Today, we will talk about the crisis that affects all of humanity and of its possible solution that the method of integral upbringing affords.

Humanity has entered a difficult period and turned into such a state that it feels completely lost.

At the very least, people who are concerned with society, family, education, upbringing, and public, governmental, and social problems; they cannot find solutions to the problems that arise in every individual, society, and government activities. We find ourselves in a state that we cannot understand.

However, in recent years (70-80 years), scientists have been suspecting what was going on. Starting with the 1920s, the first articles appeared suggesting that the world was entering a completely different area of development, that it was rising to a totally different level: the level of integral development. Many researchers wrote about this. In the 1960s, the famous Club of Rome talked about this, as well as by many researchers and organizations.

And today in the process of the crisis, we came to a very deep state from which we cannot find the way out.

Previously the crisis touched only the problems of raising and educating children. We were unhappy with what was happening, but somehow put up with it, although we saw that the schools did not educate children, that our children suffered from bullying, violence, and abuse at school. But we tolerated that.

Then, we began to notice how people suddenly stopped caring about the family and the family started to disintegrate, which didn’t happen 100 to 200 years ago. Throughout human history, it was accepted that a person lived in a family with his parents and then created his own family; then, his children did, and they were all united in a common home, but now everything is undergoing a critical decline. People began to divorce, children to move away from their parents, people don’t want to get married or raise a family. This is also a crisis because this phenomenon is not natural for us, people.

And what will happen to future generations? We are already facing a demographic problem where the elderly outnumber the young. And who knows who will provide for them in old age. What will happen to you if you do not have children? Who will support you?

People do not even think that one generation supports the other. At least, three generations are necessary: the elderly, the parents, and the children so that they support, educate each other, pass along knowledge, care for the household; the young care for the elderly, and the elderly convey their experience and life values. There is nothing like that.

Then, there are problems with drugs and depression, depression that is so strong that doctors today consider it the number one disease of the century, not only the disease in itself, but also its consequences. The cause, the root, of the majority of the diseases in the world is depression, intense anxiety, detachment, and helplessness.

The latest crisis involves a crisis in science, education, in all things. The crisis in science began from the point that we stopped believing in science. Once, we thought that through science we would reach a good life, conquer space, settle on other planets and have unlimited possibilities ahead. And suddenly, we closed all the space programs; we are no longer interested in space exploration; we do not think that we can find anything there. In the end, everything is slowing down. A person feels depressed; He does not want anything.

The latest crisis is the economic crisis. It is the hardest and  most difficult because it affects all aspects of our lives. Food, healthcare, heating, security, everything depends on the economy. But the economy refuses to work; it no longer works and we don’t know why. Companies close, financial “bubbles” inflated, and all manner of mishandling of money occur. And everything that was supposed to develop well, to our benefit, turns against us.

But what is interesting is that no one can deal with it, neither eminent economists nor politicians, but we are all willing to help them because we will not survive without the economy. It turns out that we do not know what to do. A huge number of high-ranking politicians, heads of states, the G8, G20 get together and can solve nothing. They do not know what to do.
[73554]
From the Vilnius Convention 3/22/12, Preliminary Lesson

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The science of Kabbalah describes the stages of development we must undergo in getting closer to each other in order to reveal the Upper Force. According to our aspirations toward unity, our nullifying our egoism and ascending above it and uniting, we reach the first level and feel this force at the level of Nefesh (inanimate level). We begin feeling something is between us, but still can’t exactly grasp it. There are some sensations, but they aren’t definable or determinable yet.

Later, with a stronger yearning toward each other, we reach a stronger connection and start feeling how to “penetrate” each other a little and to feel the connection more. From this, emerges a higher sensitivity, the ability to feel. And not just to feel, but to determine and understand how we do it. Thus sensation at the level of Ruach, the level of motion, appears. According to our movement toward each other, we can get in touch with this force with different strength more or less according to the nuances of our encounters. Our movements and understanding of this upper force happen in some sort of a dialog: in our effort and in its response, the reaction of the upper force.

We advance further in establishing even greater harmony among us and start feeling just how to connect, but also what to give and to receive from the other. Then we reach the feeling of the upper force and communicate with it either in bestowal or reception from it. This level is called Neshama the level of Bina, an extremely high level.

Then we get to an even deeper perception of interaction among us: which way to work with them receiving from the other or giving to others through oneself. By giving to others through oneself, we reach the level of the Light of Hochma or Haya.

And finally, we reach the state where we feel everyone as one whole. There are no differences, no communication, no transitions, and no transmission, but everything merges into one drop of water and then all separation fully disappears. We reach the level of Yechida (from the word “unity“)—the complete unity among us and the upper force.

