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every word of the Shemoneh Esrei constitutes a unit of wonderful from Hashem. As Rabbi Nachman taught: “In accordance with the And Rabbi Tzadok defines the essence of prayer as follows: “In
intent that a person needs. If you recite the words but they do not increase of knowledge, peace is increased, because peace depends prayer, the principal factor is the desire and will to pray
express your will, the principal factor is missing and your prayer upon knowledge” (Likutei Moharan I 56). All arguments between and plead—and, as [the sages] said, ‘Do not make your prayer a
cannot rise. In the words of Rabbi Nachman, prayer without will husband and wife are due to a lack of knowledge. If a man knows rote task but a plea for compassion…’ (Avot 2:13). It is not the will
and longing “do not have any movement and effect.” That is not that everything that happens comes from Hashem, he has no reason of Hashem, may He be blessed, that people repeat prayers before
prayer. It is reading. That is not service of the heart, but service of to fight with his wife. If he wants to argue with someone, he should, Him. Rather, it is His will, may He be blessed, that they desire to
the mouth. heaven forbid, argue with Hashem, because it is Hashem Who is pray.”
doing everything to him. This person should learn In the Garden
After a person passes away and he comes to the heavenly court, of Peace, and understand and know clearly that peace in the home “Let Us Lift Our Hearts to Our Hands” (Lamentations
it will tell him: “Dear Jew, you did not pray during your entire corresponds directly with his knowledge. 3:41)
lifetime.” He will reply: “How can you say that? I prayed three
times a day, every day.” They will tell him: “No such prayer If a person has a problem with anger, I tell him to spend half
reached us here. Throughout your entire lifetime, you only read an hour reciting “He Who graciously give knowledge.” As Rabbi Thus, we see that the will is the soul of prayer. From here, we learn
from the siddur. We can give you a good mark for reading—in Nachman teaches: “Anger and cruelty are nullified by knowledge, that prayer has a body and a soul: the will is the soul of prayer, and
particular, because it was quick and smooth. You pronounced the because anger and cruelty are a lack of knowledge. As the verse the words are the body of prayer. Prayer without will and yearning
words well. That was excellent reading. But where was your prayer? states: ‘Anger rests in the bosom of fools’ (Ecclesiastes 7:9)” (ibid.). If is dead. It is a body without a soul, without life, without a heart.
Where was your heart? Where was your soul? The entire character this person knew that everything comes from Hashem and is for his From this, we may understand why many people who “pray” see
of prayer is the will. Where were your intentions when you prayed? good, he would not grow angry. What would he grow angry about? no results from their prayers. Why? Because they only read the
The words that you recited were lacking will, and so they cannot be About the good that Hashem does for him? words of the prayers. Thus, this prayer has no soul—i.e., it has no
considered prayer. They had no soul and vitality at all. Therefore, heart and will. Therefore, these prayers do not rise and do not have
they did not rise to heaven.” And if a person is financially needy or in debt, I tell him to spend any effect. That is why the sages said that prayer without intent is
time reciting “He Who graciously give knowledge,” and not the like a body without a soul. What is “without intent”? That means
blessing for income. As Rabbi Nachman teaches: without will. Therefore, it is without soul. Conversely, prayer with
intent, which is prayer with will, is living prayer, and it rises to the
In accordance with the greatness of knowledge, so is income easy, throne of glory. “Reading the prayers” is not called praying. All of
because effortless income depends on knowledge. As the verse the work of prayer is to want what we are saying!
states: “The people went about and gathered [the manna]” (Numbers
11:8)—meaning, foolishly [because the Hebrew for “went about,” Thus, the halachah states, “Better is a little amount of prayer
shatu, is similar to the Hebrew for “fool,” shoteh] (Zohar). That with intent than much prayer without intent” (Shulchan Aruch: Orach
is because a person who lacks knowledge must toil and struggle a Chaim 1:4). This is because prayer is measured only in accordance
great deal to attain an income…. But when a person’s knowledge with a person’s will and not in accordance with the amount that
increases, so do [heavenly] compassion and peace. Therefore, his he reads, since prayer is “the service of the heart.” As the Gemara
income comes easily, as in the verse: “Within your borders He says, “The verse states, ‘To love Hashem your God and to serve
makes peace; He will satiate you with the fat of wheat kernels” Him with all your heart’ (Deuteronomy 30:6). What is the service of
(Psalms 147:14) (Likutei Moharan I 56). the heart? That is prayer” (Ta’anit 2b). What is the heart? The heart
is the will, which is intent. The verse continues: “To serve Him
Do Not Be Afraid of Fear with all your heart and with all your soul.” The service of prayer
needs to involve all of a person’s soul—i.e., all of his will—because,
as stated above, the soul is the will. Without the will, prayer is not
Clearly, the basic solution for anyone suffering from psychological prayer and it does not accomplish anything. As the Gemara states: