Question: We have been discussing the fact that excessive consumption has brought humanity to a troubled state. However, some economists surmise that if we start consuming less, this will also have a negative effect….

Answer: Every phase of development has its own spiritual HaVaYaH sequence. It includes phases of bestowal and reception, idleness and a combination of different factors of interconnection. Therefore, we cannot draw a direct interconnection between the level of consumption and the solution to the problem.

Previously we might have been able to improve the situation by distributing goods among everyone because the egoistic desire was developed to a certain level where the gap between the layers of the population could really have been ameliorated in this way. However, today we have risen a level higher, and the methods that were suitable at the previous phase are no longer working. The accent is shifting from the receiving desire to the bestowing one, and you cannot attain real improvement through mere “hand-outs.” You have to understand that by giving out products, you are trying to block the path of the crisis and are thereby depriving yourself of the opportunity to get down to its causes, the bestowing force, the Creator. But in the meantime, our troubles are already acquiring a goal-oriented nature.

Analogously, at the second phase of the expansion of Direct Light, it is impossible to act the same way as at the first phase. That’s because the second phase derived from the first precisely because it was time to realize the primary cause of the Light. Even though it is entirely filled by the Light, this is no longer sufficient.

Likewise, today simple distribution does not solve the problems. The goal of creation is not to satiate our egoistic desires or for us to “stuff our bellies.” That is why we are discovering the second phase of development: by giving out goods to the poor, we will only accelerate the collapse.

So what should we do? After all, this is contrary to all logic. Previously egoism ruled the party: The more we received, the better we felt. But now consumption and restraint, selfishness and concessions in favor of the weak are equally destructive for the economy. Stated differently, we have no more effective methods left to work with the egoistic desire. It has depleted itself both in reception and bestowal.

This is the beginning of the two-sided realization of egoism’s evil—the total recognition of the fact that it cannot be used.

So how can man survive? Several million people in the world will manage to feed themselves with the fruits of the earth that they farm. And what will the others do? We will not be able to maintain the previous connections, and moreover, we will not be able to exchange goods and production the way we once did. The word is starting to reduce its circulation, to “freeze up.”

Under these conditions, the only thing that can really help humanity is a clear attitude to what is happening, the understanding of the need to change the nature of our connections. This is the only thing that will give us good results.

Therefore, first and foremost people need to study. Leave everything else. Provide everyone with the base minimum just above the poverty line, and use the rest of the efforts to improve our interpersonal relationships.

“Fair distribution” and “social justice” are pretty words, for the sake of which tens of millions of people were killed or killed others. Slogans such as these will only help on the condition that we change people’s consciousness. And for that we need upbringing. A person just needs the vital necessities and the willingness to listen, and that’s all.

However, he won’t be learning about “how to consume properly,” but about how to relate properly to others. Everything else will become a natural consequence. When people’s desire changes, they will understand how to manage life of their own accord. By virtue of upbringing, all the practical solutions will become obvious.

First of all, a person has to be educated and changed at least slightly. This is the only way we will avoid Nazi regimes of different kinds, by building an environment that changes people for the better.
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From the 5th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/8/11, “The Nation”

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It is extraordinarily difficult for us to change the ideas we have formed over the course of our entire lives until now. In fact, it’s simply impossible. One way or another, we remain with our old perception, even though it seems as if we are already changing. In fact, nothing is moving. However, now we have to change our old perspective to a new one, and this change has to happen in the whole world. So where can we get this new perception, an integral view?

Suppose that tomorrow the whole world wanted to turn into an integrally connected network where every person devotes his full energy to work for the sake of society (even though today no one wants this and no one feels this way, but let’s be dreamers for a moment). How will we find out how to build this system, how we should be connected and interact with one another?

How can we build such a government and society, production and trade, since all of this must exist as long as we live in the material bodies? Therefore, we are obligated to organize the entire system of relationships that ensures our life on earth in order to satisfy the needs of our animate bodies.

To do this we need many systems, but how can be build them by the laws of bestowal where every person is free and freely acts to maximally bestow to others, where every person knows what he should be doing in this ideally organized machine, in which all the cogwheels are spinning in harmony? This seems like a utopia, so how is it possible to actually make this transition?

It’s possible to write a novel about this, but how can we rationally envision an economic system that is necessary in such a society, the government and judicial structure, this entire mechanism, from the large elements to the tiniest bolts, including the supply of goods, care for the elderly, families, children, construction, and culture? The organization of all of this is very complex because everything has to operate in “perpetual motion” without the fuel that we are used to!

Everything has to work upon a different source of energy—love for the neighbor. But where will it come from? If I simply receive it from above, the way I now feel love for my own children, then I will be working automatically again, like a machine. So what’s the difference? Instead of egoistic love, I will be driven by love for the neighbor, so what will change?

