From My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 5/14/20

Often, when I say that COVID-19 is educating humanity, people wince a little, as if I said something inappropriate. People don’t like to be educated; they like to be on top, and education means absorbing knowledge from someone else, which puts the educator above and the student below. But what if you knew that the teacher wanted nothing but what’s best for you? What if you knew that the teacher loved you and wanted you to succeed and have the best life you can have? Wouldn’t you learn gladly?

Our whole problem is that we think we are at war with nature, so we’re trying to dominate it. But nature created us; we can’t be above it or win against it, however hard we try. Moreover, nature has no desire to harm us. It is harmonious, and maintains all its components in harmony with one another. Humans are the only element in nature that resists this harmony and wants to be on top.

By impelling us to quarantine ourselves, nature showed us its beauty, brought itself to our doorsteps (often quite literally), cleaned the air and the water, and educated us about the harm we have been causing to ourselves and our surroundings all along.

Now that we are coming out of lockdowns, we can choose to maintain harmony with nature, or dump it and resume our self-indulging festivities. If we choose the former, nature will reward us tenfold. We will be far healthier, safer, and happier than ever. If we choose self-indulgence, nature, like a vigilant teacher, will punish again, but more severely, since we wouldn’t learn the first time. The choice, as always, is ours.

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Medium published my new article “Obsession with Reopening the Economy Will Cost Us Heavily”

The main discourse you hear in the media concerns how fast and how much to reopen the economy. No one seems to ask why we should open it at all. No one asks if the businesses that were shut down were doing any good to anyone besides their owners, and if closing them was not actually better for the rest of us. COVID-19 gave us a chance to examine everything that we’ve consumed and decide what we really need. Yet, somehow, we seem to shun the opportunity.

It would be one thing if we were only missing out on a chance to add value to our lives by choosing what was good for us and rejecting the redundant. But the real problem is far worse: The excessive consumerism causes us to deplete Earth’s resources, exploit one another, and waste money we could put to much better use than on accessories, gadgets, and paraphernalia that we will trash within a year when the trend changes.

The dream world we have been looking for, where everyone is happy, is nowhere in particular. It is within us.

What is even worse is that because we’re not learning the lesson that we should have learned from COVID-19, a much worse outbreak will follow soon, which will not hurt mostly the sick and elderly, and whose mortality rate will be minimal. We will be hit by a plague that will hurt children and grownups, its mortality rate will be far higher than COVID-19, and the recovery from it will be far slower, harder, and far more painful. We can wait for this to happen, but we can also get over the reopening obsession and see that the coronavirus has brought us to a whole new world.

Covertly, the virus has ushered us into a new era. It is as if we drove into a new country where we don’t know the culture or the manners, so we’re behaving as we did in our previous country. But in this new place, people behave differently: They aren’t competing. They are sharing, considerate, they care for one another, and they do not tolerate exploitation.

In the new country, people don’t enjoy shopping. They go to the store to get what they need, and spend the rest of their time with one another. Since technology has developed to a point where very few people need to work in production, the majority of people simply socialize. Since they are connected and feel close to one another, they do not suffer from manmade ailments like depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, or violence. And since they spend most of their time socializing, their idols are people who excel at bringing people’s hearts closer.

We, humankind, have been admitted into this country. We are still oblivious to it, but we are already there. This is why all of a sudden nothing works but for no apparent reason. In this new country, we are taking baby steps. And just like babies, we must think twice or three times before we take another step.

There is no need to fear; it is not a hostile country. If we think positively about others, the new country will embrace us and teach us what to do and how. All that it demands of us is to try to learn how to connect, rather than how to control, which is what we were taught in our previous home.

The dream world we have been looking for, where everyone is happy, is nowhere in particular. It is within us. The old world is cracking and breaking apart, and the new world, the new reality is emerging. Just as our ill-willed thoughts created the old world, our new thoughts are engendering a new world. These are thoughts about connection, bonding, and mutual concern, yet we are still mostly ignorant of their presence. Nevertheless, they are already strong enough to break our obsolete world apart.

