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We have a tendency to assume that others think, feel, sense and are as insensitive or sensitive as we are.
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If God wanted we would all feel the truth through every sinew, fiber, cell and atom in our bodies, but he preferred that we should see it through our mind’s eye, in moments of reflection of wonderment and ultimately in utter astonishment, as Einstein would often say that his religion is the tiny bit of nature he comprehends of which he is in awe of.
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One of the unique things about Jewish mysticism is, what I call spiritual science; in other words, many philosophies, religions, ideas are out there, but only one that actually works can be considered to be true. A faith that one needs to get to heaven to see if one was right or wrong can be well, a lifetime investment gone awry. Jewish mysticism quite simply says the following: There are meditations that when cogitated i.e. deeply contemplated, thought, and integrated as part of your belief system will change your life for the better. These meditations are first and foremost that everything is in essence God, for the entire universe is constantly being recreated – every second in fact – by God who refreshes if you would, every atom (as atoms pop in and out of existence) continuously. So what is more real, what we experience or the harddrive that gives us our experience. Furthermore by thanking God for continuous creation an exhilarating unity – as all is God – penetrates our consciousness, which gives us the inspiration to overcome lethargy and even sadness, ultimately beating our negative instincts (which come to the fore when we are down and looking for a quick high,) and hailing a universal era of peace and harmony for when we are happy we reach out, share, care, love and forgive.
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One of the most inspiring stories I ever read was from Rabbi Drizen who went to Russia to visit his shtetel where his ancestors were buried. Taking the seventeen hour drive from Moscow with a Ukrainian driver who chatted incessantly he must have enjoyed the tranquility of cemetery; then he told the driver he would like to see if there are any Jews in the town. He almost gave up but the driver didn’t. They found one old Jewish grandmother who had a grandchild with her. She invited him in and they chatted over a cup of tea for five minutes and he left. Suddenly the messiah came – well almost, his driver was in quite contemplation for close to an hour – when all good things cant last forever – “You know, one day I will emigrate to America” he said. “Okay” said Rabbi Drizen; “and there I will bring together my fellow Ukrainians living in America and I will give them a free round of drinks in a bar.” “Sounds good.” And then with a more sober tone in his voice he said “we will go home and I and them have nothing in common but you and that babushkah are family.”
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What could be easier to give thanks to an almighty beneficent Creator who in his great love bestows every single thing you have and to simply adhere to his gentle ways and yet nothing but nothing could be harder for the very essence of man (men in particular) desires recognition for supposed greatness and hence the epic struggle between maker and made, creator and created, fashioner and fashioned, true existence vs. perceptual existence was unleashed in mans creation. Though in his own interest – man seeks glory instead of truth, honor instead of humility – and when we realize the folly of this path the messiah has come.
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Those who speak the truth assume that others (whom they see as humans and hence identify with) also speak truth and hence sometimes incorporate unnecessary shame e.g. Arab claims of stealing land which they never owned – antisemetic libels etc.
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