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of any topic that a person has placed before his eyes, and which Hashem (Likutei Moharan II 24). It is true that we must appreciate the
he contemplates, studies and clarifies until it grows clear and path of prayer accompanied by a broken heart and we must utilize
certain. Even if he stumbles, he knows the truth and he knows it, but we must always start with joy, and we must always return
that he stumbled. Therefore, although he failed, he is in a very to joy. Therefore, it is vital to emphasize that after you do the
good position, because he understands that he is not blameless and work of the will, having cried out to Hashem for half an hour (and
that he must rectify himself. But when the evil inclination perverts at most an hour, because Rabbi Nachman says that it is forbidden
and distorts the truth and confuses a person’s awareness, he is in to have a “broken heart” for more than an hour), you should
a very difficult position, because he does not even know that he spend the rest of the day in a state of great joy and express a great
is immersed in darkness. He has no way to rectify his situation, deal of thanks and gratitude to Hashem. And pay no attention to
because he does not understand that something in him is not all whether or not you have received what you asked for, because
right. “Every way of a person is straight in his eyes” (Proverbs 21:2). after you have presented all of your arguments to the Holy One,
blessed be He, He has His own reckonings regarding when to give
I will explain this in practical terms in accordance with the 10 you what you have asked for.
example of joy with which I began. The evil inclination clothes
itself in mitzvot and tells a person that depression and bitterness If you have not received what you prayed for, return to that
are called repentance and regret. Thus, it causes him to spend the request day after day. Every day, begin with thanks: “Thank You
entire day dejected over his sins. A person who has not learned and very much, Hashem, for bringing me before You another day and
does not know the truth, or who knows it on some level but has for wanting me to speak to You with more words as hot as burning
not truly realized it clearly, will suffer terrible desolation, which is coals regarding this matter that I am working on….” Throughout
a grave sin. In addition, he will think that he is a holy person who the day, remind and console yourself that Hashem does not owe
is repenting—whereas he is actually caught deep in the net of his you anything. But that has no place at the time of your strong
evil inclination. But when a person knows clearly that depression is prayer to Hashem, because at that time He wants you to ask Him
absolute evil—as Rabbi Nachman says, “It is the Sitra Achra and to draw close to serve Him.
Hashem, may He be blessed, hates it” (Likutei Moharan Ii 48)—he
knows the truth. Even if he does not succeed in inserting joy into his Certainly, when we engage in such prayer we bring about
heart (since that awareness is still far from his heart), he knows that salvations, and we see great changes in a short period of time.
he is in error. He wants to be happy and he is able to plead with As a result, we remember and we apply all of the Torah that we
Hashem to help him place proper awareness in his heart. learn each day. But a person cannot know what he will undergo.
It is possible that his difficulties will increase. He might experience
Thus, the first stage in the work of the will is to attain clear descents. He might grow weak and lose his drive, and his awareness
awareness by means of deep and fundamental Torah learning. That might grow dull, and so forth. But whatever happens, he must not
learning and constant daily review build a wonderful tool of the let anything bewilder him. He must know that he is proceeding on
will. That is because a person strongly desires only that which is the right path. He must be happy, persevere and go forward to
clear to him, whereas his will is very weak regarding everything the best of his ability. Every day, he should tell Hashem, “I know
about which he is doubtful. that You want me to be free of the craving for eating and from all
addictions this very day,” and he should forcefully ask to attain
Know What You Are Working On that. And the rest of the day he must not let any of his experiences
upset him. Instead, he should lovingly accept Hashem’s treatment,
Without Torah learning, clarity and basic awareness, it is which is in accordance with the profound reckonings of heaven.