Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How would you use the Internet to improve your community?“

The Internet is equal to all, and if it would explain to everyone that we belong to a global system, that in essence we are a small village, a single system, we must relate to each other correspondingly and also raise the next generation. In this network, we must speak about the fact that we belong to a single organism and that we must change ourselves. If we discuss this on the Internet, then this huge mechanism, which envelops all continents and everyone together, will carry out its predestination. It will then serve to unite us. In all languages and on all levels, it will connect us and give us the sensation of the fact that is was intended precisely for this purpose.

The Internet is unique in that simultaneously, in one instant, in real time, it can connect us and make us into one connected bunch of people around the planet. I hope that this will indeed take place in the near future, and we will feel our tight interconnectedness and interdependence—including the means of information that act across the Internet—in such a way that we will discover how integral it is, and begin behaving accordingly. We will then change our culture, education, economics and our approach to life.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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My new article on Linkedin “Will Lip Augmentation Make You Popular?”

The idea of cosmetic “fixes” has been around for decades. However, over the past several years, it has become so pervasive, and begins at such an early age, that it’s almost as if there is something wrong with you if you didn’t “fix” anything by the time your sixteen. Parents may be horrified when their twelve year old daughter wants to do a lip augmentation, but what can we expect when we let social media idols and TV stars be their educators?

The education system has long abandoned any aspirations to bring up people with values and ability to think for themselves. At best, it focuses on providing information. The parents, for their part, are usually too busy or too uncertain about how to educate. As a result, children grow up learning from their environment, which consists of social media and TV, and their peers, who also learn from social media and TV.

What they learn there is that only looks matter. If you don’t look pretty and rich, you’re worthless. When children demand that their parents pay for their nose-job or lip augmentation (and sometimes much more than that), they should not be dismayed or angry with their children. People, especially young people, learn by example, and by nothing else. If the values we expose them to say that only the exterior matters, they have no option but to become that superficial.

When I talk about education in my posts, I am referring first and foremost to the social environment that we create, since this is our real educator. In some societies, you have no social status until you kill someone. This, too, is education. It makes no difference what people learn; all that matters is from whom they learn. The values instilled in their social environment will determine their course in life much more than how well they know calculus, the difference between “subject” and “object,” or names of US presidents.

Superficiality pays; it makes people want to buy more clothes, phones, cars, and body “fixes.” For giant corporations and big-tech companies, our shallowness is a bonanza. But superficiality alienates people. If all they are is what they own and how they look, then all they want is for others to look worse and own less.

Only if we teach ourselves to look beyond skin-deep, we will realize the gifts that other people can give us. When we focus on connecting with people, we will not mind so much how they look, what they wear, or what they drive. We will mind how they communicate with us, how the connection between us makes us feel, and how much they care about others.

When we build a society of caring individuals, then, and only then will we be able to say that we have educated our children well. Then, too, our children will be happy, since they will know that their social environment embraces them and does not compete with them.

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My new article on Linkedin “Hurricane Ida – Sixteen Years after the Once in a Century Hurricane Katrina”

Sixteen years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and much of Louisiana, as well as parts of Mississippi and Alabama. When it made landfall, Katrina was a strong category 3 storm, strong enough to claim nearly 2,000 lives and break the protective walls preventing Lake Pontchartrain from submerging much of New Orleans.

In the wake of the storm, meteorologists and other pundits explained that Katrina was a “100-year hurricane.” Last Sunday, 16 years after Katrina made landfall, to the day, Hurricane Ida made landfall in almost the same spot. Again, the city of New Orleans and much of Louisiana were struck, but with far greater ferocity than even the 100-year storm.

I think that the first, and most important lesson to be learned from Katrina’s misleading moniker, is that time is accelerating, and the remote, foreboding predictions are already happening. We simply don’t have decades to plan ahead for the next catastrophe; we must act now.

There have always been fires, and there have always been hurricanes in America, just as there have always been tsunamis in Asia. Geographically, this is how the world is built.

However, the ferocity and frequency of the events are unprecedented, and people will not be able to live in areas affected by such intense and recurring disasters. Since the areas affected by natural disasters are growing with each year, and since the recurrence of “100-year” storms is growing, we must think boldly and act resolutely in order to stop the approaching cataclysm.

Indeed, the answer is not in science; it is in us. First, we must admit that we are the cause of the disasters plaguing us. Science has already acknowledged that human behavior toward nature is detrimental to nature, and therefore to us. Yet, this observation has changed nothing since we haven’t been able to change our behavior. To change it, we must transform what prompts us to behave as we do—our own nature.

