The world would be nearly the same, other than America of course, which would look and feel completely different. America would be more like a Western European nation, such as France, Germany and England.
On one hand, America would be more closed off than it is today. On the other hand, we need to understand that nature unfolds according to a set plan, and it advances the world to a state of equilibrium. There is thus no point in discussing history in a subjunctive fashion, because the development we have undergone is absolute. We need to say that what happened yesterday had to have happened, and it could not have happened in any other way. Also, we should never regret the past, but on the contrary, we should always think and act with the present and the future in mind.
Regretting a particular course of historical events is an unhealthy, ineffective and detrimental approach to life. Why? It is because the unfolding of history is set in stone, and everything that has happened was for a very specific purpose—to guide us to a final state of balance with nature. Therefore, we would be much better off if, from this moment on, we adjust ourselves in a manner of “If I am not for myself, then who is for me?” and say in relation to the past that, “There is none else besides Him,” i.e. that nature enacted everything exactly as it needed to. We cannot change the way we have developed to this current point, and we should thus not focus on it.
Therefore, we have nothing to regret about the past. If we look back into the past with such an approach, then we become like the wife of Lot, who turned into a pillar of salt, having gained absolutely nothing by doing so.
We should thus focus on our future. What does a positive future for humanity look like? If we concentrate on building a positive future for ourselves and nature, then we will reach the conclusion that only by reaching the understanding of the laws of nature, knowing how nature works, and observing these laws, then we will be on course to realizing a much better future for all.
Based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
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