From My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 4/26/20

Now that governments are “reopening the economy,” we think that things will go back to normal. This will not happen. Even if businesses open, the volume of activity will not return to what it was prior to the lockdown since people understand that many of the things they thought they needed were actually redundant. Governments may give incentives to individuals and businesses to reignite consumerism, but many people are losing the pleasure in shopping.

Now governments need to mobilize business owners whose businesses will not be sustainable after the lockdown. Instead of their businesses, governments need to “occupy” them in learning how to correct society and make it more connected. During the training, they will receive a livable allowance, and eventually they too will become teachers. The ultimate goal of governments should be to create sustainable societies whose people provide for everyone’s staples while individuals occupy themselves mainly in strengthening social solidarity.

We are moving from a paradigm of measuring success in terms of wealth, to measuring it in terms of happiness and satisfaction, and these will come from social cohesion, not from money. The faster we transition, the easier and more pleasant it will be on all of us.

[Pedestrians wearing masks walk past shuttered businesses on Broadway as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., April 25, 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson]

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Medium published my new article “Baby Steps to Love.”

With all the talk about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other relief packages in the U.S. and other countries, you could think that the vanishing of COVID-19 is just around the corner. It is not. It will be with us for a long time coming. Temporary relief packages that are not accompanied by nationwide job restructuring programs are as good as throwing that money down the drain.

Just look at what the National Institute of Health (NIH) writes: “There are hundreds of coronaviruses, most of which circulate among such animals as pigs, camels, bats and cats. Sometimes those viruses jump to humans — called a spillover event — and can cause disease.” Such spillovers caused the SARS epidemic in 2002, the MERS epidemic in 2012, and now the second SARS epidemic, known as SARS-CoV-2, which causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). That last one has become a pandemic, paralyzed the world, crushed the world economy, made tens of millions of people unemployed literally overnight, and is still wreaking havoc all over the world. Worse yet, we have not found a vaccine to even one of the strains of coronavirus.

Yet, a vaccine isn’t the only way to deal with the virus. In fact, it is the least efficient since, as it happens nearly every year with the flu, new strains of the virus are appearing all the time, and it is likely that a vaccine will not be effective against all of them.

It is no accident that spillovers from animals are happening so frequently in recent years, as we have cultivated a mindset of exploitation of human resources and natural resources that has become so invasive that it is ravaging the planet and destroying society. Now it is finally backfiring against the perpetrators of these wrongs: humanity, and Western society in particular.

Therefore, we need a deeper transformation. Eliminating COVID-19 is like blocking the flow of sewer out of one hole in one place only to find it is flowing out of another. We need to stop the flow altogether, the flow that is caused by our behavior. And the only way to permanently change our behavior is to change ourselves. However you look at it, the root cause will always be human behavior, and human behavior can be changed only by changing humans.

As long as we continue to cultivate a culture of ruthlessness, alienation, and destructive competition, we will end up losing. We will lose to nature as we are losing now, and we will lose to our own nature as we are seeing in today’s skyrocketing violence, suicide rates, and substance abuse mortality. We are competing ourselves to death, very literally.

The coronavirus is a force of nature, but we can decide whether to take it toward the positive or negative direction. It has set us apart, deprived us of our favorite occupation of hurting one another. In separating us, it has shown us that our connections are the problem. If we transform our connections from abusive to supportive, we will find that we are treating not only each other in this way, but all of reality. In return, reality will transform its attitude toward us and the world will become a welcoming home once more.

The hiatus from the rat race of consumerism that was destroying the world is our chance to block it before it drives us off the cliff. It is an opportunity to reeducate ourselves on life, on the things it has to offer, such as love, friendship (real, not the social media kind), and mutual responsibility. We should use this time to cultivate new jobs and occupations, ones that strengthen our society and not divide it. In today’s job market, there is no justification for ruthless capitalism and senseless competition. Only those who dedicate their time to others will find success in what they do.

