“Amazon Fires And A Burning Need For Human Connection” (Newsmax)

My article in Newsmax: “Amazon Fires and a Burning Need for Human Connection

The ripple effect of thousands of Amazonian fires is sensed across the continents.
As if humanity needed a reminder of the interconnected, integral, and rounded world we live in, the record devastation of the South American rainforest has produced a global outcry. There is mounting international pressure on Brazil to save the Earth’s largest rainforest, an area around half the size of the U.S., which produces 20 percent of our planet’s oxygen. But restoring the “lungs” of the planet depends solely on mending the exploitative and destructive relations on the human level.

Now the focus is on the Amazonian fires, allegedly set by ranchers and farmers to clear land for cultivation and cattle, but it is important to keep in mind that the global environmental crisis requires a wider perspective. Even though impressive satellite images show that an area the size of a soccer field is burned in the Amazon every minute, let’s not forget that the effect of the world’s environmental problems such as global warming, melting glaciers, unprecedented high temperatures, air and ocean pollution, and ozone depletion are no less appalling in their consequences for people’s quality of life.

Addressing climate challenges demand a broad outlook because the entire ecosystem is integral. There are four levels in nature: still, vegetative, animate, and human. The climate crisis currently affecting us stems from flawed human interactions alone and not as a result of people’s corporeal actions. It is an outcome of our broken relations and lack of inner connection. As our sages wrote, “Man is a small world; the world is a great man.” (Avot d’Rabbi Natan, Chapter 31)

If we develop positive mutual relations at the level of our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors toward each other, we cause a ripple effect both throughout human society and nature. But, if we relate negatively to one another, aiming to harm and exploit each other for personal benefit, then we experience negative reactions from nature.

Lessons From Nature

The fires in the Amazon give humanity an enlightening lesson about our relationships: It is revealed how interdependent we are, and on the other hand, we see how our ego makes us take advantage of others. The contradiction between the two makes crisis break out in every field. This time the focus is ecological, with emphasis on the fires in the Amazon, but it manifests in all levels of nature. From this lesson, we must become aware of the absolute integral system we live in, which increasingly reveals itself before our eyes.

A Demand for True Global Leadership

As long as our egoistic approach remains unrestrained and unregulated, and as long as no country really cares about the global ecological balance but only its own territory, there is no reason to point an accusing finger at Brazilian President Bolsonaro for rejecting the G7 leaders’ financial assistance led by Emmanuel Macron. Bolsonaro understands very well that the West’s motivation to help him stems from a desire to exploit his country’s natural resources, as expressed by world leaders who have held conferences only for their self-promotion.

My recommendation to the President of Brazil is that he should demand from the wealthy countries at least $20 million per month for the world’s oxygen produced by Brazilian rainforests. By the way, this sum is a mere pittance — half the cost of the G7 summit in Biarritz to which France diverted its taxpayer’s money. Although this pressure would most likely provoke even more fiery reactions among world leaders than the burning forest, it would also raise awareness about our human nature and the need for mutual responsibility between peoples and countries.

Even if we apply pressure on politicians, donate millions to stop deforestation, reduce meat consumption and cease importing meat from Brazil, we will still need to cure not only the compromised lungs of the planet but the entirety of humanity’s body.

How can we make the broader healing of humanity possible? It can be done by igniting human connection: the education and promotion of the need to connect today, and a method for how to connect.

Why would we want to do so? It is because we all live under one common roof, where the world is our home. Protecting and preserving our common future depends on our understanding that divided we perish, united we thrive, and we take the entire surrounding nature with us.
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Audio Version Of The Blog – 8/31/19

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What To Do With A Dream If Everything Is Predetermined

laitman_527.03Question: If everything is predetermined, what should we do with dreams? Should we not dream?

Answer: Dream of quickly reaching the most perfect state in the world.

