Entries in the 'Economy' Category

It’s All about Money

600.02Question: Why is money the basis of all problems in the world?

Answer: Because it is the equivalent of our investing in each other. I give something so I am supposed to take something.

Question: If we remove money, would there be no problems?

Answer: If everything that is common were removed, completely does not belong to anyone at all, and when everyone is concerned about each other as one common whole: either I will receive, or I will give, or another will receive, or will give to me, and all this is equivalent in my feelings, only then can we talk about removing money completely.

Money is a cover for my attitude toward others. There is nothing you can do about it.

Question: So in our world, will the problems disappear even if the money disappears?

Answer: No. Only when we rise above ourselves in our feelings will this world itself simply disappear because it exists only in our sensations.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. It’s All Because of Money.”

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Until We Rise to the Spiritual Degree

272Question: Let’s say one person lost a million dollars, and another lost a cup of rice. However, their inner feelings are the same. What is this feeling of emptiness?

Answer: What difference does it make who lost what and how much? The only thing that matters is how they feel it.

Question: But why does one of them need to lose such a large amount of money?

Answer: It is just a habit; it is an attitude.

At birth, all people are the same. When they die, they are also the same. Only their environment, a specific case, fate, so to speak, of one and the other give them different attitudes to the level of happiness, and nothing more.

A person is cleansed of unnecessary things, which leaves only the animalistic body and what this body needs, and everything else should be aimed at developing the spiritual degree in him. We do not need more.

We must exist in our animalistic body until we ascend to the spiritual degree, and then we will further develop along these degrees.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Lost a Million” 11/6/11

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Get Out of the Sandbox

4Today we are beginning to feel that the past paradigm of the world is not working. We cannot improve our condition in any way. Everything is over. It is as if we are being pulled out of the sandbox and pushed into a new society where we must be mutually connected with each other in some kind of adult enterprise.

When we played in the sandbox, everyone could play in their corner, with their own cars, roll them, and make cakes out of sand. And now we have been thrust into a completely different state.

We have been placed in some kind of community and told: “Now you must be in good dependence on each other, find a common language among yourselves, and somehow communicate correctly.” And we do not want to. We want to continue being independent, and not take on any obligations. That is where the problem is.

Question: Let’s say a person has power, fame, security, a car. How can such people be convinced? They absolutely do not want to move away from that “sandbox.”

Answer: I think that they will quickly become convinced that they are losing everything and are under a great threat for their very existence, and that they suddenly are becoming beggars. For such a person to become a beggar means to descend to the level of a normal, ordinary middle class.

For him, it is just something unimaginable. And it will happen. All his external gloss will disappear, no social, political, economic ties with the help of which he held onto his level will work.

There will only be one thing left: to agree that the whole of humanity, as nature suggests to us, should really be connected on one single level, in full interconnection, mutual assistance to each other, and thus achieve the highest comfortable state, spirituality.

Comment: As a rule, the more a person has, the more difficult it is for him to connect with others.

My Response: If only a person would start engaging with something above this level, with the purpose of existence, the laws of nature, our development, and so on, then, in general, he will easily tolerate parting with what he had before; it will, of course, seem superfluous to him.

Comment: But by nature, the less a person has, the easier it is for him to make a revolution in his life.

My Response: No, it just seems that way; it is purely psychological. I do not think that is really the case. Not to that extent. It depends not on the status, but on the level of his knowledge, attainment, and awareness of the necessity.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. How not to Lose Money?” 10/31/11

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What to Do if the State Is Ripping You Off

633.2When your child earns his first money for ice cream, do the following:
1. Before he has a chance to lick his ice cream, snatch it from him and bite off 20%.
2. While your child stares at you in amazement, take another 30% bite.
Then give him the rest of the ice cream and explain that this is what the state does with all the money someone earns. And this will be the case with every ice cream he buys for himself. And that the percentage of the bite can be reduced by grabbing the biter by the hand and demanding to know why they are taking so many bites.

If every parent does this, there is hope that a generation of people will grow up in this country who will understand that the government does not have its own money—it only has taxpayer money. And that taxpayers not only can but should, monitor how government officials spend their money. (Unverified attribution to Margaret Thatcher)

Question: What do you think about this way of educating a citizen? That from a childhood prepare to be robbed: distrust—verification—control. What do you think about a child being brought up this way?