The mind of a caring person is infinitely more open than the mind of one who sees nothing but his or her own interest. Caring for others is a chance to learn, experience what others’ lives are like, feel what we did not know exist, and do it in the baby steps that the virus is allowing us to take, one video chat at a time. When we are ready for more contact, the virus will leave and let us meet in person, this time with all the good intentions.
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Medium published my new article “What Nature Wants From Us”

It may feel like an eternity, but in a matter of a few weeks the entire world has changed dramatically, awakening existential questions and soul searching in us. What have we done for nature to unleash upon us this COVID-19 virus that has paralyzed the planet? Is there something I personally can do to end this hardship, beyond wearing a mask? Let’s take a moment out of our now less-busy lives to consider our situation. What we will discover is that we have been given this breather precisely for such contemplation.

I live in this world and make an impact on all that happens. I influence my immediate surroundings every single moment, but I also impact the distant environment. Each of us creates changes in the entire system of nature since the system is global, integral, and spherical. It is a system, connected in all its parts and moving toward comprehensive balance. When we disrupt its equilibrium, the imbalance manifests in all kinds of phenomena such as the current pandemic. In a sense, it could be said that everything we come up against from nature is actually the reaction of the system to our good or bad influences on it.

How can I relate this to myself, sitting at home with no idea what will become of my work, my children, my future? How can my personal life sway the system? Each day that passes never returns, so before falling asleep it is worthwhile to take stock of how my day went, what I did, did I hurt anyone? Did my actions and thoughts contribute to harmony or to the contrary? I should keep a daily accounting of my life.

When, God forbid, we are hit by a serious illness or loss, thoughts and soul searching about what is happening in life come to the surface and we ask, why me? Today, this blow of the coronavirus has fallen on all of us — regardless of status, origin, or the balance in the bank — and has activated our collective soul searching.

Redeeming the Planet

Nature seems to be telling us now that the best thing for us is to stay at home without approaching anyone until we understand how to interact properly. We are being forced to look at the life we have built for ourselves, the kind of world we have created; the ways we relate to each other, our mutual lack of consideration; how we have destroyed the planet, in complete opposition to the integral system of nature where every part responds to the wellbeing of the whole, and because of such wrecking, how the earth is responding in self-defense.

Nature is demanding that humanity achieves complete integration, to feel and perceive the collective. Why? Because in such a state we become similar in form to nature itself, and this is exactly the compatibility we need in order to perfectly harmonize with the system. In fact, this is the next level in the evolution of humankind. Whether we are aware of it or not, nature will not wait for us and will force us to be considerate of one another. Everyone would have been glad to forgo this coronavirus era, but this option is not on the table.

Therefore, the key question in our personal soul searching should be: Do I understand that I must develop love for all within me in order to fix the global system’s breakage? Without each of us developing this sense of personal responsibility and love inside, it is impossible to start to care properly for each and every one and attain the collective cohesion we need.

Obviously, each of us personally cannot love eight billion people, the entire world’s population, or even the inhabitants of our own country. Sometimes, we can hardly get along with our own family members. That is clear, natural and understandable, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t request it. Each of us needs to request to be given the power of love. From whom? From nature, the supreme power that unites all of reality into one. And why are things organized in such a way? In order for us to address this supreme power consciously, learn to know it, to exert our free will and demand to be connected as one bundle, with mutual love. Then we will attain complete harmony with nature.
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Question: The actor and musician Arkady Dukhin spoke on IAC television and said: “We actors were remote, at a huge distance. Now, if we get closer than two meters, something new will happen, new music, new art will appear, we will feel some kind of breakthrough in life.”

Why does the upper force of nature get turned on and give a new impulse that people have begun to talk about now, about feeling the difference depending on distance?

Answer: The corona virus reveals to us how we are treating each other. “You do not love each other? Do not come close, otherwise you will feel bad.”

This is a manifestation of our egoism in a sharper form. The word “virus” comes from the word “avera,” that is, a violation of the good connection between people. This is what a virus is.

I hope that people will begin to understand how to restore our connection, and then the virus will turn into something good. There is nothing evil in the world, it all depends on the way we apply it. It is similar to, let us say, atomic or any other energy that has its pros and cons, which, in principle, are equivalent in their possibilities of being applied.

