Authentic Kabbalah

[Unbound]

The essence of kabbalah is about awakening in your heart and growing the facet of unconditional love, to harmonize your attributes with the Creator so that you may balance yourself. The book the Zohar is the primary text, however you have to first learn how to understand the text in the manner it was written. That is, it pertains to nothing in the physical realm, period. The entire essence of kabbalah is to awaken the individual to the realities of the spiritual world without having to experience physical death. To unite the physical with the essential.

[Unbound]

Very interesting, this quote seems to show that Kabbalists have the same sort of ideas between STO and STS:


Kabbalists refer to the two paths toward knowing the upper worlds as the “path of Torah” [path of
light] and the “path of suffering.” In his “Writings of the Last Generation,” Baal HaSulam explains it in
the following way: “There are two ways to discover the completeness: the path of Torah and the path
of suffering. Hence, the Creator eventuated and gave humanity technology, until they have invented
the atom and the hydrogen bombs. If the total ruin that they are destined to bring is still not evident to
the world, they can wait for a third world war, or a fourth one and so on. The bombs will do their thing
and the relics after the ruin will have no other choice but to take upon themselves this work ... If you
take the path of Torah, all will be well. And if you do not, then you will tread the path of suffering.”

[Unbound]

I have added a quote from some of the textbook "Kabbalah For the Student" in the first post to give more accentuation on the capacity of these teachings.

Indeed, the teachings of Ra are in perfect alignment with Kabbalah. Kabbalah is real, the path that any and all can take to achieve spiritual reality. Spirituality is not magic, it is not amulets or robes or incantations or even meditation or yoga. The practices of balancing your energy centers is not spirituality. Spirituality is your direct sensational experience of the Creator and the ability to connect to that source. It is the awakening to the feeling of the forces which function behind the scenes of our reality. This is done by aligning your own attributes with that of the Creator, learning to receive pleasure through the act of bestowal, of giving.

Not that magic, energy balance/training, meditation, yoga, etc are not all valid and powerful tools for learning to use CONSCIOUSNESS, FOCUS and INTENTION, but they are not spirituality. Spirituality is something that is solely contained within the self, it is the exploration of one's own inner planes.

I think this is ultimately the tenet of the STO path of Law of One, that there is nothing more necessary than Love, the desire and will to give, to bestow in service to others, and to thus learn to receive by allowing others to give and bestow in turn. It is greedy to always be the one giving. If someone offers you a gift you create a space by which it can be received, you do not simply TAKE it. A gift is offered and must be ACCEPTED, not "claimed". Denying someone the opportunity to give is as equally selfish as refusing to give. Sometimes the greatest service you can do for others is to let them feel the pleasure of being the one in service.

I truly hope some more of you will take up these studies, they are paramount in this time! The teachings were hidden for thousands of years because NOW, TODAY, is the day we are ready to learn and understanding our vast spiritual capacities. Love and light all, blessings, adonai.

[AnthroHeart]

I'd have to disagree with that. It's all in semantics. To me, the work in energy, meditation, seeking, is all part of spirituality. Just because another says it's not spirituality does not discount this in my mind.

[Unbound]

Aha Yes, I can certainly understand that, the focus is on spirituality being defined as discovering your inner being. I think the emphasis of this semantic is to get people to stop thinking it's the mystical, magical, objects and whatnot that have power and instead absolutely all that happens within and without your reality is generated by YOU. I think this course is designed for all people, not just those who are naturally "spiritually" inclined, so they try to make it clear that spirituality is not in the "stuff", it's in you.

[3DMonkey]

"As above, so below" To reach the nature of God, we must search within ourselves?

(not my words )

[Unbound]

Exactimundo!

[Derek]

I'm just going to say this. I don't really have the time to prove it to everyone. If you actually look (and not just read heavily biased conspiracy articles) you will see what I'm talking about.

Freemasonry = not inherently bad, was infiltrated and taken over by the illuminati. Actually was originally a very positive institution.

Kabbalah = can be used for positive or negative. Kabbalistic magic is probably the most popular form of magic. Maddona and all them use it for black magic, if you study some of the things they've done you will see that.

ANY occult society or practice can be used for either STO or STS

Fulford = credible

[Unbound]

I can see all of that as being true, Derek. Of course I have no position to judge polarization.

I thought I would also mention about Kabbalah that it directly deals with developing your Sixth Sense. It is a practice and art of feeling.

[Oceania]

Madonna?

[3DMonkey]

Madonna?

Yes. Madonna. This is the extent of my wife's knowledge of the kabbalah. Which was more than mine before this thread.

[Unbound]

I think it would also be nifty to note that the Law of One contact used Kabbalic magical principles and rituals.

[peelstreetguy]

Dion Fortune's, The Mystical Qabalah, is one of the best classics. I own and love the book. I love the pic on the cover!

Forget about Madonna and so and so, We are all free to use and abuse anything, as Ra said, black magick is a perversion of white magick. I think it's true!

[3DMonkey]

80.10 - 80.20 I have discovered much from this session, and it can be summarized in this quote:

80.20 Questioner: Sorry about that. Can you tell me what the twentieth archetype would be?
Ra: I am Ra. That which you call the Sarcophagus in your system may be seen to be the material world, if you will. This material world is transformed by the spirit into that which is infinite and eternal. The infinity of the spirit is an even greater realization than the infinity of consciousness, for consciousness which has been disciplined by will and faith is that consciousness which may contact intelligent infinity directly. There are many things which fall away in the many, many steps of adept-hood. We, of Ra, still walk these steps and praise the One Infinite Creator at each transformation.

I am placing it in this thread because there are many parallels between Ra's information and the concepts found in Kabbalah- both creations of the universal mind, IMO.

REALIZATION <--link

The self-healing distortion is effected through realization of the intelligent infinity resting within

Healing occurs when a mind/body/spirit complex realizes, deep within itself, the Law of One

It is only possible to make catalyst available in whatever form, the most important being the radiation of realization of oneness with the Creator from the self,

the spiritual aspect serving as a further complexity of fields which is of itself perfect but which can be realized in many distorted and unintegrated ways by the mind and body complexes of energy fields.

(*)The light energy of all things may then be attracted by this intense seeking, and wherever the inner seeking meets the attracted cosmic prana, realization of the One takes place.

Creator, that is Logos, to Creator that is the mind/body/spirit complex, as Logos. When this realization occurs you may then widen the field of “eyeshot,”

One meets the self in the center or deeps of the being. The so-called resonating chamber may be likened unto the symbology of the burial and resurrection of the body wherein the entity dies to self and through this confrontation of apparent loss and realization of essential gain, is transmuted into a new and risen being.

the space/time realization being one of the learn/teachings of this density of being-ness.

We can only ask that you realize that all are One.

It is well for each to realize its self as the Creator. Thusly each may support each including the support of self by humble love of self as Creator

are tools for the further knowledge of the self by the self for the purpose of entering a more profoundly, acutely realized present moment.

WILL <--link

Is there any reason for some to learn more quickly than others? Look, if you wish, to the function of the will … the, shall we say, attraction to the upward spiraling line of light.(*)

The gateway to intelligent infinity is born of, shall we say, the sympathetic vibration in balanced state accompanying the will to serve, the will to seek.

