Entries in the 'Crisis' Category

We Have to Get Out of the Sandbox

272For thousands of years nature has always been giving, but we have evolved as egoistic beings, constantly taking. And this is normal, as according to the program of nature, we were supposed to be like that and to develop egotistically.

It is like a growing child that you feed and give everything to, he develops egotistically, and you are pleased with that. And then he grows up, and suddenly you tell him: “That is it! Now go to work, pay for yourself, do everything for yourself, and take responsibility for yourself. And look, if you do something wrong, you will be punished.”

That is where we are today: we developed and developed like little children, and then we reached adulthood, the world has shrunk, become global, and integral, and it forces us to be adults. Being adults means being in the right connection with each other.

Just as an adult at the age of 20 to 25 begins to work, build himself, his home, and connect with the world as a doer, now humanity has similarly reached the age when it has become an adult.

We are being shown our place of work now. We must connect with each other and build a new society that is not like it was before.

Previously, we egoistically grew for thousands of years, and now we must connect with each other according to the law of mutual guarantee, mutual responsibility, and mutual concessions. You do not want to? You will receive blows from nature because you do not conform to it. This is where we are now; we are becoming adults.

I understand that we do not want this. Who does? When I am a child, there are no claims against me. When I misbehaved, broke something, or played around, I was treated like a child. But when I become an adult, it obligates me. But we do not realize this yet.

We are resistant to it and opposed to it; we want to play with some toys. I look at these supposedly strong, great, wise people of the world, and they are like children in a sandbox who do not want to crawl out of it even though they have already outgrown their age.

When you tell them this, they get offended and think you are an unrealistic person: “Look at this world! You can play in it as much as you want: stock market, money, cars, wine, movies! And what are you suggesting here? That is not what we want at all! Be responsible for something—why do we need that? We have enough small toys around us and need nothing more.”

This is a big problem. But still, we will have to get out of the sandbox.
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From KabTV’s “I got a call. Reasons for Cancer and AIDS” 10/29/11

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I’m Asking For Everyone’s Sake, Including Ourselves

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What should we actually do to counter nature’s blows, such as the fire in the north of Israel that’s happening now?

Answer: The only thing we need is the common intention, the unity of our thoughts. We need our friends all over the world to think about how our unity with one another will help eliminate all the disasters in the world, including the horrible fire that has broken out in Israel.

You have to include your personal plea into the common plea for the whole world and unite with all of the world’s suffering. That is the only way it works: If you think about everyone, then at the end you can also add “us” – but not yourself! This is the only thing that can help.

It is impossible to fight catastrophes or a crisis using the old methods if you find yourself facing the Upper Light that acts against you. We are yet to see how the financial crisis will come back, even though people have tried to extinguish it using all the possible means. In fact, it will explode much more powerfully than before. And the same thing will happen with everything else. We cannot cope with these problems using the usual methods. We can only suppress them temporarily, but later they will break out even stronger.

Correction is possible only through bringing hearts closer, only through unity. The world has to become global. The force operating on us from Above surrounds us, shutting us in from all sides and becoming revealed as one global force. Therefore, we feel how humanity is becoming as one organism where everyone is connected with each other.

We are yet to see that these very catastrophes will force humanity to unite. Now fire-fighters from all over the world will come to Israel to help fight the fire, and tomorrow something else will happen in another place and the whole world will come rushing there, and later it will be a new place. In this way, through disasters, nature will force us to unite and understand that we need each others’ help.

Nature will become so hostile that we won’t have time to think about how to fight with each other. If we don’t agree to it the good way, the Creator will force us to it. The situation will become so serious that not one nation will be able to single-handedly fight the natural catastrophes. Everyone will have to help each other. And suddenly, everyone will understand that they have to be together; otherwise we simply won’t survive,

Everyone will unite in the face of a deadly threat. But why should we wait for it if we can advance by the good path?
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From the lesson on Baal HaSulam’s article “Freedom of Will” on 12/3/10

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In Nature’s Clutches

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Fires are breaking out in Moscow; people are walking around with breathing masks and leaving the city. There are floods in India and landslides in China due to heavy rains. Is it possible to fix the situation?

Answer: Nature is closing in on us from all sides in order to show us a simple fact: We are inside of it, we are very small, and exist inside a tiny area where we all depend on one another and on the all-enveloping, wise nature (the Creator) that surrounds us.

We are obligated to find the only reason for all our troubles and to understand the only thing we have to do in order to prevent global catastrophes. It is already clear that the oil spill in America, the volcano eruption in Iceland, the fires in Russia, and the tsunamis and floods in Asia and Europe cannot be called “local troubles.” They are global influences of nature upon all of us. Moreover, they will continue without a doubt; no one will be able to remain untouched and feel safe.

When the financial crisis broke out in America, people in Russia were happy, thinking that this only affected America and it wouldn’t happen to them. But their short-sightedness was revealed to them a few weeks later in their own bank accounts! Someone might think, “What do I care if a volcano erupts in India? All the volcanoes can erupt for all I care!” However, this influenced everyone, as do the fires and floods. And winter is still ahead of us….