These five levels are achieved only to the extent of connection between us; when our personal egoism, protectionism, and everything personal is removed, a person ascends and lives only by the commonality.

In order to develop this possibility, such an instrument of perception, we gather into a group during congresses, in all our actions, and gradually develop this within ourselves.

Our time is special because it forces us and moves us toward that, and not only us but all of humanity is moved toward the initial stages when a person still doesn’t understand what it means to “develop feelings, unite, and connect to others.”

It takes many steps before a person finds out: “Why all this? Do I have this?” He acts automatically by looking at others. And only later, something starts gradually “moving” inside as if snapping from inside.  He starts feeling something else, something new and absolutely unknown appears there, like an entrance to an absolutely new area, which was completely hidden before.

And the world helps us with that today by staying in an absolutely incomprehensible and confused state. All the people in the world from young to old, poor and rich, strong and weak, nobody knows where they are. Everyone is searching, but doesn’t know where. They act mechanically trying to live the life that used to be, but it is no longer there.
[73639]
From the Vilnius Convention 3/23/12, Lesson #1

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Vilnius Convention, Lesson 5
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Vilnius Convention Workshop 4
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We have justified claims: We are repeating the same thing over and over again when trying to unite. “When will this be over? When will we get what we want?” The answer is simple: When we won’t want it.

Rabash, “Shlavei HaSulam (Steps of the Ladder)” 1989, Article 12, “A Blessing and a Curse”: A person should know that every beginning of the work is called “day,” and a person’s prayer that the Creator brings him closer to the work is called “day.”

Thanks to our prayers and requests, thanks to the mutual relations we build between the Creator and us, we clarify and refine our right request, until it enables us to feel the spiritual world. “A prayer” is the work of the heart: polishing, purification, preparation. If we ask, demand, and scream, our prayer turns into a connection with the Creator, which has gone through the group and become a “prayer of the many.” This is the only way to reach Him.

When we arrange everything correctly, we constantly polish, clarify, and prepare our vessels of perception in order to feel spirituality in them. On the way we demand: “Give me!”, but gradually we begin to fine-tune our desires and demands, directing them towards bestowal, towards unification with the friends, towards distinguishing the form of general bestowal, the Creator, in this unity, who is revealed according to the principle of “come and see.”

And so gradually the mind and the feelings in our vessels reach the right parameters and enable us to feel the spiritual world. It exists here and now, and we are in it, but we don’t feel it.

Therefore, a prayer is a process in which we prepare our vessels for the spiritual perception.
[72037] 
From the Arava Convention 2/25/12, Lesson 7 

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Question: Each of us is getting ready for the Vilnius convention. How can we create an integral of all the collective efforts, which will unite them into a single whole?

Answer: Suppose there is some indefinite form in front of us. How can we measure its area? To do that, I take a small square (1 мм²), so tiny that it can enter every corner in the form. The sum of all the areas of the tiny squares will be the desired result. This sum (∑) is an integral (∫).

With the help of an integral I can calculate the sum of many parts, their collective sum: unity. Suppose the sum equals n. But we calculate an integral from zero to infinity (∞), in other words, from the tiny square to infinity. Then we will definitely not go wrong and will fill the whole given area.

This is the difference between an integral and a usual sum: When we calculate it, we don’t determine the number of the parts because it can be infinite.

Question: Every such “tiny square” is one of the friends. How can we become an integral and not a sum?

Answer: Everyone should be small enough to be able to enter. This is enough, and he doesn’t ask for anything else, doesn’t have any conditions. It doesn’t matter in which corner I am, it’s fine. The key is to be included into everyone so that I have no egoistic essence left, no desire except for one: to be part of this integral.

Question: How can we attain that?

Answer: With the help of the Light that Reforms. It is necessary in order to be included in the group and to receive the Light of Hassadim.

Question: What should be our prayer in this situation?

Answer: You pray for everyone, for unity. You understand that you have no “area” of your own—you are that small. At first, it seemed to you that you were filling the whole area. But gradually, in order to be included in the group, in an integral, you minimized yourself, until you became a “tiny square” and lost all the “area,” that is, your self-importance, independence, and individual reality. Then you are really worthy of being part of the whole, and you become included in the revelation of the Creator.

Question: Does this mean that our integrality is a result of our self-annulment?

Answer: Of course. And from that I demand unification, revelation, and adhesion for everyone.
[73272] 
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/21/2012, “Introduction to TES“

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Vilnius Convention, Lesson 3
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Vilnius Convention, Lesson 4
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Vilnius Convention Workshop 1
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Vilnius Convention Workshop 2
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Vilnius Convention Workshop 3
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Question: Please notice how long a feeling of awe is held and even increases from the first convention in the Arava to the second one, and now it is moving towards the European convention in the Baltic States.

