Get documents about "KABBALAH T DAY future
Document Sample
AUTHENTIC KABBALAH FROM ISRAEL
KABBALAH T DAY
ISSUE #21 A PUBLICATION OF THE BNEI BARUCH ASSOCIATION FOUNDED BY RAV MICHAEL LAITMAN, PHD www.kabtoday.com
In this issue: a misdemeanour, and the love of money
is detestable, that those walk most truly
looKinG BACK At the
in the paths of virtue and sane wisdom
who take least thought for the morrow.
future
We shall once more value ends above
means and prefer the good to the use-
ful.”
While the most renowned econo-
p.2 SInG In harMony mist of the 20th Century was promot-
ing his vision of economic and social
Economic Perspectives from possibilities for his grandchildren, the
most highly recognized Kabbalist of the
Two 20th Century Visionaries 20th Century, Yehuda Ashlag (widely
known as Baal HaSulam) was shar-
ing his forward looking world view,
which was remarkably similar to those
of Keynes. Although contemporaries,
Keynes (1883 – 1946) and Ashlag (1884
p.3 a bETTEr World
For oUr ChIldrEn – 1954) probably never met. Ashlag’s
theories were rooted in the Wisdom of
Kabbalah . If Ashlag were alive today
he would probably have told us that
the reason for the Crisis was man’s un-
willingness to recognize we operate in a
global interdependent system, mankind
will only renounce its economic system
when the system brings more suffer-
ing for society than pleasure. His views
p.4 ThE laST SUPErMan
were based on one of Kabbalah’s central
by Seth Bogner
tenants, if humanity does not work to-
JoHn Maynard keyneS Keynes envisioned a vastly different pic- gether to correct our egotistical nature
ture of global economic health for our and start acting in concert with nature
& yeHuda aSHlag generation. In 1930 in his rarely dis- we would bring blows upon mankind of
(Baal HaSulaM) cussed article, “Economic Possibilities biblical proportions. According to him
t
he current Global Economic Cri- for our Grandchildren” Keynes predict- we could avert the impending suffering
sis has affected virtually every ed an end or evolution of capitalism. In by educating people about our inherent
country. No corner of the world fact, he foresaw this as a highly desirable nature and providing society with an al-
has been left untouched by the most se- eventuality. ternative path.
p.5 I ThoUGhT I WaS
rETIrEd, bUT I aM vere recession in 80 years. Most nations
noW UnEMPloyEd have reacted to the Crisis by following
Keynes anticipated that by now all an evolved econoMic
the world’s economic problems would
the economic theories of John Maynard be solved. Goods and services would
reality
Keynes, reputably the foremost econo- be produced at a level to sustain all of The current Economic Crisis is
mist of the 20thCentury. Keynes be- humanity and the means to distribute sending us a message that the capital-
lieved that government intervention and them to all would end the struggle for ism, of our time, must adapt or become
spending is the best way out of a finan- subsistence. He predicted that im- extinct, both Keynes and Ashlag fore-
cial crisis. His theories were the basis of provements in productivity due to tech- saw this eventuality 80 years ago. They
the strategies employed by both the US nological advancements would increase predicted that the hubris that has been
and UK in response to the Great Depres- and together with the accumulation celebrated in our generation will give
sion. Many economists, central bankers of capital, would solve the world’s eco- birth to a new economic reality where
p.6 CloUdS In My CoFFEE and pundits frequently cite Keynesian capitalism will evolve into a new sys-
nomic problems. Keynes observed, “We
economics when discussing the various tem. In Keynes’ words, “The critical
shall be able to rid ourselves of many
economic stimulus programs enacted difference will be realized when this
of the pseudo-moral principles which
globally to attempt to combat the Crisis. condition [freedom from concern about
have hag-ridden us for two-hundred
years, by which we have exalted some of basic survival needs] has become so
viSion of gloBal general that the nature of one’s duty to
the most distasteful of human qualities
econoMic HealtH into the position of the highest virtues. one’s neighbour is changed. For it will
Would Keynes, if he were alive, be- … therefore, to return to some of the remain reasonable to be economically
lieve that we would have found our- most sure and certain principles of re- purposive for others after it has ceased
p.7 hoW Can WE SToP selves in a quandary similar to the Great ligion and traditional virtue –that ava- to be reasonable for oneself.”
MEdICInE FroM
Depression all over again? probably not. rice is vice, that the exaction of usury is continued on page 24
bEInG a bUSInESS?
,,
,,
When mankind reaches the degree of complete love for the fellow man, all the happiness intended for humanity will be
revealed in all its glory.
Baal HaSulam
formed by the desire to receive. How- This musical example of balance and
ever, since we learned that we could harmony can help us to achieve the
change our surroundings to suit our de- same qualities for humankind..
