Movies That Teach

(a cross over from the Live from Israel blog)

Some sages teach that when its time for a certain knowledge to enter into the world, it descends. It enters the realm of "us". Then, whoever is perceptive enough will catch that idea. And those who are diligent enough will catch that idea, run with it, patent it, share it, use it to abuse others, or whatever depending on the type of person they are.

There are some other teachings that, while I enjoy learning, I had a hard time trying to apply it in a practical sense. But certain movies really help to bring the idea closer to home. Those movies are:

The Matrix (the first part ONLY)

The Secret

Zeitgeist

I'm sure many religions teach this, but for sure Judaism teaches that we need to "Wake up from our slumber!" And live in the present. The Now. Honestly, I am a simple person. When I was first learning Torah, I had to rely on my mathematical skills to really understand concepts such as clean vs unclean, etc. I am the kind of "deep slow learner", I guess, that I need my secular studies to enhance my religious studies. Funny.

Though I learned about how the imagination is a strong tool that can help us achieve phenomenal things. That was its purpose. However, wicked people are trying to redirect every one's imagination to the gutter.

One of Rabbi Nachman's teachings is urging people to wrestle their power of imagination back for themselves.

These things I also found in the movie Matrix. It was exhilarating to see it played out in somewhat of a practical sense. If the spiritual world was as tangible as the Matrix was to Nero, etc. It would make for less doubt! lol

Another teaching that I've been struggling with was the fact that the mind is very powerful. So powerful, in fact, that the Torah asks us to BE Happy, or to Hate Amalek, or to do something with the emotions. I used to think, how can I control my own emotions, they just respond like an impulse to things. Now this big black book is telling me I should reign over it?!

Certain holidays we are just "expected" to become sad like in Tisha B'Av. Other holidays, like in Purim, we are expected to be cheerful. I tend to be cheerful, so those parts are not so hard. But to condition myself to be sad.... To *feel* as though I was in Egypt just as all the other Jews of way back when were..... To mourn over the Holy Temple that was destroyed...... I needed help with those.

The Secret helped. Not saying I believed everything from these movies. I only gleamed from them that which enabled me to understand my Torah better. And that movie really showed how powerful the mind could be!

The most recent movie was Zeitgeist. So much conspiracy theories abound. I can't say that I believe it or that I don't believe it. Truth is becoming a commodity in this world -people are wont to shape it as they see fit or most advantageous. Thus, its almost impossible for me to dig up for myself and know truthfully what really is. This makes me fall back on the old tradition. (It also helps me to realize why the Druze kept their religion so secret. Less eyes, less tampering, less doubt. Also less proof but, I guess that's where faith comes in). In my case, I do have a simple faith (or try to). I do believe that Moses received the Torah from God, transferred it to Joshua, who transferred it to the Elders, and so on and so on. I know that I believe in the sages for sure up to the Tannaim. After that, I admit I have doubts here and there with a few exceptions (the Vilna Gaon, Rebbi Nachman, Moshe Chaim Luzzato to name a few exceptions).

At any rate, in the movie Zeitgeist it alleged that there is a sinister plan to unify the world -for the sake of greed. That, I almost don't doubt. Because if there is a move toward oneness, then I know God is behind it -even if He uses peoples' greed to maneuver things that way. In the end it will be good. (Nevertheless, my survival instinct makes me angry that so much lives should be wasted, and I want my own life preserved! Please God).

The movie also talked about living in the Now. A very important teaching!

The end of Zeitgeist proposed the answer of the power of love. Now isn't that what all the religions have been trying to express? What went wrong? Anyway, this is also a nice teaching but its very hard to live it practically.

I love life. I love being Jewish -being part of a stiff necked people who just never conform to things and are hated because of that. I can't help it. I pray that I learn honestly and live properly and do good. that is truly ALL.