Kosher food and the bus of humanity

Imagine you’re riding on a bus filled with all kinds of people—rich, poor, strong, old, and weak. Along the way, the bus gets stuck in a muddy ditch. Everyone decides to push the bus out. When everyone puts their shoulders to it, some just pretend to push, thinking others will do the work, believing they’ll get a free ride without contributing—smart, perhaps, but not wise.

If you believe this attitude doesn’t exist, just look around. Able-bodied individuals stay on government assistance longer than necessary, feeling entitled. Then there are those who avoid paying taxes, thinking they’re clever, much like Donald Trump. Metaphorically, humanity is like this spiritual bus; it moves forward only when everyone pitches in. If you avoid reciprocity, you miss the essence of human life, which is to give and receive.

God grants life, and in return, we keep the divine essence alive through our actions. No group—whether family, community, or nation—can provide life; only God can, in the realm of spirituality, if we understand it.

Our education often teaches us to do less to gain more or exploit the system, whether through family, community, or society. This business mentality neglects the principle of reciprocity. While this approach might make one successful in business, it raises questions about their moral character as a human being. Whether it’s individuals exploiting one another or politics exploiting humanity and its beliefs—religions, nations, races, and genders—all engage in a transactional mindset.

Now, picture everyone pretending to push the bus out of the ditch, but no one is really pushing. It won’t budge. If only some push while others slack off, those who are pushing will struggle, surrounded by those who think themselves clever for not helping. Ultimately, it’s about your relationship with yourself; on your deathbed, you’ll judge yourself based on your own actions. Living with guilt and regret suggests you haven’t fully embraced your role as a CEO of your own life; you’ve let others dictate your choices.

Self-understanding is a form of wisdom that allows self-regulation, eliminating the need for external guidance. Your inner happiness and contentment are vital; as a mortal CEO, they define your success.

If your group’s teachings prioritize taking more than giving, and you apply this philosophy to every aspect of life, remember: if everyone cheats, the bus won’t move forward.

One might argue, “Why should I reciprocate if there’s no God?” It’s not about others or God; it’s about you. You inhabit your mortal body and must answer for your honest, spiritual living.

Success is meaningless without health and happiness. Inner peace depends not only on physical health but also emotional and spiritual well-being.

Recently, news highlighted famine in Sudan; people are dying from hunger. The United Nations seeks aid, attributing the crisis to drought and water scarcity.

In neighboring oil-rich countries, pipelines carry oil, not water, despite the suffering. Islam states, “If your neighbor goes hungry, your food is not blessed.” Today, it’s not just hunger but starvation and drought. Many predominantly Muslim countries understand this spiritually, yet they fall prey to political interpretations of religion. They wage war, chanting “God is great” from both sides, dying with pride. Something is amiss. Only personal reflection can reveal how our political affiliations impact our spirituality.

When neighbors starve, political religions forfeit their spiritual essence. Meanwhile, Christian charities provide aid but often proselytize. True spiritual acts are void of ulterior motives and political agendas, transcending religious denominations. The proverb about feeding neighbors wasn’t about religion—it was about compassion. Our downfall is embracing a dog-eat-dog ethos or disregarding what’s right. We pretend to help, but without genuine effort, human spirituality stagnates.