All then falls away and the entity, while understanding, if you will, and appreciating the nature of the rejected material as part of the greater self, nevertheless, through the action of the will purifies and refines the mind/body/spirit complex, bringing into manifestation the desired mind complex or spirit complex attitude.

Thus the most fragile entity may be more balanced than one with extreme energy and activity in service-to-others due to the fastidiousness with which the will is focused upon the use of experience in knowing the self

You may consider all of these aforementioned aids as those helpful to the stimulation of that which in actuality aids concentration, that being the will of the entity. This free will may be focused at any object or goal.

[3DMonkey]

"Kabbalist Yehuda Ashlag writes that the entrance
of the Upper Light into the desire and its departure
from it, make a vessel fit for its task: altruistic. In other words,
if we want to feel unity with the Creator, we must first be
united with Him, then experience the loss of this unity. By experiencing
both states we will be able to make a conscious
choice, and consciousness is necessary for true unity.
We can compare this process to a child who feels connected
to its parents as a baby, rebels as an adolescent,
and finally, as the child becomes an adult, understands
and justifies his or her upbringing."

[Focus123]

I just saw this thread. I took this course for 2 years. Here is the doctrine that you must accept to be part of the group.

Member Statute of Bnei Baruch
“Laws are threads and ropes which help me get connected to the group.”
“These rules are aimed at involving a person into the group and into the state of Arvut (Mutual Guarantee).”
“These are the conditions on which basis you set frames for yourself, and if you don’t observe these conditions, you move away from them and fall out of the Kli.”
1. Selected extracts from Rav’s words
• The opinion of the group is above everything.
• After the group has made a decision, it’s preferable to err together with it than to be right alone.
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 1
• It’s necessary to treat the personality of each friend carefully, so that he won’t loose his individuality.
• The purpose of the group’s existence is to enable me to invest into it in order to achieve bestowal towards the Creator.
• If a friend has a distinct opinion and doesn’t express it, then this is considered to be a robbery.
• The morning lesson is a place for work. • The best means to impress our friends is
through one’s personal example. • It’s forbidden to talk with friends about personal sensations connected with inner states. This measure is aimed at preventing bad influence upon them, even
if this is done unconsciously.
• To choose a better environment every time means to see friends in the more corrected state in comparison to the state with which my desire to receive shows me.
• Only the actions aimed at unity between us will lead us to the goal of creation.
• There isn’t a more praiseworthy action than leading a friend out of the state of a fall.
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 2
• Thoughts are to be directed in the following way: how to give the power to achieve spirituality to all the others.
• We have to take care not of the quantity of the desire, but of the quality of the intention.
• It is prohibited to discuss the spiritual states of a friend. Only his exterior actions should be discussed.
• The group has to establish its own values and to demand that they will be observed.
• It’s necessary to show to a friend that good attitudes and care about him are consequences of the greatness of the goal.
• You have to be responsible for every word you say in the group and to remember that by our thoughts and actions we act upon the group.
• It’s necessary to keep up the spirits of the friends, even artificially.
2. Relations between friends in the group
2.1. Each of us should treat the study and common work as an opportunity to build the collective Kli, not as a means of increasing our information and knowledge.
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 3
2.2. Every absence from lessons, gatherings of friends, mutual work or group action, etc., is considered to be a detachment from the group and damages the creation of the collective Kli. In case of illness, vacation or obligated, necessary/desperate situations, a group member must inform the person in charge of attendance that they will be absent.
2.3. Everyone has to care about his friends in a friendly and amicable way, with love and devotion.
2.4. Every group member has to try to help his friend to overcome bad moods.
2.5. A person who is in the state of a descent entrusts himself to his friends, and only then are they able to help him. This is the way his attitude should be.
2.6. The group members have to take care of all aspects of life of every friend (economic, internal, etc). For this reason, if one of the friends gets into trouble or into a needy circumstance, and this may put at risk his spiritual path, then the other friend has to inform the person responsible about such problems (internal and economic problems, problems with health, etc) on behalf of the group.
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 4
2.7. A group member has to ask his friends to help him in difficult situations, when he can loose the sensation of the importance of the goal. The group members have a right to use various means in order to lead a person to group events (lessons, gatherings of friends, etc). A group member asks his friends in advance to disregard his claims, which he might make in such a state, and not to think of how logical or persuasive they are.
2.8. It’s forbidden to keep inside oneself any resistance towards what happens in the group. On the contrary, a person should bring this to discussion to the social commission of the group. Otherwise, this will do harm to the whole group.
2.9. All group members must carry out some duty in the group. If a group member was left without any duty, then he has to find a new duty for himself immediately. If a friend has taken upon himself the fulfillment of some duty, and, according to the group’s opinion, doesn’t do this properly, then the person responsible for this sphere has to give the responsibility to another person.
2.10. Every group member has to arrange for himself frames of activity in the group and in dissemination of the science of Kabbalah so that they
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 5
will place pressure on him all the time and, especially during falls, will enable him to carry out simple mechanical actions.
2.11. Every group member is obliged to protect the group and themselves from other “spiritual” movements. If someone from the group members deviates from the path of the group, then he’s obliged to inform his friends about this immediately, and they have to help him to return to the better.
3. Working
A group member has to work, even if he is a well-to-do person. If a friend is dismissed from his work, then all the group members undertake to help him in job searching: firstly, because he violates the conditions set by Baal HaSulam and Rav Baruch; secondly, they do this proceeding from consideration of the necessary minimum of subsistence. A group member undertakes to do his best to find a job. If he doesn’t manage to find a suitable (proper) job, then he accepts the job, which is similar to what he was searching for. Friends are obliged to treat job searching for their friend as if it were they who were searching for a job and help them with their actions;
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 6
morally, physically and spiritually to carry out the above-mentioned duty regarding his spiritual path.
When a group member doesn’t work, it’s desirable that he come to work at the Centre, however, he shouldn’t do this instead of searching for a job.
4. Rules of behavior in the BB centre
4.1. Lesson
4.1.1. A person has to have his own book available.
4.1.2. Each personmustobserve silenceandnot hinder others before and during the study.
4.1.3. It’s necessary to prepare all the books one needs before the lesson starts.
4.1.4. During the lesson every student has to keep the book open in the place where Rav or a reader reads.
4.1.5. Absence from the lesson:
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 7
a) To carry out work on dissemination during the lesson one has to get permission from the group or from the head of the department.
b) A friend can miss the lesson because of serious illness of one of the members of his family, which demands this, and because of childcare.
c) It’s allowed to miss the lesson because of one’s own illness only by consent of the head of the health department.
4.2. Behavior in the group (in the Centre and not during the lesson)
4.2.1. It’s forbidden to bring to the Bnei Baruch Centre any outside literature, except the cases when it’s necessary for the purposes of dissemination.
4.2.2. It’s categorically prohibited to loiter about in the Centre (without any task or group action).
4.2.3. It’s necessary to follow the directions of those responsible, who have been chosen by the group.
4.2.4. Every Bnei Baruch member has to participate in duties.
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 8
4.2.5. Every Bnei Baruch member has to take upon himself a certain duty.
4.2.6. A friend, who is leaving for vacation, has to inform the head of the attendance department and the head of the department he works in.
4.2.7. A Bnei Baruch member is forbidden to engage in financial transactions with other group members, i.e.:
• It’s forbidden to employ a friend for salary or in any other way for carrying out any work;
• Relations like “seller-buyer” are forbidden; • It’s forbidden to lend or to borrow a large
sum of money; • It’s forbidden to “cash on a friend:” to bring
him in contact with various insurance companies to receive a commission, or with various distributors of products like Herbalife, cosmetics, and load stones, etc.
**** Exceptional cases are permitted only by the group commission.
5. The group decision
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 9
Decisions made by the group or by the board of directors of the enterprise are to be accepted by a group member as law.
6. Using BB materials
6.1. It’s forbidden to utilize unedited materials.
6.2. It’s forbidden to utilize any kind of media which hasn’t been edited, checked and approved (video and audio materials, texts, etc.) for copying outside.
7. Using the “Bnei Baruch” name outside of the group
The utilization of the name “Bnei Baruch” and its advertising by the unauthorized entities is categorically prohibited. For example: in clubs, various societies, centers and in the press for the purposes of promotion, or dissemination or for any other reason. Each action of this kind is permitted only if it has been agreed upon by the BB board of directors.
8. Observation and introduction of changes into the statute
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 10
8.1. This statute is obligatory for all the group members.
8.2. Every group member, who has signed this statute, can make suggestions about introducing changes into it.
8.3. This statute can be changed by the agreement of the majority of the group members.
9. Contributions
1.Every student is obliged to pay his part of expenses for the premises, equipment, and public utilities.
2. Once a month every student has to allocate 10% of his income for the current month (after all the state taxes) for dissemination of the science of Kabbalah.
3. 10% of Maaser (tithing) the group collected is to be sent to BB for issuing materials for dissemination (books, disks, etc).
10. Who is considered to be a group member
A group member is any one who is ready to subject himself to it, to step over himself in order to
Member Statute - Bnei Baruch 11
receive from the group assistance in achieving the Creator.
One who enters the group has to take upon himself responsibility for the spiritual advancement of the whole group.
One who forgets about his friend even for a moment halts the advancement of the entire group.
A friend joins the group if he’s ready to take upon himself such a measure of responsibility.



