Audio Version Of The Blog – 8/10/21
Posted on August 10th, 2021
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My new article on Linkedin “WHO Is Asking for Consideration”
The World Health Organization (WHO) is asking countries that have enough vaccinations for a booster (third) shot to wait with it so that poor countries where people haven’t received the first shot may get it. No one is taking its request seriously, but the WHO is still asking for consideration.
I don’t understand this request. All over the world, the approach is that each country fends for itself, so who does the WHO expect to comply with such a request? It is sad that not everyone has received the vaccine yet, but this is not a matter for one country to decide, but a matter for international organizations like the WHO itself to initiate and carry out. If a country’s own Ministry of Health cannot tend to that country’s people, international organizations should step in and help. This is why so many such organizations exist, which are funded by wealthy countries precisely in order to help less fortunate ones.
In addition, I think that the problem isn’t in the number of shots, but in the organization and distribution. There are plenty of shots to go around. The problem is that in the world we have built, each one fends for himself or herself; no one feels accountable, and there is no mutual responsibility, certainly not among countries. Everything is determined by money and corruption.
If we want to change the way things work, we have to change how we work. The pandemic treats us equally; it infects everyone indiscriminately. Therefore, if we want to overcome it, we must also treat each other equally, since if you leave one spot unattended, that spot will become the source of new infections.
Once we organize ourselves truly as one family, perhaps through a new organization, unrelated to the old and decadent ones, we should consult with everyone, get the full data from everywhere, and decide what, and how much goes where. If we think of humanity as one family, we will decide what is best for the entire family and will draw the right conclusions. But in order to do that, we must first see each other as a family, and then we will be able to make the right decisions taking everyone into consideration.
My new article on Linkedin “Why Lebanon Isn’t Switzerland Anymore”
In addition to Lebanon’s severe water and food shortages, and collapse of the power grid, Hezbollah is once again shooting rockets at Northern Israel. It may seem like the beginning of yet another bloody chapter in the chronicles of this tormented country, but I believe this time it is little more than a “text message,” of sorts. By all indications, Hezbollah does not think this is a good time for war since engaging in a military campaign in Lebanon’s current state might push the country over the edge and will erase it from the map. Israel has no interest in that, and it seems like the other side has no interest in that either.
Lebanon has been “on life support” for many years, and I think that many countries and regimes prefer it this way, so I see no end to this in sight. Lebanon was once dubbed “Switzerland of the Levant.” It had flourishing tourism, beautiful beaches, a bustling economy, and openness to the West. But when the Lebanese Civil War broke out in 1975, everything collapsed and has not recovered since. Over the years, Lebanon has become a pawn in the hands of much bigger players who benefit from the country’s sustained ruin. The ones who suffer most, of course, are the Lebanese.
If they wanted to, Lebanon’s fellow Arab countries could have lifted it back from rags to riches, but they don’t want to help this poor little neighbor of theirs, and so Lebanon is fading like the rest of the Middle East.
As though its own problems were not enough, the disintegrated Syria has both overtook Eastern Lebanon and “infused” it with over a million Syrian refugees. A million refugees may not sound like many people to a country like the US, but to Lebanon, those million Syrian immigrants make up almost a quarter of Lebanon’s entire population, adding an enormous pressure to the already dilapidated infrastructure of the country and its dysfunctional utility grid.
Regrettably, I can’t say that I’m surprised to see it happen. When you let a terror organization govern a country, the result is total collapse.
Nevertheless, if there is a will, there is a way. First, these countries must be cleared of Hezbollah and other terror groups; then the reconstruction can begin.
I am often asked how long Israel can remain an island of stability in such a shaky region. My answer is this: It depends only on us. The more united we become, the stronger we will be. It has nothing to do with the state of the countries around us because Israel depends on itself.
We were given this land in order to carry out our historic role: To be a light unto nations by setting an example of unity. If we increase our unity, our social cohesion, we will be safe and secure. Moreover, we will set an example that countries around us can follow and resolve their problems quickly and efficiently. No other solution can do that.
As long as we are divided and hate one another, as we do today, the world hates us and blames us for its woes. It will demand of us to remedy the situation in all the countries around us and around the world, but we will not be able to help any country until we remedy our own division.
This has been our vocation since the birth of our nation at the foot of Mt. Sinai. It has been the dream and the goal of all our sages, and we will have no peace until we make their dream ours and realize it.
The world needs peace, harmony, and stability, and it all begins with the unity of our nation. If we want to help our neighboring countries, we should learn to love each other. This is all the “teaching” that the world needs from us.
For elaboration about the connection between Israel’s unity and the world’s prosperity, please read Like a Bundle of Reeds: Why unity and mutual guarantee are today’s call of the hour.
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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How can everyone acquire access to clean water without conflict?“
It is impossible to achieve positive results by means of conflict and war. Instead, we need an approach of raising global human consciousness so that we will understand the extent of our interconnectedness and interdependence.
If anyone has negative feelings, it means that I have negative feelings; if someone else feels bad, the bad feeling boomerangs over to me and I will feel bad.