N HA R M
sires, we have been focusing entirely on
I the desire to receive. We have become MuSic iS tHe
divine way to tell
G
ignorant of the fact that we receive en-
ergy and life not from the desire to re- Beautiful, poetic
O
SIN
ceive, but from the desire to give.” (Bail
tHingS to tHe Heart
NY
Yourself Out)
– pablo casals
Humanity is discovering that our natu-
ral growing desire to receive remains Music is a universal language and this
unsatisfied, unfilled, unquenched. We far reaching quality makes it well suit-
are realizing that our exclusive focus on ed to be used as tool to help us emerge
our ever growing desire to receive mate- from the world crisis resultant from the
rial things and fulfillment from others singular focus on receiving. The desires
leaves us feeling more starkly vacant expressed in lack can be supplanted by
ony
I’d l
and empty. As this song asks, “Will music that espouses unity and balance
rm I always feel this way, so empty, so es- between giving and receiving. Musi-
ike
tranged?” (Ray LaMontagne) cians who experience unity and the in-
teraction and connection of these two
ha
tHe anSwer lieS in
To
forces can convey this balance in their
ea tHe deSire to give compositions both through lyrics and
ct
e
T
ch f melodies. “Music can help us express a
er
by Beth Shillington The answer lies in the second part of
Th P the equation of these forces of Nature, whole new side of reality … the impact
eW g In the desire to give. “The interplay be- of such music on the listener will be un-
orld To Sin tween the two desires eludes us because matched, precisely because it expresses
it is the very basis of our makeup, and our life force!” (Bail Yourself Out)
MuSic can naMe tHe culture, including social and economic therefore resides at a level deeper even
frameworks, climate, and availability of than our consciousness. But once we
unnaMaBle and technology. Not surprisingly with the understand how these desires interact
coMMunicate tHe widely recognized globalization of the with each other to create life, we can
4continued from page 1
unknowaBle world, which is fraught with financial, put this information into practice and
economic, social, familial, psychologi- discover how to benefit from doing so.”
– leonard Bernstein Keynes trusted in the inherent
cal, and ecological problems, today’s (Bail Yourself Out)
M
generosity and morality of mankind.
usic expresses a wide range of music most often expresses disillusion-
MuSic iS tHe Mediator Unfortunately, mankind has not
emotions, feelings and ideas ment, pain, suffering, and desires for lived up to his expectations.
with varying rhythms, melo- what seems missing: love, sex, money Between tHe
dies, instruments and vocalizations. Given the accuracy of their vision,
Historically, music has highlighted our
…. It isn’t just the lyrics that convey the Spiritual and tHe perhaps it is time for us to listen to
unhappy and dissatisfied messages, the SenSual life
celebrations with joyful passion; has in- their views on the next stage of so-
intense beat and discordant, cacopho-
timately professed our romantic love in – ludwig van Beethoven cioeconomic development. Their
nous instrumentation share the senti-
ballads or dejectedly bemoaned its lack; views are remarkably similar: both
ments. Humans are literally singing and Music also provides a key to under-
has stalwartly sent troops marching to agree that people must reach a state
shouting their desire to receive, and to standing the interaction of these forces
war and bugled them into battle; music where concern for other members
receive more and more and more. It is of Nature. It can help us see our lack
has added pomp to the circumstances of the society outweighs concern for
only natural that music resonates these of balance with Nature and a clue as
requiring such grandeur; and has la- self-promotion and they also agree
sincere growing and unfilled needs and to how to attain the balance. Music’s
mented the loss of loved ones in dirges. that this transition will not be easy.
desires of humanity. current almost exclusive expression
Music is capable of conveying deep and In fact, Keynes saw this as “the great-
of wanting to receive helps us see our
complex emotions that are understood we Have Been est change which has ever occurred
singular focus on one of the forces and
and felt by the listeners. in the material environment of life
focuSing entirely on shows us how distant we are from the
other force, the desire to give. We are for human beings in the aggregate.”
true MuSic MuSt repeat tHe deSire to receive For Ashlag, it represents nothing
out of balance. We are not in harmo-
tHe tHougHt and In fact, it is a law of Nature, a force that ny. “Classical music with strong inter- less than the transformation of hu-
inSpirationS of tHe acts upon us. The desire to receive is nal harmony helps because it contains man nature from egoism to altru-
people and tHe tiMe what runs the human world. But this harmony born out of unity between ism. In “The Last Generation”
is only half of the equation. The world opposites. It is precisely when these op- Ashlag observed that “our planet is
– george gershwin really runs on two desires: to receive posites unite that they create harmony rich enough to provide for all of us,
Throughout the ages and across cul- and to give. “They determine not only which corrects…” (Laitman.com) Clas- so why this tragic war for life which
tures, composers have created music our behavior, but the whole of reality sical music with its intricate, extensive has been clouding our lives for gen-
as an expression of inner feelings and – everything we think, see, feel, taste, and multi-layered internal harmony erations? Let us divide the work and
ideas. Their compositions necessarily or touch. … We receive our life ener- exhibits the fitting together and join- its produce equally among ourselves
are a reflection of all aspects of their gy from the desire to give, and we are ing of contrasted elements in balance. and end all the troubles.”
