Laitman.com » Music

Music That Warms The Heart

bb_admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:04:56 +0000

Question: What should the music at the convention be like so it would really warm people’s hearts?

Answer: Joyful music is not mindless partying. Rather, it has to awaken a good feeling within me, sympathy for what is happening. At the convention, as well as every day, we must imagine our future state that we aspire to, from which we want to receive an illumination, a glow, an influence. Let the Light that reforms come from there and draw us there.

Looking at something beautiful, I am automatically drawn to it. But in this case I have to imagine the beauty myself, as an exercise before and during the convention. In December we will immerse ourselves in the world of the future for 72 hours. We have a single vessel in which a general bestowing force becomes revealed and we all dwell in mutual bestowal.

What do we discover by that other than a feeling of euphoria? What are our relationships? How do we interact in the family, among friends, at work (with our coworkers, employees, and employers), in the economy of the new generation, in ecology, in society? We are entering a new world and are starting to check its details: culture, upbringing, science, our attitude to all kinds of things…

And that’s where music can help us develop the right approach to life. And it doesn’t matter if it has words or not.

However, music should not draw me to any sad thoughts, to anything reminding me of a descent or despair. And this prohibition is effective in our day-to-day work as well. Sad music, the left line can only be used if I have built a strong right line ahead of time and am in it. As Baal HaSulam writes, only half an hour a day can be spent on critical self-analysis, on the condition that I worked in the right line for 23.5 hours.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/1/11, “The Love for the Creator and Love for the Created Beings”

Concert From Symphony Space Centre – 03.29.11

bb_editor — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:00:45 +0000

Concert from Secrets of the Sages
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Kabbalah Insights – Melody

admin_bb — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:37:52 +0000

How Do Words Reach The Soul?

bb_admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:06:15 +0000

The language of branches can be very useful if we are in two worlds simultaneously. It explains to us how to use the objects of our world in the most effective way so as to influence other people through them, awakening them to correction.

If I had precise knowledge of man’s nature and that of all the objects at my disposal, I might be able to awaken the whole world to correction! I would know exactly what films, texts, and music are necessary for this. I would make a calculation on their souls and the forces I want to enact inside of these souls according to their inner structure, which is known to me.

However, since for now they do not understand communication on the level of souls and inner forces, I translate it to a different dimension, to the level of their material hearing and sensation, as well as the sounds of musical instruments. That way I gain an opportunity to influence them.

Through these external instruments, I can awaken inner forces within them which they don’t even know themselves. This influences them through the external hearing, through music, and gradually awakens inner forces within them. That’s because a person is an integral system in which corporeality and spirituality unite. It is therefore possible to influence a person by material means, but with an intention to influence him on the inner, spiritual level. That way it is possible to lead him into vibrations and a resonance, and to receive a reaction on layers that he does not even suspect himself through hearing music and other external influences.

That is exactly how we awaken ourselves by reading Kabbalistic books, such as The Zohar and Talmud Eser Sefirot. We thereby raise our sensitivity to the Light that Reforms. This Light is not present on the material level. But Kabbalists have arranged it so that through this external influence on my ear and eye, I receive an inner influence as long as I attune myself with the desire to receive precisely this.

Therefore, if we find out the connection of the roots with the branches on the levels of two parallel worlds, spiritual and material, one against the other, then it is possible to awaken the whole world to correction. We actually do act that way, but not with the same might as the authors of The Zohar do.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/11, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”

“The Last Generation” Band

admin_bb — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:29:20 +0000

We are very happy for “The Last Generation” band (“Dor HaAcharon”), who completed a series of very successful concerts around the country of Israel recently. Tens of thousands of people welcomed the group with great excitement in Natanya, Beer Sheva, Haifa, Eilat, Jerusalem, Modiin, Hadera, Rehovot, and Kibbutz Dan. A major concert also took place last Monday, September 6th at “Barbi,” a club in Tel Aviv where more than a thousand of people attended.

Happy New Year to them all!
Wishing continued inspiration and success in their work!

Kabbalah Channel: Can Music Change People?

admin_bb — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:33:56 +0000

A Song Is Inner Work

admin_bb — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 09:02:30 +0000

A question I received: What is a song? Is it a prayer (MAN), an awakening from below?

