The transcript has been transcribed and edited from English simultaneous interpretation, thus there may be potential semantic inaccuracies within it.

Morning Lesson July 13, 2024.

Part 1 Baal HaSulam. The Last Generation, Part 4, Section 2.

Reader: (00:00) Shalom, we are reading from the writings of Baal HaSulam, the writings of the last generation, part 4, section 2. You can send questions live and find the study material in the study materials tab in the Arvut system. 

(00:33) [This section includes four segments grouped together by context] Each one of them fills his or her role in service of the public in the best way, albeit without seeing it, since public opinion presses a person even secretly, to the point where one feels that deceiving society by mistake is as grave as mistakenly killing a human being.

Each country is divided into societies where a certain number of people with sufficient means to provide for all their needs connect into a single society.

Each society has a budget and work hours according to the local conditions. Half of that budget is filled by mandatory hours, where each member commits to work a certain number of hours according to one’s strength, and the other half by voluntary hours.

A person who fails with self-gain, that person’s entire social status vanishes into the thin air of society as clouds in the wind, due to the profound antagonism that such a person receives from the entire nation.

For then each person

1) Each person makes him or herself willingly available for the service of the public whenever one is needed.

2) Free competition for every individual, but in bestowal upon others.

3) Disclosing any form of desire to receive for oneself is dishonorable and such a great flaw that such a person is regarded as being among the lowest, most inferior people in society.

4) Each person is medium.

1) They have many methodical books of wisdom and morals that prove the glory and sublimity of excellence in bestowing upon others, to a point where the entire nation, from small to great, engage in them wholeheartedly.

2) Each person who is appointed to an important position must first graduate a special training in the above-mentioned teaching.

3) Their courts are busy primarily with awarding accolades marking the level of each person’s distinction in bestowal upon others. There is not a person without a medal on the sleeve, and it is a great offense to call a person not by one’s title of honor. It is also a great offense for a person to forgive such an insult to one’s title.

4) There is such fierce competition in the field of bestowal upon others that most people risk their lives, since public opinion tremendously appreciates and respects the accolades of the highest rank in bestowal upon others.

5) If a person is recognized as having done for oneself a little more than what was decided for him by society, society condemns it so much that it becomes a disgrace to speak with him, and he also gravely blemishes his family’s reputation. The only remedy for his plight is to ask for the court’s help, which has certain ways by which to help such miserable people who lost their position in society. But for the most part, they relocate him because of prejudice, since public opinion cannot be changed.

6) There is no such word as “punishment” in the laws of the court, for according to their rules, the guilty ones are always the ones who gain the most. Thus, if one is guilty of not working all his work hours, then his time is either reduced or made easier, or the way he provides it is made easier for him. Sometimes he is given time to spend at school, to teach him the great merit of “bestowal upon others.” It all depends on the view of the judges.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (07:58) He writes, here, in the beginning that the public opinion pressures every person, even in hiding. What does that mean, in hiding? 

M. Laitman: That public opinion is not conveyed openly but they simply feel this way. 

Student: So this is already in very high attainment when this connection can be felt between one and another.

M. Laitman: Yes, this is speaking of a very advanced society. 

Student: This is what I wanted to ask, I understand that here Baal HaSulam already speaks about a society that is applying most of what's written. I feel they really are applying Arvut here, there's this feeling. 

Student: What is this court that gives accolades or medals of honor to anyone who is bestowing? What are these accolades?

M. Laitman: That they show everyone that this particular person is respected in the society, especially so.

Student: Then he says that there is no remedy for his plight except for asking the court for help. And they have a particular manner of how to help such miserable people. So, one who doesn't manage to implement his role in bestowal is considered as miserable, he should feel miserable? 

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Student: What is this feeling of miserable, this is the first time I hear this word, miserable?

M. Laitman: That he is lesser than everyone. 

Student: It should truly be a special and good feeling? 