Here is a thread from Rick Ross on cults:


http://forum.rickross.com/read.php?12,27491,page=1


This group is not the same as TLOO. They do not believe in Meditation- Chakra or the sort.

You also must pay 10 percent of your income to enter spirituality.

Gays have a defect and must go straight to enter spirituality.

You must be married to enter spirituality.

Some other sites for Kabbalah-

http://ohrpnimi.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12


http://godssecret.wordpress.com/category...r-yetzera/


http://www.inner.org/meditate/default.htm


A mothers perspective-

http://www.amotherinisrael.com/bnei-baru...lt-victim/

http://www.amotherinisrael.com/local-kabbalah-cult/


A letter from an advanced student:

Hi Mike:

“Another question. I am reading Wondrous Wisdom and have been posting questions on the forum. Mike Kellogg just stated answering me after avoiding me for a while. The last post, take a look if you get a chance,He was stating that the phrase ,love thy neighbor as thy self ,can never manifest here on earth.That Bestowal or Altruism is only a part of the Spiritual and can never be seem in the Physical. If you could share your thoughts I would appreciated it.”

This is the general theme of Kabbalah taught at ARI-BB … and only at BB I think … no matter what we do on earth … on this plane … the corporeal … no action is going to be “pure” giving … when Bill Gates gives millions to Africa Mike would say he is operating out of his ego (his will to receive) and he is actually getting the pleasure because he can look in the mirror and say to himself … “I am righteous” … I am such a good person … so he is really not giving/bestowing completely … only the Creator can do that and that is only what the Creator does because He is “the will to bestow/give” and His will to bestow is “unconditional” … unconditional love

Another example … Mother Teresa … Mike compared her motivation for a lifetime of giving to others, last year, to Jack the Ripper and this year to Hitler … what he wanted to say and he was not able to say it properly was that Jack the Ripper and Hitler operated only out of their will to receive and Mother Teresa likewise only acted out of her will to receive … but he chose a really poor example (and I think it was intentional) because of course there is no real comparison between Hitler and Mother Teresa to be made … he wanted to use the shock factor … but his example was in really poor taste … he should have used Bill Gates to make the point or someone else not connected with “religion” or “Christ” … and he makes this point over and over again until the cows come home … I had a very strong reaction to this because Mother Teresa is one of my favorite teachers … who’s next on Mikes’ list, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mary (Mother of God), Jesus … well yes they are in the same category with Mike’s and BB’s explanation of bestowal … and according to BB no one is “in spirituality” except Kabbalists … and this is a definition of what it is to be a Kabbalist (if one just studied Kabbalah they are not necessarily a Kabbalist) … one who has crossed the barrier by actually bestowing “selflessly” without any other motivation whatsoever is … the way to do this is “love thy neighbor as thy self” but BB say that is not possible so they try to do it in the “group” the group is a bunch of student with the same GOAL and exclusive to the rest of humanity … they want to bestow and know they can’t but they continually try … this is a slightly higher state called “low Lishma” and only through continued effort and the Creator’s intervention can a person achieve equivalence of form (pure bestowal) with the Creator or Lishma

The idea is that outside the group setting this is impossible and people who think they are doing good are kidding themselves … also the world is ruthless so one needs the protection of the group to actually give or they will be overwhelmed and taken advantage of by the world … people learn how to give in the group setting … by giving to others in the group, it is the SAME as giving to the Creator and this is said to be Bestowal … as the size of the group increases and the shared goal begins to be actualized the whole world is influenced and the consciousness of the whole world raises … one way to bestow is “dissemination” what could be more altruistic than giving Kabbalah to others so they could be SAVED because the whole world is non-spiritual and the whole world will eventually have to come to Kabbalah because it is the only WAY and all other “religions” and acts of good will are futile …

So on the forum Mike and Tony and Rob take the wet blanket approach for all questions … especially with question they can’t answer

Hi ,

How do you explain what a dog house is to a creature from Mars who has no clue what a dog is?

Meaning that unless you have crossed the barrier you can’t know … your are from Mars (but there are no Aliens) and Kabbalists are from some other place which is impossible to explain in words so they don’t even try … you only know it when you get there ... and when you get there you can find out what a dog house is … or you can find out what they are talking about … a dog house is a stupid example typical of Mike … I don’t think he is very bright … he can’t even pronounce the word “attribute” and no one corrects him … thing is, I don’t think any of the teachers know what a dog house is because I don’t think any of them have crossed the barrier … they are students like us but have been studying longer but they never admit that … so they don’t know either … only the Rav knows because he has crossed the barrier … question that on the forum and you are dead meat

Another line that Mike uses is “you can believe that if it makes you feel good” this is one of his condescending answers in my opinion that he uses often … if religion of belief in Christ makes you feel good … well that’s OK … but when you cross the barrier you will realize that that was just a dream … a sand castle that your ego needs to hold on to … like Mother Teresa did … poor thing … too bad she did not know the WAY ...which is of course Kabbalah but only BB’s Kabbalah including the Right books, the Rav and the group … the messiah has not come … the messiah is a spiritual force yet to come …

