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to go free! That is not the case if a person wants more Rabbi Nachman of Breslov precisely describes the nature of the
than one thing. Then his will is not truly will, because hitbodedut by means of which we attain this tremendous level. He
The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: My a person’s mind cannot host that extra will. (Otiot Deliba teaches: “At first, a person should engage in many prayers and talks
children, open for Me an opening of repentance like 105) … until he succeeds in nullifying an issue—i.e., in nullifying a trait
the eye of a needle, and I will open portals for you and craving. Afterwards, he should engage [in this] again a great
through which carriages and wagons can pass. deal … until he nullifies another trait and craving, and he should act
in that way for a long time…, until he nullifies everything.”
Shir Hashirim Rabbah, Chapter 5 The Secret of the Half Hour
That is to say, Rabbi Nachman states that if a person engages in
many prayers he will bring about a change of nature and nullify
In “One Who Is Awake at Night,” Rabbi Nachman does not his cravings. But he directs a person not to diffuse his prayers by
speak about “half an hour.” Rather, he writes that a person should addressing a number of topics. Rather, each time he should take one
pray at length for a few hours—specifically at night, and specifically
in a place where he is all alone, outside of town. But over the years, topic and invest all of his will and prayers in dealing with it until he
is effective and sees results and deliverance. Only afterwards should
Criminal Neglect as I have worked with Jews, I have seen that this is a discipline that he continue to another topic. That is the work of the will. This
is very foreign to the people of our generation. And I have seen this is the great innovation of “One Who Is Awake at Night.”
in myself as well. Since I must travel for long hours every evening to
Know that in this world there are clear principles. And there are deliver talks, by the time I come home I am exhausted, and I cannot
no mistakes, either positive or negative. All of those who blossom utilize the precious nights to pray at length. Therefore, I have found Very sadly, most people are still very far from this work—even
beautifully are those who work. Nothing is by chance or error. that I usually engage in my hour of a personal accounting during those who already engage in an hour of hitbodedut. That is why
When people work in accordance with the principles, they achieve. the day. And, because of my responsibilities to the public, I cannot even people who dedicate an hour every day to their personal
Nor are there mistakes in the opposite direction. All of those who always do this for as long as I would like. Therefore, I have had to rectification and to the work of prayer and hitbodedut do not
fall do not do so by chance. It is only because they do not work. devote no more than half an hour of that daily hour to dealing with advance (as discussed in Chapter Three, The Secret of Life). It is because
And why? Because the simple work of the will is concealed. A areas where I need to improve and progress, so that I can devote without dedicating at least half an hour to the work of the will it is
descent does not occur suddenly, "out of the blue,” “just like the remaining time to my daily personal accounting. Hashem has impossible to truly progress.
that.” A person falls because he has bad intentions that he neglects helped me to see from my own experience that if a person does
to deal with. And then one day they reveal themselves. He asks the former for half an hour, as long as he does it every day, he will Simply put, Rabbi Nachman tells each person: Every day, you
himself: “How did this happen to me? I grew up in such a good experience a great transformation. He will bring about deliverance must devote an hour to your personal work and to making a
family, and I received a good education. How did I reach such a and see great blessing—as long as he is consistent and steadfast in personal accounting. Nevertheless, you see that because of all of
low level? Why has Hashem done this to me? ‘What is this that God doing this every day. your evil inclinations and cravings you repeat many sins day after
has done to us?’ (Numbers 11:15).” The Gemara states that all of day. Therefore, in addition to a personal accounting, you must
these questions are complete foolishness, and it quotes the verse, It is important to be cognizant that there is a world of difference engage in fundamental work as well. Choose one issue and focus all
“After a person’s foolishness perverts his way, his heart is angry at between a person who does such work for half an hour a day and of your prayer only on that for an extended period of time. Your
Hashem” (Proverbs 19:3). This is not something that Hashem did. a person who does such work for a few hours every night. The imperfection in that area is due entirely to an insufficiency of prayer.
This is what the person did. A person is led in the way that he “money” with which a person can acquire immediate spiritual gains Every step forward in serving Hashem exacts a price of prayer. If
wants to go. Those who fell are those who did not work and thus is his yearnings and intentions. A person who truly wants to change you spread your prayers among many topics, you will not acquire
did not change. Everyone has bad impulses. But people who engage quickly must devote a few hours every night to engage in the work of anything. But if you devote all of your time, intent and prayers to
in the work of the will deal with them. And those who stumble the will by praying for only one thing at a time. But Rabbi Nachman a single issue, you will achieve the required amount of prayers, and
do so because they have not dealt with their bad impulses. As a of Breslov said that it is impossible to require that of people you will see an effect. In the most straightforward sense, you will
as a whole. This is not a practice that can be universally followed. nullify your evil traits and cravings. You will transform yourself, and
you will learn from your own experiences the principle that prayer