attitude towards himself, others around him, and the world, naturally changes. This happens from the inside, and it never happens forcefully, but rather willingly, due to his better understanding of the world.
Question: How does this change happen? What does he do?
He does not do anything. This science simply says that a person has to figure out what he is and where he is. Nothing more. Based upon this, everything else happens within him to the degree he attains. Meaning, first of all, this science is about attaining the world, the universe. This is the most important thing. And then based upon this, everything else is additional. Meaning, a person’s attitude towards himself, our world, our sciences, the arts, people, our actions, and the structure of our life will change; all of this will appear differently.
Question: You talk about the development of egoism in your presentation. What is egoism or egocentrism and why do we have to get rid of it?
I will state the question more precisely. You said that egoism increased namely recently. However, we usually think that egoism is decreasing. Throughout the thousands of years of Kabbalah’s existence, people seemed to act very egoistically; nations conquered and annihilated one another, and people generally agree that this was precisely a clear expression of egoism. However, you say the opposite: that this was the beginning stage of egoism and that it is increasing. What is increasing exactly? That is, how does this manifest in the modern world?
Primitive people or ancient nations fought each other in armed battle, annihilating about one hundred thousand people in one day of war. However, today all of this is being done through different methods. Naturally, perhaps these methods are not as bloody and perhaps they even have much smaller human losses. This does not indicate great or small egoism. We do not use the word “egoism” to denote the relationship between people. We rather use it to denote a person’s resistance to connect with other people into one whole. This is called “egoism,” in principle. Altruism is the opposite, it is a movement a person makes inside himself, in his heart or desire; it is an action he makes to perceive others as a part of himself. In principle, this is what nature demands of us.
Nature is altruistic and absolutely kind. Maybe we do not see it this way, but that is another topic for a different discussion. Nature is absolutely altruistic and loving, and it created life. Since nature relates to us this way, it demands for us to be in balance or in homeostasis with it. We will suffer until we reach it. This means that altruism is movement towards this, agreement to reach balance and harmony with nature, while egoism is opposition to it.
Therefore, perhaps our earthly definitions of “egoism” and “altruism” are not completely suitable for this. That is, their definitions have to be precisely aimed at unifying with the common law of the altruistic nature, instead of simply one person’s good or kind attitude to another. If his attitude is simply good or kind, perhaps we will see a good world that is full of good ideas and even actions, but ultimately, it will keep worsening for some reason.
Therefore the only altruistic actions a person can make are actions that are consciously directed towards unifying among ourselves so we become completely equivalent to the single law of bestowal, the only law of nature.
Asher: For example, a primitive tribe or person had to unify with others like him according to some laws of nature, for as long as it benefited him. The tribe did not unify further into greater groups of people because they did not need it. This group lived in harmony with nature.
Laitman: I would put it differently. A person naturally develops because his egoistic desire develops. I think everyone knows and understands that the mind develops next to the desire, in order to achieve the desired thing. Therefore, in principle all human development is based on economy. If a small family was able to feed and protect itself, then it remained small. If it couldn’t, it had to become greater. Different societies naturally developed with the development of technology, such as the development of food production, arable land, animal husbandry, and the ability to tame and breed animals. However, these things are not exactly based on love and friendship, rather they come from economic prerequisites.
Asher: Let us address the topic of the necessary degree. You distinguish people’s conscious altruistic attitude towards each other from the case when this attitude is compelled, when life simply forces them to have it.
Laitman: I am speaking from the point of view of Kabbalah. We can argue about it and try to convince one another, but my answers come from the point of view of a Kabbalist who narrates the history of humanity from his point of view. From the point of view of Kabbalah, humanity’s history appears to be a purely economic history, meaning it is based on man’s desire to develop, his natural desire to fulfill himself, enjoy, achieve safety and fulfillment. This desire always increases in him. This is what makes us different from animals.
Animals do not change during their lives or from one generation to the next. In contrast, a person changes during his life. When he is born, he is insignificant, small and weak, but he becomes strong and intelligent when he grows up. An animal does not undergo this process. Rather, it always stays practically on the same level. It already has the same attributes that an adult or a dying animal has just a few days after being born.