Also meditation, dreams are fruitless corporeal activities … and there are no aliens because they don’t fit into the cosmology of Kabbalah at BB … so go ahead and meditate and spin your wheels and waste time if “it make you feel good” but Mike knows a better way because he believes his teacher has crossed the barrier … he tried a few other things … Taoism (his experience in meditation) … he was a Mason (what degree we don’t know) and probably a Sothern Baptist Born Again type who became discouraged and lost his way and threw out the Christ

Now in the advanced forum … Mark said that some of BB’s students have crossed the barrier on there own in the past several years … perhaps 15 … no names were given and the Rav knows other Kabbalists in other schools who have crossed too … and you are not going to cross the barrier alone no matter what you do … you need the group … and the group, all the people or most of the people in the group will cross the barrier TOGETHER … at the same time … no one can do it alone … in the future by virtue of the fact that they are trying to bestow in the group setting because it is IMPOSSIBE to do so outside the group …

Here is another BB concept … God does not hear the words of you prayers … this is in Attaining the Worlds Beyond … He receive only your feeling when you pray … no language … no words … and Marks said recently without and script6ural reference to back it up that God does not hear individual prayers but only the prayer of the whole soul (group) of which we are only a tiny part … a student asked about this on the forum … his prayer life turned out to be a sand castle in Mike’s view … meaning he believed his prayers mattered and he was heard … but no … this is not the case, according to BB … but “if it make you feel good” then well OK for now …

And of course women are different than men … they are more evolved so they don’t need to study the same material as men … so they are separated/invisible in all the congresses and ALL groups … including the virtual group … they should help the men and thereby help themselves … they should help the group … in the mean time they should not “worry there pretty LITTLE heads about it” but contribute with more “dissemination” … a lot of women have asked why? on the forum … but Mike, Tony and Rob are right there, all at the same time, to reassure them … the women usually back down when faced with 2 or 3 teachers on one post or inquiry … but what amazes me is that some women go along with it and “submit” and tell the newcomers that it is OK … but this is not Kabbalah, it is Orthodox Judaism … they never give scriptural references … they always make assertions that are supposed to be accepted as fact … because Rav says so … but where in the Zohar or another text does it say so? … no one asks …

Where is it stated in scripture that Jesus studied with the Sanhedrin … Tony said “it is known to Kabbalist that Jesus studied with the Sanhedrin” … without backing up the statement … horseshit … I decided not to argue the point on the forum but to leave the forum instead … this is a very anti-Christian statement … and think about it … they don’t want to talk about religion … but it is OK to makes statements like this … but of course they support all religions because they “make us feel good”

Sorry I sound so jaded but I have decided to study some of the BB texts and ignore the so called teachers like Mike and Tony … and also study Kabbalah with other sources which they don’t want you to do … why? … because they can’t answer the questions … and some ideas by authentic Kabbalists say things not in keeping with the BB program and its goal … BB is a world movement … they want to change the world so everyone thinks like them … there is only one WAY after all … Buddhist are delusional … Christians are simple minded fools … and so on … but they don’t come out and say that … and we think like they do “because it makes us feel good” but nowhere do they admit that there are “levels of religious study” that enter the mystical and spiritual worlds … because Kabbalah is the only Way to do that … and Kabbalah at BB is the only authentic Kabbalah … and no one has ever entered spirituality without Kabbalah … so Jesus did not enter spirituality … he must have been kidding himself with ideas that “made him feel good”

I am not trying to discourage you and please don’t let me do that … I think you should complete the fundamental course and intermediate course and check out the so-called advanced course and get into the texts because some of them are important … we need to learn how to approach the Zohar … Mike will always say it is impossible for you to understand ANY WORD in the Zohar before you cross the barrier (more wet blanket horseshit) … yet there are scholars who have tackled the Zohar and one can actually make sense of it … always have open eyes … all the books at BB are free … but so is all propaganda worldwide … I investigated BB with a Google search and found some interesting stuff …

http://forum.rickross.com/search.php?12,..._forum=ALL

I think some of the stuff on the Cult forum is right on target and some of it is bullshit … but the letter below is of interest to me because I have experienced this before

I did not find too much and that was a “good sign” but I did find enough to keep me clear headed so I can take what I want and leave what I don’t want behind … I was in a cult before and I know what to be careful of … so with BB I stay on the edge … the closer you get to the center the more is expected of you … the people on the inside give 10% of their income … I found this out because I went to the Brooklyn group one time … they don’t mention that in fundamentals … … I think the Rav is a good teacher … so I will use his lectures in the Archives to dig into the text … but I decided not to go to any Congress … and the Congresses are emphasized … pushed … here is a letter (below) from someone who left BB that I found on the internet through a forum and here is the form link … Mike wrote to this forum and gets put in his place … he doesn’t have edit or censure power on someone else’s forum but he does at BB so no one can really have an open dissuasion or they will be thrown …

Anyway I knew all this stuff when I began study at BB a year ago but I still kept up with the study of the books because I see value in them and I see value in the Rav … I also see teaching values in Mike and the others but I am always looking at what they say for proof … I don’t know if Rav has crossed the barrier … I don’t think he has … I think many teacher in the world have entered “spirituality” in other tradition too … if you read the letter below and follow the link you will find a school which is part of BB that no one mentions … Jews only and there is only a one-way link to BB and ARI but not the other way around … why? … there is a secret agenda …