We are like one person with one body, connected in one system. If the life and health of another person will be as important as our own life and health, then we will obviously not have to engage in conflict for clean water, as the general attitude that spreads throughout human society will obligate us to make sure that everyone’s needs are sufficiently met.
The global solution to this problem is in education. Just as we teach our children to be altruistic, since we understand that altruism gives us confidence, invites a positive response from others, and makes our lives easier, then likewise we need to expand such altruistic education to human society at large.
If we fulfill ourselves altruistically, then we will experience greater health, happiness and well-being. We should consider our future generations, our children and grandchildren, that they will receive a positive example from us of the fact that only thanks to an altruistic upbringing can they achieve a good life. When we express such care for each other, then we will be able to provide the world with a healthy and pure life, including clean water and food.
Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
New Life 1314 – Emotional Balance In The Family
Dr. Michael Laitman in conversation with Oren Levi and Yael Leshed-Harel
In an emotionally balanced family, the members of the family know how to get along with each other and how to help each other. The emotional balance of each individual in a family depends on the family as a whole.
Children who grow up in a connected environment know how to relate to others correctly, are comfortable to live with, and don’t invade anyone’s space. A child can cause a family to lose its balance and upset the general atmosphere. Parents should show that they are not impressed by a child’s extreme behavior. They should set an example by the kind of attitude that they show to others and by keeping their own emotional balance.
The parents’ goal is to show that there is a limit to any emotion or relationship.
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From KabTV’s “New Life 1314 – Emotional Balance In The Family, ” 8/1/21
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Comment: You always stress that it is good when there is a king ruling the state.
My Response: It is better than the so-called democratic governments we see in different countries today. People think that democracy is when they can get together, shout, criticize, and create an external appearance of ideological struggle, some kind of opposing trends. By doing so, they allegedly find out the truth.
Question: It is said: “Truth is born in a dispute.” Don’t you agree with that?
Answer: Truth cannot be born when everybody is shouting at each other.
Truth is born where there is a family that has been in power for centuries and gradually raised itself, its children, grandchildren, nobility, and everyone else. Then they develop completely different criteria. They do not fight over to whom it is more profitable to sell a certain position. It is all in their hands. And this is why the reigning family is everything.
Of course, they can be killed, dethroned, which has happened many times in history. But in general, there is no other method of governing in our world other than the dynastic form: kingdom, realm.
First of all, people calmly accept such a ruler; he is the king. That is all! I look at him and I do not need anyone or anything else. And when someone starts to break in and say: “Me, me, me,” then there is no nation, no ruler, everything rests only on bayonets.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 7/26/21
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Comment: They say that now people can develop a condition called skin hunger or touch starvation. Especially in these times many people suffer from this, even unconsciously.
According to experts, we feel touch starvation when there is an imbalance between the number of desired touches and the amount that we actually receive. This is very similar to the usual feeling of hunger. In this sense, even touching a dog, a cat, or another animal already satisfies the hunger.
Therefore, most of the animals in shelters have been adopted in America. Large numbers of people come to pick up abandoned cats and dogs. There is such a trend in the world today: I want to have something warm next to me, and I will give my warmth to it. What do you think about this trend?
My response: Of course, when I cannot touch a person in a human way, at least I want to touch an animal in an animalistic way.
Question: But this is good, right? At least you give warmth to someone.
Answer: I cannot imagine these external, tactile contacts that replace the internal inclination and contact of hearts. There is no substitute for that. If there is an internal contact, then distances do not interfere with it and the body does not matter at all here.
Let’s say you have a dog and you play with it. I have nothing against that, but this is not what we should really experience.
Question: Only people can connect their hearts?
Answer: Yes. And not physically, and not tactilely.
Question: How can we connect hearts?
Answer: In aspiration. When you feel that you are aspiring for others and get the same response from them. Then you feel that one heart and the second heart have really opened and a common space appears between them. In this common space you can already feel love, understanding, mutuality, and feeling.
Question: Does this also happen because of hunger?
Answer: Of course, certainly, everything happens because of hunger.
Question: What is this appetite that attracts one heart to the other?
Answer: Lack of vital forces, not animalistic, but spiritual ones. I can feel them only if I connect with another person in this way.
Question: That is, the person says: “I have no strength.” Despite the fact that he has food and money, he says that he does not have the strength to live. Does this mean that he is looking for another heart?
Answer: Yes! He unconsciously feels that he has no one to live for! Life is still built on the fact that you give birth, reproduce, educate, give, and feel the same from others. This mutual fulfillment of each other is life. It is impossible to give to someone without receiving.
Question: Are these times coming?
Answer: I hope so.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/20/21
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Comment: Igor writes to us: “I have discovered the ability to heal with my hands. At first, I healed my relatives as I continued my regular job. I am a master cabinet maker, I make fine furniture. Somehow it just so happened that people started coming to me and I began healing them. They suggest that I leave my job and earn money as a healer, but I am not sure about it. It doesn’t feel right to charge money for this kind of work. I want to ask you what I should do? Why did the Creator give me this ability? And can I make a living from it?”