My Answer: The entire process of the spiritual work is included in a song. Similar to our spiritual work, a melody always contains the collision of different sounds with altering pitches and pauses without which we wouldn’t hear a melody but only noise.

Why does a melody give us a feeling of harmony and awaken our emotions? Why is it that a particular sequence of sounds is capable of suddenly making us laugh or cry? A sound is but an aerial wave of a particular frequency that affects the eardrum. What is this inner mechanism whereby mechanical actions and electrochemical reactions inside the brain turn into emotions? Moreover, emotion isn’t contained in the sounds themselves, but the sounds awaken the emotions in us.

How can somebody else convey to us a feeling via this essentially inanimate mechanism, via this inanimate process, which penetrates inside our living, animate organism and awakens in it feelings on the human level?

This is a complicated process. All this is possible only because a melody contains separate sounds of varying pitches and breaks or pauses between them. That is, it contains the same qualities present in our work with the three lines: right, left, and middle.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/21/10, The Zohar

The Song Of Ascension

admin_bb — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 08:48:45 +0000

The Zohar, Chapter “Shemot (Exodus),” Item 333: The ministers below are called “Levites” because they accompany and join above as one [Livui means accompanying], and because one who hears the singing becomes accompanying and his soul clings upwards, in the Creator.

A song is the revelation of the Light of Hochma in the Light of Hassadim, the greatest revelation there is. "The Song of Songs" is the peak of adhesion, connection, and unity between the creature and the Creator. Psalms are songs, which King David (Malchut) revealed in the darkness, they are revelation of the Light of Hochma in the Light of Hassadim.

Sometimes it seems to us that King David cries, not knowing what to do, and hides from enemies; yet in this darkness, he reveals Hassadim, the Creator’s mercy. Thus it is a song.

First we need to reveal the right line, faith or Hassadim, while suppressing the left line and holding onto the right one alone. When Hassadim are revealed completely, we rise into Bina and see that we can stay in mercy in all the desires, on this whole degree (in the desires of GE). Then we begin to work with the desires of reception (AHP) and rouse the left line. In other words, we begin to awaken the forces of Malchut and to accept the Light of Hochma in these receiving desires.

By elucidating our desires of reception and adjoining them to the right line, we thereby build the middle line. The state when the Light of Hochma is revealed in the Light of Hassadim, when the left line connects into the right line and gives raise to the middle line, it is called a song. This is called a "crusade" since we switch from state to state as a result of these relocations, thereby advancing by the three lines: Ibur, Yenika, and Mochin. We first prepare the desires, and then we fill them with Light.

Therefore, Psalms (the songs) of King David describe all the different states during the correction of Malchut in the three lines. They contain the immense Light that overspills the Kli, meaning that the correction is so high that the Kli becomes completely like the Light.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/21/10, The Zohar

Spiritual Songs

admin_bb — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:29:25 +0000

The Zohar, Chapter “Shemot (Exodus),” Item 40: We open our eyes and see the wheels of the holy Merkava traveling in their journeys, and the sound of singing, sweet to the ears, to Bina, and beautiful for the heart, Malchut, rising and falling and walking, and not traveling.
…and Hochma is obtained only by journeying from line to line in the three points – Holam, Shuruk, Hirik – the sound of singing is heard. This is illumination of Hochma for the ears, which are Bina, primarily through the middle line, Tifferet, called “voice.” And it is imparted from him, from the heart, to Malchut.

A question I received: Singing is an exalted spiritual action that begets “illumination of Hochma for the ears, which are Bina,” the Light of Hassadim. How is this connected to the music put out by Bnei Baruch?

My Answer: I really like the songs written by my students Moti Mor and Arkadi Duchin. They are born from an impression of a person who is already on the spiritual path and aspires to spirituality. The fact that he hasn’t yet attained exalted levels does not matter.

Baal HaSulam writes that even a simple person may intuitively assign correct names and connect corporeal branches to their spiritual roots. For instance, some time ago some person saw the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and thought that it was good for growing olive trees. Thus he named it Mount of Olives. Today we accept this appellation as sacred.