2 Kabbalah Today | Issue #21 | www.kabtoday.com
,, Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. ,,
nelson Mandela
A Better World for our Children
by Riggan Shilstone ing to shift. A recent series of ads bears
titles such as, “In an Absolut World,
Currency will be Replaced with Acts of
Kindness.” CNN’s series on economic
survival features stories about people
who find happiness through the renew-
al of family connections, sharing with
others, and a simpler lifestyle. We just
need to give things a push!
• the power of Society
The most powerful instrument for
change, however, is us. Throughout his-
tory, social change has been driven by
the people. The 14th century Renais-
sance is just one example of a cultural
With the world in more from life, and so
movement that led to exponential ad-
crisis, parents vances in all areas. And today, the desire
the relentless quest for change among the American people
everywhere for new pleasures new proBleMS call
was so strong that it swept an unlikely
fear for their began. By the time we reached the 20th for new SolutionS candidate into the highest office.
children’s future. yet, if we century, everything had accelerated, as We can’t buy our way out of the current This is the force we can harness to
rise to the challenge, we if someone pressed “fast forward.” We crisis with taxpayer dollars or consume make the changes in today’s society.
can set them on the path to went from horses to trains to jets; from our way out through increased shop- But how can we transform our ap-
a future far brighter than telegraphs to phones to the Internet. ping. We have to approach life from a proach to life from egoism to altruism
With each generation, the luxuries of new perspective, taking advantage of when all we know is “taking care of #1”?
any we ever dreamed of three powerful tools.
the parents became the necessities of Actually, our children can show us the
a
s I sit at my computer, the the children • education way! When a child decides to become a
neighborhood rings with the This continuous escalation of self- People today are lost and confused, won- doctor, he “plays” doctor, even though
dering: Why is this happening? What he has no idea what he is doing. Only
laughter of children playing indulgence has finally caught up with
should we do? But we are resourceful, when the child becomes a doctor will
tag. It brings back memories of my us, bringing our world to the brink of he know what it really means, but each
collapse. Our culture of excess reached and if we understand the problem, we
childhood, and I can’t help but wonder of his imagined notions along the way
its culmination with ego-maniacs like will perform miracles to solve it. This is
what the future has in store for them. why a public education campaign about is a necessary preparation.
Bernard Madoff, who swindled inves- So to begin with, we can “fake it
Mankind has always invested super- the globalization of our economies, the
tors of $50 billion. And while it’s easy interdependence of all people, and the until we make it.” Our first “altruistic”
human efforts to assure that the next
to put the blame on the likes of Mad- benefits of cooperation could guide us efforts will be purely egoistic: done to
generation will have an easier, more ful-
off, the reality is that we all bear a share to the solutions. escape the crisis. Over time, however,
filling life. For many parents today, this
of the guilt, even if our excesses are on an amazing transformation will occur:
dream may forever remain a fantasy. Our best hope for the future lies in
a much smaller scale. educating our children. NY Times col- our simulated joy in altruism will give
Economic uncertainty, environmental way to the real thing, providing real re-
collapse, and violence promise to be If we are honest, we’ll see that suc- umnist Nicholas Kristof recently classi-
cess in our society is defined as more fied education as “our greatest national lief from the crisis.
the legacy we will leave our children. A Arne Duncan, the new Education
money, fame or power, no matter what shame.” And he’s right: we are not
Rasmussen Poll in January found that Secretary, commented, “We have to
the cost to others. So what can we ex- providing our children with the knowl-
only 47% of American parents believe edge they need to succeed in the new continue to think differently and do ev-
pect for our future if these are the val-
their children will be better off than global era. If we offer them an educa- erything we can to put our students ...
ues that we promote?
they are. tion about the natural laws that govern on the path to pursuing the American
If egoism is the root of our prob- interconnected systems, they will be dream.” Let’s pressure our government
This gloomy outlook should be a
lems, then the solution is to transform prepared to easily navigate the stormy to use part of the $150 billion educa-
clarion call to action for people every-
our values to altruism and sharing. But seas that are so baffling to us. tion stimulus to create a new American
where. But if we are to have any hope dream, one that values activities that
how? After all, mankind has prospered • Media
of finding lasting solutions, we must benefit all and frowns upon personal
with a “Me first!” mentality for thou-
first retrace the developments that led Most of our behavioral patterns come success at the expense of others. Let’s
sands of years. Yet, in today’s globalized directly from TV and the Internet. As
to the problems we face today. society, where everything that happens use the power of our collective will to
long as news, entertainment and sports show politicians and businesses that we
on one side of the world has an almost
did SoMeone preSS glorify the pursuit of wealth and a “win are no longer buying into a consumer
immediate impact on the other side, at any cost” mentality, we will see greed oriented society. Let’s encourage media
“faSt forward?” “Me first!” no longer works. In the and exploitation dominate our society. to promote values of generosity and
Mankind’s needs were simple once: If words of Britain’s PM, Gordon Brown, If, however, we insist that these venues sharing, while shunning egoistic glori-
there was adequate food, shelter and se- “In this global age, we need solutions reflect the values of compassion, we will fication of individuals. In this way, we
curity from predators, life was good. But that can no longer be defined in terms turn today’s destructive media force to will leave a lasting legacy to our chil-
time marched on, and the necessities of us and them, but can be achieved our advantage. dren, and they will have the wisdom to
were no longer enough. People wanted only together – as us with them.” And in fact, the tide is already start- know how to use it.