Answer: The words are right. It is good when the child feels such stress.

Question: Is it good that he is already ready to be robbed by the state?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: Actually, this is a child. Let us say 10 to 14 years old.

My Response: No, that is already an adult.

Question: Do you think this is a possible option to educate like this?

Answer: Yes, it is good for the child and good for the person in general, for parents, and everyone.

Question: So he does not go out into the world with his arms open. He knows that the world is anxious and will bite them off. Do you think this is a good entrance?

Answer: Yes, it is quite good.

Question: What do you think about a prime minister who insists that a citizen should monitor him and his employees and subordinates? Margaret Thatcher, they say, was like that.

Answer: Yes! She was tough! She did not dismiss the criticism, but on the contrary, listened.

Question: Then what is trust in the government?

Answer: When I know, I am sure that the government is acting correctly. Then I trust it.

Question: Is it when I understand that it correctly takes a precise amount of money from me? Will it be only after some kind of check by me?

Answer: Absolutely.

Question: Is the person also being educated if he lives like this?

Answer: Naturally. He checks others for everything and checks himself, and sees that it all fits into the right system.

Question: Is this self–control, and control in general, mandatory?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Then in general, what is the correct education of a citizen?

Answer: The correct education of a citizen is that he knows his political economy well: where the money comes from, where it goes, and how he manages it.

Question: That is, how he would have done it himself. Does he become a citizen who knows this and understands all this?

Answer: Yes. At least, he should understand that in his business, in his work, and in his house, he should be a businessman, a master.

Question: Is this the correct education of a citizen?

Answer: Of course. Then this is correct at the level of the house and the family, and the state in general.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 8/24/23

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Which “Lottery Ticket” Should One Buy?

49.01In the News (BBC News): “‘Kerala lottery: Indian women sanitation workers hit jackpot’

“The women are part of a group that collects non-biodegradable waste from households in Parappanangadi town in Kerala’s Malappuram district. They usually get around 250 rupees a day…

“The money, they say candidly, is not enough to make ends meet. Most of the women have borrowed money and taken loans for their children’s education and other expenses.

“That’s why they would occasionally join forces to buy a lottery ticket. …

“Kuttimalu, 72, says she was initially sad when Radha was collecting funds because she didn’t have enough money.

“‘Then Cherumannil Baby (another member of the group) told me she had 25 rupees and was willing to lend me half of it for the ticket,’ she tells the BBC.

“So the two women put in 12.5 rupees each for their share of the ticket while the other nine women paid 25 rupees each.

“‘We agreed we would get an equal share if we won anything,’ Ms Kuttimalu says. ‘We didn’t expect to win such a huge amount of money!’ …

“On Friday, a day after their life-changing win, the 11 women reached the agency’s office like always to resume their work.

“‘We decided one thing,’ Ms Leela says. ‘We will not leave this job because it was this collective that brought us prosperity.'”

Question: We have been talking with you all the time, and it is true according to statistics that there are no particularly lucky cases when winning the lottery. And here, it seems these women were lucky.

Tell me, please, do you still insist that the lottery is not the best thing?

Answer: I think it is better when a person does not do this, does not play the lottery.

Question: Despite what I just told you, and you were even surprised, and it was interesting?

Answer: This is, of course, interesting. I do not know what they will actually gain from this.

Question: They will pay their debts. And then, do you think they will make new ones?

Answer: Of course! It does not solve anything.

Question: So, the moment you plug one hole, it appears again and again?

Answer: Yes. You will not buy happiness that way. Winning in this way will not bring good luck.

Question: What will bring good luck? Which “lottery ticket” should we buy? What do we have to buy to win in this life? Really win!

Answer: Winning is a feeling of confidence in what I am doing. Is that not enough?

Question: I have chosen the path, and I am sure of it, is this called that I drew the lucky lottery ticket?

Answer: Yes. When it disappears, a person is ready for death.

Comment: Thanks! We will live.