The fact is that all nature is predetermined. It drags us forward either via a good, bad, or middle path. The wisdom of Kabbalah discusses this. Read Baal HaSulam’s articles, everything is explained there.

The only problem is to accelerate this development and make it more comfortable. Do not just speed up and ride through the bumps on a bad road, but turn the road into a freeway so that you pass it quickly and comfortably.

The future goal has already been set. We are inside it; we only have to reveal it.
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From the Kabbalah Lesson in Russian 4/28/19

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New Life 1137 – Peace Between Nations

New Life 1137 – Peace Between Nations
Dr. Michael Laitman in conversation with Oren Levi and Nitzah Mazoz

Peace between nations occurs when hostility is covered by love, as happens between couples who reconcile after a quarrel. In true peace there are no boundaries or differences. Peace is a deep concept that elevates us to the single root of everything. A long education according to the method of Kabbalah is required in order to attain this understanding that is based on sharing, connection, and integration as one people.
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From KabTV’s “New Life 1137 – Peace Between Nations,” 7/16/19

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The Correction Comes From Above, The Right Request Comes From Us

laitman_962.8We must build the Third Temple and after that there will be no exiles. Everything depends on our correction. But it does not mean that we are actually correcting anything—we only raise a prayer and the correction comes from above. We need to understand that only the request depends on us, the need for correction. We need to scrutinize this request, understand what exactly we want to correct: our nature, desire, intention, aiming them toward unity.

The prayer for unity is our main concern. If we raise the right prayer, we will feel how the whole upper force is helping us, building the Third Temple from us.1

The Creator created the system and when it spread from top to bottom, it revealed an overwhelming desire to enjoy, making it impossible to remain in the intention to bestow. Therefore, the system broke first on the level of Mochin de Haya, the First Temple, and then on the level of Mochin de Neshama, the Second Temple.

Afterward, there was no sanctity left, that is, unity and bestowal. All the parts of the Creation broke and distanced themselves from each other. Our task is to make a correction, to bring the broken fragments, ourselves, back together, and reconnect them. Then, we will realize that it is impossible.

The people of Israel were in spiritual attainment during the First and the Second Temples and were exiled after their destruction, which has been going on for 2,000 years now. All that is left to do, after the breaking and unsuccessful attempts at correction, is to understand what the correction entails. Correction lies only in unity. We are not the ones to execute the unification because we have no such power; all that depends on us is the prayer, the request. This is what we need to learn.

In order to reach the prayer, we must try to connect between each other. We should not be discouraged by our inability to achieve this. Every time we try to unite, we are faced with the futility of this task, but we can not back down. We must go on and on until we reach utter despair and raise our hands in defeat.

We have no knowledge of when this will happen but it surely will at some point. Our task is to keep repeating our efforts until we are certain of our inability to achieve it and come to realize that only the Creator can help us. Because He is the one standing in our way, preventing us from uniting. So, we begin to scream and cry, raise our prayer, and receive the strength from above to unite. When the power of unification begins to work on us, through it, we will understand where we are and what is happening. Until this light comes from above, one can not understand anything. But the light only comes as an answer to our prayer. Therefore, our work is in constant efforts to unite, attempt after attempt, until we reach despair.

On one hand, we do not back down and yearn for correction; on the other hand, we understand that we are unable to do so. This disappointment at our own powerlessness is felt at the same time as the of finally reaching connection with the Creator through our demand of Him. It is written about this: “My sons have defeated me.” Then, we receive the power of correction from above that arranges everything.2

The First and the Second Temples were destroyed from top to bottom. But the Third Temple must be built from the bottom up. After the destruction of the First and the Second Temples, we are left with broken desires that are intertwined with each other. All that is left now is to raise a prayer for their correction.

