There are many people who deliberately choose suffering, believing that through pain they will become more spiritual. This is a mistake. Suffering in and of itself does not elevate us. But what does it mean “to not suffer”? It means…
Dr. Michael Laitman
To Change the World – Change Man
What Differences Between Partners Can Strengthen a Relationship Rather Than Harm It?
One of my students asked me about a parable about a nightingale that sang to a rose, not because she is harmless but out of love for her, thorns and all. Her thorns do not diminish her beauty, but complete…
How Important Is the Smell of a (Potential) Partner for You?
One of my students asked me about a woman who had stated that she chose her husband by his scent because he had reminded her of a familiar smell from her childhood. Indeed, our sense of smell is one of…
What Increases Drought?
At a deeper level beyond where we perceive drought as a physical phenomenon, drought is a spiritual shortage of the quality of Hassadim, which is a quality of kindness, positive connection, and bestowal. If we rise above self-interest and acquire the…
Is Nature Punishing Us?
Nature is not punishing us. This is a misunderstanding. Nature is a perfectly balanced, self-regulating system. It always tries to soften its reactions, to compensate for our violations, and to protect the integrity of life. It has an enormous margin…
How Do People Find Meaning in Life? Is It Possible to Live a Fulfilling Life Without a Sense of Purpose?
We need to find the natural point within ourselves, the inner direction we already live in, even if it is still developing. What matters is that we stand in it firmly, without floundering or wandering aimlessly, unsure of where to…
How Did Hanukkah Begin?
Hanukkah, in its spiritual meaning, is the revelation of a timeless inner process. The external events of 170 BCE—Antiochus’s desecration of the Temple, the persecution of the people, the uprising of the Maccabees, and the miracle of the oil—are branches…
What Can We Do to Make a Better Society to Our Next Generation?
We need to make a decision on how we wish to view the next generation. Accordingly, we should list its principles and behaviors, and put together a plan to raise the next generation to such a state. However, it is…
What Is the Miracle of Hanukkah?
The countless conflicts tearing humanity apart today—from wars and terror attacks to verbal assaults, accusations, and the desire to harm one another—make it clear that unity cannot arise from our own powers alone. To rise above such division requires a…
Why Is Preventive Medicine Important?
If we look back 1,000 to 2,000 years ago, we will see preventive medicine in practice. It was important to keep people healthy so that they could defend themselves and their families, villages, cities, and nations. Accordingly, various practices developed…
What Role Does Food Play in Maintaining Our Overall Health and Well-Being?
As human beings, we consist of two levels: the animal level and the human or speaking level. At the animal level, we need food in order to survive. The fulfillment of this base survival need is the primary concern in…
Is It Possible for Kabbalists to Predict Future Events?
Kabbalists do not engage in prophecy. They cannot and will not say what will happen in the future. What they can do is explain the general tendencies of human development, i.e., how human egoistic nature drives us when we do…