Answer: This state should be constant and increasing all the time, but with a sense of confidence and joy. Moreover, our joy, our inner elation should be such as if we really feel the need to unite.

Question: When you slightly felt a lack of joy, you said: “The movement must be on two feet!” One “foot” is awe and the second one is joy. What did you feel?

Answer: I saw that everyone was in a state of fear, awe and even sliding towards heaviness. It should not be like that!

We are in a state when the entire Light surrounds us, when “there is none else besides Him.” This unified force not only surrounds us, but also wants to be manifested in us, and causes this pressure in us.

However, besides awe, we still need admiration, joy, and confidence that we are under its guidance.

Indeed, we see that we pass the inner states that are constantly changing: We begin to understand more and feel more. We already begin to expect how everything will happen. Possibly, a common feeling will be revealed between us, which will draw us, pull us in, and we will see and feel the world and the entire universe only in terms of our common mutual system, where we seemingly “disappear”: My “I” will disappear and even perhaps “we,” and there will be something—a common “it” and this common entity will be filled with a single property of bestowal and love.

I believe that many people have this anticipation. I personally feel it through their inner inclination, which should be constantly excited in awe and in joy.

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Vilnius Convention, Lesson 1
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Vilnius Convention, Lesson 2
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Question: When we talk about our impact on the world, doesn’t it show our pride?

Answer: It is not pride. If we look at scientists’ studies about the influence of thought, about the relationship between the still, vegetative, and animate worlds, they reveal such amazing patterns and connections, which previously eluded the human eye and the researchers.

And today the world has become integral in general, and that is why its integrality is manifested in particular. It turns out that plants and animals are connected to each other, feel each other and pass information to each other. Moreover, this is possible to see and explore.

The plants in one part of the forest are connected with the plants in the other part of the forest. If you cause pain to a bug sitting on a leaf, the tree on which this leaf grows feels compassion for this bug and sends it to other trees, and the bugs in the other part of the forest also feel it.

We see a huge closed picture, which today is supported by research. The world is completely interconnected.

The strongest force is the force of desire. So, when people influence nature through their goal-oriented actions, then undoubtedly, these are enormous forces. Moreover, this is also confirmed by numerous scientific studies such as occurrences of hurricanes being due to specific human impacts on nature.

But the matter is that when we—such a diverse group from different parts of the world—gather around one idea and this idea is aimed at balance with nature, not against it but towards balance, that is, supported by its general force that has a tremendous impact on the whole of nature!

Obviously, we do not feel or see this. But, in general, it is not just a contribution but a change in the entire course of history! That’s why our conventions are so beneficial!

We do not see this for now. But when we “break through” this point and begin to feel the general field we are within, (we are in the middle of this field and the most central part of the whole system), then we will see how important every movement of our soul is.
[73373]
From KabTV’s “Foundations of the Integral Society” 3/18/12

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Question: Is the state in which I lose a sense of my “I” and even our “We, given to a person as an example: “Look, what you can feel!”?

Answer: No, this feeling is not given to us from Above as an example. This is already what we cultivate and build from inside and stimulate from below. We develop this every day in all our actions, from lesson to lesson, from meeting of friends to meeting of friends. All this grows from below, and this is already our common achievement!

That is why I think that the preparation, which we carry out now, especially in the last three days before the convention and during the convention itself, should gather us on a global scale.

If all the previous conventions starting with the first one at the beginning of December and finishing with the last one that took place three weeks ago in Israel, then now it is very significant that we go out into the world. We go somewhere far to the North of Europe, to Vilnius, a rather strange place to organize this kind of convention. It is neither Moscow nor Vienna. It seems not such a central point, but it is very important for us. But, in principle, why not somewhere else, where life is even more intense?

It is very significant. It is very good. I think that our meeting, the convention in this neutral zone, will have a different character, a different tone.

Comment: Indeed, Europe is a serious place, and if something starts, it starts from there. We know from history that WWI and WWII began in Europe.

Answer: Today we see that huge changes are taking place in Europe. However, in spite of everything, Europe started to move towards greater unification, rather than separation. I was very concerned that they would play at protectionism and eventually break up.

But they evaluated their options well and saw that it would cost them much more than any other action. Naturally, it was based on purely economic considerations. But it is good that there is evidence that integrality is more profitable than separation. Everything is moving towards it, although in a special way, characteristic of them.

There is no doubt that this is the result of our activity.
[73376]
From KabTV’s “Foundations of an Integral Society” 3/18/12

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