My Response: I don’t know. I can’t advise you here. If you can help people, then this is a good thing. So by all means, try it and do it. And if you can also free up from your job and earn money by healing people, there is no prohibition against it. I don’t know.
Or you can keep it as a hobby. Although, the work of a wood carver is also a very interesting job.
Comment: It’s rare today. And it is clear that he loves this work. That’s why he is having these doubts.
My Response: This is a very special kind of work. Such people are worthy of envy. He creates with his hands, giving pleasure to himself and others.
Comment: And if he’s given the ability to heal, what is it given for? This, too, follows along the same lines?
My Response: But this already gets tricky. Now he can heal without any self-benefit, without taking any reward for it. Therefore, his healing is more effective. But when he starts charging money for it, this already poses a problem, what will he do? That is, will he be healing for the sake of money or in order to heal?
Once my teacher Rabash and I came to Haifa to see my friend, a good doctor, and he cured Rabash. And then I paid, although he was willing to do it without taking money. I was surprised. He named the exact amount, for example, 363 dollars, and began to write out a receipt.
I said: “Are you writing me a receipt?!” He replied: “If I don’t write out a receipt, I won’t be able to think right. I will have the wrong attitude and thoughts. I will be looking at things differently. I will think about crooked paths.”
And when Rabash heard this, he was so pleased! He said: “Wow, this is a real doctor, he does not allow himself to think crookedly.”
Comment: That is, crooked means thinking about money, and straight means thinking about a patient’s recovery.
My Response: Yes. I treated you, you have to pay. And the amount was, I remember, some very odd number. “I have to write out a receipt for you, and everything must be absolutely proper!”
If you go into healing with your special abilities, you should think about making sure these abilities do not disappear. And this can only happen if you have the right attitude to the world, to life, to what you do with people.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/1/21
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Question: In his book Give and Take, psychologist and professor Adam Grant divides people into three groups: takers, givers, and matchers. “Givers like to give more than they get, paying attention to what others need. Takers like to get more than they give, seeing the world as a competitive place and primarily looking out for themselves. And matchers balance and give on a quid pro quo basis, willing to exchange favors but careful about not being exploited.”
What do you think about these three groups?
Answer: Most of all I like the matchers because they lead to contact, to mutual, good, kind contact. This is the most important thing. It is not about the fact that you can give away as much as you want. It will not do anything. It is the same with receiving if someone gives something to you.
Exchanging, however, causes mutuality, and by this you can correct a person, you can change both yourself and the other, and create communication between you; this is the most important thing. The goal is to create communication.
A giver will not do anything. On the contrary, he can cause hatred if he gives all the time. It does not mean anything.
Comment: So you are a realist. You give me something, I give you something? Exchange pleasantries.
My Response: Yes, but by this we teach each other that he can do the same thing that I do; by giving to him, I open myself in order to receive something from him. And so on. The most important thing is mutual exchange.
Question: Isn’t our world today built on this, “You scratch my back and I will scratch yours”?
Answer: The world is built on mutual exchange.
Question: Does it mean that you are satisfied with what is happening in the world today?
Answer: No. This does not satisfy me because the current exchange that exists in the world is only to take and not to give.
Question: What is the next stage after matching?
Answer: This is written in Kabbalah: mine is mine, yours is mine, and then yours is yours, and mine is yours.
Question: That is, you come to an almost impossible state. To something that is impossible to imagine: mine is yours and yours is yours, right?
Answer: Yes. Such relationships are the most correct ones that are justified by the upper nature, which is opposite to our nature. This is what we must come to. Together with this, a completely different space is revealed to us, an eternal world.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 6/24/21
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Prophets, Joshua, 6:26-6:27: And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that rises up and builds this city, Jericho; with (the loss of) his first-born shall he lay its foundation, and with (the loss of) his youngest son shall he set up its gates.
So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was throughout the entire land.
To this day, the city of Jericho is located below Jerusalem, on the bank of the Jordan, but Jews do not live there.
After Jericho fell, the people followed the Creator in everything, and the Creator gave the city to the Israelites. But the laws were not fulfilled in full.
The people of Israel were told: take everything from the conquered city of Jericho, only do not take the forbidden. And yet some of them secretly took the forbidden. Therefore, when Joshua sent his men to capture the city of Ayya believing that it would be easy and fast since the Creator was with them, suddenly, an unexpected thing happened.
Prophets, Joshua, 7:5: And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty-six men; and they chased them from before the gate to Shebarim, and smote them in the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
The heart is a combination of properties of strength (Gevura, courage) and mercy (Bina). Therefore, the heart contracts and works like this: from one property to another. This is how we exist.
And the sons of Israel took properties that cannot be corrected, that are forbidden.
Question: And that is why they were punished?
Answer: Not that it is a punishment, but it is a natural consequence of the fact that they used properties that cannot be corrected.
Therefore it is written: “And the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” This means that they still have the pure property of I, but without strength, without any force inside of it.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 4/27/19
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