[font=Arial]I joined [b][font=Arial][font=Arial]Bnei Baruch[/font][/b] , a [b][font=Arial]Kabbalah[/font][/b] group in Israel, well before the study of Kabbalah became fashionable due to the efforts of people such as Madonna and friends. Bnei Baruch met daily, led by[b][font=Arial]Rav Michael Laitman[/font][/b]. I participated actively on the group for more than two years, following every lesson that was hold by the Rav Laitman each morning from 3.00 to 6.00 am. I developed Spanish and Italian departments for Bnei Baruch, regularly giving lessons and lectures.[/font][/font]
[font=Arial]From the beginning I was fascinated by the teachings of Kabbalah. The depth of the teachings gratified both my intellectual and irrational sides. I undertook an extended apprenticeship in the Hebrew language. During this time I assimilated many ideas which I later used to teach others in Italian and Spanish. At a certain point I started noticing cracks within the theory, cracks in the human and social attitudes of the group. After prolonged deliberation I finally made the difficult decision to leave the group.[/font]
[font=Arial]I wish to express my thoughts here. This is no more than anecdotal opinion, based on my personal experience, however, I hope it may be helpful to those willing to listen to more than just Bnei Baruch’s propaganda.[/font]
[font=Arial]Following in the footsteps of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi), Rabbi Itzhak Luria (Ari) and Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag (Ba’al Hasulam), Bnei Baruch’s single, only, goal is that of reaching “equality with the Creator” by means of the “surrounding lights”. On achieving this objective one will attain an inner feeling and understanding of the Creator, the result of individual intention and following the spiritual road-signs contained in the books studied by the group. More precisely, the goal is to reach the intent which somehow activates the surrounding lights contained within the books, resulting in an uplifting of our souls towards the Creator. This is more technically defined as a correction of the egoism of our desires.[/font]
[font=Arial]Beginners are not able to understand the language of the books, being composed of words that are not used for anything else than to express the Kabbalist’s knowledge of the ‘upper words’. After an extended period of study the words become familiar, even if the student never really knows what they are talking about. Such an understanding happens only when they break on through to the other side.[/font]
[font=Arial]The way of Kabbalah is considered scientific because it is rational, descriptive, provable, and universal – but then rationalism ends where faith must begin (although to secular people Kabbalah is offered as completely detached from Faith), descriptions may only be truly understood by Kabbalists, proofs belong only to the Kabbalists’ words. As a result, one cannot experience spirituality, and universality is nothing but a pyramidal theory where only those at the top experience direct contact with the Creator, while others have to accept their roles as only supporting.[/font]
[font=Arial]One cannot discuss, or hold opinions on, the Kabbalist’s writings because it is incomprehensible, however, students are supposed to study daily and strenuously, and to spread the message of Kabbalah all over the planet. This is to develop a tool of acceptance of the Upper Will called “faith above reason”, which will enable the attraction of surrounding lights that will drag them upwards.[/font]
[font=Arial]My academic studies of science taught me that modern science has a theoretical basis which may be modified if needed. Nevertheless scientific theories are based on pragmatic demonstration, experimentation, an openness to dialogue, the critical use of the ideas of others, and popular fruition and publication of its results. Kabbalah does not meet any of these criteria, and therefore, even if this does not deny the way of Kabbalah, it surely negates the current epithet that Kabbalah is “scientific”.[/font]
[font=Arial]Bnei Baruch takes the perspective that it achieves a new vision of the world, a view sometimes promoted also by scientists. This comes from theories that refer to, or are derived from the Theory of Relativity and the Quanta Theory. Both theories fascinate modern people tired of hypotheses that limit experience and imagination to this physical world, and they also, on a popular level, restore to science a feeling of indeterminateness and mystery that was lost during the rationalism and materialism of recent centuries. It could be said that these theories modestly reintroduce magic back into science.[/font]
[font=Arial]Bnei Baruch regularly plays on this new scientific common knowledge to reinforce its own ideologies. Two points are determinant:
[b][font=Arial][font=Arial](1) [/font][/b]subjectivity of reality (referring to the Theory of Relativity) and [b]
[b][b][font=Arial](2)[/font][/b][/b][/b] interdependence of observer and observed object (referring to the “Indeterminacy Principle” of Quantum Physics).[/font][/font]
[font=Arial]From the very beginning Bnei Baruch taught that:
[b][font=Arial][font=Arial](1) [/font][/b]We perceive only what penetrates us. The essence of the outside reality actually remains unknown and is called the Creator. We, the human beings, are portrayed as a box with five openings (our senses), through which the outside world enters. No other human experience, except the sensorial, is ever considered (subconscious, imagination, dreams, ESP, etc.). They are said to belong exclusively to the physical world, because their abstract shape could lead us to misunderstanding them for something spiritual.
The bottom line is that our physical senses allow us to communicate with the outside to a certain degree, but they lie about the real essence outside. In order to understand we need to acquire a supplementary sense, called the sixth sense or the soul (technically - “screen and returning light”) which will gradually equalize our qualities with the quality of the Creator. Until then we continue to live in a world of illusions.
[b][font=Arial](2) [/font][/b]Currently, as explained by Quantum Theory, both the observer and observed object are interdependent. This theory is used by Bnei Baruch to suggest that the only way we can get to the Creator’s feeling is by equalizing our qualities with His own. In contrast, our present conditions (called egoism) never allow us to feel Him. This is the goal of all the Kabbalah studies, called “equivalence of form” with the Creator or “adhesion” to Him. In becoming the object one observes, the interference is lost and the two elements coincide.[/font][/font]
[font=Arial]What is very interesting to note here, and leads us on to the next chapter, is that from the first Kabbalah lesson on life, Bnei Baruch starts to take us in a direction that, although completely underestimated at the beginning, reveals its full power in time. By this I mean the syllogism: What is outside of me is the Creator, and I am supposed to equalize my own inner qualities to Him. The world outside is an illusion created by my perceptions, both physical and psychological, but I have found a place where everyone has the same desires as me (and therefore a common initial quality), i.e. to equalize one’s own inner attributes with those of the Creator. This place is the group and it is outside of me; therefore, in first instance, all I have to do to equalize myself with the Creator is to make myself equivalent to the group (in desires, actions, words and… thoughts).[/font]
[font=Arial]As a result, from the very beginning, neophytes are directed towards bipolarization of inside-outside, which is found during the studies in many other sources and circumstances, more or less noble.[/font]
[b][font=Arial]Bnei Baruch, the Group[/font][/b][font=Arial][/font]
[font=Arial]Now, what does it mean to be part of this group?
How does this group relate to the outside world?
How does this group behave towards its members?[/font]
[font=Arial]It is considered a great honor to be part of Bnei Baruch, not because the people within the group are special people, but because the Creator chose them to reveal the Wisdom of Kabbalah and spread it throughout the world – therefore they are special.
This very peculiar situation is supposed to build a strong team spirit between group members, reminiscent of that in the military, which, from an elementary psychological perspective, is very easy recognizable by most Israelis. Bnei Baruch students learn indirectly and subtly to look upon themselves as ‘the soldiers of truth and freedom’. The same morning lessons are often called “struggles”; and in Laitman’s words the act of reaching the first spiritual level is said an “attack”. The group enjoys singing a song in which it calls itself a “commando of strong and special people”. As in the Army, everyone is said to depend on the each other, and the group itself on each and every single “fighter”.[/font]
[font=Arial]This general attitude is combined together with the inducted feeling that whatever is outside the group, being part of the big swindle (or physical appearance of creation), is fake, low, pathetic and unbearable. As a result Bnei Baruch members measure people who belong to the group and those who don’t in a completely different way from the norm. The group is your life, the air you breathe, your refuge, your family, the gathering of your only friends, your only and exclusive spiritual hope. Outside the group there is no life, people are like beasts (meaning their behaviors and desires are no different from those of animals) and there is nowhere to go. The group owns the Way, the group owns the only tools to possibly reach the target, the group owns the truth. Everyone, once they have been accepted to become one of the group, is indoctrinated to fear finding himself outside![/font]