But we have to know exactly what it is that we are asking for. What can we ask for if we have not attempted anything ourselves? Our request must become more clarified. We want to become one man with one heart in order to reveal the Creator in this single heart. This will become the Third Temple from which the light and understanding will spread to all the people of the world. The whole world will begin to rise with us up the spiritual degrees and corporeality will gradually fade from our senses.3
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/25/19, Tishaa BeAv (Ninth of Av)
1 Minute 1:20
2 Minute 2:58
3 Minute 10:43

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From Mumbai To Berlin

Dr. Michael LaitmanFrom My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 8/30/19

From Mumbai to Berlin: I ended my visit to India, where I met with the Jewish community and various personalities, and now I’m on German soil. The gap between a third world country and a developed Western country is huge. It is remarkable to see how there can be two opposites like this on a single planet.

In India, I witnessed swarms of people living in miserable huts and shabby shacks, neglected children roaming the streets, and suffering unbearable crowdedness and stench. It’s neither day or night. Everything goes on around the clock, almost without any reference to time. In Germany, however, everything runs smoothly like a clock. Luxury towers of high-tech companies, sparkling buildings, preserved history and high-quality computing.

I have no criticism of the Indians. In relation to the Germans, they are much softer, good hearted and have no urge to harm others. But the differences clearly indicate that the world has everything in it. Nothing is missing—not money, not food, not clothing—only positive connection between people, a relationship based on mutual consideration.

India doesn’t need to build lavish factories or resemble Western culture, nor should we underestimate the needs of the German nation. Every nation should remain in its natural disposition. All that’s needed is to infuse the world with a spirit of unity; education and awareness that will generate a positive balance. The forces for such a significant change can be derived from the study of Kabbalah.

Read more about my journey in India:
The exciting encounter with the guru
The meeting with the Jewish community
Pushkar intro lecture
India in the fog
Indian wedding

Czech Exhibition

Dr. Michael LaitmanFrom My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 8/30/19

Czech photographer Vladimir Brunton has photographed great European leaders for years, and has become a famous artist throughout Europe. In the middle of 2017, Brunton began to study the wisdom of Kabbalah. From the very first moment he admired the depth of wisdom and its endless layers.

He decided to express his impressions in a series of artistic photographs that were processed using an original and unique technique: layers of photographs (2×2 m) developed on handmade Japanese canvas (watch the work process here).

During his first few weeks of learning, when he was all fired up, he decided to convey the magic of creation in color. After a year of strenuous work in his studio, Brunton delivered a spectacular collection of art photographs. In collaboration with the Art Gallery in Prague (Czech Photo), he decided to display them to the public in the Prague Capital Exhibition.

I was delighted to visit the exhibition with my local students. I praised Brunton for finding an original way to shake the mystical dust off the wisdom of Kabbalah, and present it in a positive light. I was even more thrilled to find the portraits of my two teachers: Baal HaSulam and The Rabash, and I was even surprised to find my portraits.

If you are staying in Prague until mid-September, come and be impressed (address: Seydlerova 2835/4); Or visit Vladimir Brunton’s website, where you will find the thought-provoking exhibition.

My Thoughts On Twitter 8/30/19

Dr Michael Laitman Twitter

A light pinch is enough to snap back—the “pinch of the devil.” First I cry out: “Oh” from the feeling of disturbance, and the second “Oh”—from the realization that this is not a disturbance, rather the Creator is drawing me closer to Him. All in one go.
The only answer to every obstacle is to cling to the Creator more.

There is no righteous person that never sinned. We keep falling, always unprepared for a disturbance, for it is new every time, a new Reshimo is revealed from the breakage. So we have to fall, but the very next moment we must return to the correct perception.
#wisdomofkabbalah #quotes

If I ask the Creator to help me cling to Him with a force greater than disturbance, and stick to the ceiling along with this obstacle, then I gain faith above knowledge, the power of adhesion which is stronger than the disturbance felt inside knowledge.
#wisdomofkabbalah #quoteoftheday #success

I want to cling to the Creator along with the disturbances He sends me. My devotion to Him is measured by the strength of my adhesion to Him. Like the 5 kg weight that I want to stick to the ceiling needs glue that can hold at least 5 kg plus some more to be safe.

