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And as a person engages in the work of the will on a fundamental We are all very familiar with the fact that in order to receive a other sweets, the craving for eating takes hold of him, he cannot
level, he uses his will to contemplate that it is not food that gives university degree a person must spend a number of years learning control himself, and he forgets about all of the dangers. He does
life. Rather, only Hashem gives life. He then acquires the simple and receiving training. A person with only a slight understanding not see the doctors, he does not see his situation, he does not see
faith that Hashem can give life even if he only eats a little. As the of healing is not called a doctor; a person with only a slight the grave results of his actions, he does not see all of his friends
verse states, “The righteous man eats to satiate his appetite, but the understanding of law is not called a lawyer. A person must make and relatives who died from diabetes or who suffer terribly from
stomach of the wicked shall feel want” (Proverbs 13:25). A person a long-term investment, and only after he proceeds on the entire the disease. He does not see anything. He only wants to satisfy his
who eats with faith and without cravings lives even with very little path does he receive his degree and title. In academic learning, not craving. And after he does so, he is sensible of the evil inclination
food. But when a person eats because he is driven by cravings, then everyone is accepted into the program and not everyone receives having deceived him, and he views himself as lacking character and
even all the food in the world will not suffice to satiate his cravings, the title. And even a person who has a title will not necessarily find lacking self-control. Nevertheless, in the next test, when craving
and he will always feel empty and lacking. work. But in the work of the will, everyone is equal and everyone again surges up within him, he forgets everything. Again and again,
attains the goal! “Hashem is close to all who call out to Him” (Psalms he falls prey to his craving. And so it is with all cravings and with
Moreover, bear in mind that not only does overeating not give 145:18). Whoever commits himself to engage in a daily meeting all addictions.
life, but it diminishes a person’s life. This is well-known from the with the Creator of the world and does so steadily, every day, will
medical literature—principally, the book of the great leader of certainly receive the title, whoever he may be, and he will succeed In our generation, the craving for eating has grown extremely
Israel, the Rambam, who was also the greatest of physicians: “A in being led until he reaches his place and his purpose. powerful. One of the plagues of the generation is the obesity that
person should not eat to such an extent that his belly is filled…. results in a profusion of problems of body and soul: diabetes, heart
Most diseases that afflict a person result either from bad food or To Bring about a Change problems, spiritual difficulties and impaired functionality. People
from the fact that he fills his belly and eats in a coarse manner, even are so broken, depressed and hopeless that they are beguiled by the
if he eats good foods. This is in keeping with the statement that This is a point that is very important to internalize. Ask any magical nostrums of all sorts of diets. Many charlatans exploit this
Solomon made in his wisdom: ‘A person who guards his mouth person, “Do you want to know and keep the entire Torah?” He will situation in order to grow rich at the expense of these unfortunate
and his tongue guards himself from troubles’ (Proverbs 21:23). That people, and sell them preparations and books. All of these lead
refers to a person who guards his mouth from eating bad food or tell you, “Yes, certainly.” “Do you want a holy mouth, holy eyes, them astray, because there is no magic solution. All there is here
to be constantly joyful, to have good traits and be at peace? Do
from overeating, and [who guards] his tongue from speaking of you want to stop smoking?” Yes, certainly. Everyone wants these is the craving of the evil inclination—which, the Gemara testifies,
anything besides what is necessary…” (Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Dei’ot things. Then why doesn’t everyone succeed? There is a spiritual a person lacks the power to overcome. If a person does not learn
4). And it is stated in Likutei Moharan I 257: “When a person eats principle, a spiritual law, that a person is led in the way that he the principles and perform the work described in this book, nothing
more than he needs, that food harms him…. When he eats more will help him.
than he needs, that food cannot receive vitality from him, since the wants to go. That law never changes! If so, why doesn’t everyone
succeed in learning and keeping the entire Torah? Why doesn’t
person does not need that food…. The food seeks vitality to give everyone attain all of the highest spiritual levels? The final surrender to the craving for eating is bariatric surgery,
itself life, and it extracts the life force of that person, and in that an operation that reduces the size of the stomach. That is the stage
way it harms him. As a result, even other foods join with it and Without a doubt, these people simply do not possess sufficient will. at which the sufferer has thrown up his hands in despair. After so
harm him.” That is to say, either you receive life from food or the Every intention is important and precious, but not every intention many failed attempts, he finally reaches the Gemara’s conclusion
food receives life from you. When you overeat, not only do you can bring about a change, because not every intent triggers the that he lacks the power to overcome his evil inclination. But he
not receive life from the superfluous food, but even the food that spiritual principle that “in the way that a person wishes to go, he only learns half of the conclusion, because the other half is that “if
you require harms you. is led.” In order to be led from heaven, a person must earn the not for the fact that the Holy One, blessed be He, helps him, he
title of “wants.” And in order to attain that title, he must set aside could not overcome it.” He only realizes half of the truth—that by
When we do the work of the will, we must strengthen ourselves time every day to apply his will. That is the point that we must himself he does not have the power to succeed—and he thus tries
with an abundance of faith that only Hashem and not food grants understand and implement. That is the tool by means of which to overcome his craving by force, by eliminating his ability to make
life and happiness. As a result, we earn in multiple ways: we leave choices via an operation to reduce the size of his stomach.
everyone can be said to “want” and to be a “master of will.” Then
heaven leads him. As a result, he will truly change within. It makes When people consult me about whether to undergo this