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the level of the goal that he desires. Without the necessary desire, or “Redeem us,” we must bear in mind that we want to receive They Will Not Be Able to Harm Me
he will not reach the goal. But when a person knows the importance knowledge. All of our requests, outcries and pleas are basically
of joy and he knows that he cannot progress in any aspect of serving one: to attain knowledge. What do we need to be saved from? A person’s awareness that “there is no other than He” removes all
Hashem—as well as in any this-worldly matter—without acquiring We need to be saved from egotism. That is because egotism is of his fears—not only fears and worries resulting from dreams and
joy, he will not ignore and neglect such an important topic without the absolute opposite of knowledge. Knowledge means that we delusions, but even fear of actual dangers. For instance, if a person
addressing it in a fundamental way. Thus, a person’s clear awareness know that there is no other than He, whereas egotism is a person’s who is standing trial on a serious charge has perfect knowledge, he
about the importance of joy causes him to engage in the work of foolish and false feeling that he is a something: “I and no other” will be unafraid and unworried, because he knows that the judge
attaining it. (Isaiah 47:8). Therefore, in our every request for salvation, we must and the plaintiff are only puppets, and that he is solely in the hands
plead to be saved from egotism and instead experience ourselves as of Hashem, Who will do him only good. With the power of this
“Illuminate Our Eyes” nothingness, knowing that there is no other than He and that there knowledge, a person can remove all judgments, as is famously
is no “I.” When we experience our nothingness and know that taught in Nefesh Hachaim (Gate 3, Chapter 12):

Everything depends on learning. Therefore, we need to pray there is no other than He, that itself is redemption!
to Hashem to help us learn, clarify the topic and attain complete The following is truly a great matter and a wonderful
and clear awareness. Our every imperfection is an imperfection in The Beginning of Knowledge regimen with which a person can remove and nullify
our awareness. We must beseech Hashem to give us a clear mind all judgments and other wills against him, so that they
and proper awareness. Torah and prayer bolster each other. As The first blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei, “Shield of Abraham,” will not be able to control him and they will make no
stated in Likutei Eitzot, “Torah and prayer bolster each other relates to knowledge in its entirety. Before we make any request, impression on him.
and illuminate each other” (Talmud Torah 6; cf. Likutei Moharan I 2). we must first praise Hashem. We must stand before Him and know
Therefore, Rabbi Nachman said: “What must a person do in this that He is the sole and supernal power, “the great, the mighty and He must realize firmly in his heart: “Hashem is the true
world? He need only pray, learn, and pray” (Sichot Haran 287). the awesome.” In this blessing, we make mention of the patriarchs, God and there is no power at all other than He in this
Just as learning certainly provides great inspiration to strengthen a who knew Hashem and made His name known in the world. world and all other worlds, and everything is filled solely
person’s will and help him pray, he also needs a great deal of will Redemption is knowledge (as noted earlier). Therefore, when you with His simple oneness, may His name be blessed.”
and prayer to help him learn. Therefore, every day he must ask say the words, “Bring a redeemer to the children of their children,”
Hashem to help him learn, to receive clear, distinct and perfect have in mind that the Holy One, blessed be He, will illuminate us In his heart, he must nullify completely and ignore
awareness, and he must pray that his learning will give him a strong with knowledge in the merit of the patriarchs. And when you ask
and perfect will to do everything necessary to attain that which his Hashem to bring a redeemer “for the sake of His name,” have in completely any other power and will in the world, and
soul loves. mind that His name will be revealed. “His name” is the knowledge subjugate his pure thought and cling in the purity of his
that Hashem is one and His name is one. When Hashem’s name is thought only to the singular Master, blessed be He.
Therefore, before we learn, we must pray to Hashem and plead revealed, all people in the world will know and recognize Him.
with Him: “I am prepared and ready to learn in order to do Then [Hashem], may He be blessed, will satisfy him
Hashem’s will and give Him pleasure, so that my learning will lead In the second blessing, “He Who gives life to the dead,” in the and nullify all other powers and intents in the world
me to keep, do and implement, to attain good and upright traits, words “boundlessly saving” and “causes salvation to sprout,” bear before him, so that they will not be able to do anything
inspire my will, bring me to faith, prayer and the fear of heaven, in mind that Hashem will save us from all heresy and egotism, and at all to him.
and to lead me to do the work of the will and dedicate half an hour we will attain knowledge. In this blessing, we affirm that Hashem
a day to pray regarding my principal good until I acquire it….” And “supports the fallen,” “heals the ill,” and “frees the imprisoned.” Amazing stories are told about Jews who kept this advice and
every person must add his own prayers. All of this comes about when we have knowledge, because (as was experienced supernatural miracles, rescues and salvations from
previously explained), all imperfections exist because of a lack of terrible dangers. At any rate, we see from these holy words that
To conclude, I will quote the following encouraging words of knowledge. The revival of the dead itself comes about by means of when a person truly knows Hashem and knows that there is none
Rabbi Nachman (Sichot Haran 19): knowledge. As Rabbi Nachman teaches, “The essence of eternal life else but He, he nullifies all powers in the world, and they cannot