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Manna. Their Torah was their profession. They all learned Torah Every individual is obligated to dedicate at least half an central element of life, which is the work of the will—i.e., to recite
straight from the source, at the peak of spirituality, at the apex of hour every day to the work of the will! each word of prayer with intent and aspiration, and in this way to
the revelation of the Shechinah. Not for day or two days or ten express our good intentions with our mouths and to strengthen
years, but for 40 years! 600,000 scholars who were the elite of Everyone is filled with good intentions, but not everyone succeeds these intentions and bolster them so that they will have the power
the elite. Do you know anyone who learns in this way, in such in actualizing what he wants. When a person’s will remains in his to come to fruition and act here in this world, producing endless
conditions and on such a level? heart, it is very weak, and a person can only attain small things profits and helping us acquire spiritual attainments with each prayer
with it. The heart is alive and dynamic. It does not stay still, but it (as will be explained at length in Chapter Eight).
And if that were not enough, they witnessed miracles and races throughout the entire day, and a person’s intentions change
wonders. It is exceedingly difficult to envision the stunning influence with tremendous rapidity. Therefore, there is no time for his “Renew a Proper Spirit within Me”
that such events have on a person. Nevertheless, let us remind intentions to gain a foundation and to be built up. They are weak
ourselves of a fraction of what all of us know about: ten awesome and easily forgotten. Regarding this, our sages say, “Matters within
Regarding the topic of reciting psalms, some people sit down for
plagues, each of which lasted an entire week. Changes of nature the heart are not actual” (Kiddushin 49b). It is true that matters in a few hours and complete the entire book of Psalms. Fortunate
such as had never before existed or even been heard of. All of them a person’s heart are very significant, because no good will is lost are they! This is an excellent practice. The tzaddikim highly praised
saw Hashem’s presence and Hashem’s providence right before their (Zohar: Terumah). But since they have no practical expression, they the recitation of psalms in whatever way one says them. As Rabbi
eyes. And after all of that, at the splitting of the Sea of Reeds certainly do not lead to any essential change. On the other hand, Nachman states, “If a person recites them with proper intent, that
they saw miracles and wonders five times greater than what they a will for which we set aside time and a framework is actual, viable
had seen in all ten plagues. The sea split and dried up! This left a and stable. It is not a “tower flying in the air” (Sanhedrin 106b), but is certainly very good. But [even lacking that,] the recitation itself
is very helpful” (Wisdom of Rabbi Nachman, Sichot Haran 141).
powerful impression upon all of the nations for decades. something planted deep in the ground. “Even if all of the winds of
the world came and blow against it, they would not move it from However, if a person wants to bring about a true, inner change, he
In addition, the day-to-day routine in the desert was wondrous and its place!” (Avot 3:17).
miraculous: clouds of glory, manna and quail, the well of Miriam should not budget the amount of psalms that he wants to recite—for
instance, setting a goal of reciting ten psalms every day—because
that accompanied them everywhere they went, their clothes, which I have gathered a great deal of material about the will: wonderful then he focuses only on completing the number that he set, and
cleaned themselves and grew with a person, and more, as described source texts from the rishonim and the acharonim, matters that
in our sages’ midrashim. illuminate the eyes and restore the soul, passages that inspire and he loses the central value of reciting psalms, which is the service
of the will. It is preferable that he consider and decide how much
encourage—enough texts to fill a number of volumes. But in this
Above all, the children of Israel saw and heard the Holy One, book I quote only a very few of them. If it were my sole intention time he wants to devote to reciting psalms. For instance, he should
blessed be He, Himself. At the splitting of the Sea of Reeds, even a to gather sources and ideas on the topic of the will, I would not at set aside ten minutes for psalms, and devote all of this time to the
maidservant saw Hashem, as it were, and everyone could point and all have dedicated myself to write this book. There are many fine service of the will and to reciting the psalms calmly, word by word,
say, “This is my God and I will glorify Him” (Exodus 15:2). And at people who are capable of anthologizing this material, editing it and focusing his entire intent on binding himself to Hashem and desiring
Mt. Sinai, Hashem spoke with every one of the children of Israel presenting it properly and intelligently—and it would be a good and Hashem in every word that he says. And he should repeat again
face to face. Every Jewish man and woman saw the sounds and fitting thing to do so. But I know deeply that without a practical and again the inspiring verses that speak of good intention. Thus,
heard Hashem Himself state, “I am Hashem your God” and “You tool these passages will not have the desired effect. And the power I myself have seen great tzaddikim who would repeat the verse,
shall not have any other gods”! of the will is so great and awesome that it is a terrible pity to leave it “Remove my eyes from looking at vanity, in Your ways give me
in the category of pleasant and exciting ideas. We need to translate life” (Psalms 119:37) for hours on end. They repeated these words
with special emphasis and intent, and as a result they attained great
And What Happened? the will into practical work—and then its power will automatically levels in guarding their eyes.
be revealed in all of its beauty, majesty and splendor. Then these
One might expect that in such conditions, over the course of matters will grow in truth and depth. Without this practical tool, Rabbi Nachman states, “Every individual on his level can find
40 years the entire nation of Israel would have attained the peak there is no point to learning the sources. Therefore, I have brought himself in the book of Psalms and attain repentance by reciting
of perfection, holiness and refined and noble traits. But the Ari the reader my contribution to the Torah, the particular portion psalms” (Likutei Moharan II 73). There are verses that express desire