“Capitalism Is Devouring Its Own Tail”

In the News (inosmi.ru): “The world may soon enter an era in which it will be possible to be rich only because of one’s birth. Modern capitalism is increasingly resembling feudalism. …

“According to the calculations of the British charity Oxfam, in the next year 1% of the richest people on earth are to amass more money than the remaining 99%. …

” If the average growth of world production is 1-1.5%, while income from capital investment comes to 4-5%. Speculating on the market, you can earn much more than producing something useful for the economy. The greatest chance of enrichment are for those who have sufficient capital and can afford to indulge in financial speculation. So they accumulate more and more money and are more and more alienated in property terms from the rest of society and its problems. …

“‘Therefore, the circumstances of birth are more important than talent and effort,’ – wrote American economist and Nobel laureate, Paul Krugman.

“The new aristocracy – is not so much the aristocracy of industry, as it is a circle of people holding money. Many economists have long pointed to financial speculation as a source of growing stratification. …

“Much of this paper wealth can evaporate as a result of the financial turmoil, just as in a few weeks in June and July 2015 2.8 trillion (the amount is close to the nominal GDP of France) evaporated with the Chinese exchanges. The problem is that the large financial speculators did not become poor from the collapse. It is the small punters who, losing their life savings in the markets, can not count on any support. Banks in these situations also can count on assistance from the state. …

“Increased stratification also leads to a decrease in social mobility, limited access to education. In the long term, the less ‘equal’ economy also suffers from the greater likelihood of senior positions being taken by not really talented people, but by those who compensate for the lack of talent by birth in a rich family or acquaintances in high places. …

“Growth of the disparity in income in the long term may also lead to dire political consequences. On the one hand, it leads to oligarchic mode, on the other hand, increases sympathy for the radical movements that seek to eliminate the existing socio-political order. …

“It is possible to observe a harbinger of countries lying in the periphery of the eurozone. There is growing a generation that has never had a chance at a normal job. “The level of financial stratification in Europe have threatened social equilibrium. When the unemployment rate, which among youth in Greece and Spain, more than 50% of the younger generation has no prospects,” – indicates Janusz Shevchak. …

“‘Piketty writes in his book that if the level of return on capital will consistently exceed the level of economic growth (which he predicts in his works), this can lead to the destruction of the foundations on which to build democratic capitalism, that is, the idea that work allows one to get rich, and its material effect depends on individual skills and effort. As a result, a phenomenon exacerbated delegitimization of capital and that this is followed, activated movement “angry” and start coming to power of populist parties (both left and right), cleverly finding access to public discontent, “- recalls Sobochinsky. …

“…in Europe support formed for radical formation during the Great Depression of the 30’s: the Communist Party, the German Nazi Party, fascist, radical socialist and national-radical movements. History shows that the radicalization of society can be accelerated if an economic crisis imposed an identity crisis of the nation and the immigration crisis. …

“‘The response to the crisis 30s was the introduction of very high taxes in the framework of the policy New Deal, so that in the post-war period managed to establish relative balance between labor and capital, as a result, income inequality decreased significantly.'”

My Comment: Capitalists are not brave enough to raise their own taxes. Today there is no longer a clear and accurate correlation between hard work and the outcome of labor. Countries are not locked within their borders and business has become global.

Therefore, people don’t feel that they depend on capital within their country and international corporations don’t feel that they depend on it. In order to feel it, they have to feel the environment, the attitude towards others. The world has come to an economic dead end and the only way out is through new social relationships. See “The Last Generation.”
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In Search Of Correction

The Torah, “Numbers,” 16:20 – 16:22: The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron saying, “Dissociate yourselves from this congregation, and I will consume them in an instant.” They fell on their faces and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, if one man sins, shall You be angry with the whole congregation?”

When opposing attributes like Moses and Korach rebel in a person, then there is not just a desire to cancel them for a while because then they will still need to be corrected, but the desire to find out how they can be corrected today.

As they appear opposite, unfit for use with the intention for the sake of bestowal and love, the question arises: Is it really possible to do something with them, without having to kill them?

Moses is the attribute in a person that regrets that now so many egoistic desires, which could soon be corrected, will die, but they are thrown back, and he remains with his pure attribute, the attribute of Bina (Intelligence). But what is the need for it if it’s not connected with Malchut (Kingdom), which needs correction?

On the one hand, it’s good that we reveal the contradictions between these attributes and the inability to use them at present. However, on the other hand, they are thrown very strongly to the back! Is it possible to correct them somehow?

The attribute of Moses within us wants to actualize the correction as fast as possible. And we really can do it! If we connect now in a special request and call to the Creator, then this MAN (Mayin Nukvin, female waters), will raise the Reshimot (reminiscences), and there will be a possibility that we may correct ourselves in some way. In principle, the prayer, meaning the right desire, corrects everything.

But on the other hand, even if it doesn’t work out, the search itself, the attempt to persuade the Creator to correct these attributes, constitutes an effective act through which much can be corrected.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 5/20/15

Under The Protection Of Nature

Question: What determines a country’s strength—a large nuclear arsenal?

