[Ricki]

I apologize for this follow block of questions, I could not wait to ask and I did not know where else would be appropriate to turn.

What is the difference between psychologically repressing anger, and rising above reason, above what faults I see in the friends? What do i do when feeling utter disgust after a meeting with the ten? This is the first time I have felt such intense hatred toward my ten and I’m suffering a great deal of cognitive dissonance as i try to justify the situation. How can I love the friends when my state is so tarnished?

[Ricki]

Lesson 3 homework assignment:

To “make myself a Rav” is to make a relationship to our primary teacher. We sculpt our understanding and feelings toward him in a way that (hopefully) leads us in the right direction. To make a Rav is to look toward this master with respect and diligently try to absorb what he has to give. “To make” implies a building of something, a process, and a certain type of free choice. Even when I wrestle with myself I ought to consider the teacher’s offerings as medicine.

My impression of Dr Laitman after watching this clip is that he truly believes in what he practices. Not just believes like a story, but believes like he’s felt it, like this path has changed him somehow.  All i see is a man trying his best in this world to play his part in our system, and who is profoundly caring for people.

 

[Ricki]

I’ve been thinking about evolution, and how the levels of complexity often give rise to emergent properties greater than the sum of the parts. For example, two hydrogen and one oxygen atom combined together make and emerge as the substance water, or how individual cells in an animal work together to enable breathing or digestion. If you focused on just one cell, however, you would not see that it functions in a lung or stomach, you would not even comprehend it’s role within the emergent system.

My question is can spirituality be considered an emergent property of psychology?

So there is not any one part of psychology that would explain or give a true perspective of spirituality…
If this is correct then would it mean that by working with spirituality you would experience accelerated psychological development?

[Ricki]

I study full time at university and am struggling to keep up with the daily lessons. To date, I aim to devote my whole attention to a live session or recording. However, as pressure from school increases, I’m less able to tune in and keep up. Can you believe I’m almost at a point where i would be content to stall my own progress spiritually, if it meant that I could at minimum support my ten and fulfill my school obligations! But then striving in the work is one way that I participate in the society and strengthen the environment…. Since I’m sure that there are forces beyond my perception at work here, I’m not sure how to proceed.

My question is, if I can’t give undivided focus to a lesson from start to finish, would you recommend i still listen to it in the background? Even while doing something else like writing an assignment, or cleaning dishes?

Thanks in advance for your help

[Ricki]

Thank you Gianni! I greatly appreciate your guidance

[Ricki]

With regard to the only free choice we have which is the choice of environment, can our internal state such as emotions and thoughts be considered an environment as well?

It is known that we are influenced by the external environment, and this is a reason why immersing ourselves in the books, the group, the teacher, is vital to our continued development along the spiritual path. When a person goes out to work to make money he or she is influenced by this environment too but in an egoistic manner. What about when one is at home? She is not at work, she is by herself or with her family. Yes she can connect virtually to the kabbalistic environment, but the example i mean to illustrate to support the question is can we choose our internal environment, such as focusing on gratitude while i brush my teeth? I have learnt from past experiences and now days am much more grateful, and because, relative to my past, being grateful seems like an action i have learnt to do more often, it feels like a choice. And since just like the external environment can influence a person, their emotional state or quality of thoughts can also influence them.

I feel like I’m missing something here or have overlooked or forgotten some content from the lessons…. Please help me understand this distinction. Thank you for your time 🙂

[Author]

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