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That is the faith that Hashem wants to rescue us, save us and heal I had swallowed—“Master of the universe, You have out of his mind. He did not allow them to enter his mind
us. Without full faith in this, our prayers will be very weak. to rescue me!” at all, but he remained very strong and firm. He would
continue acting in the way that he had chosen for some
Wholeness of will makes it possible for a person to cry out to I really hope that no one will ever experience what I time. Afterwards, with the passage of time, after a few
Hashem from the heart. But in order for that outcry to be complete, went through. Everyone can understand that it is hard weeks had passed, he would review and decide the next
he must have wholeness of faith, because (as I have explained at to describe the feelings I had in those fateful moments.
length elsewhere) a person’s prayer is accepted in accordance with An outcry like that, the feelings in my heart that I had practice to implement. When this long period of time
his faith, since “faith is prayer” (Likutei Moharan I 9). The more had passed, he would consider and choose some other
whole a person’s faith, the more effective is his prayer. “Complete then—I had never felt anything like that in all my life. way and discipline, as appeared proper to him then. But
prayer” is an outcome of wholeness of faith. When a person’s faith Thank God, right after I cried out, I felt something push he did not allow himself to be distracted so as to move
is whole, his prayer is strong and absolute. It has powerful intent. me strongly from behind. It was a large wave, which lifted frequently from one way of service to another, from
me up and threw me onto the shore. My friend, who was one approach to another. Rather, he would be strong in
What does wholeness of faith mean? Regarding the basic principles beginning to worry, ran up to me, and when he saw that proceeding on one path for an extended period of time.
of faith, everyone is equal. It is clear to everyone that there is I was exhausted and almost blue, he immediately called
no other than Hashem, that only Hashem can rescue us, and that for medical assistance. I received treatment, and with Continue on Your Way
there is no other being to turn to, that our sole counsel is to pray Hashem’s kindness, I quickly recovered.
and cry out to Hashem. However, that is not yet wholeness of
faith. Wholeness of faith means that you believe that Hashem Rabbi Nachman knew that he would not succeed in actualizing his
loves you and wants to rescue you, and that it makes no A Complete Prayer intentions unless he was strong and consistent with a powerful will
difference whether or not you are worthy! You believe in for a length of time that he had chosen. Even if he attained new
Hashem’s compassion, in Hashem’s love for you as you are. This story amazed and inspired me. At that moment, Hashem insights and came to new understandings indicating that he should
It makes no difference what you have done. You believe in opened my heart and illuminated my understanding. This story act in a different way, and even if he knew with a certainty
Hashem’s will to save you. provided me with the explanation of this Gemara. Through it, I that the new way in serving Hashem that he thought of was an
received an answer to a great many questions and the explanation improvement, he nevertheless knew that he must not change the
The student who almost drowned and cried out to Hashem, of a great many issues (as I will discuss below). I thought about discipline that he had set for himself. Why? Because he knew that
“You have to rescue me!” expressed the faith that Hashem wants these matters a great deal, reviewing them again and again in order if he did so there would be no end to the matter. If today he
to save everyone and give everyone life. He had a very strong will to clarify and elucidate them. I discovered a wonderful secret in would change in accordance with his present-day understanding,
because he was in a life-threatening situation. And that constitutes them, one of the secrets of Creation. And after the great secrets tomorrow he again would change his service in accordance with the
the wholeness of the will (as will be explained). He sensed the truth that I have already revealed to you in this book, I would like (with understanding that he would have tomorrow.
and believed that Hashem wants him to live (as will be explained the help of heaven) to share an additional secret with you that
at length). As a result, he attained the perfect prayer about which completes the picture. It is the crowning touch, and everything As a result, he would not deal with any topic on a fundamental
the Gemara speaks—the prayer that is certainly accepted and depends on it. Listen and you will be invigorated! level, and he would not achieve anything. Therefore, he told
effective—and such a prayer immediately tears up every heavenly himself: “It is true that I understand that there are more important
judgment in all situations, literally. Know that there are various levels of prayer, there are various things that I could be working on. But things change constantly:
levels of intent. In order for your prayer to be completely effective, every day I will understand and know new things. The idea that
I contemplated these matters and prayed a great deal to Hashem two central characteristics are needed: wholeness of faith and I should keep switching the focus of my work is the counsel of
to illuminate my eyes, and Hashem helped me see that the case of wholeness of will. In the cases that the Gemara describes and in the evil inclination, whose purpose is to keep me from acquiring
this student in distress who cried out, “Hashem, You must rescue the case of my student who almost drowned, there was certainly anything. I will do better to continue working on my present goals
me!” involved a great deal in terms of the complete faith that I wholeness of will—all of these people wanted to live. But in order until I achieve them. As I do this, I will gain many insights and a
am speaking about here. That is because Hashem wants to rescue for a person’s prayer be complete, he also needs wholeness of faith. great deal of understanding. And after a few months, when I have

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