Answer: Weapons define nothing. Even belonging to military blocks or the protection of the strongest countries in the world doesn’t guarantee safety.

It’s the same as being in the pack of vicious dogs; you don’t know who they will bite the next moment. The only chance to defend ourselves is obtaining similarity with the upper force. Only Israel is capable of becoming the strongest nation in the world. The entire world depends on Israel.

The upper force is the general force of nature that supports all of its parts: inanimate, vegetative, animate, and human. We exist in the power network that governs us and stimulates our advancement.

First, on the face of Earth emerged inanimate nature, then appeared a vegetative layer, then animals, and the last was the human. Of course, it wasn’t accidental.

Our ignorance about the higher system of governance doesn’t release us from its impact. I have been studying this system for forty years now; I know its laws, formulas, methods of communication to ensure its positive response.

If Israel behaves correctly, the upper governance will organize the world in a way that nobody will ever hurt us or approach us with negative thoughts. Intifada, wars… will stop! All countries will be our best friends.

Question: Which force can defend us?

Answer: It’s the general force of nature that commands our thoughts and desires and defines our actions. Where do we get our thoughts and desires from? We obtain them from the network that governs the world.

We are inside a rigid and accurately organized system that rules us. Scientists confirm that every day a more intense connection among microbes, particles, waves, thoughts, desires, organisms… is discovered.

It only seems to us that each body lives its own life, but there is a cloud of numerous influences around us. The clouds “overlap.”

If we want to know how to provide strength and security, we must know the nature of the overall system. Otherwise, what makes us different from animals, they do not know what will happen to them in the next moment?
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From KabTV’s “A New Life” 10/8/15

Nullifying Our Egoistic Desires

The Torah, “Numbers,” 16:26: And he spoke unto the congregation, saying: “Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be swept away in all their sins.”

Moses calls on society to not be in their existing desires because they cannot be corrected according to the principle that Korach suggests. Only death is the correction for them now. When they are dead, these desires will not interfere with the nation’s attempts to be corrected and will not pull the nation backward. They simply will be nullified, and they will not feel them.

Therefore, the virus of the egoistic desires shouldn’t even come near the congregation, because after the great desires to receive  that want to be corrected with the intention of in order to bestow, there can come smaller attributes, which means hundreds of thousands of people.

The Torah, “Numbers,” 16:27 – 16:30: “So they got them up from the dwelling of Korach, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side; and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. And Moses said: ‘Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works, and that I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, and be visited after the visitation of all men, then the Lord hath not sent Me. But if the Lord make a new thing, and the ground open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down alive into the pit, then ye shall understand that these men have despised the Lord.'”

At that moment, there is the revelation of the ego under the influence of the Upper Light. The Light reveals that the attributes which Korach wanted to correct cannot be corrected: this is what you want to correct and what happens with your attributes, an upper level influences you, but you are not corrected with regard to it, and so the earth swallows them, which means that the Light that operates on that level kills you.

Question: Why does Moses say to the people: “If these men die the common death of all men, and be visited after the visitation of all men, then the Lord hath not sent Me. But if the Lord make a new thing, and the ground open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down alive into the pit, then ye shall understand that these men have despised the Lord.”?

Answer: Because Moses is the upper attribute. When the Light influences the people, it reveals their ego, its finiteness, its defeat, not on the animal level but on the level of the correction of the soul. On the whole, the Torah doesn’t speak about corporeal bodies but only uses allegorical comparisons.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 5/20/15

What Is The Measure Of A Nation’s Strength?

Question: What helps a country to remain strong and stable in this chaotic world in terms of maintaining its economy and security?

Answer: There is nothing that helps—not army, wealth, industrial power, scientific potential, nor highly developed medicine or religion.

These things might support or slightly change to strengthen a country’s industrial, trade, and technological rating, but attaining real stability is unfeasible in this modern world. It seems to us that some countries are stable. But in fact, we cannot test their stability since it can be blown up in a moment. So far, nobody has attacked these countries and tried to destroy them.

That’s why it’s hard to evaluate how strong they really are since we can test their stability only under the condition that they oppose somebody’s hostility. South Africa is a vivid example of how easily  a strong and prosperous country can be destroyed.

Question: Is Israel in your opinion a strong country?

Answer: Israel is the weakest nation because there are too many factors that constantly undermine its stability. Israel can be destroyed by one explosion at an electric station or by poisoning the water supply in the lake Kinneret. Actually, it applies to any country, but Israel is much more prone to casualties and is vulnerable to numerous factors that can destroy its solidity.

Israel can be strong only on the condition that it uses its unique force—connection with the overall global system. The Israeli nation is a part of the upper governing network that can be influenced solely by the people of Israel.

Only unity among us will lead us to strength and sustainability. If the Jews connect with each other correctly, they will impact the entire world in a positive way. Our detachment unconsciously produces negative influence on humanity.

Question: Does it mean that Israel can become the strongest nation?

