Question:

I’m working for a non-profit organization devoted to helping the homeless in my neighborhood. We’ve had incredible results over the past few years, but recently I have been discouraged by what I see as unfair practices within the organization. My boss recently appointed a family member to an important position that I feel is unfair. There are others equally qualified and it's totally unfair that they were passed up for these positions.

A few of us are getting ready to speak with the board of directors about firing this man. But I am not sure if this is the best thing to do.

What do you think is the spiritual thing to do?

Answer:
What is your intention?

Are you really thinking about how this man or woman’s firing will benefit the men and women who are being fed by your organization?

We all have sound logical minds, and we are given these minds and opinions for a reason. The Light wants us to stick up for what’s right and to express our soul.
But at the same time, we always have to recognize our opinions are 1% percent based. And generally most of them create separation. Our opinions are tied to our selfish motives, unconscious as they may be, and we do not see the big picture

The Bible is made up of codes with meanings that we can apply to our life, now. There is a story in the bible that speaks to this truth.

This story takes place thousands of years ago, when the Israelites were wandering in the desert. Moses had just received God's instructions atop Mt. Sinai, and he was in the process of teaching it to the nation of Israel so that they could channel the Light of immortality for the entire world.

Moses had assigned the highest of positions to a member of his family. His own brother, Aaron, was made High Priest. Over time, this began to bother one of the tribal leaders, Korach. He was not only a wealthy, spiritual, and respected man, he was the head of the tribe of Levi, and therefore felt it was his right to be made High Priest of the nation. Moses beseeched the Light to provide an answer and in the end, Korach and the insurgents were swallowed up by the ground.

Like I said, it's a simple, straight-forward story. And that has been the way it's been told throughout history. A bad man tries to do a bad thing and it ends badly.

But, kabbalistically, it was anything but simple. The sages teach that when Korach came to argue with Moses he wasn't simply having an argument about ego, about who would have the more important job. There was a very important spiritual awakening that Korach was trying to bring about. So much so that when Korach came before Moses, the angels weren't sure whose side to be on. Imagine, even the angels didn’t know who was right!

Korach was a tremendous soul, the greatness of which we cannot even begin to fathom. And the reason why Korach allowed himself to awaken this argument with Moses was because he knew the truth of his own soul. Korach knew if his heart was awakening him to argue with Moses, it must be a true message to which he had to listen.

Even Rav Ashlag writes about the correctness of Korach’s argument. As he says, not only was Korach right, there was no logical answer to his charges.

What’s the lesson. If Korach was so right, why did he die in the end?

Korach was thinking only of himself and what he stood to gain.

When we come from the 'wrong' place - greed, selfishness, insecurity, hurt, anger - we are guaranteed to hurt others and ourselves.

Again, I am not promoting suppression, but merely a ruthless honesty as regards your intentions. And of course, there are corollary lessons here:

Why are you seeing this in the other person? What are they showing you about yourself? If the universe takes care of itself, why do you need to be the one to decide what is 'right' and 'wrong?'

But if they cause harm or separation...it's not worth it. It's just not worth it.