Page 96 - 20780

Chapter Three: | 89 96 | A New Light Chapter Three: | 65

take one topic and pray over it every day for at least half an hour, Originally, this was personal prayer, in which every individual spoke much from the fact that he has not succeeded in actualizing what
he will not change. And he should not deceive himself. 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
Therefore, tens of thousands of scholars from the “generation 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
of knowledge” (Psalms 34:15) in the desert fell from two central 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,
and basic foundations of this world: faith and holiness (as will be praise, request and thank. Presumably, they devoted a significant and he certainly wants to change. He wants a higher-quality life. It
discussed in greater detail). These are the two foundations of the 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
rectification of the entirety of this world, because all of a person’s 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
work is included in two central areas of endeavor: “Turn aside when the generations have descended, people devote at least an very strong intent. This made the question more difficult: what was
from evil and do good” (Psalms 34:15). The central way of “turning hour and a half to prayer every day, certainly the generation of the causing the difference between them?
aside from evil” is to distance oneself to the greatest extent from desert devoted much more than an hour and a half. Nevertheless,
all sensuality and from lack of holiness and modesty—which, Rabbi that did not help them. That is because they did not focus and work As I contemplated this phenomenon, the One Who graciously
Nachman says, is the all-encompassing evil (Likutei Moharan 19) (as on one thing at a time, day after day, until they would bring about gives man knowledge helped me realize a wonderful point that
is discussed at great length in Brit Shalom, The Covenant of a fundamental change in that area. I understood to be the secret of life. All of life depends on
Peace). And the central way of “doing good” is to have faith, this factor. When a person clearly understands and applies what
because faith is the foundation of all of the good of this world: all A Torah scholar approached me and told me that over the course is written here, his life will begin to have a completely different
good traits and all Torah and mitzvot. As Rabbi Nachman states, 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,
“The foot indicates the realm of faith, upon which all of the traits 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
and the entire Torah stand” (Sichot Haran 261; as explained at length in 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.
In the Garden of Faith). 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
Freefall 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

After 40 uninterrupted years of learning Torah, the nation of Sali.” Yes, even in this generation a person can reach every level. Before I answer the question of what differentiates Yossi from
Israel degenerated into promiscuous behavior with the non-Jewish Even in this generation, a person can be entirely pure. Danny, I will first bring an example from life, a true story—one of
daughters of Midian, who induced them as well to engage in idolatry. a great many—upon which this answer is based.
Here we must ask the distressing and painful question: how was it You Too Are Able
possible that after 40 years of such pure spirituality (as described A man approached me and told me that many years ago one
above), they descended to such grievous behavior? That seems 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
illogical. The answer is pointed and the message is unambiguous: 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
nothing changes a person—nothing!—but personal work. This is a who engages in this work changes. Therefore, be intelligent. Test his anger. He would be seized by outbursts of acrimony that he
clear demonstration that cannot be dismissed: 40 years of perfect 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,
conditions—unclouded spirituality, learning Torah day and night, on the basis of merely theoretical discussions. “Taste and see that and that of course caused a terrible atmosphere. After he would
the greatest rabbi and tzaddik—did not help them withstand the 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
test. That is because, without doing the work of the will, a person before your eyes that everything that is written here is absolutely wanted with all his might to change his ways. He went to advisors
does not change but remains with all of his cravings; and if he faces true. Choose one small area where you want to see a change in and psychologists and to various workshops on the topic of self-
a challenge, he is in the greatest danger of falling. 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
Everyone is aware of the cravings that entice him, fill him, burn You must realize that ten minutes a day will work to achieve small