| Human society has developed to a point where it is | | | | the other parts need without any thought or calculation |
| able to observe its integrated nature. The current | | | | of the possible return. For example, plants consume |
| global financial crisis demonstrates that we are all part | | | | carbon dioxide to survive and emit oxygen. Animals do |
| of one system from which no country or individual is | | | | the exact opposite. Each gets what it needs, and |
| separated. The crisis is a result of the egoistical and | | | | provides what the other needs. Man, on the other |
| unbalanced relationships of humanity. The only cure to | | | | hand, is concerned only with consuming as much as |
| the crisis is to understand the interdependence of the | | | | possible and goes through extensive calculations to |
| human system and try to bring it into balance with | | | | figure out how to do so to the greatest extent |
| nature. Nature is an integrated system that lives in | | | | possible. He only gives back to the system when there |
| perfect balance because it acts within the principles of | | | | is a reason to do so – he has to get something out |
| love and bestowal. Humanity will also find balance | | | | of the deal. |
| when it operates within these principles. | | | | Since we operate only from the ego, we have no |
| Human society has developed from small family units | | | | concept of true bestowal or giving. The closest we |
| to large nations, and from independent nations to the | | | | come are acts of charity or self-sacrifice, but even |
| new global age. In this global age each country is | | | | these are egoistic in intent. Giving to charity generally |
| connected and dependent on the others for its | | | | makes one feel better that they are helping someone |
| livelihood. In the past, a small farmer was able to | | | | else, or that they are doing the “right” thing. From |
| completely care for his own needs, without a sense of | | | | a societal perspective, these acts can be beneficial, |
| connection to the rest of the world. The present | | | | but they are still egoistic in that the person doing the |
| situation is completely opposite to that. Not even the | | | | giving only does so to get something out of it. How |
| richest and most powerful countries can survive | | | | many people would donate to an organization they |
| without a connection to the rest of the world, due to | | | | knew nothing about or did not agree with? It makes no |
| the global nature of exporting and importing of goods. | | | | sense in our human sensibilities, yet this is what |
| The global financial crisis started in the most developed | | | | happens all the time in the rest of nature. Acts of |
| and integrated nation: the United States, then quickly | | | | self-sacrifice are the same, although even more subtle. |
| spread to every other nation in the world. No market | | | | In these cases, a determination is made (generally |
| and no nation is immune because in these times, we | | | | unconscious) that the pain involved in the sacrifice is |
| reveal the truth of our nature: that we are each | | | | preferable to the pain that would be felt if by not |
| interrelated parts of one whole. | | | | making the sacrifice. This is not meant to minimize |
| The truth of our interconnection is revealed by these | | | | these acts: these calculations are an inherent part of |
| global events, but what is also revealed is our | | | | our human nature. But true bestowal operates without |
| discordance with nature. Humanity relates to each | | | | any self-consideration. It works toward the greatest |
| other through its ego, but when relationships are | | | | good, with each part being cared for in order to |
| egoistic, there is no balance. The human ego only | | | | develop the whole system. |
| wants to feed and serve itself, to the greatest extent | | | | It is time for humanity to come to balance with nature. |
| imaginable. When each person relates to every other | | | | In fact, nature will push us that way as inevitably as |
| person with his ego, there is no mutual give and take. | | | | gravity pulls us to the earth. We can either achieve this |
| There is only “take,” which is impossible to | | | | balance through our own choice and work, or we can |
| maintain on a long-term basis. | | | | come to balance through crisis and pain. The quicker |
| In the current global social system, we are | | | | and more joyful way to balance is for each of us to |
| experiencing the final result of a global egoistical | | | | examine our own ego and observe how much we |
| relationship. Each nation, each bank, and each individual | | | | use everyone around us for our own benefit. Once |
| only looks out for its own needs. The result of this | | | | we can truly see the depth of our ego, we can begin |
| type of relationship is the global crisis that that we are | | | | to transform our egoistic nature to match the altruistic |
| currently witnessing. | | | | nature surrounding us. For humanity, this is reflected in |
| If we observe nature without the influence of humanity, | | | | the rule to “love the other as the self.” When |
| we see a perfectly balanced system. Nothing | | | | we are able to bestow on a large scale, the world will |
| consumes more than it needs and nothing is wasted. In | | | | become a balanced and beautiful place, where each |
| fact, each part of the system naturally provides what | | | | part is healthy and happy. |