Page 338 - 20780

Chapter Eight: | 343 338 | A New Light Chapter Eight: | 335

counsel understanding and might….” He attained this due to “He Who Graciously Gives Knowledge” Therefore, “better is a little amount of prayer than much prayer
the fact that he pleaded a great deal before the Holy One, without intent.” That is because “a little amount of prayer with
blessed be He, for knowledge, and he focused deeply on the intent” means a few vessels, whereas “much prayer without
Shemoneh Esrei’s blessing of “You graciously give…” (from To Fulfill Everything that Is Lacking intent” means many words but no vessels!
Binyan Olam, Chapter 11).
When we strengthen ourselves to do the work of the will during Dear reader, you pray three times a day, spending more than
By means of prayer, the Chazon Ish attained all of his awesome prayer, we enliven our prayer. It rises, it is effective, and it draws an hour a day in the synagogue. You also recite Psalms, Likutei
achievements, although he had been average as a youth. This is down abundance. Therefore, we must learn and understand how Tefillot and other books of prayer. The principal practical
a tangible example of the power of prayer. There are no errors to enliven our words of prayer. I will now present a practical and implication of everything that has been stated here is that during
in this world. Hashem graciously gives knowledge to anyone who detailed example in order to help you understand and implement this time you can either receive a great amount of abundance or
wants it and brings vessels to receive it. The Chazon Ish was not a the topic of intention and longing in prayer. I will focus on the first you can leave empty-handed, with heaven angry at you for having
gifted youth, but he wanted knowledge and brought many vessels. of the middle blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei, the blessing of “He disrespected the King!
Therefore, he received infinite Divine abundance and wonderful Who graciously gives knowledge.”
knowledge from Hashem’s Torah. And everyone who prepares If you recite the words in the siddur in the way that, unfortunately,
such vessels can attain all of the higher levels, literally in the exact Before explaining how to recite the blessing as part of the work of most people do, your reward for that will certainly not be withheld—
same way. the will, I will first clarify our tremendous need for this blessing, in but you will receive very little from your prayer. And there is no
order to help inspire you to desire to receive knowledge. question that you will fail to experience true, inner change. As was
Therefore, recite and repeat the words of prayer with intention stated earlier, prayer that is not whole is not answered. It is not a
and with deep feeling. Do not be indifferent to this, because with The Hebrew word used in this blessing, da’at, means “knowledge” vessel in which to receive abundance.
your every prayer and request you receive Divine abundance and or “awareness.” Know clearly that a person needs knowledge
holy knowledge that will illuminate your entire life! more than anything else in the world. What is knowledge? But by making a small effort with the “muscles” of your will, you
Knowledge means knowing Hashem! If a person does not know can receive without limit! You can receive Divine abundance! You
There Is Only One Problem in Life Hashem, what knowledge does he have? You must know that the can bring about great changes within yourself as a result of the time
purpose for whose sake a person came to this world is to know that you spend praying and reciting Psalms and other prayers. You
Since “knowledge” is relevant to all of life and to all of the requests Hashem and recognize Him. “A person’s principal purpose is only can literally change and progress from prayer to prayer.
that we make in the Shemoneh Esrei, I recommend to students to serve Hashem and go in His ways for the sake of His name, When you recite one verse with all your heart, repeating it over
who need to rectify a specific problem to spend half an hour a may He be blessed, in order to recognize Him, may He be and over for a few minutes with intention, you bring about more
day on the blessing, “He Who graciously gives knowledge,” and to blessed, and know Him, may He be blessed. That is a than you would otherwise bring about by reading the entire book
have the intention to gain knowledge about their problem, because person’s essential purpose. And that is His will, may He be of Psalms.
“all of a person’s problems, sufferings and exile correspond blessed: that we will recognize Him, may He be blessed” (Likutei
to his lack of knowledge. But when a person’s knowledge is Moharan I 21). Thus, knowledge is the purpose of life. And when a What do you say? Isn’t it worthwhile to utilize your many
perfected, then all that he lacks is fulfilled” (Likutei Moharan I 21). person knows Hashem, that influences all areas of his life, because opportunities? Isn’t it a pity that people allow such precious
“all of a person’s failings result from a lack of knowledge” (ibid.). opportunities to go to waste? Isn’t it a pity to repeatedly leave the
I will bring a few examples: synagogue without having gained anything? Come and learn how
Peace in the home is an outcome of knowledge, because a man
If a person has a problem achieving peace in the home, I tell him who knows Hashem sees Hashem in all that he undergoes. If his you can enter the treasury and take all of the good from everything
to spend half an hour reciting “He Who graciously gives knowledge” wife hurts him, he sees Hashem. Thus, he does not blame her and that comes to your hand—as much as you can! To that end, read
and to have in mind that he wishes to receive the knowledge that he does not fight with her. According to this principle, success in carefully and deeply what I will write here.
everything that happens between him and his wife comes only raising one’s children is also an outcome of knowledge. Earning a
I have already written at length about how the work of the will