So what develops in a person? His egoism. It constantly increases. Egoism brings forth pressure in a person, a necessity to fulfill it. This necessity dictates a person’s entire development, means of work, defense, attack, and so on. All of this is balanced by and comes from egoistic necessity. This means that egoistic necessity also dictates the different forms of society we have. On the one hand, as an egoist, I want to be alone; but on the other hand, I know that I will not survive on my own. Therefore, I have to unwillingly balance what I want with what I can afford to do. All of these factors have determined sociology and economy throughout history.
Asher: We can say that the technological progress during the last few centuries was a great stimulus for human egoism to develop…
Laitman: Just the opposite! Egoism is the cause that stimulates everything else. It grows literally exponentially. This is why we see that great changes happened throughout millennia, then centuries, and in our times great changes are happening every year. That is, egoism is beginning to increase so steeply that people today already change their professions in two or three years. A person has to constantly study. Great changes are happening in everything. We are still not accustomed to this, but life is already moving according to what is inside us. That is, our mind and perception are slightly lagging behind what is there, what nature brings forth in us and outside of us. We are between these two influences, the inner and outer natural influences, and we feel uncomfortable.
Asher: Would it be correct to say that this exponential growth of egoism is exactly the reason why Kabbalah has become so popular?
Laitman: Yes. The Book of Zohar, which was written two thousand years ago, states that Kabbalah will be revealed to people toward the end of the twentieth century. It has been hiding from people for twenty centuries.
Asher: Is a precise date stated? I always wondered about this.
Laitman: No. The Book of Zohar does not state a precise date. However, many Kabbalists throughout the centuries pointed to the twentieth century as a special time. For example, sometime around the sixteenth century, Gaon from Vilna pointed to this time. The Baal Shem Tov indicated this in the eighteenth century. Rav Cook, Baal HaSulam, Ramchal, and the Ari clearly pointed to this in the twentieth century. Meaning, it is mentioned. For example, Gaon from Vilna wrote that this would begin in 1995. Fifty years before that year, Baal HaSulam pointed to it as the year when Kabbalah would really be revealed. I began seriously studying Kabbalah with my teacher in 1979 and everything was very calm back then. Suddenly, beginning approximately in 1995, a wave of interest arose and then another and another wave. Since then, up to our time, all of this continues to increase.
Asher: “Calm” with regard to politics, the economy?
Laitman: No, “calm” meaning that no one was especially interested in this. There was no agitation around it, naturally, there weren’t any profiteers using the name “Kabbalah” who sold drinks or amulets, and so on. Everything was completely calm and took place in almost the same way as in the previous centuries. People were interested, but in a calm way, without any stress.
Asher: There was general interest, but it was not directed from the inside, from necessity.
Laitman: No, this kind of interest was present. People who came were directed from the inside, meaning they felt a necessity for it. However, it was precisely those people who came. There was as yet no general national agitation about Kabbalah’s ability to solve problems. For example, “I have problems in my family, with my husband, with my children, someone backstabbed me, many misfortunes are happening to me,” etc., and Kabbalah can help and explain all of this, and so on. Due to their increasing number of problems, depression and other misfortunes, people began looking into ancient sciences and methodologies, including Kabbalah, seeking salvation.
Asher: What do you think will happen to these people in the future? Will they become disillusioned in Kabbalah as a means to solve their problems?
Laitman: I think this is simple. There are two kinds of people who come to Kabbalah. Some are people who simply have to know the meaning of their lives. “It’s difficult, I feel bad, but I want to figure this out.” These are serious people. That is, on the one hand, they do not come to philosophically fill their mind, but rather they have a problem with themselves and with the world. This is an inner problem of feeling or depression and they have to seriously figure it out. These are people who come to our lessons, for example.
Asher: Didn’t this type of people always exist?
Laitman: This type of people has always existed. Of course there were less of them in the past and Kabbalists selected them very strictly. We no longer have this system of selection and now Kabbalah is accessible to anyone.
The second types of people are the masses of those who simply find life difficult and unpleasant. They are looking for a method to solve their problems, but they are not interested in anything global. In principle, Kabbalah is a theory of knowledge, a practice of knowing and understanding the universe. They are not interested in this.
Of course, we cannot blame them for anything because they were created this way, and perhaps they will gradually develop. However, Kabbalah does not have the solution for them because they have these small daily-life problems and questions, and they want to solve them immediately. However, people who call themselves Kabbalists have answers for them and sell them all kinds of, I would say, psychological ways of solving problems. “Wear a red string and you will feel better, buy an amulet or holy water, make a wish, meditate, and you will save yourself, fix your situation; of course, you have to give a contribution,” and so on. This helps psychologically.
