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changes nature. You will not need persuasion and explanations, prayers—i.e., they do not progress. They pray for many things—or result, one day, Frankenstein’s monster rises up against its maker
because you will have already seen the dramatic power of prayer in if they pray for one thing, they do so for just a few days. They do and Pandora’s box is opened.
your own life. “From my flesh I see God” (Job 19:26). not maintain their focused prayer for a sufficient amount of time to
acquire what they want. Instead, they leap from topic to topic and There is no difference between you and all of the tzaddikim.
from trait to trait. Thus, they do not gain anything. In the end, they They too had an evil inclination that they could not overcome,
despair and fall entirely from this elevated practice, ceasing the but Hashem helped them conquer it. Why did Hashem help them
If you wish, I can turn you into tzaddikim like myself. practice of hitbodedut altogether, because they do not see results. prevail when they were tested? The answer is: because they had
intent! The question arises: But everyone has intent…. After all,
However, when we spend half an hour on one topic we see results, who would want to fail? The answer is: That is correct. But they
Sichot Haran 163
and that bolsters our adherence to the entire path of hitbodedut. did the work of the will. They prayed and prayed and prayed. Who
When we do hitbodedut, for half an hour we engage in the work of is called a person who “intends”? Someone who devotes time to
the will. That half an hour of work on the will we desire to engage working every day and praying to Hashem to save him from the
in the practice of hitbodedut, and it becomes our regular practice. snare of the evil inclination, to help him attain purity, and to lead
Do Not Let Go of One or the Other him in the way of the tzaddikim. When a person does this, he builds
Rabbi Baruch Shalom Halevi Ashlag, the son of Rabbi Yehudah vessels. In this way, he overcomes his spiritual imperfections, and

It is important to emphasize the following. Clearly, an hour of Leib Ashlag, author of the Sulam, defined and summarized this in he is promised that his prayers will not return empty.
hitbodedut every day, in whatever fashion a person does it, is precise language:
something very good and a formidable achievement. A person who Hashem wants to give everyone all of the good in the world, to
does hitbodedut will attain all of the tremendous gifts promised him The difficulty preventing a person from being able to lead everyone on the straight path—the path of the tzaddikim—
and bring about extraordinary and awesome rectifications. Even pray is that his will is divided into a number of and to guard everyone from all descents. But there are spiritual
in this world, he will see a marked improvement in all areas of his components…. That is why the holy books state that principles: i.e., you must prepare vessels, engage in much prayer,
service of Hashem. when a person takes the initiative to pray regarding some and set aside time for the work of the will. Then you will receive.
topic, he should only pray for one thing. One may ask: Do not just say “I want”—that is not enough. Ask yourself: what
But only when a person does the work of the will can he attain a What is wrong with requesting two things? After, nothing will you do with this intention? Does your intention inspire you to
fundamental transformation, a literal change of his nature: success is lacking in the house of the King! But the answer is that set daily times of prayer? Every lack comes from a lack of prayer!
in nullifying his evil inclination, his evil traits and his cravings. As this advice relates to the [limitations of the] person: a If you do not engage in this, how will you change? What guarantee
Rabbi Nachman teaches, “A person should engage a great deal person only has a finite amount of will, and he must do you have? What do you put your trust in: your power? Your
in prayer and talking [to God] until he succeeds in nullifying [a character? Know that if you do not stand and plead before Hashem
problem]” (ibid.). devote the entire power of his will to the topic of his to guard you so that you will not fall, that means that you think
prayers, and not disperse his will among a few topics. that your life is under your control, and you are relying on yourself
If a person were strict about praying every day without exception and your own strength. If so, you disagree with the Gemara, which
for everything he needs, he would certainly see a marked change. Everyone has a measure of will that the Holy One, testifies that you do not have the power to conquer your evil
But since everyone goes through various phases every day, typically blessed be He, has given him in accordance with his inclination. The mishnah states, “Do not believe in yourself until
a person prays every day for different things in keeping with those needs. By way of illustration, let us say that a person the day you die” (Avot 2:4). If you truly do not want to fall, know
phases, and so he does not engage in consecutive and ongoing work possesses ten kilograms of will. If with one kilogram of that you do not possess any power of your own, and that you need
on one topic. And as mentioned above, even when he focuses on his will he wants money, with another kilogram he wants the Creator’s help at every moment. Set aside time to engage in
one topic, after a period of time he grows distracted and goes on honor, and so forth, his will is divided into a number of the work of the will. Choose a place to pray, and then Hashem will
to something else, and so he does not acquire anything. parts, each of which is weak…. A strong will is a single lead you, save you, and purify you, because Hashem “guards the
will! For instance, a person sitting in jail has only one will: feet of His pious one” (Samuel I 2:9). You too will be such a pious