At the end of it all, we will have to understand that our planet is round and we must unite together and think about survival all together. The Creator or Nature (which is the same thing) has a mind, feelings, a direction, and a goal. It will force us to become “good children.” Let us hope that we will understand this quickly and will get smarter.

From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/8/10, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot

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Studying Yourself From The Side

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What is freedom and freedom from what? How do we achieve it if both the corporeal and the spiritual worlds are defined by rigid laws?

Answer: The only freedom that exists is freedom from our egoism. I want the Upper Light to descend, take me over, and replace my egoism. I perceive the power of egoism or altruism over me as necessary: It is either one or the other.

There are only two types of nature: the nature of the lower one (reception) and the nature of the Upper One (bestowal). Both are preset, and function in accordance with invariable laws. The only free action we are able to take is to rise from one nature (egoistic) to the other (altruistic). In other words, we can break free from the power of the laws of egoism (reception) and transcend to the “jurisdiction” of bestowal.

Studying Yourself From Aside We will not be able to evaluate even our own initial nature until we acquire the second, altruistic nature. We are currently locked within a single dimension, and for as long as we remain in it, we cannot comprehend it.

Look how often we err! For thousands of years, we developed within our egoistic nature, and we still do not know it. This is because we are locked inside it, but in order to understand it, we need to have something opposite to compare it with.

If we possessed an opposite nature (that of bestowal), we would be able to compare it with our egoism and thereby comprehend what reception and bestowal mean. However, in our world, there is nothing but receiving. Whatever we do, we do it solely for our own sake and benefit. This is why we cannot understand our own actions and how this world operates.

You see that humankind continues making mistakes, and doesn’t know what further direction to take. And now that we have reached the peak of egoism, our complete inability to understand this world is obvious. This fact pushes us to the realization that none of us has a choice but to transcend our egoistic nature.

Moreover, in order to simply live well within the boundaries of our egoism, we need to step out of it and study it from above. It is impossible to learn about an object while remaining within its bounds. We have to be above it in order to be able to study it. Only if we rise above ourselves can we learn who we are and what the right way to live is, at least in this world. This is what today’s global crisis is pushing us toward.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/25/10, Shamati #99

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The Time For Spiritual Redemption

Dr. Michael LaitmanEverything that the Kabbalists of the past did, each acting according to his own conditions and time, was the preparation to our present state. Thanks to it, we have all the primary sources necessary today, which enable us to advance: the writings of the ARI, The Zohar with the Sulam Commentary, the writings of Baal HaSulam and RABASH.

There has never been a time like ours before. The Kabbalists of the past were not given the opportunity to work in similar circumstances to what we have today: a global crisis that resembles the crisis of ancient Babylon and reflects the breaking of the common soul in the Upper world.

About 80-90 years ago, Baal HaSulam wrote that we would live in the generation of the Messiah, at the era of spiritual redemption. As the nation of Israel has already acquired their land and established a state, it means that we now have an opportunity to build everything according to the spiritual law of love thy neighbor as thyself and unite together as one spiritual nation.

However, it is impossible to reach this state without the realization of evil, and for this we need either great suffering, or for the Light to reveal our evil. Today we have an opportunity to draw this Light, to see that we are opposite to bestowal and love, and to begin the correction by uniting with society and the nation. Let’s hope that it happens soon!

From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/15/10, Pri Hacham, Igrot (Letters), Letter 38

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Clearing The Skies After The Volcano: Is Complete Union In The Forecast?

Laitman_715In the News (From CBSNews.com): The European Union and the continent’s air traffic agency want to move fast to abolish Europe’s fragmented national airspaces which they say exacerbated the unprecedented air travel disruptions that grounded over 100,000 flights because of volcanic ash last week.

Industry representatives, regulators, and analysts all predict that the most important result of the post-mortem meetings starting this week will be a move toward a unified airspace at the expense of nations still seeking to jealously guard the sky as a symbol of national sovereignty.

My Comment: The crisis has made the Europeans realize that they have to embark on greater integration and forgo their sovereignty. Otherwise, the incomplete integration results in negative counter-connection.

Europeans have to complete the unification process through to its end and form a unified government. If not, centrifugal forces will rip the “EB” (European Bazaar) apart, right up to a vicious war.

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World Zohar Convention: Bringing The Light To America

World Zohar ConventionA question I received: We have the World Zohar Convention that’s going to be meeting the second weekend of May. What makes this convention so different from the past conventions considering both the time we are in now and what we are being taught this time?

My Answer: We have already had many conventions.  This time it is very unique because first of all we’ve grown a lot; many people are beginning to hear about us. We’ve reached a point where people realize that they’re not really capable of exiting this global crisis. We reached a global crisis in every human engagement. Now we see that everything is broken: Family, education, the relationships between people, the way we relate to nature, to the ecology and our economy, the industry and what it does, even a person himself. This crisis is really global.

