Page 65 - 20780
P. 65
96 | A New Light Chapter Three: | 65
Originally, this was personal prayer, in which every individual spoke much from the fact that he has not succeeded in actualizing what
with Hashem in his own words and in his own simple language. As he has learned in the classes.
Rambam teaches (Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah 1), originally prayer 3
did not have a set form and set time, but everyone spoke with Therefore, it was clear to me that Danny has a very strong will. He
Hashem at any time of the day, in keeping with his own ability to understands that words of faith have the power to help him in life,
praise, request and thank. Presumably, they devoted a significant and he certainly wants to change. He wants a higher-quality life. It
amount of time to that every day. “There is a person who prays is not for nothing that he leaves his house every week to attend this
once a day and there are those who pray many times.” If in our days, class. Therefore, I understood that both Yossi and Danny have a
when the generations have descended, people devote at least an very strong intent. This made the question more difficult: what was
hour and a half to prayer every day, certainly the generation of the causing the difference between them?
desert devoted much more than an hour and a half. Nevertheless,
that did not help them. That is because they did not focus and work As I contemplated this phenomenon, the One Who graciously
on one thing at a time, day after day, until they would bring about gives man knowledge helped me realize a wonderful point that
a fundamental change in that area. I understood to be the secret of life. All of life depends on
this factor. When a person clearly understands and applies what
A Torah scholar approached me and told me that over the course is written here, his life will begin to have a completely different
of the years he had dedicated much time to daily self-reflection and meaning, and he will rise upon the king’s highway. He will blossom,
personal prayers. After hearing me teach, he began to dedicate at flower and ascend. It may be said that he has acquired the tool with
least half an hour a day to the work of will and prayer, focusing which he may attain the purpose of his life in this world.
only on guarding his eyes. He prayed, entreated and expressed his
will. After just a few months, he saw a tremendous change. He “His Wrath Lasts a Moment, but Life Results from
reached such a level of absolute purity that, he told me, “I didn’t His Favor”
know that even in this generation I could reach the level of the Baba
Sali.” Yes, even in this generation a person can reach every level. Before I answer the question of what differentiates Yossi from
Even in this generation, a person can be entirely pure. Danny, I will first bring an example from life, a true story—one of
a great many—upon which this answer is based.
You Too Are Able
A man approached me and told me that many years ago one
This is only one story of a great many. These are verified matters comment that he heard me say in a recording changed his entire
that I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears. A person life. When he was young, he had a very serious problem managing
who engages in this work changes. Therefore, be intelligent. Test his anger. He would be seized by outbursts of acrimony that he
this and see for yourself. It would be a pity to reach conclusions could not control. It reached the point that he was violent at home,
on the basis of merely theoretical discussions. “Taste and see that and that of course caused a terrible atmosphere. After he would
Hashem is good” (Psalms 34:9). First of all, taste and see right calm down, he would be very regretful and ashamed of himself. He
before your eyes that everything that is written here is absolutely wanted with all his might to change his ways. He went to advisors
true. Choose one small area where you want to see a change in and psychologists and to various workshops on the topic of self-
yourself, and spend ten minutes a day for a month with intentions control and relaxation exercises until he knew the topic so clearly
and yearning to achieve that change, and you will see it happen. that he himself could have given talks and provided advice on the
You must realize that ten minutes a day will work to achieve small