Midwest Book Review published a review on one of Dr. Michael Laitman’s latest books, Self Interest vs. Altruism in the Global Era: How Society Can Turn Self Interests into Mutual Benefit. The following is an excerpt from the review:

Stating that society’s future relies on cooperation of people to work together for society, stating that much of society’s degradation in recent decades has been the result of narcissism and greed, “Self Interest vs. Altruism” is a curious and recommended read for those who believe that optimism in human nature is not entirely lost.

Source: MidwestBookReview.com

The 3rd lesson in the Free Kabbalah Course is an investigation into our perception of reality, examining the questions: Who am I? What is reality? And why is it even important to know the answers to these questions? What would that give us access to?

Let’s just think about this word “I” or “me.” Think about how many times each day you say or think these words: “I want …” “I think …” “I’m doing …” “I’m having …” “I’m giving …” We always think in terms of “me in relation to my surroundings.”

So defining this “me” that you’re constantly referring to is a fundamental question about life. Is it my body? If I’m hungry, is it my stomach? Is it this brain that thinks or this heart that pumps? Or is it something deeper?

And not only “I” or “me” but also the other part of the question: All these things I seemingly perceive as being outside of this “me,” for instance this computer, this text, this table, other people … I’m always identifying objects and people that I observe.

The 3rd lesson in the Free Kabbalah Course starts defining what is behind all these objects and people, getting into a deeper investigation of this “I” and the reality that this “I” perceives. It will overview science’s evolution on this topic through Newton, Einstein, and quantum physics, and reach what Kabbalah says about it, and what that means for us today.

Now is the last chance to sign up for the Winter 2012 semester of the Free Kabbalah Course. Registration closes on Wednesday, January 18 – the same day as the “Who Am I? What Is Reality?” lesson.

Sign Up For The Free Course Here »

There is neither the yielding of resources nor the fighting over resources. Rather, there is the affirmation of what is shared. There is no “yours” or “mine,” but you and I must both own the resource together, and that doesn’t mean each of us has his own half, but that the resource is shared.

Today, we are at the highest peak of egoistic development. Our egoism is enormous, demanding constant satisfaction, regardless of everyone, and even in order to spite them. I enjoy being superior to others. The worse someone else feels, the better I feel.

At our current stage, we have to create a society in which I will feel everything belongs to everyone, including myself, meaning that I belong to everyone and not to myself. There should be nothing in me that I could call my personal “self,” but only “we” and “ours.”

The understanding that needs to become instilled in people: If another person benefits, then I benefit too.

What should an integral system of upbringing show people?

It should show people the state of the world and of nature, the challenge nature is presenting us with, and nature’s globality and integrality. It obligates us to be similar to it, while now we are the opposite of it. We have no other choice but to explain that everything that is happening in the world is the result of our similarity or dissimilarity to the surrounding environment.

The above points were taken from the book The Psychology of the Integral Society by Dr. Michael Laitman and Dr. Anatoly Ulianov. Also available as eBook (PDF, Kindle & ePub formats).

Dr Laitman with Doris Epstein on MENSCHlife from David Grossman on Vimeo.

“From the perspective of Kabbalah, we teach how to be connected among us above our egos. So everyone remains in his own religion, belief system and culture, and at the same time, we all have to be in this mutual connection. Just like everyone may have a different character, but we still can find a common language.”

Dr. Michael Laitman, taken from the video.

1) A group of children who have just begun assimilating this method need to be influenced through songs, dance, games, communication, forums, debates and so on.

2) For children, the process of learning about life is active and multifaceted. They have to learn how banks, hospitals, and depots work. They have to visit the zoo, fields where crops are grown, a planetarium, and so on. Then, they should discuss how all of these are interconnected. The concrete and fragmentary impressions of the world should eventually connect into a single, integral picture that will give them the impression of the world as one whole. This is aimed at giving the child the ability to see any phenomenon in the world and perceive it as part of the common whole, which will let the child make correct decisions.

3) There are no grades or evaluations. Children/people are developed the way they are. With today’s children, the most important thing is not to suppress the new capabilities that are developing in them. That is why we should approach them without any grades or other measuring scales. The only criterion should be a person’s integration with his integral environment.

4) Every person has his or her own rate of development, and thus, people cannot be compared. Some learn very fast and advance quickly, but at some point they stop progressing. Others start out having a very hard time agreeing, and understanding what the study is all about. We were created this way, so we cannot give people grades. Each of us is utterly unique.

5) When a child or any person at all participates in this process to the best of his/her ability, this alone is praiseworthy and should be the person’s only grade. Any participation has to be valued because what’s important is not one’s success, but his participation.

6) Fixed times for group meetings, activities, etc.

7) Acting. Self-analysis is the most important thing. Therefore, it is very important to teach children the skill of acting. They have to be able to step out of themselves, put their “selves” aside, and play a different role. It enables the child to impersonate and thereby understand others.

The above points were taken from the book The Psychology of the Integral Society by Dr. Michael Laitman and Dr. Anatoly Ulianov.