My Response: Yes!
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 8/3/23

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The Advantage of Cryptocurrency

272Question: There is the phenomenon of cryptocurrencies of late. This is not ordinary paper money, but some informational data, which today is increasingly capturing all areas of monetary relations. It can already be used to pay in stores and online.

What is this phenomenon? Previously, money was just gold and silver, which were accepted all over the world. Now, instead of money, some data appears. Why do people come more and more to this type of money?

Answer: Cryptocurrency is more convenient. I do not have to carry a bag of money anywhere, my pocket does not tear from gold coins, they cannot steal my checkbook, and so on. All this is much more reliable.

Of course, along with this, there are inconveniences of how to store it, how to write out checks, how to do something else, and so on, but in general this is progress. It will continue, we cannot do anything with this. I think that no one can interfere with the development of cryptocurrencies.

Question: But here countries are faced with a problem because they cannot regulate cryptocurrencies, since in this case, the money is sort of above the country. This is a kind of distributed value, which is managed from a huge number of devices that are not tied to the country. Why is money rising above state power?

Answer: Because countries as such should have been liquidated long ago, there is no point in their existence. People should be outside the countries and communicate freely with one single currency—a gold coin, or not even a gold, does not matter what it will be. That is how things should be.
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From KabTV’s “Kabbalah in the modern turbulent world” 8/3/23

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Money from the Viewpoint of Kabbalah

963.4Question: What is the inner Kabbalistic meaning of common currency? Is it a human effort?

Answer: Yes, it is the universal equivalent of human effort. In Kabbalah, money is the expression of the screen, and the screen is everyone’s anti-egoistic effort.

Question: But this effort is built in relation to others. Can I somehow measure it or buy something with it?

Answer: Of course. In the same units. You can measure your anti-egoistic force in grams, in Newtons, in anything.

Question: What is a wealthy person from the standpoint of Kabbalah?

Answer: Someone who has many anti-egoistic forces, and can use them.

Question: Is there a direct relationship between one’s screen and material wealth?

Answer: No. Our world is not yet created to give us material manifestation.

Question: There have been very different Kabbalists throughout history in terms of their means. Baal HaSulam, for example, gave away all his money to have none the next day. They say the Ari was a very rich merchant. Is there any relationship or special mission of the Kabbalist here?

Answer: Everyone acts as he sees fit for his spiritual ascent.
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From KabTV’s “Kabbalah in the modern turbulent world” 8/3/23

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Bill Gates: “Take a Break when You Need To”

626Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said during a speech that he wished he had discovered the importance of work-life balance years ago. 

Speaking at a Northern Arizona University (NAU) commencement ceremony Saturday, Gates told the graduating class that during his early days at Microsoft, he didn’t believe in taking vacation days or having weekends off, noting that he used to keep track of employees who would leave early or stay late. 

“But as I got older — and especially once I became a father — I realized there is more to life than work,” Gates said during his commencement speech. “Don’t wait as long as I did to learn this lesson. Take time to nurture your relationships, to celebrate your successes, and to recover from your losses.”

“Take a break when you need to,” Gates added. “Take it easy on the people around you when they need it, too.”

Gates also encouraged the graduating class to live in the moment and “have some fun,” adding in his speech that what they are currently doing right now won’t impact their future  (The Hill).

Question: What is this message to students—take a break when you need to? How do you feel about this?

Answer: It means spending more time on creativity. Because if you bury yourself in work, you will not be able to give your brain, yourself, and your thoughts a creative direction.

A creative person should live by absorbing from the air, from the environment, from something that is not simple mechanical work with effort. He should be free, as creative intellectuals have always lived in general.

Comment: That is, the rest itself, even when you walk through the forest and it is a rest on the one hand, on the other hand, it is work.

My Response: Creativity. Of course.

Question: Do you completely agree with him?

Answer: He speaks correctly. A creative person should be free. Otherwise, he will not invent anything and will not give movement, an impetus to progress.

Question: What if we translate this to education, to children? A school that is based on homework, on coming to the blackboard and giving answers: “Tell me what you did at home.” And so on, and so on. If that is all, do you think, it does not prepare creativity?

Answer: It trains technicians who can work, calculate, and do something, but they will not have creative spurts.