www.kabtoday.com | Issue #21 | Kabbalah Today 3
,, The high destiny of the individual is to serve rather than to rule. ,,
albert einstein
by Chaim Ratz and has become a dangerous enemy.
r
And now, the big question is: who will
ecently, it was rumored that
save the world from itself?
Barack Obama was tempted
to enter the bidding for a rare new HeroeS
edition of the first-ever Superman com-
ic. The rumors began to settle when
for a new age
it was announced that the American There is no doubt that we are in dire
President would not be participating need of new heroes. To find them, we
in the auction (and besides, he’s a Spi- must rearrange our entire value system
derman, not a Superman, fan). And fi- and change the formula for prosperity
from the one that says: “success comes
nally, all the talk came to a halt when
from using others,” to the opposite,
the comic was sold to someone else for
the
“success comes from mutual concern.”
$325,000 (almost the yearly salary for
Or, in the words of the British prime
Mr. Obama). minister Gordon Brown to labor ac-
Still, the fact that the rumors started tivists in Bristol, “Our task must be
is much more than a coincidence. Su-
perman is a clear symbol of the Ameri-
can Dream; he is the ultimate cowboy,
lAst nothing less than to rebuild a financial
system where it has failed and then to
create an economy where banks are no
suPer
the redeeming angel of a new era. De- longer serving themselves but serving
spite the decades that have passed since the public.”
he was last seen flying above Metropo-
lis, and the steady stream of heroes that
have flooded the world ever since, there
is no doubt that the blue knight in the
MAn Our new, interconnected, interre-
lated world demands new superheroes,
who will understand that the true ene-
my is found within. A true hero will be
red cape is still number one. someone who knows how to conquer
It’s no wonder that people are as- his own evil inclination, his own greed
The world is desperately looking for heroes, people and self-centered way of thinking. The
sociating Obama with Superman, as if
leaders of tomorrow will be people or
asking the two to join forces and defeat who will lead us out of the crises that are pummeling nations who know they have to encour-
the escalating crisis. Obama’s sweeping
us. Can President obama rise to the occasion and age mutual support and strengthen the
inaugural speech before Congress was a
perfect testimony to this. It was a classic defeat the villains of greed and egoism? connections between people, and who
are able to see others as heroes, too.
Superman speech.
Superman, as we all know, always
can SuperMan to understand that none of the old The new superheroes will commu-
methods will help him solve this crisis nicate the laws of integration and uni-
“emerges stronger than before” after Still prevail? fication, necessary for our existence, to
because reality has changed. It’s not
a crisis. He always comes out on top The only problem is that Obama is try- just that the rules of the game have the next generations. They will teach
and gains the upper hand even when ing to be Superman in a post-Superman changed; we are playing a completely people to see themselves and others as
all seems lost. He saves the world from era, an era where there is no place for new game. organs in one body, existing inside one
complete catastrophe at the very last mythological superheroes, shrouded in nature, as one universal Superman.
an aura of heroic loneliness. Obama, Until recently, we have lived in an
moment, and gets a big round of ap- And just like in a body, mutual care for
like the rest of the world leaders, has individualistic world, where the planet
plause in the process. the benefit of the whole generates har-
was ruled by omnipotent financial op- mony and life, whereas caring for the
portunists and brilliant, cunning ego- self alone results in cancer. The new
giants. Now, however, the situation Superman will help us all understand
has changed completely. It’s as if an that this also applies to our single, uni-
invisible giant fisherman has caught fied body of humanity, and once we un-
humanity inside one global net and left derstand this, we will regain life in the
it hanging, lost and perplexed. The fat systems that are now gasping for air.
sharks on Wall Street have suddenly Could Obama be that Superman?
found themselves tossed into the same Only time will tell. He is off to a prom-
boat as the smallest of the “small fry” in ising start. He shows a great desire to
Istanbul, all gasping for air in unison. change the world for the better, and has
a personality that embodies a unique
In this new era, the collapse of the
mixture of countries and people. The
financial system is clearly showing us only question is whether he will be
that an attitude of using others, or even wise enough to set the right example
just caring for yourself alone, is a venge- for the other world leaders to follow.
ful, double-edged sword. Our ambition, Otherwise, he may find himself carved
also known as the ego, has ceased being into the pages of history as the last ego-
a loyal friend that helps us get ahead istic Superman.