Therefore, we have to build one thing upon the other so it would work upon resistance, ascent, the sensation of ourselves between two worlds or two desires where every person constantly rises above his egoism, which pulls him back toward the earth.
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From the 5th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/6/11, “The Nation”

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Opinion (Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank): “The head of the World Bank warned Sunday that many key market players have lost confidence in recent weeks, pushing the fragile global economy into a ‘new danger zone.’

“Robert Zoellick said events the past few weeks in Europe and the United States already have had an adverse impact, and could signal even bigger problems ahead.

“‘There was a convergence of some events in Europe and the United States that has led many market participants to lose confidence in the economic leadership of some of the key countries,’ Zoellick said.

“‘I think that those events combined with some of the other fragilities in the nature of the recovery has pushed us into a new danger zone,’ Zoellick said. ‘And I don’t say those words lightly.'”

My Comment: This problem can be solved neither by financiers nor by politicians, but only by a gradual transition to an integral society. In such a society, any changes will work if all social problems are solved together, like in one family.
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In the News (From BBC News): “Some of France’s wealthiest people have called on the government to tackle its deficit by raising taxes – on the rich.

“Sixteen executives, including Europe’s richest woman, the L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, offered in an open letter to pay a ‘special contribution’ in a spirit of ‘solidarity.’

“Later the government is due to announce tighter fiscal measures as it seeks to reassure markets and curb the deficit. They are expected to include a special tax on the super-rich.

“Before the announcement, expected on Wednesday evening, a letter appeared on the website of the French magazine Le Nouvel Observateur.

“It was signed by some of France’s most high-profile chief executives, including Christophe de Margerie of oil firm Total, Frederic Oudea of bank Societe Generale, and Air France’s Jean-Cyril Spinetta.

“They said: ‘We, the presidents and leaders of industry, businessmen and women, bankers and wealthy citizens would like the richest people to have to pay a “special contribution”.’

“They said they had benefited from the French system and that: ‘When the public finances deficit and the prospects of a worsening state debt threaten the future of France and Europe and when the government is asking everybody for solidarity, it seems necessary for us to contribute.’

“They warned, however, that the contribution should not be so severe that it would provoke an exodus of the rich or increased tax avoidance.

“The move follows a call by US billionaire investor Warren Buffett for higher taxes on the American ultra-rich.”

My Comment: This is a commendable step. However, it will not change the general course of the crisis because its cause is in the program from Above, the program of Nature (the Creator), which, according to the plan of creation (Nature), should bring the whole of creation, all its parts, to general balance.

Of all creation, it is a human being who stands out due to his egoism and disregard towards other parts of nature. His egoism has fully ripened, and that is why time has arrived to force him to come to equilibrium within himself, in society, and with the environment.

No action weakening man’s conflict with the environment will help other than temporarily. And even this step of altruistic egoism is necessary in order to see its negative result and wish to hear and to be able to understand (from us) the correct solution.
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Research: Foundation for Future Studies (Stiftung fur Zukunftsfragen) has published findings on personal happiness in Europe. “The most positive outlook on life came from the people of Denmark, with almost all of those interviewed (96%) saying they were happy. In contrast, the Germans (61%) came in at a lowly third to last place, justifying their reputation as pessimists.”

68% – Europe (average),
96% – Denmark,
80% – Greece,
79% – Italy,
77% – France,
72% – The Netherlands and UK,
63% – Austria,
61% – Turkey, Germany,
37% – Russia.

My Comment: How can the Greeks, in debt and other problems, be happier than the Turks and Germans? As we see, everything is relative, and happiness is not in abundance, although in general, women, country folk, couples, well-off people are happier than men, urban dwellers, singles, and low-income people. If we give a person “everything necessary for existence” and the joy of reciprocity, warmth, and justice, he will be happy!
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Question: I think power should come not from the government but from the people who lead the government to correct decisions.

Answer: It is more natural for the wisdom of Kabbalah and for the new world. In fact, we are transitioning from egoistic relationships to the “round,” global system. The world has become interconnected in all its parts and is taking an altruistic form thereby. This leads to the abolishment of political power, and that is why they no longer know how to run the country or lead the people. This is because their government is a line that extends from the top down, vertical power, backed by military force and money.

But the old order is disappearing, and people are starting to suddenly going out into the streets with various demands. They are pushed by nature: People’s desires are unified in “circles,” and today they are getting stronger, more tangible, and more pronounced. We will see these signs all over the world.

This is the natural course of things, and nothing can be done about it. The people will demand a new order without even knowing what it is. Riots will ignite. Governments ruling by force and by money will fall, while the people will rise to meet the changes. We are headed for this time.