When we correct ourselves to the extent that this virus turns into a positive property, we will see that with its help we can become so close to each other and that a feeling of the upper world will arise between us, meaning the next state in which we can already exist outside the body. In principle, this is the hint the virus gives us.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 3/22/20

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From My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 4/25/20

The world is an integral whole, and humanity will come to realize it whether or not we are willing to acknowledge it. The coronavirus is helping us see that we are all in one boat. Yesterday, we were in a god-eat-dog mode; today we are all dependent on our neighbors’ good will because if they don’t keep their distance, I might catch the bug. The coronavirus is our common enemy, and we have to be considerate in order to defeat it.

But the virus isn’t our real enemy; it’s a byproduct of an enemy we have inside, who is so sophisticated that we don’t even know he is our enemy. Our own ego struggles each day to prove to us that we are better and more entitled than others. But it does the same to everyone else, setting us off against each other in an endless war that no one wins, and everyone loses: we, humanity, and the world. Only if we act in unison we will be able to beat it, through our common resolve and determination to change ourselves. When the virus made us change our behavior and shelter in place, it proved that when circumstances require, we can unite. COVID-19 demonstrated that we can act as one and change even our own nature, if we only choose to do it. The world is an integral whole, and humanity will realize it, but it is our choice to take the hint that nature has given us, or wait for a more painful indication.

[Photo by Louis Maniquet on Unsplash]

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From My Facebook Page Michael Laitman 4/24/20

Although most countries are beginning to ease up on their #StayHome and Shelter-In-Place orders, I do not think this pandemic will go away just like that. To overcome the virus, we need the rational and conscious participation of people, countries, nations, and the world. Nevertheless, I am sure that we are now on the right track. Finally, humanity is starting to seriously sober up from our selfish attitude toward each other, the world, and nature. We have a good future ahead of us. It will no longer be possible to return to the life we used to have.

No way! After the coronavirus, people will be different. The blow will change them. They will no longer jump impulsively on planes and fly half way around the world to buy accessories. They will be interested in a more in-depth attitude toward nature, toward each other, and toward themselves. Soon, I believe, we will open our eyes and see the whole picture of nature. We have a fascinating journey ahead of us. Every day, nature fine-tunes us more and more for a new attitude toward ourselves, the world, life, death, toward everything. I am confident that humanity will grow up in many aspects from this supposed blow.

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Question: How should we cope with the growing anxiety from the expected consequences of the coronavirus of remaining without work or livelihood? How does this relate to spiritual connection?

Answer: I think you will have no issues since this is not only your problem, but the problem of many millions or even billions of people in the world. Therefore, it makes no sense to worry.

Various measures will be taken so that many people will not be harmed. There cannot be the suffering of billions of people as it happened during war, the plague, or global hunger. In general, this is not such a big problem for mankind. How many casualties does the coronavirus have? A small amount. So, we can handle it.

However, we need to consider such states as pointing to our separation from each other. If we get closer to each other, then we will turn this virus into good. It will do its good deed. Instead of destroying the connections between us, it will make them more productive, tender, correct, and humane.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 3/22/20

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Question: Mankind has been in emergency situations before. What is so unique about the current situation?

Answer: It is unique because humanity has reached a state where we are completely dependent on each other around the globe. The virus has developed all over the world and is talked about in every country.

Each person feels that this can certainly affect him or her because we all live in a single integrated system and are completely dependent on its well-being. Therefore, no matter whether you live in the jungle or in the sands, in New York or in Moscow, you will still feel it.

The virus will make its way to all corners of the world. You can say, “How can it get to me? I live on a desert island. There is nobody here besides me.”

The fact is that these viruses, these malicious waves, appear from nothing, literally from nothing. They appear from the particles, atoms, and molecules of normal organisms that exist in nature in the wrong system of bonds. Nature generates them in the form of viruses.

These are biological organisms that must be in balance and behave correctly in relation to each other. But since around the globe we are creating a terrible relationship between good and evil, receiving and bestowing, it turns out that nature itself invents them in such a terrible form. These viruses will appear where they simply can’t be.

And vice versa, if we begin to improve nature, then suddenly, as if from nothing, such species of plants and animals will appear that haven’t been on Earth for 100 to 200 years.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 3/15/20

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Many countries started talking about gradually lifting the quarantine and adults returning to work and children to school. Will this result in a new wave of infection?

Everything will be all right if we take precautions not to infect each other and keep our distance. Of course, we must return to work to provide each other with the necessary services and products; otherwise, we will not be able to live.