4 Kabbalah Today | Issue #21 | www.kabtoday.com
,,
,,
He is the only one of them all who does not seem to me ridiculous. Perhaps that is because he is thinking of something else
besides himself.
antoine de Saint-exupery
ments. I didn’t gamble on housing or a way forward
any of the other get rich schemes out
I am an optimistic person, but it is
i thouGht
there. Perhaps I was too willing to ac-
clear to me that all of the rules have
cept the advice of financial planners
changed. I have no confidence in the
with all of their asset allocation mod-
economic stimulus plans, although I
els and long-term investment theories.
i WAs History always repeats itself, the mar- am a supporter of this President. I do
ket runs in cycles, you cannot time the not see how we can buy our way out
market, and so, in the end, you buy and of this mess. It is like we are trying to
retired, hold investments, trusting the theory pay off the judge in order to avoid go-
that what comes down will eventually ing to jail, but the judge is harsh and
rise even higher. But I don’t think this does not accept bribes. Something tells
me that we must accept our sentence
But i AM noW will be so this time. The mess we are in
right now feels very different. No one and learn from all this. I don’t claim
is talking about rebounding to past to know what our lesson or lessons
uneMPloyed highs. All of the talk is about whether might be, but I feel certain that our
we can avoid the dire straits of a total lives have to change, as do our desires.
system collapse “He who dies with the most toys wins”
was a funny bumper sticker, but it is
There is probably much blame to funny no more. I think it is time to end
go around. For years, while I was still this era of greed, selfishness and over-
a part of corporate America, I was in- consumption. It is time to focus on
censed at the salaries, bonuses, perks needs and not wants, and it certainly
and power being given to our CEO wouldn’t hurt to think about how our
and to all CEOs. CEOs in the USA av- actions affect the other guy, and not
erage 450 times the pay of the average just about “what is in it for me.”
like so many people, my carefully crafted retirement worker, CEOs in the next highest rank-
There are so many of us in this pre-
ing country average 22 times the aver-
plans are in shatters. now it is time to move past age worker’s pay. It’s not too hard to see dicament. It is as if we are stranded
the “blame game” and find our own solutions that something was terribly wrong, but on an island and there is no one com-
times were booming, money was be- ing to our rescue – certainly not the
by Pete LaTona ing made, stock prices were climbing, government! Perhaps therein lie our
i
so who cared? Of course now we find opportunities. Those of us with first-
retired in late 2006 with a conser- nancial markets over the past year. On hand experience on how the old rules
vative financial plan in place that the one hand, events unfolded in the out that most of these profits were just
shell games and the people who could, no longer apply can begin to create
would last through the lives of my blink of an eye, and on the other, it was the new rules. We can find strength
wife and myself and still leave a little a death by a thousand cuts. My retire- manipulated their way to huge paydays.
The foxes raided the hen houses, and by looking to each other. Our unique
something for the kids. My financial ment plans were solid and in place, but bond will then expand into a feeling
planner and I choose an appropriate now they are gone. Disappeared. Van- they have all gotten away.
of being truly connected, and this con-
asset allocation model and we needed ished. Dead. They will not be revived I need to get back to work. I need
nection will feel so good and right that
only 5% returns to be in good shape. and I am left with the shock, disbelief, to earn money comparable to my for-
we’ll begin to desire more of it. As we
My wife and I planned on working or despair and anger of trying to figure mer salary, but it won’t be easy. My age
and experience work against me, not nurture this connection, we’ll begin to
volunteering, because we wanted to not out what to do next. realize what our world could look like
because we had to. After many years in for me. The job market is terrible, and
if we took care of each other instead of
corporate America, this seemed like a SearcHing for we just hit 23 straight months of net
taking care of only ourselves.
great position to be in as we faced our job losses. There is no end in sight, but
anSwerS still, I conduct my daily job searches, Why not put this into action? It has
“golden years.”
What I want to know is: Who is re- try to stay positive, and pray I do not been talked about often, but never im-
I am still in a little bit of shock over sponsible for all this? I played by the lose everything I have worked so hard plemented. What do we have to lose?
everything that has happened in the fi- rules. I put my money in secure invest- to acquire.
FREE INTERACTIVE VIDEO COURSES
www.arionline.info
www.kabtoday.com | Issue #21 | Kabbalah Today 5
,, Give us the knowledge of laws of nature, and both future and past will reveal their secrets. ,,
isaac newton
ExPErT oPInIon of “Chaos,” there’s actual communica- at the inner mechanism will reveal a
tion reflected up and down the orders flaming explosion of snapping teeth
My Cof
of magnitude between the inner and and mainspring, leading to the grand
outer patterns. But for us, the conse- finale – the freezing of gears, grind-
in
quences are a lot more serious than ing to a halt. So it is with our business
f pretty pictures.
