The pursuit of happiness, which is our society’s great obsession, often leads to the opposite result: disappointment. We judge everything by whether it makes us happy, our relationships, jobs, homes, bodies, and diets. If something fails to bring us happiness,…
In May 2019, a 16-year-old girl in Malaysia tragically took her own life after posting an Instagram poll asking her followers to choose between life or death. The poll question was “Really Important, Help Me Choose D/L,” where D stood for death…
A big dog saw a puppy chasing its tail and asked, “Why are you running in circles?” The puppy replied, “I have studied philosophy, solved the mysteries of the universe, and learned that the best thing for a dog is…
Scientists predict that in the coming 50 to 100 years, humanity will face major challenges, such as: Genetic modification: By 2050, advances in genetic engineering may allow people to enhance themselves and their children in ways previously only imagined in science…
Scientific attempts to define happiness often rely on external indicators such as high average income, low unemployment, economic freedom, and an open labor market. Yet, despite these seemingly favorable conditions, true happiness remains elusive. Even generous social welfare benefits and…
Experiencing suffering from wars or natural disasters does not grant us the ultimate choice that we need to make: free choice. In such cases, we simply submit to the blows, which is no free choice. Nature is specifically interested in…
For suffering to have a purpose, it must lead to a result. Otherwise, we will simply channel it into literature, music, or other creative expressions. Many great works of art are born from suffering, but beyond artistic expression, suffering forces…
Baal HaSulam, the greatest and most renowned Kabbalist of the 20th century, wrote about the possibility of a Third and even a Fourth World War. For instance, in his “Writings of the Last Generation,” he wrote: “There are two ways…
Imagine being able to control the storyline of your own life, just like in a movie that adapts based on audience reactions. Many might find this idea fascinating, but only an extremely egoistic person would think about controlling the world…
The formula for human progress is very simple: negative experiences push us toward positive transformation. If we feel something is truly obstructing us, then we make a shift toward something better. It is the law of negation: we move forward…
Throughout history, the Jewish people have never truly listened to the call for unity. Time and again, sages and great scholars arose in every generation, urging the people to unite. Yet, they did not listen. But the sages never gave…
Indeed, in today’s world it seems that we become happy by making others less happy. This is the nature of our ego, our desire to enjoy at the expense of others. It measures our happiness in comparison to others. We…