We generally understand this kind of cure. It has existed in humanity for a long time. The placebo effect is famous, when people literally get cured of serious illnesses because they mobilize the forces of faith in them, and so on. Doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists and others use this effect. However, this has nothing to do with Kabbalah.
Therefore, I think that nevertheless, these people are slowly ripening now. They will become convinced that, of course, none of this helps them and it is not a true solution to the problem. Even though they feel better, in principle, their problems remain. In the meantime, their egoism increases and they begin to have greater, more profound questions. Of course, this will bring them to Kabbalah in the end. I think that this is simply a very gradual maturation of humanity. Today it is returning to the Middle Ages, to its ancient states, in order to simply…
Asher: “The Middle Ages” in what sense? Their inner state?
Laitman: “To the Middle Ages” meaning that a person suddenly begins to believe… After several centuries, we are again returning to the same thing as before: we believe in otherworldly forces that influence us and in our ability to control fate using spells and curses. Look at what is suddenly happening! I understand that this was always fashionable in England; they are a special nation that believes in this. However, this is also suddenly happening in Russia, France and Germany, to people who are generally very far from all this. I think that this is an infatuation, or simply a tendency to slightly get away from all of this technology, medicine, our current allopathic approach, and everything else that did not give us an answer. It happens so we will take another look at things.
Asher: Meaning, this is disillusionment and a step back?
Laitman: Yes, steps back to take another look and come to a new worldview from a different perspective. On the way, we sometimes stop and check, “Can this be the key to salvation?” However, I think that this is already winding down. People are gradually beginning to understand that this is nothing more than a short-lived, fashionable interest.
I hope that the next wave of people will come to the real methodology of attaining oneself and nature, understanding how to really make our lives happy. A person will have to do this; it is unavoidable. This is innate in the forces of nature, in the way nature influences us and what it is leading us to. Meaning, we will have to achieve full harmony with it.
Nature has one single stream or flow and one single goal—to make man equivalent to it. All life, everything that exists is based on this equivalence. That is, the still, vegetative and animate levels of nature are in balance with the general law of nature, the law of bestowal. They instinctively carry out everything nature demands of them. They already have specific innate attributes; specific necessities automatically emerge in them and they carry them out automatically. There is no freedom of will on these levels; they solve problems in a purely automatic way. Therefore there is no evil, good, egoism, altruism, and nothing at all on these levels. The cells interact on the animate level and so on, but nothing more than this.
We differ from animals only by our consciousness. This is what a person has in addition to his bodily animal structure. This means that we have to understand how the still, vegetative and animal levels of nature exist in harmony with the external aspect of nature. We must also attune ourselves in the same way although on a higher level, on the “speaking” level, in accordance and in harmony with nature.
From the animate level, we can see that every cell is egoistic, but despite this, since it is in the body, it completely submits to the body’s laws. Meaning, it completely nullifies itself and works to provide for the body, realizing itself this way. It carries out whatever the body needs, and it will even die and leave the organism if the body commands it to die. This is how the body lives. Does the cell win by annulling itself, its egoism, and completely working only for the body’s needs? By doing this, it ascends from the animate level to the speaking level because it participates in the process of a person’s existence.
This is an approximate sketch. If we begin to act as one whole on the human, psychological level among ourselves, acting as a single organism where every person is an individual cell, then we will feel the whole organism. Globalization is pressuring us towards this and we cannot avoid it. We have to do it despite our egoism, which separates us from one another. Precisely on these two opposing forces, by correctly connecting them, we will suddenly discover that they are not opposite, that precisely by combining these two opposite forces…
Asher: I apologize, what opposing forces?
Laitman: Opposing forces means that, on the one hand—there is our egoism, and on the other hand—there is the force of nature and globalization that pressures us to be together, while our egoism tries to separate us. By working to combine these two opposite forces, we will suddenly discover and attain the general Upper law of nature (the external pressure of globalization), which is above the animal, egoistic part of us and above the altruistic part. We will find ourselves on a different level, in a different format, and we will exist in a completely different realm.
