Table of Contents
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to all of you who have been so generous in your giving, especially when giving was not so easy.
The words that fill the pages of this book came easily. After all, I spent my entire life preparing to write them. When the time came, I sat at the keyboard and all I had to do was type fast enough to keep up with the powerful flow of Kabbalistic concepts that have defined my existence.
I find myself overwhelmed, unable to find the language to articulate my gratitude to the men and women who have continuously supported the mission of The Kabbalah Centre. In fact, I cannot think of a single word that coveys the deep sense of appreciation I feel for those who have directly contributed to the explosive growth of Kabbalistic wisdom in the world.
The Zohar teaches that sharing in a way that encourages others to become beings of sharing is the highest form of giving. The many men and women who direct their contributions to The Kabbalah Centre are doing just that. They are participating in something so big that it is transforming the world; and, at the same time, they are creating a place in their own lives where true prosperity can exist.
The manifestation of your giving has made this book possible. You are bringing Light to our world and, in turn, to your own lives.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank the many people who have made this book possible.
First and foremost, Rav and Karen Berg, my parents and teachers. I will be forever thankful for your continual guidance, wisdom, and unconditional support. I am just one of the many whom you have touched with your love and wisdom.
Michael Berg, my brother, for your constant support and friendship, and for your vision and strength. Your presence in my life inspires me to become the best that I can be.
My wife, Michal, for your love and commitment; for your silent power; for your beauty, clarity, and uncomplicated ways. You are the strong foundation that gives me the security to soar.
David, Moshe, Channa, and Yakov, the precious gifts in my life who remind me every day how much there is to be done to ensure that tomorrow will be better than today.
Billy Phillips, one of my closest friends, for your help in making this book possible. The contribution you make to The Kabbalah Centre every day and in so many ways is appreciated far more than you could possibly know.
To Paul Wolfe for sharing your gift in the pursuit of bringing Kabbalah to the marketplace as The Zohar says, for all people to learn.
To Hyun Lee, Christian Witkin, and Esther Sibilia, whose contributions made the physical quality and integrity of everything we do live up to the spiritual heritage of this incredible wisdom that has been passed on to me by my father, Rav Berg.
I want to thank Rich Freese, Eric Kettunen, and all the team at PGW for their vision and support. Your proactive efficiency gives us the confidence to produce more and more books on Kabbalah so that the world can benefit from this amazing wisdom.
To all the Chevre at The Kabbalah Centres worldwidethe evenings we share together in study fuel my passion to bring the power of Kabbalah to the world. You are a part of me and my family no matter where you might be.
To the students who study Kabbalah all over the world your desire to learn, to improve your lives, and to share with the world is an inspiration. The miracles I hear from you every day make everything I do worthwhile.
WHAT IS TRUE PROSPERITY?
Heres a fascinating question (or rather a few of them): Why do so many sincere people invest in books and courses on money, investing, real estate, successand yet at the end of the day, so few people really achieve it?
Why is it that the people who make the most money out of so-called money-making courses are the people who sell the courses?
And why is it that people who actually seem to achieve success pay such a high price for itin terms of their relationships, their families, and their health?
The answer to all these questions lies in the fact that what people truly want, deep down in the farthest reaches of their chromosomes, isnt to be successful. Instead, they want to be fulfilled. And by that I mean deeply and truly fulfilledbrimming with joy, satisfaction, prosperity, and the feeling of having earned it all.
Money by itself, even tankers full of it, is a poor substitute for that fulfillment. Sure, money is greatand dont worry, because by the time you finish this book, youll be well on your way to having a great deal of it. But the fulfillment Im talking about here is something I call True Prosperity.
Well, whats untrue prosperity?
The kind of success that usually passes for prosperity in this world is based on compromiseon having one thing but giving up another. Its success with side effects: You make a lot of money, but you give up time with your kids. Or you make even more money than that, but youre depressed because you lack serenity. Or you make oodles of moneyyoure practically swimming in the stuffbut you earn it by lying, cheating, stealing, and walking over a bridge built of human bodies (and you wonder why you dont sleep well at night).
None of these situations, especially the last one, creates true prosperitybecause true prosperity is a condition in which you have everything. You have all the money you could ever want, plus the time to be a little league coach and a roving photographer at childrens birthday parties. You run a business that propels itself from one success to another, but you also have joyous connections with the people in your lifeyour friends, your employees, your colleagues, and even your business competitors.
The secret is that true prosperity is really what each of us was put on earth to achieve. And thats the key word here: achieve. You achieve prosperity not because youre smart or lucky, or because you so ruthlessly pillaged your competition, but because you followed the rules of the universe.
THE RULES OF THE UNIVERSE FOR HARD-HEADED BUSINESS TYPES
If you look at life as a business, the original business plan can be said to have been written 4000 years ago by a group of ancient business consultants known as kabbalists. And their plan, which is now contained in the worlds oldest wisdomKabbalahunraveled the mysteries of life and of the universe. It explained in detail the spiritual and physical laws that govern the human soul. Thats quite a business plan! And if mysteries of life and discussions of the soul sound like religion to you, bear in mind that numerous scientific giants throughout history would beg to differ.
Pythagoras studied Kabbalah. Sir Isaac Newtons Zoharthe principal text of Kabbalahnow sits under glass at Oxford University. Gottfried Leibniz, who introduced calculus to the world, considered Kabbalah the blueprint to reality. Philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment in Europe found within the teachings of Kabbalah a pure fountain of long-lost ancient wisdom.
So what makes this book different is that its not just another book about making money that offers some insights and then sends you on your way.
