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There are great differences, infinite levels, between levels of intent. take one topic and pray over it every day for at least half an hour,
There are not only the opposite extremes of Yossi and Danny. The he will not change. And he should not deceive himself.
intent of a single individual, says Rabbi Nachman, changes from 3
day to day and from moment to moment. Similarly, there is a great Therefore, tens of thousands of scholars from the “generation
difference between the goals that people are striving for. There are of knowledge” (Psalms 34:15) in the desert fell from two central
goals that one can attain with a small amount of intent; there are and basic foundations of this world: faith and holiness (as will be
goals that demand a greater amount of intent; there are goals that discussed in greater detail). These are the two foundations of the
demand a firm and stubborn amount of intent; and there are goals rectification of the entirety of this world, because all of a person’s
that demand years of intent and prayer. Thus: “There are a number work is included in two central areas of endeavor: “Turn aside
of types of object of desire, one higher than the other, and the from evil and do good” (Psalms 34:15). The central way of “turning
size of a person’s desire must correspond to the size of the desired aside from evil” is to distance oneself to the greatest extent from
object” (Likutei Moharan I 66). all sensuality and from lack of holiness and modesty—which, Rabbi
Nachman says, is the all-encompassing evil (Likutei Moharan 19) (as
Let us look more deeply at the example of the student who is discussed at great length in Brit Shalom, The Covenant of
overcame his anger. What was the principal cause of the change Peace). And the central way of “doing good” is to have faith,
that took place in him and led to the eradication of this trait? The because faith is the foundation of all of the good of this world: all
main factor is that he set aside time to bring his intent into his good traits and all Torah and mitzvot. As Rabbi Nachman states,
prayers. He bolstered his will and did not relinquish it. “The foot indicates the realm of faith, upon which all of the traits
and the entire Torah stand” (Sichot Haran 261; as explained at length in
Let us look at another difference between Yossi and Danny—and In the Garden of Faith).
between all Yossis and Dannys. All of them want. All of them focus.
All of them encourage themselves. The question is: what happens Freefall
with this intent afterwards? They must arouse that intent, fortify it
and strengthen it. Without strong and firm intent, it is impossible to After 40 uninterrupted years of learning Torah, the nation of
move forward. Therefore, a person’s intent requires a framework. Israel degenerated into promiscuous behavior with the non-Jewish
If he wants his intent to be actualized, he must dedicate time to daughters of Midian, who induced them as well to engage in idolatry.
intend. Without that, all that he learns about the topic will go in Here we must ask the distressing and painful question: how was it
one ear and out the other. Everything will be ungrounded theory.
True, as a result of a little intention, he will attain small goals here possible that after 40 years of such pure spirituality (as described
above), they descended to such grievous behavior? That seems
and there, and he will see minor changes. But he will not achieve illogical. The answer is pointed and the message is unambiguous:
the factors upon which his entire life and all true success in his life nothing changes a person—nothing!—but personal work. This is a
depend, great achievements that demand true and firm intent. This clear demonstration that cannot be dismissed: 40 years of perfect
means that a person must devote time to the work that will be
discussed in this book: the service of the will. Thus, the principal conditions—unclouded spirituality, learning Torah day and night,
the greatest rabbi and tzaddik—did not help them withstand the
answer to the question of what constitutes the difference between test. That is because, without doing the work of the will, a person
Yossi and Danny inheres in the work of the will.
does not change but remains with all of his cravings; and if he faces
a challenge, he is in the greatest danger of falling.
Everyone is aware of the cravings that entice him, fill him, burn