A most important example is our
models: systematic doom seals the fate
of even the most “successful” individu-
als along with the rest of the human
s
complex heartbeat and circulatory
ee
flow. The complexity actually keeps us mechanism. It’s just a question of “who
Cloud
alive. Because all the components work by fire and who by ice.”
together in perfect harmony, communi-
cating as though in mutual love, coro- Hope for tHe future
nary interactions operate smoothly on Humanity’s evolution into a global
every scale. Natural fluctuations at any economy through ever-growing and
level are corrected by the system as a entwining infrastructures has given it
whole. However, if this “love” breaks a worldwide heartbeat and circulation.
down and a part of the system selfishly Murphy’s Law has already started to
pulls itself too far away for too long, go berserk before our very eyes, yet we
something ominous begins to happen. continue to proceed mindlessly against
The beat pattern grows smoother, at Nature, like lemmings treading toward
first glance seemingly a sign of stability; a cliff’s edge. No force can turn the situ-
that is, until it smoothes down to a sim- ation around other than every person’s
ple sine wave, and finally - the straight individual, free choice to see others as
line of cardiac arrest. the greater part of himself, rather than
The fractal’s universality makes the isolated prey to feed upon. Do we not
above a fundamental law of nature, yet realize that the pattern in each of
ruling all systems: mineral, vegetable, our personal fractals is actually made of
nature is filled with examples of endlessly repeating animal, and human. But only at the all of us?
human level is there the freedom to The clouds in my coffee dissipate
patterns, where the whole is built on the balanced on a hopeful note – a song the Young
follow a dysfunctional policy of “every
interaction of the parts. For generations, man has man for himself.” Sweet as it may first bloods provided five years before Carly
only looked at his “parts” – individuals. now, maybe appear to gifted predators, beneath Simon, “Come on people now, smile on
the surface the system begins an ac- your brother. Everybody get together;
it is time to consider the whole – humanity
celerating decay, until the nightmare try to love one another right now.” And
by Elliot Pines, Ph.D finally comes out of the woodwork as when we look into the eyes of Infinity,
Murphy’s Law: “Anything that can go maybe we’ll be met by an infinite frac-
i
feel another downhill day coming, its larger counterpart. Isn’t there some- wrong will go wrong.” tal smile. Wouldn’t that be something!
and I dread going into work. Will I thing to be learned at this time from It’s a bit like an enormous pocket Despite the odds, my cup of java has
get a sudden escort out this morn- this property that is so pervasive in watch over wound to the point of no re- once again kept its promise to encour-
ing like poor Erika? Our manager, Phil, Nature? Perhaps the world’s problems turn. Though it may still be beautiful, age. What message will your favorite
wouldn’t want us to steal or damage and solutions are hidden within these gold and shiny on the surface, a look brew be giving you?
anything, especially staff morale – as if unique, yet universal, patterns. And
there were any left! I’ve known Phil for perhaps we could unlock this universal
30 years; what’s happened to him? To secret if only we had a master key, the
the whole world?. “fractal”!
At least we still have some creature
comforts, most notably – a gourmet cup patternS of life
of java to give me some courage. Watch- This term, referring to all these per-
ing that drop of cream in the coffee, vasive self-similarities, was coined by
the pattern of swirls within swirls, I Benoit Mandelbrot, due to the com-
can’t help thinking back to that 1972 mon element in the recurring pat-
Carly Simon song, “I had some dreams; terns – their fractional dimension.
they were clouds in my coffee, clouds in The math behind a fractal is a simple
my coffee…” repeating formula, yet it can produce
Clouds in coffee… swirls within awesomely beautiful visuals. Looking
swirls… patterns, unfolding within into them, one senses a deep, almost
themselves, over and over, like varia- frightening, power – a two-way ebb and
tions on a theme. Isn’t this the way all flow, as though looking into the eyes of
of Nature is? Fern leaves, coastlines, Infinity itself.
clouds – each is composed of a geomet- There really is a dynamic transcend-
ric shape that’s repeated at a smaller and ing the still image. As pointed out by
smaller scale, each shape nested within Robert Shaw, a pioneer in the science
6 Kabbalah Today | Issue #21 | www.kabtoday.com
,, Love consists in desiring to give what is our own to another and feeling his delight as our own. ,,
emanuel Swedenborg
lETTErS FroM ThE rEadErS procedures they perform, and wheth-
er the hospitals are filled with sick
patients. The system is built so
hoW
doctors profit by keeping
the patients sick for as
long as possible! How-
ever, shouldn’t their
first and foremost
concern be for the pa-
CAn We stoP tients to be healthy?