All births are painful and all beginnings are tough, but we can make it that much easier by wanting to take part. If we resist, our birth will be a painful one. If we partake in the process of our own volition, it will be a wonderful experience. After all, what could be better than coming to a place where everyone genuinely wants to befriend you, and you want to befriend them?
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Medium published my new article “The Technology of Connection”

Moving forward to the next level of social innovation

The current COVID-19 crisis has pushed forward the use of technology to such a degree that every realm of our lives has gone online overnight: services, work, and communications. But the type of innovation now required of mankind stretches far beyond technological, which is only a means, to the realm of true social innovation. Upgrading our human connection, the deepest and most meaningful software of all, is precisely the social innovation which will allow us to survive and safely pass through the 21st Century.

“If we treat others with care and are considerate of the surrounding ecosystem, we will thrive in this integral world by becoming similar to it.”

The global shake-up of the coronavirus has revealed how interconnected and interdependent we really are, and how vulnerable we are in nature’s hands without knowing how to deal with the situation.

Humanity is infected with an exaggerated ego. Each of us desires to be better situated than everyone else and strives to constantly gain control over others. This ingrained egoistic attitude is diametrically opposed to the integrality found in the whole system of nature, as has become increasingly apparent.

We have been struck with a remarkable lesson on empathy: we need to think about the welfare of others because, in a circular system like the one in which we live, my well being depends on the well being of others, and the other way around. Therefore, the method of bridging the contradiction between the singularity of the human ego and the wholeness of nature is in the implementation of improved social interactions among us. Groundbreaking innovation in this realm is an absolute requirement, and the way to accomplish it consists of several stages.

Achieving A Social Breakthrough

First of all, we must realize that we belong to one system, one interconnected global family. Second, we must become aware that our future welfare depends on good relations between us, regardless of nationality, origin, gender or color. Third, we must learn and teach the integral laws of nature which can be synthesized as, “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” and implement them among us immediately.

If we treat others with care and are considerate of the surrounding ecosystem, we will thrive in this integral world by becoming similar to it. Our human desires and intentions are the most powerful force in nature and affect everything that happens in the world. Thus, if we human beings change our attitude toward others favorably, we will systematically immunize ourselves against any potential illness or damage.

This is the transformation we need, a pervasive social innovation that transcends any technological breakthrough. If we manifest mutual responsibility, we will discover in nature enough resources to satisfy everyone. No one will fear anything because no one will lack nothing.

Thus, astonishing social innovations will spring from a more internal approach in our relations, from the closeness of our hearts. This new affinity will help us rise together to a level where we can understand the great purpose of life, the essence of our existence, where we are tightly intertwined just as in a network. Therefore, innovative change in the relations between people will set in motion far-reaching influences within the entire system, positively affecting our health, employment, economics, education, and ensuring a good future for everyone around the globe as one big family.

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Question: What practical significance does talking about balancing all of nature have if I can’t even influence myself, let alone all of humanity?

Answer: We must learn to influence ourselves, to evoke the right influences of the upper light, the positive forces of nature, and thus compensate for all its negative states. Even one person can compensate for absolutely all states, including you and everyone else. So in no case can you say that you can’t do it. Each and every one of us can.

Of course, you can say: “There are billions of people in the world. Even if I do something, it will be a billionth part that will give nothing.” This is wrong! Man is able to bring all of humanity to balance. And that’s how he should act. The wisdom of Kabbalah says this in many sources.

In particular, in the article “The Love of God and the Love of Man,” Baal HaSulam writes: Thus, each and every Mitzva that an individual performs affects the whole world… each Mitzva that the individual performs before the whole earth is full of knowledge develops the world so it will come to this.

It is said, “And one sinner destroys much good,” since through the sin he commits, he reduces the weight on the scale,… By this, he turns the world backward.

It turns out that any person by one action violates the harmony of the world or corrects it. Therefore, in no case should we neglect the positive contribution that everyone can make to the balance of the world.

Now we are in a special state when we have thrown the huge global system out of balance so much that it begins to emit viruses. That is, from its non-equilibrium state, it can no longer compensate itself in any way, except by releasing harmful biological microsystems. Therefore, we need to understand that there is nothing left for us but to seriously take up our responsibility to bring the system to balance.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” 3/15/20

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From My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 5/12/20

The world has changed; we don’t know what to do. We’re unsure about the future, if we’ll have jobs tomorrow, or if there will be any jobs tomorrow? What will become of us, of humanity?

In the wisdom of Kabbalah, the highest quality is called Keter [crown]. This is the quality of giving. This quality created the world and has sustained it ever since. It keeps everything in healthy balance and allows all things to flourish.

Human society is the only element in reality that is built on selfishness and inequality, where the strong take not all that they need, but all that they can. As a result, imbalance is ingrained in human society, and now it is collapsing.