Baal HaSulam explains that thereby the spiritual clothes the corporeal, and the connection between the root and the branch manifests. The spiritual root affects its branch, and the branch as though “speaks” out of the root, naturally, without even knowing why.

Therefore, those who study Kabbalah create the right art even if they have not yet reached the heights of absolute spiritual sensation or attained the true nature of sounds and the deep meaning of words. The depth and richness of the impression they possess is much greater than they themselves realize. Everything that a person creates out of his connection with the Source already carries within it a spiritual spark.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/12/10, The Zohar

The Story Of Joseph Teaches Us About Hate And Brotherly Love

bb_admin — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:19:56 +0000

A question I received: What is the song we sing after every Yeshivat Haverim (Friends’ Assembly), called “Hineh Ma Tov”? It is very deep and very special. What is it about, and what is its Kabbalistic meaning and history?

My Answer: When Yosef’s brothers, who hated him, sold him to Egypt, he became the Pharaoh’s deputy. When the brothers came there to buy food, they did not recognize Yosef and he sent the Egyptians to pursue them, thus forcing them to repent for what they did to him. When this happened, he revealed himself to them, and together, in joy and love, they had a meal where they sang this song. The words are, “Hineh Ma Tov Ve Ma Naim, Shevet Achim Gam Yahad” – “How wonderful and pleasant it is to sit together as brothers.”

And it’s the same with us: at first we hate each other, but then we grow closer and become brothers!

Our Entire World Is Like A Narrow Bridge, So Don’t Be Scared Of Anything!

bb_admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:40:15 +0000

A question I received: In considering the first commandment of fear of the Creator, do you know why the Kabbalists wrote the Niggun (melody) “Gesher Tzar Meod” (A Very Narrow Bridge) which suggests that the main thing is “not to fear”?

My Answer: The lyrics of this song are as follows: “Our entire world is like a narrow bridge, and the most important thing is not to be scared of anything!” It means that all the disturbances on one’s path come from the Creator, and one attains Him only by overcoming them.

As for fear, there are different kinds of fear:

1. Fear of this world, when one desires everything for himself, and the more the better, and so he won’t have to pay or be punished for it.”
2. Fear of the world to come, when one thinks, “I don’t want to go to hell, but to heaven, and to the best possible heaven.”
3. Fear of “Will I will be able to reach similarity to the Creator?” – for my own benefit.
4. Fear of “Will I will be able to attain bestowal to the Creator, without any thought of myself?” This is the real fear of the Creator. Everything else is fear for yourself.

A Song In Memory of My Teacher Rabash

bb_admin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:34:33 +0000

A question I received (from the German blog): Lieber Rav Leithman, Das Lied welches zum Todestag des Rabash komponiert wurde habe ich gehört und war sehr gerührt, ja ich fühlte eine sehr große Verbundenheit, so, dass es fast schmerzte. Ewald Heinz Feuerstein.

Dear Rav Laitman, I heard a song that was sung on the day of mourning for Rabash, and I was very moved because I felt a very close connection to it, to the point that it was almost painful. Ewald Heinz Feuerstein.

My Answer: I am glad that you came across it. I will post this ancient Kabbalistic melody for you, which we sang during one of our meals:

Straight to the Creator – A New Song

bb_admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:09:20 +0000

A new song, written and performed by Bnei Baruch Toronto:

Lyrics to the Song

The Last Generation – A Song By the Bnei Baruch Band

bb_admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:20:16 +0000

The Bnei Baruch Band has recorded another song called “The Last Generation.” (The English translation of the lyrics appear below)

So we thought we would succeed if we would think a lot,
So the philosophers sat down and calculated:
If we strain our mind, we might find a solution.
All this may be true – but it led to nowhere.

So we thought we would succeed if we explored a lot,
So the scientists sat down immediately and began to count:
If we find the formula we might prevent disaster.
All this is certainly true – but they also developed the atom bomb.

It may be right under our nose,
Waiting for us to tilt the scale.
It is already here, it is the right time,
For the last generation,
(The last generation, the last generation)

We thought we would succeed if we stopped breathing,
If we fly to the Himalayas to be with the Hindus,
They sit there and meditate all day long,
They are still alive – but have long gone to sleep.