The more interdependent the world is becoming, the more difficult it is becoming to stand out and race to the top without “taking a beating” from nature. At the same time, it is human nature to want to stand out, to be on the top of the world. Therefore, the only solution is to learn to see other achievements than the current, self-centered ones, as the realization of our potential.

The world has plenty of everything we need in order to thrive. The problem is that we are not dispensing the abundance considerately, and we are overconsuming what we have. We throw away the surplus, polluting the planet, while starving others and denying them supplies because we are reluctant to help them and enjoy seeing others suffer.

This behavior has nothing to do with burning fossil fuels or polluting drinking water. These problems stem only from malice, and this is the prime cause of suffering in our world. Therefore, changing our ill-will, namely human nature, must be our top priority.

We cannot do this by force. We have already tried to revolutionize society in every possible way, from the extreme left to the far right, and what happened? We got bloodshed and misery all around. If we want people to have good lives, we must educate ourselves and all of society into realizing that we are all connected and dependent on each other, and that our happiness depends on the happiness of everyone else.

The disasters, both natural and manmade, will catapult us toward each other. The only way to come closer pleasantly is by doing so consciously.

Since the only negative element in nature is our attitude to one another, reversing the negativity will solve all other problems. This is what scientists cannot see—that our wicked nature ruins our human relations, which in turn ruins all of nature, reflected in the cataclysmic adversities that have been plaguing us. Unless we break this chain, the chain will break us. We don’t have many more summers to make the critical changes and take upon ourselves to transform not only human behavior, but first and foremost, human nature.
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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “How could the technology boom of the past 70 or so years have been more beneficial to humanity if it were not largely driven by military or market forces?“

Humanity’s development happens by means of and under the pressure of egoism—the desire to self-benefit at the expense of others—which increases in humanity from one generation to the next, and in our individual lives from one year to the next. This is why such development is already flawed, and leads us to problems and misfortunes. It is why everything that happens in a mismatch from nature, unaligned with the altruistic law of nature, but according to our egoism—is flawed and will fail in the future. After all, such developments do not come from the postulate of care and love for the neighbor, from the understanding and realization of the fact that we live in a single integral system, where life and the world are interconnected as a small integral village.

On the contrary, we each care first and formost about ourselves, which is completely opposite to what nature demands of us. Our technological development thus looks no more like attempts and efforts to somehow fulfill our egoism. Instead of cutting it off from ourselves and correcting the way we use it for humanity’s benefit, we try to fulfill it directly. In other words, instead of bringing ourselves to equivalence, unification and balance with nature, we increasingly distance ourselves from nature. Therefore, instead of achieving delight, goodness and perfection, we experience amassing problems, crises and disasters.

If we thus use our technologies for the benefit of humanity, to correct humanity from egoism to altruism, then we will merit perfection and happiness.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “Can a brain be connected to a computer?“

Unquestionably, it will be possible to connect a human brain to computers in order for them to work conjointly. And approximately by the middle of the 21st century it will also be possible to replace all parts of our body with different artificial forms.

We must understand that we are not discussing the inner part here, i.e. a person’s own “self” or soul. In the end, we are speaking about parts of our body, about that which is animalistic. Even today, by means of genetic and biological engineering, we have no problem performing all kinds of changes in the human body, replacing and removing organs. In all of its wisdom, there is nothing in this science that is above human abilities. Such acts are on the animate level, while we ourselves are on the speaking level.

Our problem, our correct, high and highly unique activity lies in ascending from the cares of the biological level, the level of the animalistic body, to the speaking level. We will then work in our soul, in the human self, which is above the body. Precisely there we will perform such manipulations that will let us perform actions in the soul called “corrections.”

As for the body, obviously, we will keep making such advancements as connecting our brain to computers, among others. In the end, it solely depends on technological development.

Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Question: In April this year, Itzik Saidyan, a 26-year-old disabled soldier, set himself on fire in front of the Israeli Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Department. This event has awakened public discourse and brought up awareness of those suffering from PTSD and other emotional trauma. Many of these people feel that they are invisible because their handicap cannot be seen.

Let us say that same person would meet you a few moments before he goes to set himself on fire. What would you say to him?

Answer: I would tell him that human life has a much greater purpose than what he can even imagine. Even when one finds oneself in this difficult state, eternal, whole, perfect, and joyous states can be reached.

Question: Many people among us are suffering from trauma on one level or another. How can we act, as a society, to strengthen them and give them hope?

Answer: We have no other choice but to learn how to approach and reach out to them, to listen and explain the process that a person must go through. In this way we can help them reach the truth.

Question: What is the truth Dr. Laitman?

Answer: The truth is that each one of us exists under the general plan of nature and every situation we go through, is all predetermined within it. If we can come to agree and discover the fact that this is how things are, this will give us great satisfaction.