Symbolically or not, Corona Virus (the crown virus) is the harbinger of the crown age in humanity. Now the quality of giving, Keter, is emerging. We are insecure because within us, there is a battle between egoism and giving, and the world is teetering between the two. In the end, Keter will win, but until then, we will afraid and insecure.

Yet, there is a lot we can do to end the insecurity. We can embrace the quality of giving and practice it among us. Clearly, it will not be real giving since there is no real love between us. Nevertheless, it will advance our acclimation to the new reality of Keter. Just as lion cubs play hunters because the games develop their hunting skills, we must play givers to develop our giving skills.

The Crown Age is here. The economy that was based on self-centered products has been shut down and will not return. An economy of giving will emerge instead, which will allow us to befriend each other, trust each other, and stop exploiting ourselves and our planet. The sooner we embrace it, the better.

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Nowadays, maintaining the balance of nature is especially important. Many speak out against interfering with nature: the ecologists and others. They are fighting to ensure that we don’t pump oil, burn combustible materials, etc.

We do terrible things to nature. But the most important thing is not that we destroy vegetation, dig channels, kill animals, build nuclear power plants, or test bombs detonating them below and above ground.

The main thing is that we are damaging the nature of man. And man, in essence, is at the height of nature, its very crown. As a result, we got the coronavirus because we don’t care about the crown of nature, about man who has to complete, correct, and bring nature to balance.

But let’s hope that due to our efforts, we will be able to achieve it.

The fact is that Kabbalists, who received the methodology of the integral development of nature, received it for a good reason. As the doctors in our society fight for the health of people with their own methods, we Kabbalists must do the same: gain knowledge to be able to, just like the doctors, bring into balance not the animal organism of a person, but our whole society with its still, vegetative, and animate nature, meaning the whole universe, into the right balance. This will be its healthy state. This is what our mission entails.

Therefore, we are at the forefront of the struggle against the disruptions man causes in nature. I really hope that we will expand this science, master it, apply it correctly, and achieve a general equilibrium of all levels of nature.

And all of nature will be revealed as one single organism, and we will enjoy its ideal balance, its integrality, interdependence, and perfect health. As a result, we will stop sleep-walking as if we’re half-blind, and become vital participants in absolutely all of nature of all the worlds.

I hope that this will manifest itself precisely as a result of our recuperation from the coronavirus.
At least, this should be our goal, and whether we succeed is no longer our concern. We must try as doctors do when they see a patient in front of them. They do not take into account his hopeless state or the advanced stage of illness, but they try to cure him by all the means at their disposal. We must do the same.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 3/15/20

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From My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 5/11/20

We are wrong to call COVID-19 a pandemic; it’s a global crisis whose trigger was the pandemic. The crisis was a bomb waiting to explode long before the outbreak, and the coronavirus simply tipped the world off the cliff it’s been hanging on for years. So, we’d be wrong to expect the pre-corona days to return. They won’t, and nor will our lives.

As we come out of lockdowns, we will discover that life has changed, and so have we. Past values will seem absurd and immature. We will not understand why we ever chased the goals we did. Why was it important to wear one brand and not another? Why did we idolize people for their looks, or attributed wisdom to people who could dribble? Did they give us anything valuable?

Quite soon, we will realize what really makes us happy: good friends, and warm families. If you’ve got that, you are the richest person in the world. Soon, we will all feel it.

The beauty about wealth of family and friends is that the more you have of it, the more you enrich others with it, too. Because friendships and families are about people connecting with one another, sharing, caring, helping one another. In this wealth, either everyone is rich, or everyone is poor.

No one can decide for us which way we want to go. The pain on the path to happiness that COVID-19 has opened for us can be small or great; the choice is ours.

[Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash]

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Imagine that you have ten interlocked gears inside one mechanism; when each turns, everyone with every move. Before turning, I must take into account how this will affect everyone, whether it will be beneficial for them. I’m forbidden to make the slightest movement without taking everyone into account.

The difference between the spiritually driven and materially driven is that the spiritually driven cancels the EGO—the reward of this life, and the materially driven wants to taste both worlds, as the Zohar says: GAV of this world and GAV of the future world. This is evident in their relation to others …

When leaving quarantine, think about what you would like to take with you into the world? How would you like to feel the world you’re entering after the quarantine? Perhaps many agree with you, and you can change the outside world? If we do not change the world now, will the virus come back to us? What do we change ..?
#Covid_19
From Twitter, 5/11/20

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How does Kabbalah explain the critical situation with the global coronavirus pandemic that has spread throughout the world today?