Asher: Will every person do this separately inside of himself, or will this manifest in another way?
Laitman: This is clearly and completely manifested by unifying with the eternal, perfect flow of nature. A person attains this inside of himself. He adapts to this, associates himself with it, and unifies with it, and his animal body ceases to function as before. The body exists practically only to enable the person’s reason, feelings, awareness of nature and himself, his “I,” to ascend above it. When he does this, his bodily existence loses practically all meaning for him.
Nature has to bring us to this state, and it brings everyone, all of humanity as one whole, towards this. The science of Kabbalah says that this program is now beginning to be realized in our generation, and it has to be realized beginning from our generation onward, in the near future.
Asher: I understand more about egoism. Concerning altruism, you said that a cell that begins to work for the whole organism, wins. However, as soon as it begins to understand that it wins, this ceases to be altruism; it remains the same egoism as before but only of a greater kind.
Laitman: You are correct. On the one hand, we can say that the general body’s egoism is the cell’s altruism. On the other hand, we are nevertheless speaking about the animate level, rather than the speaking level. Meaning, the still, vegetative and animal levels…
Asher: Meaning, these examples cannot completely…
Laitman: No, of course not. However, nevertheless these examples, such as the vegetative level, allow us to see that altruism is the necessary condition for life. We even see this in the example of parents relative to children. It does not matter what level this happens on, it is always necessary. In addition, this type of altruism is obviously not the same as the one we are talking about, meaning the altruism that man has to reach. Man has to achieve altruism that is above the forces of nature acting in his animal body.
Asher: I think I am beginning to understand. Personally, my problem is that people use the word “altruism” to denote simply when others have a kind attitude towards you, and “bestowal” is when you share your last shirt with someone else, and so on. However, you say…
Laitman: No, this is not how we use these terms. We are even becoming convinced that this (kind of altruism and bestowal) is harmful.
Asher: Yes. You use the word altruism to speak about the desire to unify with a higher system.
Laitman: Altruism is unifying with others, connecting with others, doing actions relative to others for the sake of unifying with a higher level, so that we will all exist on a higher level. However, if it fails to take a higher level of development into account, to consider everyone’s achievement and ascent, then it is the same egoism. Naturally, this is what makes the egoism of a cell in the body different from the state we will achieve, which will really be altruistic. Additionally, we see that every action we perform that is not goal-oriented precisely towards existence on a higher level of awareness, fails. After all, humanity has attempted to create altruistic societies of different kinds many times in the past. This happened in Russia, in Israeli Kibbutzim, and in different “utopias.” Even now there are small villages throughout the whole world that are trying to do this. However, we see that all of this fails even though people have a genuine desire for it. This happens simply because nature does not agree with this in advance.
Asher: They did not receive any new attribute that would have allowed them to advance.
Laitman: Yes. This is simple. We are even becoming convinced that helping one another in any way will not lead to anything good unless it pursues a higher goal, meaning precisely the goal nature intends for us. Other examples, such as the integration of the Muslim civilization and the European civilization and other phenomena, show us that this desire to be good to one another only results in hate for one another. This is because two, three or four mentalities, civilizations or communities collide and do not share any common platform with each other. The common Upper goal must be present, and it has to be precisely the Goal which nature has intended for us in advance instead of another one invented by us. Otherwise we will simply end up with tragic revolutions and nothing more.
Asher: I have another question on the topic of nature’s intent for us. Returning to the example of the cell, a cell clearly sees an organism in front of itself, and it can decide whether it will work for itself or for the organism that already exists. In contrast, in the example of human society in our time, the new state or form that (as you say) humanity must reach has not manifested yet, it is not apparent. You seem to point to it, but you cannot realistically show it.
Laitman: Yes. The problem is that a person has to find it. Humanity has to find it through inner growth. It is impossible to show it because we simply won’t see it with our current egoistic perceptions. I cannot see another person’s inner state, even if he is on a higher level of development. Because to see it, I would have to be on the same level as he so that I would understand, be aware of, hear him, and somehow associate myself with him.
Asher: Is it possible to create a group of people that can serve as a model?