Answer: Yes, it’s possible, but only on condition that the Jews unite as one man with one heart. Our unity is the unit of measurement of our country’s strength. The power of the world is defined by Israel’s strength.

Israel is the only nation that can decide on its own whether it chooses to be strong or weak. Not a single country except Israel is capable of it; all other countries depend on Israel, on its decision.

Should we choose to be strong, we will have to unite. Only our unity will provide safety. When we unite, other countries will follow our example and join us of their own free will.
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On A Spiritual Salary

Question: When you are sick, you continue to give lessons for three hours. How do you do it? When I have a fever, I stay home and don’t go to the lesson.

Answer: And do you go to work?

Comment: When I have a high fever, I can’t move.

Answer: And in the case that you would be fired from work and your family would be left without any means of subsistence? You see this is the question: how could you stay home?

I am asking the same question. Because I work and receive a salary, but it is spiritual. I am being paid with the opportunity to bestow and so I get up for the lesson. After all, man simply calculates what is more important to him and acts accordingly.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/20/14, Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”

Kabbalah – The Method For The Elevation Of Man

Question: Is there a formula in the wisdom of Kabbalah for successful relationships?

Answer: The wisdom of Kabbalah helps us to reach good relations between us, because it enables man to elevate above his egoism. And although we are all egoistic and we see that we cannot get rid of the ego, Kabbalah enables a person to rise above it and manage it properly.

Therefore, with the help of the wisdom of Kabbalah, it is possible to attain correct mutual relations in the family, with children, in a collective, in a nation, in society, between countries, and in the world. This is a great system of corrections, which we need to absorb and adapt to.

Once it is at least partially realized between us, the world will start to look completely different. Even starting the realization of the method of elevation above the ego will rid the world of suffering, and then humanity will rise to the next degree.

The wisdom of Kabbalah is not training, coaching, or a psychology of correct relations between us, it is a method of man’s elevation above his beastly egoistic nature in order to achieve the next degree of his development, the degree in which we are above the limits of life or death, above everything that gives us negative feelings in life.

Question: What will happen with those that don’t feel the need to change?

Answer: It’s not important. People come to the wisdom of Kabbalah with different intentions. Some want to gain something in this life; others want to know how they can be more successful and happy. There are many people that think that with the help of Kabbalah they can broaden their understanding of their world, and in this manner succeed in science, art, and culture. Some think they can expand their view of the world, their mind and perception, and that it will help them to write better, to invent, and compose. And there are people that are truly asking the question: “What am I living for? I want to decipher the meaning of life, the secret of the existence of creation. Stars, endless universe, galaxies—what are all of these for, and me inside it? It couldn’t be that all of it exists for nothing.”

Once this question was hanging in the air. I remember that they taught us that the universe itself is endless; today when they talk about new revelations, scientists understand that the universe is not endless. So comes the simple question: “If it started at some point, then what will be after it is over? Does the universe have boundaries, then what exists beyond the boundaries?” Humanity does not have answers to these questions. But if those questions are formed in us, then it is possible to find answers for them.
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From Kabbalah for the Nation

A Struggle With Internal Terrorism

Question: It used to be that when the situation in Israel worsened and military actions began, the people would always come together. But with this current rising wave of terrorism, it is felt in the street that everyone is more concerned and anxious about himself. Why isn’t this fear uniting us?

Answer: The threat of terrorism isn’t bringing us together because we feel that it is not coming from outside the borders of Israel but really is in the heart of the nation. So, it apparently is tearing us apart inside. It is compelling each one to hide in his corner.

This is not a war where we know where the enemy is and we could oppose it with all means. Military power will not help against terrorism—that’s the problem.

We need to understand what is happening. We are beginning to receive more internal and qualitative blows that have a more meaningful influence on us. When missiles fall, then we understand that there is a danger of injury, but it is something definitive.

Terrorism sows fear in us, and most importantly, a sense of powerlessness. We know that we have the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, aircraft, and army. If they shoot at us, we would strike back with a more powerful response.

But against terrorism you can’t do anything because it is hiding inside. But if we, thepeople of Israel, free ourselves from our “internal terrorists,” from the hatred between us, from the desire to terrorize others, then nothing would be left of the Arab terrorists on our streets either.

The only way to will destroy terrorism —is an internal correction of each in relation to his neighbor. After all, if we do not change, the next hit will be even more significant. We feel that a developed, efficient, well-organized system of terror is operating between us.
This system begins to rule over us, instilling in us the fear, the horror, the feeling that the terrorists are hiding everywhere, lying in wait for us at every step.

Does this description remind you of the selfish network of relationships between ourselves? This is exactly the same system—its external reflection. So far we have not seen such terror in the street, but we can come to it if we don’t begin to deal with the internal “terrorists,” with our egoism now.

The physical terrorism can accurately reflect the inner, spiritual terrorism, so terrible times will come. We hope that the Creator will not allow this to happen and that we will take care of ourselves.
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From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/19/15, Baal HaSulam, “The Mutual Guarantee”