MediCine
Yet, can we re-
ally go back to the
“good Samaritan”
froM BeinG A system of ancient times? No, we can’t,
because back then, people’s egos were
Business? much smaller than today. In addition,
the problem is global, not local. Under
these circumstances, the only way to
create a healthy medical system is by
a letter sent to us by physician dr. angelov of boston, Massachusetts USa: creating a global solution that will ad-
dress the egos of today’s people.
wHat iS wrong witH ships between doctors and patients. house, containing a coin for the healer, If society as a whole will pay for
Modern medicine is run by the profit signifying that everyone in that house
Modern Medical principle: It’s not about how effective was healthy. If the vase was empty, this
health, rather than illness, doctors
inSurance? it is at helping the sick, but about how will have incentive to prevent ailments
meant that someone in the house was
much profit it brings to everyone in- sick. The healer would enter and treat from occurring in the first place. Then
35% of the stimulus package intended volved. people’s health will improve and health
to jumpstart the US economy is going the sick person to the best of his abil-
Doctors make money from their ity; and the herbs, needles and other care expenses will decrease.
to the medical industry, because it is
one of the hardest-hit by the financial patients’ illnesses and medical proce- medical supplies were paid for by the Money should be removed from
crisis. Insurance rates have gone up, but dures, and thus have little motivation coin that hadn’t been put inside the the doctor-patient relationship. A doc-
to cure them, and patients, in turn, vase. In his free time, the healer would tor should receive administrative, not
people’s incomes certainly haven’t, so
look for opportunities to sue the doc- also go to people’s houses to make sure
many can no longer afford doctor vis- monetary, punishment for mistakes
tors for malpractice. There is no trust their diets and lifestyles were healthy.
its or medication. It’s even worse with he makes, and a patient should not be
between them since the entire modern Back then, health insurance was
the unemployed, who have lost health medical insurance revolves around able to demand monetary compensa-
insurance entirely. completely opposite to what it is today.
money, rather than care for the patients tion through the courts. Instead, the
The government is trying to salvage People paid to help keep others healthy,
and their health. only kind of compensation he should
the situation, but unfortunately, it’s us- and the person who was ill did not have
to pay. receive is treatment.
ing the same measures that caused the tHe Medical induStry
medical industry to go into crisis in the In Latin, “doctor” means “teacher.”
waS not alwayS could tHiS ever So, a doctor is someone who should
first place: allocating funds to people’s
egos. But our egos are what caused the tHiS way work today? teach people how to live without get-
crisis! How so? In ancient China, 4000 years ago, Clearly, we have to stop medicine from ting sick! How different is this defini-
People’s egos, their desire to make every morning a healer would pass being a business. Today, doctors’ sala- tion from our present, egoistic medical
more and more money, have become by every house in the village. A vase ries depend on the number of sick pa- system!?
more important than healthy relation- was placed by the entrance to every tients they have, the number of medical
www.kabtoday.com | Issue #21 | Kabbalah Today 7
WoMEn’S CornEr
Kirshner in Argentina, Pratibha Patil the world now needs through all these
in India, Gloria Macapagal in the Phil- channels. And at the very least, every
ippines, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Libe- woman can influence her boyfriend,
ria, Yulia Tymoshenko in the Ukraine, husband, friends and neighbors.
and many more. But this is not enough. Some of us may feel held back be-
We cannot leave the work to the lead-
WoMen,
cause we are as confused by the present
ing women, because a true change has global fiasco as the next person. But ask
to begin from the bottom up (as proven yourself this: Who else can begin and
Where
by Obama’s presidential campaign). power this spiritual transformation
if not the women of the world? The
if not Me, tHen wHo? global nature of our problems demon-
Are you? As 2009 takes us deeper into the global
financial crisis, each and every one of
strates that we are becoming one global
family, and just like in a regular fam-
us should ask herself: what am I doing ily, women have the greatest power to
about the world’s situation? What con- change things for the better.
tribution am I making to amend the fi-
nancial crisis or the escalating violence? a world in HarMony
Why don’t I make myself heard and It is time to bring our innate abilities
help lead the world to safer ground? out into the greater world – to use your
Throughout history, women have been the force So, what exactly should we do? The strength, wisdom and understanding
maintaining harmony in the home and family. now way to a better world starts at the level to help the whole world be properly ar-
of recognition, a recognition that the ranged in the new, globalized reality.
it is time to use our wisdom to bring that same current situation requires us to adopt Think of it this way: how many men
balance to our world, the global village relationships of compassion and con- are capable of maintaining a successful
by Keren Applebaum sideration for all people in our small career while smoothly running a house-
global village. Thus, we must first make hold, taking care of their children, and
t
he world is be faced with many sionate, and to take necessary action the change within, in our hearts. naturally setting the tone for the proper
unprecedented challenges, in- when the times call for it. functioning of the whole family?