[font=Arial]The group’s behavior towards its members can be summarized by the motto “either with me or against me”. The comparing of opinions is allowed and promoted inside Bnei Baruch, as long as it doesn’t exceed the theoretical limits outlined by Laitman’s teachings. Could it be any different? Should it be?
Unfortunately things become problematic when it concerns the view and treatment of people who have, for one reason or another, left the group. The one who is sent away, or leaves the group for ideological reasons, becomes infected, ceases to exist and ‘dies’. As a rule, people within the group are not allowed to talk with them anymore, nor even look at them and say “hello”. I will try to be more precise with a personal example, and it merely illustrates many other similar cases.[/font]
[font=Arial]Approximately one year ago, for reasons connected to bad feelings she had collected in the space of two years and partly related to what I’m writing here, my wife decided to leave the group. The women of Bnei Baruch rapidly rejected her, to the point of ignoring her existence. The men simply supported, or even pushed, their wife’s position, or encouraged me that ‘after all she was a bit crazy’. They suggested that this was only a disturbance that, as always, would lead me closer to the target because, for His mysterious reasons, the Creator likes torturing those He loves… Someone said “her eyes are dead”, another tried to convince me to behave like the horse in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and told me “work harder!”, others suggested that I should consider getting married again and that a woman after all is nothing but a cow that brings cattle into the world. Most of the so-called friends were apathetic.[/font]
[font=Arial]Now, the terrible thing is that in other places or ages, behaviors of this kind would surely have resulted in a harsher dismissal, such as lapidation (stoning), mutilation, or other violent abuses of human rights. Only the fact that we are living in more enlightened times spared everyone from falling into such an abyss. Nevertheless, the quality of the facts remains unchanged. To make it clearer, we could call it social lynching. This behavior might be considered normal for a pack of hyenas that fights over a chunk of meat, but it is unacceptable when originating from the “most developed souls” of the world. It is much closer to a sectarian or tribal behavior than to the attitude I expected from those who want to spread the universal religion of “love thy neighbor as thyself” all over the globe.
[b][font=Arial][font=Arial]The sectarian aspect of Bnei Baruch may be necessary to facilitate spiritual work, but it shouldn't lead to harm and disrespect for human life and feelings.[/font][/b][/font][/font]
[b][font=Arial]Bnei Baruch and society[/font][/b][font=Arial][/font]
[font=Arial]Bnei Baruch’s social identity is deliberately unclear. Bnei Baruch is not a religious group – in reality religious life is only superficially respected. It is encouraged by the Rav Laitman as something useful like a tradition. For example, Shabbat is respected in a very peculiar way, the daily lesson is recorded as usual, translated into Russian and English, but posted on their Internet archives with the date of the day after. Bnei Baruch is not a scientific academy, although they like to call themselves “ World Academy for Kabbalah Studies”. On the contrary, its basis is completely different from those of science.[/font]
[font=Arial]Bnei Baruch is close to a hybrid social movement, apparently apolitical, with a religious background and scientific claims. It hopes to become the leader of Israel’s social renovation and spiritual awakening, and therefore the welcoming organization for all those who will try to reach Jerusalem when the time will come, as written in the prophets.[/font]
[font=Arial]It is clear to members of Bnei Baruch, or at least to the leadership, that in order to enter massively into people’s daily life they first will have to achieve some kind of social recognition. This target is pursued using all possible media to the maximum extent possible – Internet, radio, TV, books, tapes – and trying to access the Israeli scholastic system by holding courses in high schools and universities. We should not forget the use of stars, as taught by Rabbi Philip Berg, such as Madonna & friends. Bnei Baruch in fact chases VIPs and it has already collected some national stars. Although not apparent, everything is planned.[/font]
[font=Arial]Unlike Mr. Berg’s organization, these efforts by Bnei Baruch are not for money to enrich the leader. Money is considered important, but only as a means to obtain the real target - control over people, i.e. power. Obviously the group thinks that everything is done to spread God’s will (but how many times on this planet will we have to listen to people who claim to know God’s will?). I want to tell you a short story that helped me understand what is really happening in Bnei Baruch.[/font]
[font=Arial]During the last Sukkoth celebrations, on the official opening day of their Autumn Congress, a parade was organized. People from ‘all over the world’ marched, like in a troop salutation with banners from their countries of origin, along a boulevard to a stage prepared for the occasion with a fancy illumination, where Mr. Laitman was waiting, sitting on a wheel chair. His family had the ‘seats of honor’ and everyone waved small flags with the logo of the Congress. Laitman then spoke, the Statute of the State of Kabbalah was read, and the flag of the future society hoisted.
All this happened “as a game”, a performance that was supposed to strengthen our connection with the importance of the goal and our loyalty to Baal Hasulam’s message. What actually crept in here was the use of symbols and patterns that throughout history have been used by strong political powers to affirm their supremacy and the supremacy of their leadership.[/font]
[font=Arial]Laitman believes that Kabbalah will be the ideology of the future world. What is ideology if not a sclerotic system of ideas? When ideas become an ideology it parallels putting animals into a museum, i.e. they are dead. Moreover, every ideology is nothing but a picture, an image of what it represents. The same of an idol which requires total devotion, blind respect and self-sacrifice…and this looks contradicts the second commandment of the Torah: “Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image”.[/font]
[font=Arial]The structure of the future society, painted in Baal Hasulam’s articles “The last generation” and “The solution”, highlights the passé and utopist social system of a world led by a group of wise Kabbalists. This society, as explained by the Rav Laitman, will have to provide for itself all needed social structures (schools, hospitals, courts, etc.), and all that concerns the community will be managed and solved inside these same structures. Relationships with outside governments will occur only when necessary and their infrastructures used only if inevitable. Nevertheless, their laws will be respected. The State of Kabbalah will be a state without territory that won’t need to fight other states for supremacy, but because of its universal ideal of love, every nation will naturally want to follow its instructions and way of life. (The ghost of Orwell’s “Animal Farm” still seems circling…)[/font]
[font=Arial]Whoever wishes to enter this new society will have to swear loyalty to its principals and will be allowed to leave whenever he/she wants. The universal religion of “love thy neighbor as thyself” will be the foundation of this new society and everyone will have to work for, and give to, this cause with all his/her heart. The economical principal will be “to give according to one’s abilities and to receive according to one’s needs”. Observance will be controlled by a committee of wise Kabbalists, who will evaluate all particular circumstances and decide which action to take according to their ‘tools of bestowal’ (their connection to the upper will). Their techniques, when the entire world is concerned is something unknown, but surely God will give them the solution.[/font]
[font=Arial]I conclude by telling you how this group has started realizing its universal ideology of “love thy neighbor as thyself”.
Their Israeli congresses are held in a place called Kfar Sitrin, not actually a village but a secondary school that helps young people with familiar social problems such as antisocial children.
Bnei Baruch had the project to find a place like Kfar Sitrin, or Kfar Sitrin itself, to open a holiday village where people could rest while studying Kabbalah. I don’t know how far along this project is now, but their Internet site reports that the project “Hatzlaha” has begun (http://www.kabbalah.info/hatzlaha/sitrin_campus.htm). Thanks to this project, people from all over the world will come to Israel, pay substantial fees, study Kabbalah, serve in the Israeli army (while most students of Bnei Baruch do their best in order to avoid their yearly service callback) and… sojourn in Kfar Sitrin. What does this actually mean?
It signifies that the school, partly private and partly sponsored by the government, will be bought by Bnei Baruch and closed. All the teachers will lose their place of employment, and all those problematic children will be sent back to their families and their pathetic daily issues.
Their Zionist project – open to all those that belong to the “traditional religion”, a smart way to fog the Jew Agency for Israel that sponsors their plans, and at the same time allow people from every religion to take part in their business – starts with the bombing of a few Jews, but the ‘beastie kind’, those we have seen above who are unimportant.[/font]
[font=Arial]As usual, the spreading of God’s real will should not stop at anything. “Love thy neighbor as thyself” – Bnei Baruch probably sees the dismantling of Kfar Sitrin secondary school as the best way to start implementing its target.[/font]

