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In Mortal Danger The Ramchal testifies that this is easy advice that bears much Request forgiveness for the things that were not in keeping with
fruit, that it is the greatest and most useful advice. Moreover, not His will, and seek help from now on in all material and spiritual
I took the name of this person to pray that Hashem will soon only is it the most useful, but there is no other way. None! As he matters—in particular, in all matters that involve serving Hashem—
bring him to repent fully. And I sincerely thanked my student for writes in The Path of the Just (Chapter 3): in --where you need His help. That is all. Regarding this, Rabbi
this painful story that wounded my heart. I was already familiar Nachman said (Likutei Moharan II 25):
with this distressing reality. Even before I heard this terrible story, I see the need for a person to be meticulous and weigh
my heart had been on fire to infuse the wondrous way of the work his actions every day, like the great merchants who Hitbodedut is on a high level. It is greater than anything
of the will into the hearts of the Jewish people. But after this story, constantly evaluate all of their business dealings so that else. In this practice, a person sets aside a minimum
my heart flamed many times more. I realized that this is a matter of they will not deteriorate. He should set aside time of an hour to isolate himself in a room or a field and
saving lives. Our present generation faces an existential daily danger, for this so that his evaluation will not be haphazard, speak to his Creator. He uses logic and arguments, and
without the slightest drop of exaggeration! In this generation, every but very regular, because that yields great results. he expresses gracious words of appeasement to ask and
man, whether single or married, who does not engage in a half Our sages, may their memory be for a blessing, taught request Him, may He be blessed, to truly bring him close
hour of the work of the will on gaining holiness, on guarding his us explicitly the need for this accounting. They said, may to Him and serve Him.
eyes, and on entirely nullifying the craving of licentiousness is in
tremendous danger. their memory be for a blessing, “‘Therefore, say the
rulers, Let us enter into an accounting’ (Numbers 21:27). This prayer and speech should be in a person’s native
On the other hand, a person who does this minimal work, who This may be read as: Therefore, say those who rule over tongue…, because it is relatively easy and simple for
stands every day before Hashem for half an hour and arouses strong their evil inclinations, Come and let us consider the a person to break his heart in his own language. That
intentions and pleads with all his heart not to stumble over any of reckoning of the world: the loss incurred by a mitzvah is because his heart is involved and more accessible…,
the impediments that exist in this generation, will at least—even if compared to its reward, and the reward of a transgression since he is used to that language…. Thus, he can express
he does not succeed in being perfectly clean—keep from pursuing compared to its loss…” (Bava Batra 78b). everything in his speech. He should speak and tell Him,
sins. He will not put himself into challenging situations. He will may He be blessed, everything that is in his heart—
not have an unfiltered internet or unfiltered smartphone. That is And only those who are no longer controlled by whether regret and repentance over the past or request
because he cries out every day to Hashem to rescue him from their evil inclination but who rule over it can offer and pleading to be able to truly come close to Him,
forbidden matters that come to him against his will. Is it conceivable this true advice and recognize its truth. However, if may He be blessed, from this day onward, and the like—
that such a person will consciously transgress and sin? In truth, as I a person is still imprisoned in the jail of his evil inclination, everyone on his level.
wrote in Chapter Three, if a person regularly does the work of the
will every day, not only is he saved from purposefully transgressing, his eyes do not see this truth and he cannot recognize it, A person should be very careful to accustom himself
but he will receive heavenly assistance and he will be able to attain because the evil inclination literally blinds his eyes. He is to engage in this practice regularly for a designated hour
high and awesome levels. Even if he does not initially see results, like someone walking in the dark with stumbling blocks
his efforts are appreciated as being the maximum that he can do. before him, which his eyes do not see…. But those who every day, and the rest of the day he should be happy.
Therefore, heaven will guard him from transgressing, and he will rule over their evil inclination, those who have already This practice is extremely great. It is an excellent and
have no judgments against him—neither in this world nor in the emerged from the paths and clearly see all of the paths commendable method to come close to Him, may He
world-to-come. And if he remains persistent, he will certainly attain before their eyes, can advise a person who wants to be blessed. It is a universal, recommended practice that
the complete rectification of the “covenant” and rectification of the listen, and we must believe them. And what counsel do includes everything. A person should speak and plead
“foundation,” so that he will be entirely cleansed of this craving. they give us? “Let us enter into an accounting—come with Him, may He be blessed, regarding everything that
and let us consider the reckoning of the world.” That is he lacks in his service of Hashem, or even if he is entirely
because they have already experienced, seen and known far, completely removed, from serving Him, may He be
blessed.