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Then you will no longer need any explanations, because you will That is the faith that Hashem wants to rescue us, save us and heal I had swallowed—“Master of the universe, You have
see changes occurring right before your eyes. us. Without full faith in this, our prayers will be very weak. to rescue me!”
This is like explaining the taste of ice cream to a person who Wholeness of will makes it possible for a person to cry out to I really hope that no one will ever experience what I
has never in his life eaten ice cream. You can explain it to him for Hashem from the heart. But in order for that outcry to be complete, went through. Everyone can understand that it is hard
hours, but he will not understand. Even if he thinks he understands, he must have wholeness of faith, because (as I have explained at to describe the feelings I had in those fateful moments.
he does not really understand. But let him taste once, and he will length elsewhere) a person’s prayer is accepted in accordance with An outcry like that, the feelings in my heart that I had
immediately understand everything, and he will not need any his faith, since “faith is prayer” (Likutei Moharan I 9). The more
explanations. The same applies to the work of the will. “Taste and whole a person’s faith, the more effective is his prayer. “Complete then—I had never felt anything like that in all my life.
see that Hashem is good” (Psalms 34:4). A person who meets with prayer” is an outcome of wholeness of faith. When a person’s faith Thank God, right after I cried out, I felt something push
the Creator every day and dedicates time to the will sees, feels and is whole, his prayer is strong and absolute. It has powerful intent. me strongly from behind. It was a large wave, which lifted
understands this in the clearest way. But if a person does not do so, me up and threw me onto the shore. My friend, who was
no amount of explanations will help him. What does wholeness of faith mean? Regarding the basic principles beginning to worry, ran up to me, and when he saw that
of faith, everyone is equal. It is clear to everyone that there is I was exhausted and almost blue, he immediately called
To summarize: everyone must every day engage in the no other than Hashem, that only Hashem can rescue us, and that for medical assistance. I received treatment, and with
work of making a personal accounting, repenting, giving there is no other being to turn to, that our sole counsel is to pray Hashem’s kindness, I quickly recovered.
thanks and praying. That is the most wondrous advice in the and cry out to Hashem. However, that is not yet wholeness of
world. But the main jewel in the crown is the work of the faith. Wholeness of faith means that you believe that Hashem
will. During the time of hitbodedut, you must dedicate at loves you and wants to rescue you, and that it makes no A Complete Prayer
least half an hour a day to pray to attain one goal until you difference whether or not you are worthy! You believe in
see fundamental changes. Hashem’s compassion, in Hashem’s love for you as you are. This story amazed and inspired me. At that moment, Hashem
It makes no difference what you have done. You believe in opened my heart and illuminated my understanding. This story
Hashem’s will to save you. provided me with the explanation of this Gemara. Through it, I
received an answer to a great many questions and the explanation
Mark the Target The student who almost drowned and cried out to Hashem, of a great many issues (as I will discuss below). I thought about
“You have to rescue me!” expressed the faith that Hashem wants these matters a great deal, reviewing them again and again in order
Rabbi Nachman described the spiritual work that he engaged in to save everyone and give everyone life. He had a very strong will to clarify and elucidate them. I discovered a wonderful secret in
as a youth (Likutei Moharan II 115): because he was in a life-threatening situation. And that constitutes them, one of the secrets of Creation. And after the great secrets
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
He related that he encouraged himself a great deal in and believed that Hashem wants him to live (as will be explained the help of heaven) to share an additional secret with you that
his spiritual practice and he allowed nothing at all to at length). As a result, he attained the perfect prayer about which completes the picture. It is the crowning touch, and everything
depends on it. Listen and you will be invigorated!
the Gemara speaks—the prayer that is certainly accepted and
disturb him. His approach was to choose some upright effective—and such a prayer immediately tears up every heavenly
practice in serving Hashem. He would then begin to judgment in all situations, literally. Know that there are various levels of prayer, there are various
implement that practice and way that he had chosen. He levels of intent. In order for your prayer to be completely effective,
implemented this practice for a period of time. Whenever I contemplated these matters and prayed a great deal to Hashem two central characteristics are needed: wholeness of faith and
he had any thoughts that distracted him from acting in 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
that way so that he would act in another way, he would this student in distress who cried out, “Hashem, You must rescue the case of my student who almost drowned, there was certainly
not heed these thoughts at all, but he would push them 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
am speaking about here. That is because Hashem wants to rescue for a person’s prayer be complete, he also needs wholeness of faith.
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