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (10:17) It is written, his half is filled with mandatory hours, meaning that every friend commits to work a number of hours according to his strength. And the second half is voluntary hours, so if he works the mandatory hours, where does he have room left for the voluntary hours? He does the maximum?

M. Laitman: Apparently there is no limit to what a person can contribute to the society. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (11:02) It says, here, that everyone stands freely to serve society. On the other hand, it feels like there is social pressure and maybe condemning those who are less successful. So where is then that freedom that he says that every individual has freedom? 

M. Laitman: Apparently, a society that is entirely built on and keeps such relations of bestowal upon others. It preserves itself, keeps itself, and it gives each and every one energy to be with a drive forward towards bestowal upon the society more and more. 

Student: But of it was always successful, we wouldn't need all these rules; meaning there is some fight here in every person.

M. Laitman: No, the will to receive is never refined. 

Student: So, there is always an inner struggle in the person. 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: But if a person sees such a society from outside and he says, okay, I'm willing to take on myself the rules, and he enters? Or we're talking about everyone, or it's always the case, or what? 

M. Laitman: This is according to how the entire society goes through degrees of advancement. What this is about is that the society is yearning to reach the degree of the Creator, meaning to be in unlimited bestowal. Certainly, upon that same will to receive that doesn't disappear, but it also develops. And by that, it gives each one and the whole society, together. It lets them rise to such degrees of bestowal where they discover more and more the degrees of adhesion. 

Student: Can a person exit such a society if he wants to? 

M. Laitman: I think that the view of the society, here, will work on each and every one to such an extent that there won't be any such people. We are talking about a society that is greatly advancing. 

Student: If I understand correctly, my choice, let's say I understand the meaning of it, I’m willing to accept the rule and I put myself inside; and that's my choice, that I put myself inside? 

M. Laitman: Yes, yes.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (14:18) It says in Item 6 that punishment does not exist in the court of law, and then that someone who needs to be educated, he's sent to school to teach him the great merit of bestowal upon others, and it's all according to the view of the judges. So, how's it going to look like, this educational, this judicial approach? What will they study at school? 

M. Laitman: What should they study? 

Student: There's two questions: One, what will be the future form of the court of law; how will that look? 

M. Laitman: It seems to me that they will already be understanding to such a degree, and living in a society, so that they will see the general spirit that is developing in them. And in such a way each time, they will advance more and more in connection and to discover the nature of The Creator in it. What we call the Shechina. 

Student: And what is that school that there will be a time of that where they have to teach the merit of bestowal? 

M. Laitman: Look, I don't know, it's not that I came down from there to you and I have my own impression of it. However, apparently, the influence of the public, that they're all influenced by the Creator. They will be able to pass on to the whole public this necessity to advance each time towards pure bestowal.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (17:12) It describes, here, the social, the public opinion, the external pressure that basically forces them to work to bestow to others. It sounds very powerful when you read it and imagine it. The question is whether it works in man's internality, changing his intention? 

M. Laitman: It changes everything in him.

Student: How could it be? 

M. Laitman: Because a person feels this great society that he is in and to what extent their view is higher and more special. And so, he accepts this pressure as something that he is obligated to. 

Student: The question is if there is some inner element of nature, here? He feels the inner struggle, his nature still wants to steal from society? 

M. Laitman: He exists in a society that is all projecting love and the knowledge of the Creator who exists above them. And an inclination towards adhering to Him, and therefore this is how he feels. 

Student: What knowledge does a person need in such a society? 

M. Laitman: What exertion? A person is in constant exertion and with a constant intention to rise higher and higher from his own individual nature that is not refined, it doesn't disappear. But rather he elevates himself higher and higher above his natural ego and this is how he wants to be connected with everyone.

Student: So, there is some inner work that he has to do here?

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Student: He doesn't write Creator here. They talk about the Creator in such a society,  they understand there's a higher goal that's above us?