There is only one solution: mutual guarantee. People still have to “take power.” But how will they do it? How will they avoid the mistakes of the previous government and find a new way? We need to unite to meet the “round,” global, and integral world. The method of unification is in the hands of the Kabbalists, and we must hurry to avoid the problems and sufferings that are possible in this way.

For example, if Europe already knew and understood how to unite, and took an appropriate action, it would retain itself. But instead, the European Union is moving toward collapse.
[52000]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/19/2011, “One Law”
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If we want to ensure that all the programs have long-term prospects, the criterion by which we have to check them is whether they view our society as a family. We should solve all problems only in this way. Thereby, we will come to the solution together. Otherwise, decisions will be made under the influence of force, various manipulations, and in the long run, they will turn out to be ineffective: Each will be somewhat flawed.

This sounds as something remote from politics and all those means which the government usually uses: force and money, but there is no escape because people have to perceive solutions precisely in this manner.

Social justice are nice words. But what is it in reality? That is why we should always observe this global, integral approach, without which no nation, no society, can implement any changes today.

Everyone should understand that there is no other approach to solving problems. We have entered a total and complete interconnection in our relationships, which requires the participation of everyone in discussions and decision-making. And all this has to happen in an atmosphere of mutual concession and assistance because the national “pie” which we share is not limitless. That is why we have to discuss this altogether, and everyone should understand that he will not receive a 100 percent of the desired and ought to concede.

And if the spirit of “mutual connection” will reign between us and there will be total agreement between all the citizens, they will realize that we can advance only in this way. This will make an atmosphere between people healthy, and decisions will be taken in the spirit of participation and love. As a result, this will change the overall atmosphere, and this form of decision-making will improve the relationships between all the conflicting parts of society.

Of course, this approach contains more than the establishment of good relationships. If everyone will sit down at the “round table,” and each, demanding maximum for himself, begins to understand the demands of others and is ready to sacrifice some of his, even justified requests, this way we will arrive at the general consensus among people, and they will start connecting.

Thereby all the parties and social strata will enter the integral network, having connected all the nation together. In this way, we will reveal the general integral force that will raise us to the next level of consciousness and existence.
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In the News: “The UK Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged a review of all government policies following last week’s riots in England to ensure they are bold enough to fix what he’s called a ‘broken society’…. He said that mending society was back at the top of his agenda and that his approach would be ‘no holds barred.’

“He said he would review all policies, speed up plans to improve parenting and education and turn around the lives of 120,000 ‘troubled’ families. To tackle a ‘moral collapse’ he pledged a war on gangs…. Speaking in his constituency he said he is determined to take on and defeat the long-standing social problems that he believes led to the violence. David Cameron believes that the results of reviews will help his government ‘mend broken society.’”

Comment: The broken society can only be “mended” by someone who understands the disease and how to cure it. It is impossible to achieve this by egoistic and forceful methods, or even by means of any infusions of cash. What is required is a wide public discussion of a rehabilitation and education plan for all members of society in the spirit of “mutual guarantee” with the participation of the media. (For details, see my “Lecture in Arosa.”)
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In the News, Sweden: “Swedish police say unrest erupted overnight in Goteborg, the country’s second largest city, as several officers were attacked by youths hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails.”

Spain: “Pope Benedict XVI is in the Spanish capital, Madrid, to celebrate World Youth Day (WYD), a Catholic festival bringing together young pilgrims from around the world…. More than 100 groups opposed to the Pope’s visit protested…. Protesters walked into the old city centre, shouting: ‘Nothing for the Pope from my taxes….’ Spain is going through its worst economic crisis in decades, with its 21% unemployment rate [and the youth unemployment rate at 43%], the highest in the EU.”

United Kingdom: “U.K. judges have been handing down tough sentences in the wake of last’s week protests—including two four-year terms for Facebook posts. … Figures published today by the Justice Ministry show 1,277 suspects had appeared in the dock by noon Tuesday in connection with the riots. Overwhelmingly the suspects were male, and 21 percent were under 18.”

“Le Monde,” France: “Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Italy, Greece, Spain, Britain, Israel, and the list of countries with rebellious youth continues to grow. Instead of sports events and music festivals, the unifying element now is unemployment, disorder, fears of today, and worries about tomorrow.

My Comment: Governments can no longer rule over people, who feel capable of governing themselves because the world has switched from the individual, egoistic connection (where governance was done by a vertical line) to the mutual interconnection (where governance is done by a roundtable).
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Editorial in the News (by Paolo Raimondi, economist and editorialist, Italian economic daily ItaliaOggi): “The main problem of the current crisis is the idea that finances are able to create real values. Finances play a role in the credit system, providing the transformation of scientific discoveries into new technologies. The next crisis will be a terrible combination of the financial and monetary crises.”

Comment: The next crisis will be that of a society which disagrees with the current socio-economic ties and opposes the new, altruistic connections, the evolutionary development that nature obliges us to undergo.
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