We also thought we would succeed if there were equality,
So the communists said: let’s split up the riches,
Let’s forget about the ego and live the good life,
And what happened to us? It is even worse than Sodom.

It may be right under our nose,
Waiting for us to tilt the scale.
It is already here, it is the right time,
For the last generation,

We also thought we would succeed if there were tranquility,
So the mysticists sat down and thought of a solution:
Let’s close our eyes tight and try to relax,
It was very nice – but nothing happened.
(Nothing happened, nothing happened)

So we said it might be better to just forget everything.
Yes, to take some pill, it will make us feel good.
We can just escape to our imagination.
It may true – but in the end it certainly won’t help.
(Certainly won’t help, certainly won’t help)

It may be right under our nose,
Waiting for us to tilt the scale.
It is already here, it is the right time,
For the last generation,
The last generation,
The last generation.

We Have a Game – A Song By the Bnei Baruch Band

bb_admin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:26:50 +0000

Here is a song called “We Have a Game” performed by the Bnei Baruch Band (the English translation of the lyrics appears below):

We have a game where there are no losers,
The Creator is great and we are His children.
In our game we hold each other by the hand,
He is you and you are me,
Together we are one body.

In this game we will grow and mature,
We will feel the Upper World and begin to unite.
Only in one body will we find the answer,
And discover everything out of love.

We have a bond from here to Infinity (Ein Sof),
We move from the darkness, from darkness to Light.
Together we will grow and reach the top,
Big and small, white and black.

We have a game where there are no losers,
The Creator is great and we are His children.
In this game we will grow and mature,
We will feel the Upper World and begin to unite.

We have a bond from here to Ein Sof,
We move from the darkness, from darkness to Light.
Together we will grow and reach the top,
Big and small, white and black.

Accept Reality the Way It Is – a Song About the Purpose of Life

bb_admin — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:26:13 +0000

A song performed by the Bnei Baruch band (with translation into English, Russian, French and Italian):

The central Bnei Baruch group in Israel has several musical bands – this one is one of them. The band’s leader, songwriter and singer is Moti Mor – a famous Israeli lyricist and songwriter, musician and performer. The band performs many of our songs, and of course, all of the songs are about the purpose of our lives.

Changing a Kabbalistic Melody

bb_admin — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:58:43 +0000

A question I received: The first time I ever heard the melody Bnei Heichala, I felt that it was very dear to me. Could I write an adaptation to these melodies? It would require changing the melody a little. Would this decrease their value?

My Answer: The value will definitely be decreased, but there is a chance that the melody in this form will touch several other souls…

Different Versions of “Bnei Heichala” taken from the “Melodies of Baal HaSulam” page on Kabbalah.info:

Music To Perceive With The Soul

bb_admin — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:35:20 +0000

Question for ML: It is very difficult for me, as a musician and a composer, to perceive Kabbalistic music, which, because of my musical upbringing, “seems” primitive to me, and I have no choice but to separate myself from the higher harmony, from the higher level onto which the great musicians have elevated this music, and literally force myself to listen to it as if I’ve just started music school.
I don’t know how people, myself included, that are not on the level of Baal HaSulam, can perceive what he has put into it. More likely it raises people with its spiritual force and makes them tune into the spiritual like a tuning fork. I can’t do it yet, but I’ll keep trying!

My Answer: I felt the exact same thing when I first heard these melodies! And what can we say to people who come from completely different cultures, such as Eastern countries or Africa? This is how Baal HaSulam expressed his sensations. We need to abstract ourselves from the sounds themselves. It’s similar to the scenario of a student who desires to understand his Teacher: He may not even know the language that the material is written in, but he will discover the sensations that his Teacher is conveying through his desire alone. By the way, this is exactly what happened between Baal HaSulam and one of his students.

In Kabbalah, one needs to tune oneself into perceiving “Peh el Peh” – from the teacher’s screen into the student’s screen. By nullifying oneself before one’s Teacher (this is what the screen does) the person is able to receive higher sensuous information, comprehend it within, and start working with it. You understand the approach correctly – the sounds aren’t important; instead, through them one should try to listen for “the voice of the soul.”

Here’s a link to Baal HaSulam’s melodies