M. Laitman: The Creator and nature, and our goal to rise to that degree, they are truly clear, understood, these demands by everyone,. And each one tries to truly reach a degree where, how shall I put it, where they will be similar to the Creator. 

Student: But it has to be a Creator there? 

M. Laitman: The Creator has to be there because it's some sort of an upper yardstick  

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (20:50) He writes in Item 5 about a person who took more than he deserves, tries to self-benefit a bit more. And they say that in that state he will probably be relocated, and his family will also be banned. And basically, it's exiling him he says because people can't forget. What's not clear to me, a society that is in contact with the upper force and truly bestows love. How do you get to a state where a person who flawed, and we all know that the will to receive is such a state that is so wrong, in short, that they have to send him elsewhere?

M. Laitman: Let's hope that we will go through such degrees and learn things from reality. What happens and how it should be, and we can discuss it, I don't know. 

Student: Another question if I can, it says that people who receive important positions, they have to take a course before they start. 

M. Laitman: Yes, of course. 

Student: What is that course if it's a society that's already in contact with the upper force? It says any average person and still he needs a course.

M. Laitman: Yes, because apparently there has to be some sort of equalizing of their views and a uniform perspective towards what they feel and what they accept as the foundation for their actions. 

Student: It's a spiritual course, yes? 

M. Laitman: Yes, yes, certainly. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (23:01) Is it about people with attainment on different levels here? Or the public opinion is so powerful that influences them; or it's people who already changed their nature? 

M. Laitman: They are not quite in a different nature, because we see to what extent they have to commit, and the strict conditions that exist. But, nevertheless, these are people who take upon themselves the spiritual laws in practice. 

Student: So, it's not clear, if they didn't change their nature and only there’s a powerful public opinion. And let's say they believe there is a higher force, let's say more or less like us,. Is that enough? 

M. Laitman: No, this is not about us, it's about people who already are in some kind of attainment. 

Student: So, there is attainment, so it can't be just public opinion or just like this general kind of faith or religion kind of.

M. Laitman: No, they understand how to advance towards the Creator in their form. Meaning to the extent that they are in the will to receive and as much as they are capable of being in bestowal. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (24:27) Everyone has to be in attainment, or like he writes elsewhere, two-thirds, or something like that?

M. Laitman: I can't say, it seems to me that now he's talking about a society which is all, more or less, in equal advancement. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (24:49) He writes that in the laws of the court there’s no punishment and one who's guilty gains the most. What does this gain help him? 

M. Laitman: I can't say, you can spin this in many ways, but it seems to me that when we accept the attitude of the society towards each and every one in such a way, that one understands the foundation according to which he is judged.

Student: Then the benefit can help him, to carry it out?

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center):  (26:04) Everything we read now is built on envy, lust, and honor. Meaning all those limitations and shaming, that for someone who receives for himself are signs of medals of honor. And all of that is basically built on the will to receive that makes it bigger so that it grows and develops. Where is actually love of others here, a desire to reach a higher level? 

M. Laitman: No, one who is greater than his friend, his inclination is greater than him. People grow, they get closer to the Creator by becoming similar to Him upon the fact that a greater will to receive is revealed in them, and even more cruel, more brutal. And they know how to control it, and precisely by that, to equalize themselves with the Creator.

Student: I understand, maybe I don't understand, correctly, what's written but the impression is that saying to raise the person and show his greatness and how he bestows and all that. That this has to be mentioned as a title before a person is even approached. And these signs of honor, doesn't it inflate the ego even more? 

M. Laitman: No, it's only in order to be an example to others in order to educate everyone. Someone who achieves something more than others, by that he becomes an example. 

Student: That can't be an obstacle for the person? 

M. Laitman: It's not an obstacle, it promotes the society. 

Student: The society, but the person? 

M. Laitman: Yes, he too, he's now proud, not that he achieved something, and he reached something. But that now he's doing something for the society, doing some special work.

Student: Now I bestow more than everyone, yes? 