If we think about how to return people to the necessary jobs, without which there would be no food or essential services, and we take care only about ensuring a normal existence for everyone, the epidemic will not increase.

However, if this is an attempt to return to the old race for profit in order to top up someone’s bank accounts, the situation will deteriorate dramatically. After all, this will go against the general force of nature, and then there will be a sharp outbreak and the virus will spread even more.

If we return to our jobs and schools, it should be done gradually and in conjunction with educating people, that is, with explaining the state we are in, what form we should come to, and why we should support and protect each other.

It is important that a person is not only concerned about not getting infected himself, but is also afraid of infecting others. It is this mutual concern that will protect us from the virus.

The coronavirus is a special program that is loaded into a general computer called “humanity” and begins working in it. This program demands us to have greater mutual connection, and if we achieve it, we will get over the virus.

However, if we do not begin to connect, no matter how much we increase the number of tests and devices for artificial lung ventilation, nothing will help us. So far, we are only learning from blows.

The world is moving toward feeling more connected, more united. A common problem affects everyone, from North to South and from West to East, and brings people together. They no longer think about wars, conflicts between countries, corporations, and individuals; the main thing is to live peacefully. Everyone is locked up at home, and they agree to sit there because now the main problem for them is not to get infected with the virus.

In this sense, the coronavirus has greatly helped humanity. All we need to do now is restore production and distribution in such a way that it will provide humanity with the necessary products, but without the excessive consumption that has almost completely ruined the Earth.

We cannot go back to our old life because we have become a harmful virus on the surface of the earth, a virus that kills nature. We destroy all the ecological environment, and therefore, we receive a corresponding response from nature.

We need to think carefully about how to return to our activities on earth so that it will provide everyone with a more or less normal life but not at the expense of draining all the resources from the Earth.

If we do not do this now, then there will be other, even more terrible and harmful viruses, through which nature will teach us and force us to change. Nature is the Creator and has a lot of tools in store to make us bend.

Nature is the upper force, the Creator, HaVaYaH. No matter what you call it, the main thing is that there is one force that controls all the inanimate, vegetative, and animate world, and people. Practically, everyone accepts this as an obvious fact.
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From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/18/20, Writings of Baal HaSulam, “The Love of God and the Love of Man”

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Opinion: If we wait until the virus goes away and return to our previous lives, can we cause an additional, stronger blow with this action? Many people believe the epidemic is about to pass.

Answer: I do not think this pandemic will go away just like that. It is possible that it will not correct humanity at once. We need the individual, rational, and conscious participation of people, countries, nations, and the world.

But I am sure that we are now on the right track. Finally the century called the last generation has begun  when humanity is starting to seriously sober up from the wrong, selfish, childish relationships toward each other, the world, and nature. We have a good future ahead of us. It will no longer be possible to return to the life we used to have. No way!

Question: Why do you think so?

Answer: Because people will already be different. Nature will change them. These blows will make them slightly different. They will no longer impulsively jump on a plane and fly around the world to buy some foolish things in exotic countries or something like that. They will be interested in a more in-depth attitude toward nature and toward themselves.

Question: You say that this virus saved nature from our consumer attitude to it. And indeed, there are clear facts confirming that nature is beginning to purify itself. But all these natural resources were used by a small group of people for their own prosperity, and ordinary people had nothing to do with it. Nevertheless, these blows are delivered to everyone. So why do we have to pay for the deeds of others?

Answer: We are all in one system. And nature punishes us according to our involvement. So you cannot say that the one who lost billions is less affected than the one who lost his monthly salary. The one who lost billions, of course, does not starve, but his suffering is incomparable with the one who lost only a monthly salary.

Someday, when we open our eyes and see the whole picture of nature, we will understand how fair this is and that it leads us only to a proper awareness of our states and correct behavior. In short, we have a very interesting journey ahead of us. And every day, nature fine-tunes us more and more for a new attitude toward ourselves, toward the world, life, death, toward everything. I hope that humanity will grow up in many aspects from this supposed blow. We will see that this is not a blow but a cure. In fact, what we consider a disease, a virus, is actually a cure.
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From KabTV’s “Coronavirus changes reality,” 3/19/20

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