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It is axiomatic that the more a person proceeds on a way of truth Thus, he does not pass the test. But if he has learned Torah and importance of mastering the trait that he is working on. In short,
and rectification, the more encouragement he needs. Thus, Rabbi acquired awareness, a faint imprint of that awareness will remain when something is important to a person and it burns within him,
Nachman of Breslov said that a person must be “expert in running with him, and that imprint will protect him and guide him. Life is he can apply the work of the will to it, which includes engaging in
out and expert in returning.” A person must know how to run to war, and in the middle of a battle a person does not always act forceful prayer.
Hashem with all his might, and he must also know how to deal with with a clear mind. But if he has trained himself and repeatedly
impediments, stumbling blocks, difficulties, obstacles and descents. reviewed the relevant principles and ways of action, then when he One of my students told me that he listened my disks, Peace
is under pressure he functions properly without thinking, because in the Home, The Honor of the Woman and First Aid more
The way of the work of the will is a very powerful “running as a result of his substantial practice, his actions become automatic than 100 times. Every day he listened to a disk, and this energized
out,” during which a person wants to work, rectify himself and and natural, even when his awareness leaves him. And so when him, allowed him no rest, and strengthened his will to work on
come close to Hashem without compromise. And the extent of his a person is tested in the course of his life, if he had reviewed the himself. He devoted at least half an hour of his hitbodedut to the
“running out” leads to a corresponding extent of “returning.” A subject many times, his learning will stand by him. But although work of the will on the topic of attaining peace in the home, and
person must be strong and prepare himself for whatever he might that is of great assistance, it is still not yet perfection. Perfection this changed his life completely. Now he listens to disks on other
have to undergo, and then continue to do his work. Even if he falls, means that a person engages in the work of the will and masters the topics, but every few weeks he listens to these disks again. Thank
that does not mean that he is going astray. On the contrary, that matter completely. God, he remembers the material, applies it and prays for peace
means that he is on the correct path, because the way of teshuvah in the home. He has succeeded in becoming a loving husband,
consists of these two phases. And a person’s success depends on A Little of the Light and he sees with his own eyes how his work on attaining peace in
knowing how to run to Hashem with all his might and how to the home has given him great energy in all other areas of serving
remain strong and not fall. Hashem. Thus, his perseverance in listening to the disks has led him
The principal and fundamental war between the good and
evil inclinations is the war between wisdom and foolishness. All to engage in a strong work of the will, and his efforts have resulted
The Red Heifer wisdom—i.e., proper and clear awareness—is the power of the in very significant results.
good inclination. And all foolishness—i.e., confusion and the
But it is forbidden for a person to encourage himself in a way concealment of awareness—is the power of the evil inclination. Proper Learning
that will weaken his prayers! That sort of encouragement is false! This constitutes the war against Amalek. The numerical value of
There are many people who mistakenly think that this is what Rabbi the word “Amalek” is equal to that of the word safek, “doubt.” The learning under discussion here is not regular Torah learning
Nachman refers to in his teaching, “I will sing” (Likutei Moharan I Amalek’s entire power is to insert doubts into a person’s awareness from a text or in a Torah class, which presents ideas or halachot. It
282), where he states that throughout the day a person should look regarding matters that should be clear to him, and to cause him to is learning of another sort entirely. It is learning whose entire goal is
at his good points and not see the bad. They think that this means forget them. In this way, the evil inclination can easily control a practical application (as has been discussed and illustrated above).
that a person does not need to be ambitious and uncompromising. person. As the Ramban states, “When you learn, search [in the material]
But that is a perverse sort of self-encouragement—as though for something that you can implement.”
one may think that it is not so terrible to commit sins, not so The entirety of the war against Amalek is to fill oneself with
terrible to live with cravings, heaven forbid. Woe to a person sharp, clear and absolute knowledge. As the Torah states regarding In this type of learning, amount of material covered makes
whose encouragement of himself leads to such a perversion of his the war against Amalek: “Write this as a remembrance in a scroll absolutely no difference. Rather, the emphasis is on knowledge
thoughts. Regarding this, Rabbi Natan says that self-encouragement and place it Joshua’s ears” (Exodus 17:14). Then doubt no longer gained. That is to say, it is even acceptable to learn just a little,
is like the red heifer, which purifies the impure but also pollutes the controls a person. Now begins his work of the will—inserting clear because the central point is to gain mastery of the topic. Another
pure! (Likutei Halachot: Hilchot Hashkamat Haboker 1:12). awareness into his heart—because only then is that work possible. central point is the quality and clarity of the learning, and the
And not only is it possible but it is quite easy, because he has a clear aspiration to derive proper modes of behavior from it and the
At the time that you are crying out to Hashem, do not think: and substantial basis upon which to build. To explain: maximum amount of enthusiasm to acquire intent and to pray.
“Thank God, I have sidelocks and a beard, I have a head covering, I Most important, you must review the material every day and attain
am perfectly fine,” heaven forbid! Is it for this that Hashem created The evil inclination does not have the power to distort the truth the enthusiasm to engage in the work of the will.