November 22, 2024
Archive for June, 2014
June 12, 2014 at 7:30 pm · Filed under Articles, Books, Depression
If the Creator Is Good, then Why Is There Suffering?
The wisdom of Kabbalah is like a “users guide to reality.”It gives people the tools to learn, understand and use what is around them, whatever happens to them.
One of the topics that people find most difficult to accept is human suffering. On the one hand, suffering motivates people to search for spirituality. On the other hand, it is very hard to accept suffering.
This is indeed a question that troubles everyone. On the one hand, we are speaking of a benevolent Upper Force, but if it is “Upper,” it means it is better than us. Yet our world is filled with anguish and torment. Do anguish and torment also come from this Force? Is there more than one Force, and if so, are they at war with each other?
Reality is made of our desire to enjoy and the pleasure that motivates this desire to operate. These are the only two components on all levels of reality—the pleasure and the desire to receive pleasure. In Kabbalistic terms we call them “the Light and the Kli (vessel).”
When pleasure is absent, it creates a sensation of a desire to enjoy. But sometimes the deficiency of pleasure is so intense that it creates a sensation of suffering. Because everything is made of a certain measure and quality of a desire to receive pleasure, everything also suffers when it is absent—minerals, plants, animals, and people.
In fact, suffering is a necessary sensation that impels a creature to leave its present state and move on to the next. Without suffering, there is no motion. In fact, motion means that my present state is unsatisfactory, so I decide that I will be better off in a different state. Suffering enables us to make the necessary effort to move toward a situation that seems better. Hence, without suffering, progress is impossible.
The Upper Force has no other way of promoting us to better states except through suffering. If it created us as egoists with a desire to indulge in pleasure, then the only way it can move us from one state to the next is through a sensation of suffering.
Why Human Suffering Is Increasing
However, we still need to explain why there is so much more suffering today than before. The purpose of Creation is for humankind to reach the highest degree in reality.
The only way to approach that goal is with an immense drive to reach it, or phrased differently—from the greatest suffering. This does not necessarily relate to physical suffering. We seemingly have everything today, yet we feel that something is missing, and that sensation of absence is the greatest degree of suffering.
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June 11, 2014 at 7:30 pm · Filed under Quotes
1) When a certain thought about the meaning of life awakens in us, it’s a sign that the Creator has invited us to contact Him.
2) The only requirement for studying Kabbalah is a sincere desire to discover the meaning of life.
3) You shall see your world in your lifetime.
4) We think, feel and imagine what we feel close to, what we really want. This is our internal life.
5) Pain pushes us forward. Whether we feel depressed, empty or confused, all bad feelings appear in order to make us think about their purpose.
6) Happiness is achievable beyond our egoism, neither within the ego nor by suppressing the ego.
7) The visual arts are the most powerful means of influence. For this reason, a shift in our thinking must begin with what we see.
8) We can easily see that changing our attitude toward others will lead us to the resolution of the problems on the social-human degree. This will mean the end of war, the end of violence and terrorism, and the end of general animosity among people.
9) Changing one’s attitude from self concern to global concern affects the whole system positively and ensures its survival.
10) Our attitudes to society and life must go through a complete change. We will then discover that there’s an abundance of every resource in nature.
June 10, 2014 at 7:30 pm · Filed under Courses, Events
The Bnei Baruch Kabbalah Education Center is happy to announce the start of the new EC Fundamentals semester with a brand new curriculum starting on Wednesday, June 11.
Whether you wish to share the wisdom of Kabbalah with friends or family, or you wish to get deeper into Kabbalah’s fundamental principles, the upcoming semester will have something for everyone as EC Instructors cover the following new modules and topics in this introductory course:
Module 1: Kabbalah Basics
1) How Changing the Way You Define ‘Kabbalah,’ ‘Creator’ and ‘Creation’ Changes the Way You Look at Your Whole Life
2) Who Are You? Where Did You Come From? Where Are You Headed?
3) History of the Wisdom of Kabbalah
Module 2: What Is Reality?
4) Do You Live in a Reality or in a Dream?
5) Why Your Intention Is the Only Place Where Reality Transforms
Module 3: The Language of Kabbalah
6) What Is the Law of Root and Branch? What Does it Mean to Attain Spirituality?
7) The Unique Learning Approach in Kabbalah: Learning Through Desire, Not Intellect
8) What are the Optimal Kabbalistic Sources for Our Generation to Progress Spiritually in the Fastest and Happiest Way?
Module 4: Free Choice
9) How You Are Completely Controlled in Every Aspect of Your Life and Why You Still Think You Can Achieve Freedom
10) How to Build Your Own Social Environmental Influence that Lets You Discover Your Freedom
Module 5: Introduction to the Sefirot, Partzufim, Worlds and Souls
11) What are the Four Phases of Direct Light?
12) What Is the Soul? What Is the Meaning of the Sin of the Tree of Knowledge & How Is Where You Are Today Related to It?
Module 6: Kabbalah in Society
13) Overview of Lessons Until Now and Q&A
14) What Is Love? Can You Love the Creator Without Loving Other People?
15) What Is Good and Evil?
Module 7: The Inner Work of Attaining Spirituality
16) How to Discover the Single Force of Love Acting in Every Life Situation
17) The Secret Formula for Attaining the Deepest Form of Independence: Independence from What You Currently Think You Are
Module 8: Methodology of the Study of Kabbalah
18) Fundamentals of the Methodology Part 1: How to Work with the Means of Spiritual Attainment in Order to Attain the Spiritual Goal
19) Fundamentals of the Methodology Part 2: How to Work with the Means of Spiritual Attainment in Order to Attain the Spiritual Goal
20) The Benefits of Learning Kabbalah You Should Start Seeing Even Before You’ve Attained its Goal
The course is free of charge and all students gain access to the following:
- 20 lessons that will transform your life in 10 weeks (2 classes per week)
- Live interaction with instructors during lessons where students can ask questions.
- Free, optional access to a web-based community where students can post questions that will be answered by instructors and moderators.
- Free PDF versions of all course materials
- A lesson archive where all lessons are posted if you miss a live class or wish to review.
- Student discounts on special book packages at the Kabbalah Bookstore
Most importantly, this course and the whole of the wisdom of Kabbalah is there for anyone who has asked the question “What is the meaning of life?” and been unable to find an answer. We look forward to exploring this wisdom with anyone who is still asking this question. Just sign up for the course, and we’ll look forward to seeing you on June 11.
Sign Up for the Free Kabbalah Course Here »
June 9, 2014 at 7:30 pm · Filed under Events
Got questions about the upcoming ONE Convention? Well, join the club! You’re not the only one trying to figure out your approach to the biggest spiritual event taking place in North America this year.
In order to answers your questions, Dr. Michael Laitman will be teaching a special lesson for you on Sunday, June 15, 2014. Please join us for the first part of his lesson starting at 8:00 PM EDT (New York time).
- When? Sunday, June 15, 2014 – 8:00 PM EDT (New York time)
- Where? Kabbalah TV – Kab.tv
- What? A special Q&A session with Dr. Laitman in preparation toward the ONE Convention this August 8-10, 2014 in New Jersey.
Ask Your Question about the ONE Convention Here »
June 8, 2014 at 7:30 pm · Filed under Notices
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