M. Laitman: Now you're an example to the society, you have to see it this way. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (28:34) First of all, it's incredible that the court of law deals mostly with positivity and honor, and not just looking for how to punish, and who. And it looks like the judges are at the level of the quality of bestowal, acting like the Creator. My question is every system also has weak spots. Now, let's say Baal HaSulam describes the egoistic Communism. He says there are inspectors, and you have to pay them more, and you have to pay the managers of those managers even more. And in the Arvut article, he says that even if a few betray in Israel, then they drown the whole boat. So, the question is, here, who will supervise the judges? It's enough that one judge, let's say, couldn't overcome his ego at a certain state, the whole system can collapse. There has to be some fear of that, who governs the judges?

M. Laitman: Yes, this needs to be, I don't know how to say this but.

Student: A trial of honor? 

M. Laitman: Okay, a trial of honor, possibly. It depends on the values that the society builds inside of itself. And then everyone feels it and they want to keep it. 

Student: The public, the audience, that's clear, because they go according to honor, and they're in such a system. And if someone is mistaken, then there's a way to help him, to treat him, make it easier on him and then send him to a school to study. But the judges, they have to be at such a level where they never make mistakes. 

M. Laitman: Yes, with judges it's always a problem because they are above all the social measurements. Well, I don't know, we shall see. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (31:34) About the punishments of the law, the court of law, that will really correct a person? 

M. Laitman: Yes. The most important is that one would feel himself that he is different than the society. 

Student: It's strange and interesting. And another question, the matter of the medals of honor, they'll be given to one who is faster at his work? Like someone who gives more productivity in an hour than the lazy one or slow one, or what? 

M. Laitman: No, no, a person is not measured by that but rather it also includes all the conditions that he has from birth. Therefore, I can't say, I mean, we don't know how to get into that and how it is done. But nevertheless, we have to relate to each and every one with knowledge and feeling of all of his conditions and his nature, his entire history.

Student: So, there's no honor with regards to that, if someone works in his work more according to his ability, it's not that?

M. Laitman: No, he receives payment for working more, meaning here, the only payment is a psychological one. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (33:26) Later on, he will really delineate according to a person's ability, how many more hours he needs to work to reach an equal level. If someone who's the fastest, then six hours is like an hour for the one who's the least. Secondly, he talks about division to a society, it's like one big society divided into several societies. Now, one thing he says is that it's according to the handful of people that come together and have the ability to sustain themselves economically. So, what other principle ties together small societies or makes a society form? Why is it specifically this society or what determines a small society? 

M. Laitman: I think that to the extent that they are close to the Creator and to the extent that they are capable of checking themselves with respect to the upper nature, this is actually their purpose. The society doesn't exist in order to have these kinds of actions or those kinds of actions but rather to the extent that the actions that they do keep, elevate them to degrees towards the upper force. So, He is actually the yardstick, the appellant towards which everyone yearns. 

Student: What ties between people is like some inner root, according to some…into some similarity, a closeness in Adam HaRishon, or something else? 

M. Laitman: How does the society check the excellence of each one? 

Student: No, who fits where? Let's say society is divided to ten or twenty or a thousand small societies. The connection between me and what causes me to belong to this part of society or that part of society? I don't know if it's tens or groups of hundreds or thousands, but it talks about this division. 

M. Laitman: Yes, well, everything that has to do with this division or the differences between the participants. All of these things have to still have a clear measurement for everyone and it's all with respect to the upper force. To what extent are we keeping it and what exactly needs to be kept? We read that before, already, that they have to learn the degrees of what they have to climb. And according to that they check. 

Student: I'm asking what determines my belonging? Like when we divide to Tens in our society, it's partly automatic and partly according to a need of the society. These need to be a focus group, these belong here, those belong there, that's clear. Now here he talks about a society divided to many small societies. By what criterion one becomes a part of some part of society? 