Once we do this, we can begin to ed-
cluding financial instability Women’s voices are being heard to-
worldwide, a record food shortage, and ucate the people around us about these The answer is clear. What our “glob-
day more than ever before, with a re- new attitudes. Women today have great al home” lacks is a woman’s touch, a
an escalating trend of violence in many cord number of women in office and
countries. Under these circumstances, influence over the media – we are edi- woman’s influence from within. Only
leadership positions. We have Hillary
the world’s greatest hope at this time is tors, writers, TV show hosts, teachers, then will our global family regain safe-
Clinton in the USA, Angela Merkel in
its women: their inherent ability to nur- Germany, Tarja Halonen in Finland, and radio talk show hosts, and we can ty and stability.
ture and heal, to be wise and compas- Vaira Vike-Freiberg in Latvia, Cristina promote the compassionate approach
About Bnei Baruch Bnei Baruch’s approach to understand- British Mandate authorities after having
ing our experience of life on earth is both received malicious (and false) information
Bnei Baruch is a non-profit organization Editorial Staff Help Share Kabbalah
practical and reliable. By studying Ashlag’s that the journal propagated communism.
committed to sharing the wisdom of Kab- Donations to help share
method, based on authentic writings, we Nevertheless, the goals for which The Executive Editor: Asaf Ohayon
balah in order to raise humankind’s level Kabbalah Today and other
can overcome the trials of everyday life, Nation was published are even more valid Editorial Board: Chaim Ratz,
of spirituality. Its founder and president, worldwide distribution projects
and initiate a process by which we will today than ever.
Kabbalist Rav Michael Laitman, PhD, was Tony Kosinec, Keren Applebaum, of the Bnei Baruch Association
move beyond our present boundaries and Kabbalah Today continues the spirit
the disciple and personal assistant to Riggan Shilstone, Michael R. are gratefully accepted and
limitations. of The Nation. It is a Kabbalah paper that
Rabbi Baruch Ashlag, son of Rabbi Yehuda are tax-deductible in the United
In addition to Kabbalah Today, Bnei Ba- shares the ancient wisdom of Kabbalah in Kellogg, Mark Zimmerman
Ashlag (author of the Sulam (Ladder) com- States and Canada.
ruch offers a variety of avenues for further a contemporary style, and aims to reach
mentary on The Book of Zohar). Copy Editor: Claire Gerus
study. Among them are: Through Kabbalah we can
people from all walks of life. Its sections
Bnei Baruch provides individuals of Graphic Design & Layout: Galina reveal nature’s complete
Kabbalah TV (www.kab.tv), the provide readers with a wide variety of
all faiths, religions, and cultures with the picture, achieve world peace,
Online Kabbalah Learning Center content, presented in different styles and Kaplunovich, Olga Ohayon, Eugene
precise tools they will need to embark eternal life and unbounded
(www.KabbalahLearningCenter.info), approaches, while guaranteeing that the Nemirovski, Baruch Khovov
on a fascinating journey of self-discovery
and www.kabbalah.info, the largest, most fulfillment, all while living
material is true to authentic Kabbalah texts Distribution: Ilya Ioffe
and spiritual ascent. Its teaching method
comprehensive Kabbalah site on the
in this world.
such as The Book of Zohar, The Tree of Life,
focuses primarily on the inner processes Printing: Eugene Levit All efforts of the Bnei Baruch
Internet. and the writings of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag.
that people experience, each at his or her Association are aimed solely at
Bnei Baruch welcomes people of
No prior knowledge is required to read achieving these goals.
own pace. all ages and lifestyles to engage in this
Kabbalah Today. Published by
In recent years, a massive worldwide rewarding process.
It is our hope that you will enjoy reading Bnei Baruch Association
search for the answers to life’s questions
About Kabbalah Today Kabbalah Today as much as we enjoy PO Box 1552 Bnei Baruch Association USA
has been gaining momentum. Society
making it. Ramat Gan 52115, Israel
85th Street, Suite 51,
has lost its ability to perceive reality as it In 1940, Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag
Brooklyn, NY 11214
is, and in its place, superficial and often (Baal HaSulam) published the first and, E-mail: info@kabbalah.info
as it turned out, the last issue of his Sincerely,
misleading concepts have appeared. Bnei Web: www.kabbalah.info
Kabbalah paper HaUma (The Nation). Its Kabbalah Today editorial staff Bnei Baruch Association Canada
Baruch reaches out to all those who are
Telephone: +972-3-9226723 3701 Chesswood Drive, Suite
seeking awareness beyond the ordinary, aim was to introduce the ancient wisdom If you wish to share your comments
of Kabbalah in a contemporary style and and feedback with us, please write to: Fax: +972-3-9226741 216, Toronto, Ontario M3J 2P6
who wish to understand their true purpose
for being here. language. The paper was shut down by the info@kabbalah.info
8 Kabbalah Today | Issue #21 | www.kabtoday.com