Laitman: In principle, yes. There is law stating that the particular is equal to the general, like a holographic image. We can build such groups and we are trying to do so. In principle, I think that things will continue to develop this way in the future. It is because currently there is not a simultaneous realization of the crisis or understanding of what the crisis is. As we said before, many people still think that the crisis lies in a completely different area. In addition, people are different, social formations are different, there are literally different civilizations and mentalities on the planet, and naturally, the religious boundaries between masses of people and whole continents are great. Therefore, naturally, this is a gradual process.
However, everyone knows that if a movement begins anywhere in the world, then it also happens in every other place. In principle, whether we want it or not, we are one organism and therefore any occurrence begins to awaken and respond everywhere.
Asher: Do you know what this reminds me of…a crystal in a concentrated salt solution, which begins to undergo a lava-like crystallization.
Laitman: Yes, crystallization. I think that this process has already begun. It begins with small groups and this is what is happening practically. These groups exist in many nations of the world; they are completely mixed and independent of nationality, religion, sex or race. These groups are simply working on self-attainment. In general, this is self-attainment. Therefore, the international congresses and conferences that we hold attract many people. I hope that this will expand and of course, that the world will see a way out of the crisis as a result.
However, if we are referring to the Russian-speaking audience, I think that of course Russia has its own specifics and specific problems. I am familiar with the work of Russian scientists; many of them understand the theme very well and are working on it. I think that the realization in Russia is very powerful, but it is not widespread yet.
Asher: Personally, I have read some books on the Internet. They understand the problem, but not where to go to solve it, meaning in what direction to move.
Laitman: Even I do not understand how a person can become aware of this problem on his own. I am stunned at how much they understand this and have reached this realization on their own. I understand it because of Kabbalah. I open up the ancient sources, I read what is written there, I see the picture of the world today, and this science explains everything that happens to me. I do not have to go through excruciating searches for decades to understand what is happening with the world today.
They describe the structure of the universe, the forces that are influencing us, our Universe, our globe, our society, causing its entire flow and movement. I am stunned that a person can reach this, and these scientists have reached it and they understand it. They are approaching the same barrier from the reverse side, and I approach it from the point of view of Kabbalah. Today we are meeting and we understand one another. Often it is still difficult for me to explain profound Kabbalistic notions in their language because even we do not have the adequate terminology. We still need to somehow transform it into regular language, but… Of course, the problem is in working out a boundary methodology.
Asher: “Boundary” in what sense?
Laitman: “Boundary” meaning that what Kabbalah says about our world and what scientists say about our world are nearing each other; we are, in principle, coming to the same conclusions, and from there on, from these conclusions, we can already work on realization together. When we begin to realize it, we often need proofs, evidence, persuasions, and bases from their side that can be presented to an earthly person. Meaning, when you explain all of this purely logically, it seems sort of correct. However, when we do not have clean graphs, tables based on familiar experiments, and statistics that any modern, literate person can understand; then of course we encounter a lack of understanding, cautiousness, and I would say a disconnection and separation. This is natural. We are currently working on this with many scientists in order to really create a substantial link between us. It will happen, but it may take several more years of great suffering when egoism will evoke greater and greater problems, social tension and other things.
Asher: Meaning, they do not yet accept it when you say, “I have the solution, Kabbalah has the solution”?
Laitman: Only a very small amount of scientists understand this.
The problem is not that people don’t accept it. The problem is, “Well, how can I realize this from now on?” And this is where a person really has to sit down and begin studying the structure of the world, the universe, and the human being in it according to other sources, in a completely different stream. This process simultaneously begins to change a person. It does not require a person to do any actions, meditations, dietary observations, or any physical actions.
Asher: Meaning, he does not have to change the things he is used to very much?
Laitman: We are talking only about the inner things he is used to. You do not have to believe anything at all or accept anything on faith. Meaning, this is a science, but it is a unique kind of science where you have to shift your vision of this world, where for decades you have been focusing your scientific life and therefore you see various manifestations in it, laws, connections and everything else. However, now you will have to see all of this in a different way. That is, you will have to refocus your vision. This is like those paintings that are painted in certain sketch lines, and when you completely refocus your vision you suddenly see the picture…
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Kabbalist Rav Michael Laitman, PhD.,
Kabbalist, Rabbi, & Author
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World leading Kabbalist, Rav Michael Laitman, PhD has an MS in Bio Cybernetics and a PhD in Philosophy and Ontology.
Rav Laitman is the author of 25 internationally selling books on Kabbalah; his books have been translated into nine languages.