Kabbalah is primarily a science that explores nature. As one develops, he learns more about nature. And there is a special stage in the development of man in creation, when he begins to realize that the whole creation—inanimate nature, plants, animals and people—exists as one integral system in which everything is connected with everyone.

If we make our integral connection good, faithful, and supporting one another, we will begin to feel this system and the general program, the general laws of the universe. Thanks to this, we can better understand and comprehend nature.

Kabbalah is a practical science. The stronger the connection we can form and overcome the forces of nature that are trying to increasingly divide us, the better we begin to understand the laws and phenomena of nature and are able to organize a better, deeper, and higher life for ourselves.

We will know what is happening to us and will understand our past and future by rising above life and death and unfolding a complete map of nature, which began to be revealed almost six thousand years ago to the first Kabbalists, who are researchers of nature.

Let’s think about what exactly brought a person from the animate level and separated him from the monkey: human egoism, which makes him exploit everything that he sees to his advantage. The animal lives, consuming only the essentials in order to survive on its own and continue its species, and no more. A man wants to take over everything and rule the whole universe.

In the 21st century and especially recently, our egoism began to grow exponentially, increasing day by day. And so we need the science of Kabbalah, which helps us balance our relations.

Indeed, on one hand, we want to move away from each other more, and on the other hand, to rule over everyone. Therefore, it is precisely in our time that the science of Kabbalah is being revealed, and there is a duty to educate all people about it so that everyone knows how to connect with one another.

Kabbalah gives us the opportunity to attract the positive power of nature because now we are revealing only the negative power. Each repels the rest or uses them for their own benefit.

Kabbalah teaches that a positive force that can be attracted and used in addition to negative power  is hidden in nature. Then, with the help of these two forces, we can work correctly. But we always go along the same left line, as one rail, instead of two.

The science of Kabbalah is being revealed today to help us attract the positive power from nature. We cannot wait for this force to unfold on its own. This will not happen!

Only if we want to be connected and close to one another, to understand our dependence, and begin to work with our mind and heart in a more integrated form, then we will discover the positive power of unity and build new relationships between us, not to the detriment of man, but to his benefit.

The coronavirus epidemic forces us to move further apart. Is this not contrary to the laws of Kabbalah, which call us to get closer? But Kabbalah is a science, like physics, that explains the laws of the world to us. It is between us, you just need to delve into it to understand.

The coronavirus is a reaction of nature to the fact that human society is not able to maintain equilibrium. We want to get closer only in order to use each other even more and in the most ruthless way.

And therefore, a force called the “coronavirus” is revealed, and it moves us away from one another. Already we are awakening such forces in nature that become destructive. If we continue in the same spirit, then humanity will be done away with.

Therefore, the coronavirus stands between us and gives us time and space to think about how to better organize human society and the relations between people, which correspond to the laws of common integral nature. Otherwise, we will destroy everything!
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From KabTV’s “A Conversation with David Blumenfeld,” 3/25/20

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Question: What kind of new society can we talk about until the values of the old society are destroyed?

Answer: The values of the old society will collapse very quickly because a person has no way to resist it. See how we are behaving now. Firstly, the blow that hit us is global; it affects the entire population of the Earth. The virus continues to spread, penetrating all corners of the planet.

The press writes that in Africa, on the islands and archipelagos of Oceania there is no virus, because they are supposedly isolated from other countries. No! It reaches the most remote corners of the earth. Tourists or visitors transmitting the virus are completely unnecessary for this to happen.

It’s not that we are at home now, and then we go outside and bring this virus, supposedly from the street. This is actually not the case. The virus is in each of us. The time comes, and it is activated inside a person. And all the signs that we are allegedly infecting each other are purely external.

If, for example, you take a remote island where outsiders haven’t set foot and the people living there don’t even know anything about the existence of the virus, after a while you will find that they too are starting to get sick.

This is not transmitted in the usual way. Of course, it is easier and more convenient for us to explain its distribution by the fact that it is transmitted from person to person, but in general, these are only external, very approximate signs.

It all depends on the people. They are interconnected by their thoughts, feelings, interdimensional intercommunication, and thus, transmit this virus to each other.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 4/5/20

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