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lowliness to You, You Who are blessed,” then This is the highest type of learning. Thus, the mishnah states that 5. As you have learned in this book, the core of the work of the
immediately “You heed and You save.” “a person who learns in order to do is given the ability to learn, will that leads to change is daily prayer in which a person verbally
teach, keep and do” (Avot 4:5). That is the greatest promise made expresses his intentions. However, the first and necessary step is
When a person prays for his physical concerns and in regard to learning. A person who learns in this way is assured that learning. Learning is the “starter” of the work of Hashem, because
bodily needs, there are reckonings in heaven as to he will attain everything, because he will acquire a strong intent, it gives a person the power to strengthen himself in prayer. Torah
whether to fulfill his request and whether doing so would which in turn will lead him to learn, teach, keep and do. learning and prayer complement each other. As the verse states,
be good for him. But when he seeks to elevate himself This has been the approach of all of the tzaddikim, because they “You shall know today and you shall place upon your heart”
to Hashem, may He be blessed, then there is no doubt. know the great power of learning, and they thus learn with the (Deuteronomy 4:39). Learning the Torah corresponds to “you
shall know today”—you shall have the knowledge that you must
proper intent. Therefore, everything that they learn helps them revitalize and enhance the Torah every day. Then you engage in
To sum up the topic of the wholeness of the will: when experience intent, implement what they have learned and engage
we want to do the work of the will in a complete and whole in a very great amount of prayer asking Hashem to help them prayer and pleading, beseeching Hashem to inject your mental
fashion and to attain salvation in various areas, we must continue to learn and implement their learning in a practical way. knowledge into your heart. That corresponds to “You shall place
grow settled in our mind and visualize the danger we are As a result of all this, they procure their surpassing achievements. upon your heart.”
in until we reach a 100 percent sense of that danger. Only 6. Rabbi Nachman says that when we learn Torah forcefully, all of
when we are aware of this truth can we truly cry out to What evidence indicates that you are learning properly? If your our prayers and requests are accepted. “Learning Torah forcefully”
Hashem with all our might. Until we reach that point, all of learning sets your intent aflame and fills you with energy that does means that a person spends time every day learning about the topic
our prayers must basically be a request to attain the strong not allow you to rest until you implement your intent, that is proper that he is working on. That learning has the power to help his good
and forceful will that leads to a true outcry. learning: learning whose purpose is to do. If, on the other hand, inclination overcome his evil inclination. Also, learning Torah helps
your learning does not arouse your will sufficiently, that is a sign a person understand the hints and advice that exist in all reality on
The Wholeness of the Work of the Will that it is woefully inadequate, that you do not see in a coordinated how to come close to Hashem. The Torah consists of the names
arrangement the superior qualities, importance and advantages of of the Holy One, blessed be He. Thus, learning the Torah helps a
Now that I have introduced and discussed the topics of the attaining your goal—and, conversely, the detriments attendant on person subjugate the spirit of foolishness from which all sins result.
wholeness of faith and the wholeness of the will, and I have failing to attain it. Therefore, you are not inspired to engage in As a result, his words will have grace in the eyes of Hashem, and
categorized everything according to its elements, I will sum up spirited work and you remain undistinguished, one foot here and Hashem will want him and accept his prayers (cf. Likutei Moharan I
concisely and bring together everything that has been discussed. one foot there, wavering between two paths. With such learning, 1). Learning Torah in this way is called “learning Torah forcefully,”
Then the reader can proceed to the practical work, which is you will not attain your goal, because the central element is missing. because with this learning a person makes a special effort to insert
the work of the will in the light of this complete and wonderful all that he has learned into his mind, heart and life.
knowledge. “Open My Heart to Your Torah”
7. The essence of a person’s character and the measure of his
The core idea is as follows: the essence of our work is to attain When you learn, you must open your heart and learn with success correspond to his knowledge or awareness. “If you have
wholeness of the will—i.e., true, forceful and strong will, an absolute fervor, enthusiasm and yearning. You must focus exclusively on acquired knowledge, what do you lack?” (Nedarim 41a). Only a
will—to attain a feeling of immediate mortal danger and to be able your learning. After you have come upon especially inspiring person’s awareness determines whether or not he will withstand
to cry out from the heart. But it is impossible to attain this without words or a discussion of matters regarding which you need especial the tests that he undergoes. Learning Torah enhances a person’s
the firm basis of wholeness of faith (as I have written). You must encouragement, when you find yourself stumbling, you must review awareness, and when he prays, he inserts that awareness into
believe that Hashem wants and yearns only to give to you and to such a passage over and over again. Such learning has especial power his heart. As a result, he will certainly be able to withstand the
save you spiritually, so that at this very moment you will change to result in change. Such learning is the work of the will itself, and challenges of life.
entirely for the better. And you must believe that Hashem is all- it also leads to the work of the will. Only learning that leads to the
powerful and that nothing can stop Him from raising you from the 8. When a person is tested—for instance, when he is under
lowest descent to the highest ascent. pressure or angry, or especially vulnerable—his mind is not settled.