His lessons are broadcast live throughout the Internet and cable TV to tens of thousands of students the world over. In recent years he has become a sought-after lecturer in academic and learning circles in the US and Europe
His search for the meaning of life led him to the teachings of Kabbalah in the 1970’s. At first he studied Kabbalah with various teachers in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel. In 1979 he discovered his true teacher, Kabbalist Rav Baruch Shalom Halevi Ashlag (1907-1991).
From the time he met Rav Baruch Ashlag (known as the Rabash), he was never apart from him and spent most of his time in his presence, as his disciple and personal assistant. Up until his death, Rabash passed on to Rav Laitman the wisdom he had acquired from his father, Kabbalist Rav Yehuda Ashlag, known as Baal HaSulam for his Sulam commentary on The zohar (The Book of Radiance).
Rav Dr. Laitman held a successful public meeting in San-Francisco in March 2005 with leading American scientists, participants of the blockbuster hit "What the Bleep Do We Know?" Here are some of the impressions of the scientists after meeting Dr. Laitman:
Fred Alan Wolf, PhD. author of eleven books, among them The Yoga of Time Travel, Matter into Feeling: a new Alchemy of Science and Spirit, and Mind into Matter: "I admire your knowledge. I would love to sit at your feet and study for a long time."
Jeffery Satinover, MD (Psychiatry), MS (Physics) – Author of seven books including The Quantum Brain & Cracking the Bible Code: "The emergence of Kabbalah from its concealment in a genuine form is historically significant and is truly remarkable."
Rav Laitman is the founder and president of the Bnei Baruch Association – Kabbalah Education & Research Institute. Bnei Baruch is an Israeli based non-profit organization that is dedicated to spreading the wisdom of Kabbalah to all of humanity.
Bnei Baruch conducts daily Kabbalah lessons, broadcasted live on the Internet and available for free.
In 1996 Bnei Baruch created, what is now the largest and most popular Internet site on the subject of Kabbalah--www.kabbalah.info. This website provides unlimited access to Kabbalistic texts and media in over twenty languages, and hosts over a million readers every month.
Website: www.kabbalah.info.
Further information is available at www.kabbalah.info.
The following study
e-books, and resources are free,
and available in the formats listed below:
• "Attaining the Worlds Beyond",
by Kabbalist, Rav Michael Laitman, PhD.
Audio book
(MP3 format): www.kabbalah.info/
engkab/
worlds_beyond.htm
PDF:
www.kabbalah.info/
engkab/
book_4/Attaining-Text.pdf
•"Kabbalah for Beginners"
Palm download:
www.kabbalah.info
/engkab/ebook/kab_
for_beginners.htm
•"What the Bleep…"
Video Discussion:
www.kabbalahmedia.info/
~video/KabbalahMeets
ModernScience/Kabbalah
MeetsModernScience_
pilot_eng.mpg
Rav Laitman's Latest Book Releases:
•The Kabbalah Experience
Never has the language of Kabbalah been as clear and accessible as it is here, in this compelling, informative collection. The depth of wisdom revealed in the questions and answers of this book will inspire reflection and contemplation.
•The Path of Kabbalah
“Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness” (Exodus 20:3). This commandment from the Bible is the basis of the Kabbalistic wisdom, for Kabbalists know that the only true reality is that of His Essence, the Upper Force.
For more information on obtaining these books and others, visit:
http://www.kabbalah
books.info/default.php
View these fascinating video clips from Rav Laitman's world lectures !!
The Needed Shift in Human Consciousness
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=4Q0NsgtFMhI
05:11
Dr. Michael Laitman's speech at the World Wisdom Council meeting in Tokyo, Japan,
"Creating a New Civilization" - November 2005.
Creating a New Civilization - Tokyo 2005
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=WZF2L4CEfZc
06:23
The World Wisdom Council's 3rd meeting "Creating a New Civilization" in Tokyo, November 2005.
Israeli artists meet Rav Michael Laitman, PhD
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=-mUumQWnlGM
07:36
Israeli artists meet with Rav Michael Laitman, PhD to talk about the meaning of life, free choice, and life's basic questions.
Attaining the Worlds Beyond
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=uUWl8-WPeKk
05:14
A video inspired by text from Rav Michael Laitman's book "Attaining the Worlds Beyond."
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