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Chapter Eight: What is the solution to all of this? The solution is to engage at length “normal.” Many people suffer nervousness, depression, emptiness,
in reciting the blessing of “He Who graciously gives knowledge,” self-deprecation and self-blame. Their healing regimen is to engage
“And I Will Pour Out My Spirit” knowing that there is no other than He. A person who knows that at length in the blessing, “He Who graciously gives knowledge,” to
there is no other than He will not feel insulted by people, because
repeat it over and over again, and to have in mind that they wish
he sees that there are no people. When Shim’i ben Geira cursed to know that there is no other than He, and that a human being is
King David fiercely, King David was not insulted and affronted, but no entity at all.
The Work of the Will in Prayer said: “He curses because Hashem told him, ‘Curse David.’ And
who will say, ‘Why have you done so?’” (Samuel II 16:10). At that A person who is aware of his own nothingness does not blame
Throughout the day, a person must point himself in the direction moment, in the merit of this tremendous faith, King David became himself for his failures, because he knows that they all come from
of wishing to come close to Hashem. But the principal time for this, the fourth leg of the heavenly chariot! When a person possesses Hashem for his own good. He must pray to truly know that he must
the time that is entirely dedicated to this, is the time of the daily knowledge, not only does he not feel humiliated by people, but he use his free choice to rejoice in his portion in the past and present,
regular prayers—in particular, the Shemoneh Esrei, which is the receives wonderful spiritual gifts from every insult and provocation. and to strengthen himself with positive intentions for the future. He
central prayer that our sages instituted. At the time of prayer, a must be happy despite his failures and descents, accepting them as
person must desire to come close to Hashem, cling to Him and want The Key to All Salvations his portion, and he must set aside time to ask Hashem to help him
all that He wants. Prayer is called “a matter that stands at the height from this moment onward.
of the world” (Berachot 6b and Rashi), because it is associated with
a person’s will, which is his highest and most precious possession. You have reached the blessing, “He Who graciously gives Many people are consumed by unhealthy amounts of hatred
knowledge.” You have reached your healing! This blessing contains and jealousy. Their healing regimen must be to engage at length in
The essence of a person’s work in prayer is the work of arousing the healing of the soul for any problem. With this, you eradicate reciting the blessing, “He Who graciously gives knowledge,” bearing
his will. Essentially, the power of a person’s prayer corresponds to your every fear, overcome every heavenly decree of suffering in mind that they wish to know Hashem and to know that Hashem
the power of his will. The will is the soul of prayer, whereas the and all depression, and you begin to live a good and sweet life. is only good, does good, supervises a person and gives him exactly
words and blessings are only its body. Therefore, it is necessary to When you attain the healing of the soul, you attain true joy. And what he needs. As you engage at length in the blessing of “He Who
learn in depth the meaning of the work of the will in prayer. when you have joy, you attain healing of the body. This blessing graciously gives knowledge,” have in mind that you wish to possess
contains the key to every type of salvation. Even finding one’s the knowledge that you receive everything you need from Hashem.
Those Who Seek Hashem spouse and having children depends on knowledge. As Rabbi
Nachman teaches: “The essence of birth comes about by means of
knowledge…. When a person attains complete knowledge, he has To Receive Gifts
It is clear and self-evident that the principal element in prayer children” (Likutei Moharan II 89).
and beseeching Hashem is the will! The entire meaning of our Many people suffer greatly from the sense that they are an object
beseeching inheres in our will, in our desire to receive something. So too, raising and educating children depends on a great deal of universal scorn. It goes without saying that they cannot accept
Absent that desire, we are not praying and beseeching but merely of knowledge. Many times, parents have problems educating their criticism. Any critique tears them apart. They will brood on it for
saying words. children because the parents lack knowledge—in consequence of hours on end, feeling stabbed in the heart. These hypersensitive
which they destroy their children with their own hands. Therefore, people suffer enormously. For days, even weeks and months, they
Why does the essence of beseeching lie in the will? First of all, regarding every problem you have with your children, ask Hashem are hurt and wounded, and they cannot free themselves of these
the Hebrew word for “beseeching” can also mean “wanting,” as to give you the knowledge to act in the way of Torah and faith. feelings. Many times, they are stung by something insignificant, or
illustrated in the verse, “The heart of those who mevakshei”— Ask to receive knowledge on how on how to relate to your children they only imagine that people insulted them or maltreated them.
beseech or want—"Hashem rejoices” (Psalms 105:3). These people properly. And pray that your child will receive the knowledge that Often, they understand intellectually that no one intended to
want, beseech and yearn to be close to Hashem. Incidentally, we he needs so that he will keep away from bad friends and other evil disrespect them or that there was some sort of misunderstanding,
see from this verse that the will to come close to Hashem contains influences, and so that he will want things that are good for him, yet they still cannot free themselves from feeling abused.
the secret of deep joy. But at any rate, we learn that “beseech” 11 such as Torah and prayer.