M. Laitman: According to how the society determines. It could be like you say, this is a group of electricians, this is a group of people who clean, these are people who supply things. So, it's according to how the group decides for the needs of everyone, of the collective.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (37:54) I wanted to ask if everything that we hear from Baal HaSulam, if we can apply that to our society? 

M. Laitman: Certainly not, we haven't yet reached the beginning of those states that we're now learning about.

Student: Yes, but we can build some structure that will apply to our society. I just prepared a little draft with a few friends of what we can do in our society. And maybe accordingly, maybe, we can somehow start entering and feeling all of that. If you will allow, I will read it shortly. 

M. Laitman: I don't want to mix these things now with Baal HaSulam and what we're learning from him, but we will find a place for it. Guys, it's enough for us to talk about all of these things, let's just advance. 

Reading: (39:05) 

1) The state is divided into societies. A certain number of people, who can fully provide for themselves, may separate themselves, and maintain a special society. 

M. Laitman: Meaning they're already at such a level of development where they can essentially determine for themselves. This will belong to this society, that level, this kind of participation, and so forth.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (39:48) It sounds like there are classes in these societies?

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: So, it's not one society. 

M. Laitman: No, no, it's a society that is divided into many sub-societies. 

Student: So, what distinguishes one society from another? 

M. Laitman: You’ll see, you are reading.

Reading: (40:10) 

2) That society has a quota of work hours according to the conditions in which they live, meaning according to the local conditions and the preferences of its members.

This quota is filled by mandatory hours and voluntary hours. For the most part, voluntary hours are approximately half of the mandatory hours.

The work hours come from four types and divide into works according to strength: The first type is the weak, the second type is the medium, the third type is the strong, and the fourth type is the quick.

For the work of one hour of type one, type two works two hours, type three four hours, and type four six hours.

Each person is trusted with finding one’s appropriate type of work that suits one’s strength.

M. Laitman: Yes, okay, we're talking about the responsibility of each and every one; how he organizes himself in society. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (41:57) In such a society, there are Tens? 

M. Laitman: We'll see next, I don't know, I don't think so. That it's, that they're divided among themselves in small groups; I think that each and every one receives his own shape, character. 

Student: Life in the last generation, the blemish of one who takes more than himself  then according to the calculation, is that the blemish of an individual person or the whole society? 

M. Laitman: I don’t understand? 

Reader: Again, in such a society, a blemish of an individual person, is that his own blemish or is it the blemish of the whole society? 

M. Laitman: That's both, of course. If he does something that is against the laws of nature, then he first, and also all of society suffer from that. 

Student: Who is the high class in this society, what characterizes it? 

M. Laitman: Maybe we'll read. 

Reading: (43:20) Section Three 

1) Humanity’s progress is a direct result of religion. Again, humanity’s progress is a direct result of religion

2) The process of religion in circles comes when at the nadir comes the destruction of humanism to the extent of the ruin of religiousness. For this reason, they accept religion against their will, the upward movement begins anew, and a new circle is formed.

3) The size of the circle corresponds to the genuineness of the religion that is regarded as the “basis” at the time of the ascent. 

M. Laitman: Okay, that's what we need to reach and then see how to organize accordingly.

Reading: (44:26) Plan A 

Just as we expect actors in the theatre to do their best to make our imagination think that their acting is real, we expect our interpreters of religion to be able to touch our hearts so deeply that we will perceive the faith of religion as the actual reality. The shackles of religion are not at all heavy for those who do not believe, as the demand in commandments between man and man is accepted anyhow, and between man and God, a few commandments observed in public—such as those at one’s disposal—are enough.

Reader: (45:36) Behind me, they say Shabbat, Milah, Tfilin, Yom Tov, the four common commandments, if anybody knows, otherwise, please say so. 

M. Laitman: I don't know, I can't remember anything with regards to that.

Reading (46:02) Plan B

“Nature” in Gematria is Elokim [God]. Therefore, everything that nature mandates... the word of the Creator. The benefit of society is the reward, and the damage to society is the punishment.