[font=Arial]
[/font]
[font=Arial]Oh and one of the big things[/font][font=Arial] that I could not accept is Michael Laitman says that there are no other beings in the physical universe, there are only humans on earth. Also there forums are censored. [/font]


[font=Arial]
[/font]

[3DMonkey]

So, Focus123, would you say you discerned and weaved your way through this group?

[Focus123]

So, Focus123, would you say you discerned and weaved your way through this group?


If I understand you correctly-Yes.

[3DMonkey]

And... you are further/improved/grown because of it?

[Crown]

Thank you Focus123, your post has been very insightful to me.

I do think though that this is a somewhat twisted view and use of the kabbalah. Am i wrong?

[Focus123]

And... you are further/improved/grown because of it?

Does not all teach /learn accomplish this?

I do think though that this is a somewhat twisted view and use of the kabbalah. Am i wrong?

Free will- one must discern for oneself.

[3DMonkey]

In my opinion, anything that looks like a box should be avoided

[Unbound]

Frankly, I wouldn't recommend anything past gathering information anyways. The idea of this is to open up the Wisdom of the Kabbalah, I do not care about the mechanics of the Bnei Baruch society and if it's true that they make these demands (though I myself have not encountered them) then I can understand why many people might be turned away from examining the material.

However, on the other hand, this is now directly related to my work here, that of exposing these kinds of things. Thanks for your info Focus, it's notable to consider and gives me a new angle from which to work.

As for me, I'll examine the box and take every discernible detail but never allow myself to be trapped within it.

[Focus123]

(though I myself have not encountered them)

Its a layered process.

[Unbound]

Which is understandable in any kind of set up that would take such an angle. This is very interesting though, and I'm glad that this has been brought to my attention since this is somewhat my field of dealing in this incarnation. How shall I say, I am here to break a lot of chains and to expose a lot of secrets.

[Focus123]

Good luck- let me know how you make out.

[3DMonkey]

Interesting. Thanks for the post.

Thank you

80.10 - 80.20 I have discovered much from this session, and it can be summarized in this quote:

80.20 Questioner: Sorry about that. Can you tell me what the twentieth archetype would be?
Ra: I am Ra. That which you call the Sarcophagus in your system may be seen to be the material world, if you will. This material world is transformed by the spirit into that which is infinite and eternal. The infinity of the spirit is an even greater realization than the infinity of consciousness, for consciousness which has been disciplined by will and faith is that consciousness which may contact intelligent infinity directly. There are many things which fall away in the many, many steps of adept-hood. We, of Ra, still walk these steps and praise the One Infinite Creator at each transformation.

I am placing it in this thread because there are many parallels between Ra's information and the concepts found in Kabbalah- both creations of the universal mind, IMO.

REALIZATION <--link

The self-healing distortion is effected through realization of the intelligent infinity resting within

Healing occurs when a mind/body/spirit complex realizes, deep within itself, the Law of One

It is only possible to make catalyst available in whatever form, the most important being the radiation of realization of oneness with the Creator from the self,

the spiritual aspect serving as a further complexity of fields which is of itself perfect but which can be realized in many distorted and unintegrated ways by the mind and body complexes of energy fields.

(*)The light energy of all things may then be attracted by this intense seeking, and wherever the inner seeking meets the attracted cosmic prana, realization of the One takes place.

Creator, that is Logos, to Creator that is the mind/body/spirit complex, as Logos. When this realization occurs you may then widen the field of “eyeshot,”

One meets the self in the center or deeps of the being. The so-called resonating chamber may be likened unto the symbology of the burial and resurrection of the body wherein the entity dies to self and through this confrontation of apparent loss and realization of essential gain, is transmuted into a new and risen being.

the space/time realization being one of the learn/teachings of this density of being-ness.

We can only ask that you realize that all are One.

It is well for each to realize its self as the Creator. Thusly each may support each including the support of self by humble love of self as Creator

are tools for the further knowledge of the self by the self for the purpose of entering a more profoundly, acutely realized present moment.

WILL <--link

Is there any reason for some to learn more quickly than others? Look, if you wish, to the function of the will … the, shall we say, attraction to the upward spiraling line of light.(*)

The gateway to intelligent infinity is born of, shall we say, the sympathetic vibration in balanced state accompanying the will to serve, the will to seek.

All then falls away and the entity, while understanding, if you will, and appreciating the nature of the rejected material as part of the greater self, nevertheless, through the action of the will purifies and refines the mind/body/spirit complex, bringing into manifestation the desired mind complex or spirit complex attitude.

Thus the most fragile entity may be more balanced than one with extreme energy and activity in service-to-others due to the fastidiousness with which the will is focused upon the use of experience in knowing the self

You may consider all of these aforementioned aids as those helpful to the stimulation of that which in actuality aids concentration, that being the will of the entity. This free will may be focused at any object or goal.

[Focus123]

From another former member:

I would like to add some more about “Bnei Baruch Kabbalah” –

I was in Bnei Baruch for a little over 4 years, until I was excommunicated for, according to them, using marijuana (I do use it for medical purposes) and being hospitalized after a crisis I had. They circulated about 5 different horrible lies about me and told everyone in Bnei Baruch to stay away from me. They denied their “brotherly love” to me in the time I needed it most, and kicked me out even though their number one slogan is “love your neighbor as yourself.” I would like to note that I stopped paying their tithe of 10% of my salary, or “Maaser” as they call it (which they say is a spiritual action) shortly before they excommunicated me. Also a side note- in the “big” groups – Moscow, Brooklyn and Petach Tikva you are not even allowed to be a part of the group unless you pay “Maaser” or if you are a woman. This is hidden from the beginners. You are also not allowed to be a homosexual. Period. According to them, you have to ask “the Creator” or God to correct your homosexuality. This is deeply hidden from beginners; but I have heard these exact words from- Markos Zografos, Michael Laitman and Mutlu Meydan.
Anyways, before I go any further I want everyone to know that and re-emphasize that I've been in Bnei Baruch for over 4 years, have been to 9 congresses, have attended a lot of their secret meetings and have been to the Groups in Petach Tikva, Israel - Jerusalem, Israel - Brooklyn, New York - and lastly, the group I started, the Washington, D.C. Bnei Baruch Group. Yes, regrettably I started a group in Washington, D.C. because I believed I would enter spirituality. I believed in their initial lies of doing well for humanity and uniting the whole world in brotherly love. I believed they were all about brotherly love and caring for each other.

Now, I'm not sure exactly if they are a cult but it's definitely a very, very dangerous and brain-washing group. They also very happily take your money. However, my entire family believes it's a cult. I have told them a lot more of what happened than I will in this post, and they saw from a third party perspective. There is no doubt in my Family’s’ minds that this is a cult.

Moving on, the reason I believe I got sucked into this group is because I have been diagnosed by my doctors as having Bi Polar II, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Severe Depression. Their group seemed to be some sort of answer to why I was suffering, and they offered relief to this suffering. They offer entrance into the spiritual world and a connection with God, and they lure you in by offering most (not all as they claim) of their materials for free. They also offer “Brotherly Love” also known as “Mutual Guarantee” and “Arvut.” I gave and gave and gave and gave, and got nothing back. I’m ashamed and utterly embarrassed to even admit on here how much time, money, effort and mental strain I put into their organization.