Question: So, you are for the formula of creativity. Is it possible to bring everyone to this formula?

Answer: I think that it is possible. Especially since from our time and onward, the period of humanity’s development in the direction of creativity begins. We will see less and less production and more and more of those who work at a level above production.

Question: Are you saying that creativity is inherent to almost every person?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Why? How did they place this point of creativity into us from above?

Answer: So that we express more what is characteristic of a person, not a machine, not a beast, and so on.

Question: So, if we see that a person has resigned himself to mechanical work, does it mean that he has not found this point in himself?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Does it exist in him?

Answer: It is there. Maybe he is looking for it, but it has not been revealed yet. Therefore, he has to do or chooses to do mechanical work. Maybe it helps him, it organizes his thoughts somehow.

Question: Do you think every person should look for this point in themselves?

Answer: I think that if a person has the right inner attitude, he will come to this.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 6/8/23

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According to the New Scheme

507.05Previously in nature and society, we acted according to an egoistic, impulsive, and linear program, when everyone earned as much as they worked. That is how I chose my job, family, and everything else, and due to my natural abilities and efforts, I achieved something.

I know that there are objective conditions that exist around me, and everything else depends on me; certain conditions are placed before me, and the rest is up to me to move forward. That is how I went through life and saw that I accomplished this and that.

I had some savings, a house, family, children, friends, and some plans. I wanted vacations, retirement, medical insurance, and so on, just like any ordinary, normal, person desires. But today there is some incomprehensible situation, like in a Winnie the Pooh story : “Some kind of wrong bees.” Everything seems wrong, and I do not know how to act.

I can go to work, try to invest anywhere. And what? I am not getting an adequate response to my reasonable, obvious, serious, and straightforward efforts! I am not trying to deceive anyone; I work with my egoism, and I want to receive as much as I earn. It does not work! Perhaps there should be some kind of luck involved, but it does not smile at me. What’s the matter?!

It turns out that a completely different scheme is working now; I can succeed in my life only if I also think about the well-being of other people. How can that be?! What do other people have to do with it?! I am investing! Why are they in the picture?! Maybe they are lazy or are even my enemies.

They tell me: “It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not because today these are the conditions and this is the way society is! You have to take into account the welfare of everyone and not just brush it off: “Okay, let them be happy.” You must learn to strive to be integral with them in one system so that everyone would feel good, and so that when investing, you think about what you are investing in them, and that you truly feel you are working together with them.

Moreover, you have to share with everyone and they with you. You don’t just go out into the world, earn money, bring home your prey, and share a piece of mammoth in your cave with the family; No!

You have to think about whether everyone has brought their prey. And when you come home and sit with your family, you have to imagine that you are sitting with the whole world. Does the whole world have what you have? How would you share it with them?”

Do you understand what dreadful conditions nature sets for us?! This is the state of the world today, and that is why no one knows what to do.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Mind in Action” 8/13/11

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Humanity Has Not Yet Climbed Down from the Trees

89For as many centuries as humanity has existed in the world, thousands and thousands of years, it has been mistaken. Read newspapers, magazines, go online—everyone is still waiting for some aliens from other planets.

Humanity is barbaric. In fact, it has not yet come down from the trees. As when we were monkeys, so we exist nowadays. We have not changed at all and have even become worse than them.

Monkeys have a certain hierarchy, a certain community, certain laws of behavior; they know how they live. And we have lost even those natural laws of behavior that they have; as a result we have acquired terrible, ugly laws dictated to us by our growing egoism.

Meaning, today we are ugly monkeys, nothing more. And everything we have done, we have done that way. Now we are beginning to enter a state where we will suffer terribly from this and will be disappointed.

And this, together with Kabbalah that explains to us the essence of what is happening, will lead us to correction.

If we read what Kabbalists have written, we will quickly understand what our problem is and try to fix it quickly and intelligently. And if not, then we will move “with a stick to happiness.”

Therefore, we cannot say that a person is now more or less mentally healthy. There is one conclusion: treat everyone as gently as possible, and everything will be fine.
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From KabTV’s “I Got A Call. Hallucinations in a Dream” 8/20/11

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