Accordingly, there is no point turning God into nature, meaning [a cut up word in the manuscript] a blind Creator who does not see or understand the work of His hands. We are better off, and it makes sense to every healthy person that He sees and knows everything, for He punishes and rewards, since everyone sees that nature punishes and rewards, as Hitler proves.

Reader: (47:15) Plan C

All of the anticipated reward from the Creator, and the purpose of the entire creation, are Dvekut [adhesion] with the Creator, as in, “A tower filled abundantly, but no guests.” This is what they who cling to Him with love receive.

Naturally, first, one emerges from imprisonment, which is emerging from the skin of one’s body by bestowal upon others. Subsequently, one comes to the king’s palace, which is Dvekut with Him through the intention to bestow contentment upon one’s maker.

Therefore, the bulk of commandments are between man and man. One who gives preference to the commandments between man and God is as one who climbs to the second step before he has climbed to the first step. Clearly, he will break his legs.

Reading: (48:33) Faith in the Masses

It is written, “The voice of the people is the voice of the Almighty.” Indeed, this means that according to reality, they have chosen the least of all evils, and to that extent they always follow the good path. However, of course we must change reality so they can accept the utterly complete path. And it is true that the power of keeping in the masses in general chooses for them a way according to the situation. For this reason, once they have corrupted the interpretation of Torah and Mitzvot [commandments], they have become rebellious. However, it is a sacred duty to find a true interpretation in society, and then it will be to the contrary: The power of keeping in the masses will coerce the keeping of Torah and Mitzvot.

M. Laitman: What do we do? 

Reader: There are questions, the friends have questions. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (50:18) Two questions: First of all, about the playing or acting, he gives an example that like a person who sees a movie or goes to the play and he's truly impressed. That for him it is like an actual reality, this is how the interpreters of religion, meaning the people who explain things. This is how we apparently need to explain it so that people will accept our explanation about the Creator truly inside their hearts, as a reality. 

M. Laitman: We are incapable of that, we have to further develop in order to establish a society that from the development, the incorporation, it will be clear what it demands from everyone who enters it. 

Student: So, it's just about the proficiency of those who explain it, but it also depends on the audience they're dealing with. 

M. Laitman: Yes, it depends on the whole of society. To what extent they carry out what they learn, that's how they can determine their influence on the world. 

Student: Can I somehow prepare myself for such a state, for such an explanation, for such a reality? Or does it depend only on the measure of my connection with the Creator? Or are there some proficiencies, some skills we can develop? 

M. Laitman: Seems like there are, but we have to still discuss that. 

Student: Another thing he writes here, that the expression of love towards others and bestowal is only in the work. He doesn't write here that we’ll have to study, spend hours in that or in their introspection or intentions. No, for him everything is expressed in the work, in hours of work. It seems very corporeal, how come it's like that? 

M. Laitman: It's not so corporeal. 

Student: What work is he talking about? 

M. Laitman: Any kind of work that a person does in this world. 

Student: So, this is the expression of love of others? 

M. Laitman: Yes, it's an expression of love of others.

Student: He doesn't even mention here any study of the Torah, that you have to sit down and draw the light, it's no longer needed. Is it a stage that they already passed? 

M. Laitman: I think it's part of the work. 

Student: Ah, so it is a part of the work.

M. Laitman: I'm not from there, do you understand? It's good if you discuss this with each other and decide what needs to be. I see the hands and, also, know the people who raise them. You need to discuss among the friends and from there understand what needs to be, okay? Let's, five or ten minutes, let's say, and we'll talk about it, then.

Reader: (54:04) Workshop. Friends, let's talk about what we now read and learned in the writings of the last generation, so go ahead please. 

Reader: (01:03:22) We'll move on to the next part of the lesson. Before that, let's sing together. 

Song: (01:03:27)