In corporeal life I have to fight and defend against disturbances. In the internal work though, I accept it and am as grateful for the bad as for the good. Such disturbances bring us corrections. The main thing is to launch a war against them in order to ask for the adhesion with the Creator above them.

If a person is creating an obstacle for me, I have to accept it as “help from the opposite.” It shows me where I am still disconnected from the Creator. I come closer to the Creator because of this obstacle, I couldn’t advance without it, thus I wish this person all the best.
#Wisdom

From #Berlin I went to Czech’s capital, Prague. Here I was met by my students who came from all over the country. The small room was crowded. There were many questions. There was a great desire to connect with our hearts. I was so happy to see these sparks of life in decaying #Europe.

From Mumbai to #Berlin.
The gap between the third world country and the developed western world is huge.
The differences tell us that there is enough supply in the world, we have no shortage of anything: not in finance, nor in food or clothes—only in good relations between people.
From Twitter, 8/30/19

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Audio Version Of The Blog – 8/30/19

Listen to an Audio Version of the Blog
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Working With Obstacles

Dr. Michael LaitmanIf my goal is to give to the Creator, then it should not be important for me whether I do it from the state of ascent or descent. I make a restriction on myself as if I do not exist, and I am only looking for any opportunity to please the Creator. I constantly live in such a “sandwich”: I only pay attention to my goal to bring joy to the Creator, whether I rise or fall.

Then my attitude to the ups and downs becomes constructive: I evaluate them in terms of what will help me more. Perhaps it is more useful for me to reveal more darkness and all kinds of defects. Already by the fact that I thank the Creator for the evil revealed, I give Him pleasure because I understand that this is preparation for merging with Him. I want to be faithful to Him in bad states just as in good ones and not wait for Him to correct everything.

If I solve the problems and stay in joy, this is a sign that I am on the right track and keep the right direction. There is no good without evil. Evil is a solid foundation with which I can confidently advance to perfect work. I always check where and how, in what form and with what power can I please the Creator as much as possible, attach to Him. I do not strive for Him so that I feel good, but because my whole intention is to merge with Him for the sake of bestowing to Him. Therefore, we can feel perfection in any state so that darkness will shine as the Light, and there will be no difference between darkness and light, day and night, and everything will be united in one great day.

If I do not see myself in such a sandwich, then life will constantly throw me up and down, I will not feel that these jumps are targeted, and I will not be happy about the ups and downs equally.

The Creator is the healer of all diseases. Therefore, when I reveal some kind of breakage, I already have the right medicine. When I reveal the disease, it already means I have a cure: these two processes are inextricably linked. The main joy comes from revealing the flaws. The more we reveal them, the more pleasure we can deliver to the Creator.

If I am ready, I will always be glad for any fall: “Look, there is still a flaw! And here is another one, and more!” I will enjoy and rejoice in revealing defects and regret those that have not yet been revealed. After all, a hidden problem has no chance of resolution, and discovering it is a great blessing from above. If it is manifested, it means it existed before but in disguise.

If the Creator reveals bad qualities, conditions, and broken relationships to us, it is a sign of our progress. We must accept them all with joy because they are sent to us by the Creator with love. We must immediately answer Him with love, gratitude, and blessings for the bad as much as for the good.1

It is not good if everything goes quietly and smoothly in the group. This is similar to a family: if a husband and wife never argue, then it is not life. According to nature, there must be conflicts so that we understand each other’s weaknesses and love each other no matter what. There must be gaps and connections, and only their alternation gives a sense of life.

We do not need to wait for the relationship to be smooth like a horizontal line. After all, it is known that a flatlined electrocardiogram means death. Life means beatings, blows and overcomings: there must be ups and downs.2
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/13/19, “To Learn From the Descent During the Time of Ascent”
1 Minute 2:40 – 11:24
2 Minute 16:00

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