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2. The advantages of mastering the topic. purpose of bringing him close to Hashem. That faith aids him in the day, then eventually that will certainly bear fruit. Your intent will be
most difficult times. strong and firm, giving you the fortitude to continue working until
When a person is joyful, his heart is opened. heaven will lead you and protect you from everything forbidden,
Therefore, when a person attains the inner awareness of the trait and you will undergo an essential transformation.
When a person is joyful, kindness, salvation and success of joy, the essence of his work of the will is to pray that Hashem will
are drawn down onto him. Thus, a person who attains help him believe that everything is for the good, because only that The Short and Certain Route
joy will succeed in everything he does. He will have faith helps him always be joyful. And he must bring the knowledge
abundance in everything and a good income. that he learns daily into his heart. As the verse states, “You shall There are some topics regarding which there exist comprehensive
know today and you shall place upon your heart” (Deuteronomy and well-organized books for practical application, which anthologize
When a person is joyful, he will certainly be elevated— 4:39). That which aids a person during the time that he is tested many inspiring teachings and types of guidance. A person who
meaning that he will be hired to important positions. is not the knowledge in his mind but the knowledge in his heart. wants to attain the wholeness of the work of the will must always
Therefore, a person who wants to be constantly joyful must insert have a book at hand on his topic, and learn from it regularly.
into the depths of his heart the faith that everything is for the good.
When a person is joyful, he attains healing in body and And so, although you must certainly write down your prayers, If he has the opportunity to read or hear additional sources and
soul. remember all of the advice you study and make use of all of that encouragement on that topic, he should write them down.
advice, you must dedicate the majority of your prayers in your half
When a person is joyful, he attains peace—meaning hour to the topic of faith. For instance, a person who wants to engage in hitbodedut
that he will have a peaceful home. should learn In Forest Fields (by the author of this book), which
Only when a person prays every day and strives with all his is a practical guide to hitbodedut. Its entire goal is to inspire
When a person is joyful, his intellect and the grasp of might to learn and review the books that inspire him to acquire a the people of our generation to engage in hitbodedut. And he
his mind are strengthened, and he attains Torah insights. particular trait is his work of the will whole and full. Even a person should learn Outpouring of the Soul, which compiles advice
who prays for half an hour a day with enthusiasm and great intent and encouragement regarding hitbodedut from all of the books of
When a person is joyful, the Holy One, blessed be He, must continue to learn in depth and review his learning, even if it is Rabbi Nachman and his student Rabbi Natan.
rests His presence upon him, so that he attains supernal simple and self-evident. My students have told me that even if they A person who wants to work on a particular topic must be “a wise
protection. have been doing half an hour a day of the work of the will for years person whose eyes are in his head” (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:14). Instead of
with intent and feeling, on the day that they learn and review even “recreating the wheel,” instead of studying and learning for years,
When a person is joyful, he is able to serve Hashem a little, that invigorates them and enhances their work considerably. experimenting and erring until you reach proper conclusions, learn
with love. Indeed, when a person does the work of the will properly, each day from someone who has already toiled and worked hard on your
that he does not learn constitutes a great loss, because that learning behalf, who has already plowed, sowed and reaped, and so forth,
He attains “holy audacity” and he is able to overcome has the power to improve his work and strengthen his will multiple and who has presented you with foods and delicacies ready to eat.
all obstacles. times.
Therefore, a person who wants to acquire the trait of faith, which
He is able to come close to the tsaddik. We Go in the Footsteps of the Tzaddikim encompasses all of the good in the world, should regularly learn
In the Garden of Faith and His Gates with Thanksgiving.
He attains faith. It was to that end that, in his youth, Rabbi Nachman wrote Sefer A man who wants to have a good marital relationship should
Hamidot. Thus, the introduction to Sefer Hamidot states that his regularly learn In the Garden of Peace. A woman who wants to
He attains the infinite light that is the purpose of all. purpose was “to allow him to see in an organized form the strengthen herself in matters relevant to her should regularly learn
tremendous depravity of a bad trait.” This indicates that superficial, The Wisdom of Women. A person who wants to acquire the
He attains the rectification of the covenant. Hashem general learning will not suffice. Rather, a person must gather the trait of joy (as was discussed here) should learn In the Garden of