Question: A man who was upset came to a sage and complained, “Today I thought why even pray or ask the Creator for this or that? Doesn’t He already know what is best or worst for me?”

“The Creator certainly knows,” the sage replied. “The question is, do you?”

Do we know what is better or worse for us?

Answer: This is a complex question. We need to understand that the best state for us is to be similar to the Creator. How do we achieve this? That is what we study. And how do we implement it? We also study that. The task is simply to implement it, but that is the problem.

Question: What does it mean to be similar to the Creator?

Answer: To be similar to the Creator means following the laws of the Torah. These laws are: love your neighbor as yourself and do not do to others what you do not want done to you. These fundamental laws bring us closer to the Creator.

Question: Do we know this is better for us or don’t we?

Answer: We know, but we do not want it. It is like with children. You tell them what is good for them, but they do what their egoism tells them.

Question: Is it better for the ego?

Answer: Yes.

Question: As a result, do we end up doing what is worse for us?

Answer: Yes in the end, there is a constant struggle between these two forces within us.

Comment: I see. But still, the idea you mentioned is attractive. It sounds good: do not do to others what you do not want for yourself.

My Response: It sounds good until I start seeing what is more important to me.

Question: Meaning, what is more important for oneself, for one’s egoism?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What is the correct request? What if we wanted to ask: “Let us do what is better, not worse”? What is the right request: “Help us choose the better” or “Help us accept everything that happens to us”? That is, we believe that You give us the best.

Answer: Help us realize where in our world there is a greater similarity to You.

Question: By doing so, do we choose the best?

Answer: Yes, in our attributes, in our desires, etc.

Question: Does the Creator indicate where? Does He guide a person in this way if the request is truly deep and sincere?

Answer: Yes, if we truly desire it.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/15/24

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