My main concerns about their groups are as follows-

1) Contradictions
Homosexuality- They teach it’s okay to beginners. To intermediates they teach that it’s a mental disease and you are not allowed to be part of physical groups and can only participate online or virtually. To the innermost and advanced students they teach that you have to be married to a woman. No Exceptions. If you are gay, you have to ask God or “the Creator” to correct your homosexuality and find a woman to marry or you will not be admitted into the “big” groups.
Physical Actions don’t count- Nothing in this world is spiritual. However, giving Bnei Baruch Money is Spiritual!!!
You don’t have to tithe if you don’t want to- In order to cross the “Machsom” and be a part of the “big” groups you absolutely have to pay tithing or “Maaser.” They even keep lists of people who do and people who do not.
Verbiages- “Machsom” is nowhere to be found in any Jewish or Kabbalistic Text besides those edited or published by Bnei Baruch; any Rabbi from any synagogue will tell you this. “Arvut” (more like communism) has never been in any authentic text.
Religion- They say you can belong to any religion and still study with Bnei Baruch; however, a lot of their teachings directly contradict every religion out their except for maybe Judaism. As you progress and become a part of their internal group(s) they progressively try to pull you away from all of your religious affiliations.
The Zohar- When I first started with Bnei Baruch, the Zohar was forbidden to study unless you were in spirituality. Now it’s allowed, for everyone, but only their (Michael Laitman’s and Chaim Ratz’s) translation is correct!!!!
2) Money
I have asked on multiple occasions to receive the tax deductible forms they supposedly give for donations and never received them. I asked for how much money I donated in total and finally they gave it to me after 2 years of asking for it. I have asked them multiple times to provide information as to where the money went however, and I got no response. I contacted all of the leaders of their groups and have to this date received no response. After I was kicked out/excommunicated, my mother read an article about some other Kabbalah group in L.A. the FBI was investigating because the funds they received from celebrities were not going where they said they were going. I brought this up to Bnei Baruch and they never responded to this either.
3) Their Leadership
According to Bnei Baruch, there is no one leader. This is not the case at all. Michael Laitman commands every single thing to the last detail. Everything goes back to him. They have groups and commities, but they all in some way or another report to Avihu Sofer who is Michael Laitman’s right-hand (con)man. Michael Laitman gives all of the orders and everything circulates back to him.
4) Michael Laitman
Michael Laitman is the only person who openly and publicly admits he has crossed the so called “Machsom.” He is therefore closer to God than any person in the world and has a direct connection to God. He also speaks with “the Creator.” All of his commands come from God, therefore if you don’t do what he says, you are not obeying “the Creator.” He is treated as God-like in the Petach Tikva group in Israel. As a human being (which we all are) he is pompous, arrogant, demanding and most definitely in charge of the entire organization.

5) Active Members of Bnei Baruch
I have met almost every person who is in Bnei Baruch and would say I know about 70% of all their members personally in one way or another (I have been to 9 of their “congresses” or “conventions” as they call them). There are some sincerely nice people in the organization, but they have no leadership roles and they were sucked in as I was. They were also quite new and all of the most sincere and loving people I have met have since left Bnei Baruch. As a side note, I would say 50% of the people in Bnei Baruch have some sort of mental illness in one way or another and they look for their relief in this group. This is how they draw in crowds.

Despite their claims of not having a leader, Michael Laitman is definitely the head-honcho and what he says goes. Period. No exceptions. If he told everyone to go out and kill everyone who doesn’t study Bnei Baruch Kabbalah I’m sure 60% of their world network would go out and do it. I have seen this first person and seen it in action. I have also heard how this operates- they have hidden lessons on Friday Nights (EDT/EST – East Coast Time; “Shabbat” in Israel) that you can access on a program called Team Talk with a username and password. This is where a lot of their hidden agenda is spewed and they hide all of these conversations from beginners. They also do not post these lessons on any of their sites. They claim this is because the Jewish people in Israel would be very angry with them if it wad found that they operate on Shabbat, but this is not the case. This is where they give their hidden lessons for people who were in as long as I was. If you go onto their forums and ask what the Shabbat lesson is or ask to access it you will get the response “What Shabbat lesson???” or “There is no Shabbat lesson by Bnei Baruch.”

I know Mike Kellogg personally and he is a pompous, stuck-up person. He has also admitted and thinks he has passed the "Machsom." The "Machsom" or "Barrier" in English is something not found in any Kabbalistic text (or Jewish according to my Rabbi at my local synagogue) besides those of Bnei Baruch. It is, according to them, the cut off point between our world and the spiritual world.


Just as a reference for staying safe, here's a list of very dangerous (sociopaths; all 4 types of passive-aggressiveness signs) and deluded/deranged people in Bnei Baruch who think they have crossed the “Machsom” and have admitted it (not to mention this makes them better than anyone else in the entire world)-

Tony Kosinec (Toronto, Canada Group)

Avihu Sofer (Petach Tikva, Israel “Headquarters”)

Mike Kellogg (St. Louis, Missouri Group)

Olga Levkovich (Was a Washington, D.C. Group Member; not sure what she’s doing now but I’ve heard through the grapevine she’s active in Bnei Baruch)

and last but not least, the leader of it all - Michael Laitman (Petach Tikva, Israel “Headquarters”)


6) Lack of Responsibility for anything bad or immoral according to this day and age’s modern somewhat civilized society
Any wrongdoing on their part is responded to with the phrase “There is none Else besides Him.” God does everything and Bnei Baruch is not responsible. I’ll give a couple of examples- I was treated very badly by a group of individuals in Bnei Baruch and was harassed and my girlfriend at the time (who was also in Bnei Baruch; they tell you to date and marry only someone else in Bnei Baruch so you can advance in spirituality) cheated on me more than once with other members in their groups. She also stole some items from me and locked them in her room at one of the congresses. I, being in sound and right mind, called the police to retrieve my items since no one would assist and she would not comply to my requests. Everyone was furious with me and treated me like garbage. I was a piece of sh-t to everyone for the rest of that congress/convention. It was entirely my fault of all of this. I brought this to the attention of Bnei Baruch and their various groups in letters and their response was that God does everything. The Creator did it. “Rise above it.”
They didn’t “rise above it” when I called the police to retrieve my items (maybe they don’t want authorities around so they will find out about their brain-washing and illegal activities?????)
These people were not excommunicated as I was (they, however, follow all the rules and pay money and volunteer their time to the organization). I was excommunicated for my actions; no one said the Creator did it, no one “rose above it.” There are also a lot of existing members in Bnei Baruch who smoke marijuana for recreation purposes but either they pay “maaser” and can stay or they hide it very well.

7) Relationships
You are told to only date and marry within Bnei Baruch because this furthers your spiritual advancement.

I’m getting tired of typing and don’t really want to think about this horrible group anymore, so I will end with this-
All in all, they are a contradictory, double-standards group. I would stay away from them if you want to stay mentally healthy and not have all of your money and time wasted. Stay away, stay away, stay away!
If you are a part of their organization I would say leave now while you can.
If you are a part of t heir group and plan on not leaving, be very cautious! Call authorities if needed, keep a cell phone on you, and have a lawyer handy. If you have mental illness, get help from a psychologist and a psychiatrist! DO NOT BELIEVE THEY WILL HELP YOUR MENTAL ISSSUES. They teach Kabbalah will cure this, but it will only make things worse.