Question: Can one rise from this shattered rock bottom state?

Answer: Yes, for the general correction of man brings him to a state where he rises above himself and is included in the perfection and harmony of nature.

Question: What allows him to grasp eternity and perfection when he is at rock bottom?

Answer: Precisely that this care and understanding, is all that one has left in order to prevent “being buried alive ” so as to heal these traumatic and post-traumatic situations. And in general, all events in a person’s life can be changed because we all go through such traumas in life, with the reason being that everyone needs this to push us into changing.

We only need to understand that the correct care is that we rise above our current nature to that of bestowal, love, and connection.

Question: Is this the remedy for everything?

Answer: There is no other remedy!

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“Do not judge your neighbor until you walk two moons in his moccasins” (Native American wisdom quote).

That’s right. What does this mean for us? You must first correct yourself, and then you will be able to see others correctly.

To correct yourself means to correct your attitude toward others; that is, make it absolutely kind, at least absolutely neutral. Do not perceive the other person as corrupted, evil, and so on. Then, on this condition, you can see the facts, the truth.

Question: How should I treat a person whom I instinctively, naturally dislike? He is my enemy.

Answer: You should do as it is written, “Who is the mightiest of the mighty? He who makes his foe his friend.”

Question: Could you give advice on how to do this?

Answer: Do to him all the good things that you would do if you loved him.

Smother him with your love. It is very difficult. But when the understanding comes that the world is built on this and we need to act in this way, even though it takes years, then everything becomes simple.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/15/21

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The Meaning of Ubuntu: “In certain regions of South Africa, when someone does something wrong, he/she is taken to the center of the village and for two days he/she is surrounded by his tribe, while they speak of all the good he/she has done. They believe that each person is good yet sometimes we make mistakes, which is really a cry for help. They unite in this ritual to encourage the person to reconnect with his true nature. The belief is that unity and affirmation have more power to change behavior than does shame and punishment. This is known as Ubuntu – humanity towards others.”

Question: How do you like this method of education?

Answer: This is a very powerful method. Imagine sitting for two days and listening to good things about yourself, knowing that they all know about what you did. It would be better if they beat you!

A man eats himself: “How could I do this?! This was their opinion of me! And what is their opinion of me now knowing what I have done?!” This is a double punishment.

Question: And why does humanity not adopt this? A practical primitive tribe, close to nature…

Answer: The primitive tribes were much higher than we are and they remain so.

They understand how a person can be encouraged and put in a good place, how to make him a normal member of society, and put him back in the right state. This is the only way, education by social influence.

Question: Why not adopt it? Give it a try.

Answer: We do not have such societies. Our society is purely egoistic; it is aimed only at censure, at suppression, even to the point of murder. Therefore, we cannot have such a thing.

Question: And how will the society of the future cope with this?

Answer: The society of the future is after correction! Of course, it will already have a different effect on people. But only through love, through the right communication, the right influence. To take a person inside yourself, to warm him inside, so that he feels the good influence of society.

Question: Are you talking about a criminal who has committed a crime?

Answer: Yes. And then he will feel what he can lose, and understand how others think well of him and want to place him among themselves, bail him out, and so on.

Question: But I don’t think well of him, do I? I hate him, is he a criminal?

Answer: No, then it will not work.

Comment: We are talking about a serious step for humanity. We should arrange expeditions there, to this society.

My Response: We won’t understand! Today’s society is not able to correctly perceive such an attitude of people to one another.

Question: What, then, is the future of our judicial system?

Answer: Our judicial system can take the only right step; it is to bury itself. I say this absolutely clearly, calmly, and steadily. This is not a judicial system. There is nothing worse in our society than judges and everything they have done.

Question: So they have ruined their own destinies, and the destinies of other people?

Answer: Absolutely everything!

Question: How can humanity get out of this?

Answer: Only by the correction that we are talking about. Put judges through the training and correction system, so that they do not think that if they have some book in their hands that was written by all sorts of clever people, then this book is infallible, and if they adhere to it, they can judge everyone.

Question: By what law should the corrected judges work?

Answer: The Torah is at the heart of the trial, the charter, and the legal provisions. And so we need to take it in its true form, try to understand it and start following it. Otherwise, nothing will work.

Question: When you say “Torah,” everyone pictures the book of Torah. What do you mean when you say the Torah is the basis?

Answer: Love your neighbor as yourself. This is the main law. And everything else comes from that.

Question: So this principle should be at the forefront of all of law for everyone?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Is it possible?

Answer: We will have to do it anyway. Only when? This is already a problem.

Question: And when, what do you think?

Answer: When we can understand what judges should be like. And we will not agree with the view that they represent today.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 3/8/21

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