This state is actually a good state which we had to reach because only from this point of crisis can we find the point from which we can ascend to a really good life. Not just a good life here in this world but eternal life, a life of feeling and sensing the Upper World where we even transcend the point of life and death in our current perception and feeling of life. We actually rise above this feeling of life within the body.

It is not just getting out of the crises, it is acquiring a life that is essentially, fundamentally different then what we experience now. All of this is done by a very unique Upper Force that is hidden in The Zohar.

Everyone has heard about The Zohar. People have heard that it is some sort of special, unique book, a hidden book, or a book that contains secrets. People have heard about The Book, but in general, people are still just talking about it; they don’t really know what it is.

Today, we have the opportunity to actually use The Zohar; to use the power that it gives us; to raise ourselves above this crisis, to raise all the people from the situation they’re in whether it’s depression, or problems with children, problems with health, education, ecology, or the economy- everything that happens.

All of this can be corrected only by this Upper Force that is within The Zohar. This is why I am very happy that soon there will be a great  World Zohar Convention in America.

You know, “Zohar” literally translated means Light. And I hope that as a result of this meeting, of this conference, we can really bring the Light to all of America.

From an Interview with the Learning Center Director 4/5/10

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The Internet Is A Unique Means To Connect

Dr. Michael LaitmanLately, as the systemic global crisis becomes more apparent, there is a sense that it’s necessary to create a proper system of global functioning. Baal HaSulam writes that we have to transform our society according to new conditions, which are nature’s demands. The crisis is making it apparent that we have to become similar to nature or the general interconnection.

I see that it is possible to gradually implement relationships of love and bestowal which are similar to nature. This can be done in the virtual realm; there all the people in the world can feel connected with one another and experience their existence together. Out of all the existing means of communication, only the Internet can serve as this place of connection; it can’t be done through television, newspapers, or books.

Only the World Wide Web, the Internet, can satisfy the demands of dissemination and unification in order to create a global system of upbringing for children and adults alike. Only it can provide the global connection in order to form a common force of unity. Then we will all feel each other through the channels of connection, and reach a spiritual connection.

From
A Talk about a New Internet 4/4/10

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The Global Crisis Is Not Fiction

terrorism A question I received: Don’t you think that the crisis was invented by a small group of people who profited from it, while the world keeps turning around as before?

My Answer: It’s exactly the opposite. The financial crisis signifies the beginning of the global crisis in all spheres of human activity: family, education, science, arts, ecology, finances, and so on. This is why it requires a global solution: changing our attitude toward the reason and purpose of our existence from living in order to consume to consuming in order to live, and attaining the highest form of existence.

Our world manifests itself as a single whole. In such a system, all the parts are equal and dependent, and solutions have to be unified, joint, and directed toward the purpose of our world’s creation. The global nature of the world that is being revealed now compels us to become a unified society.

Manifestation of the crisis and suffering is nothing but the manifestation of incongruence between our society and unified Nature.

A question I received: What is the solution to the crisis?

My Answer: We do not know how to resolve global problems. Our mind is created to be ‘discrete,” to solve something within specific limits, concretely. Now that our society became a global village, we witness manifestations of complete interdependence and connectedness in the society, and the world becomes unpredictable to us.

We don’t know how to make calculations in this system with its unlimited number of variables, with the unlimited number of free and freely connected elements that this interconnected, global system presents. As a result, we treat life as fate, without planning or trying to examine it. The inability to perceive is accepted as a fact.

If a person comes down from the pedestal where he put himself above nature, and admits that he is under Nature’s rule, our power over nature will be revealed as a fatal illusion. Will we stop the destruction of the planet and will we manage to restore it?

The current crisis represents the search for the essence of humanity’s existence. The solution lies in humanity’s defining the purpose of its existence.

The Most Essential Necessity Of Life

essential Faith above reason is the new system of relationships that we have to establish in the world, because without it we could never build the connection between us necessary for our survival. The new state of humanity that is being revealed today is not just a discovery that the world is global and integral, but also a realization that we have to get to know the Upper Force (the Creator). He has to be the governing force among us that will connect us all with each other and with all the levels of reality (still, vegetative, animate, and human).

When this force fills the space between us, we will be able to save ourselves. Otherwise, we will never be able to do it. Even in the face of death, we won’t be able to connect with each other in the way that Nature demands from us. Through the crisis, the Creator shows us that He is not among us; this is also called “the breaking of the common soul.”

We have to discover that the only thing we need is the Creator, the Force that will be revealed to fill the vacuum between us and connect all parts of the universe in the right way. This Upper Force is the most essential necessity of absolutely everyone’s life. Everyone will realize that without it, we simply won’t be able to survive.

In the same manner we are now becoming aware that we have to connect with each other and feel others as ourselves. Otherwise we destroy nature and harm ourselves by harming others, because we are all connected.

This is the realization that Kabbalah wants to reveal and elucidate to all so that people can reach it easier and quicker.