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Welcome to Na Nach!

FREEDOM - LIBERTY - EMANCIPATION
Showing posts with label Arizal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arizal. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Meriting to see the true tzadikim

 HH

Who doesn't wish to be able to see or be visited by the soul of one of the great tzadikim? Most of us think if only, if only, if only we could merit such a thing... However, it is important to realize the proper prospective, how impractical this is. Here are two stories to that effect.

These stories and many other amazing stories can be found here: yemey-shmuel-english.doc (nanach.org) - one of the many files offered on nanach.org.

Story one of Rabbi Shmuel Heller:

Once he was studying in the writings of the Ari, and was confounded by a matter he did not understand. So he prayed and asked the Ari to come and study this matter with him, and so it was - the Ari came and studied with him, but afterwards he regretted that he had bothered our master the Ari, and accpeted upon himself to go to the Ari's grave every Friday, and recite the entire book of Tehillim there. [eventually he switched to Tikun Haklali, see there].


Story two about Rabbi Avner Louberbaum (interesting enough, I myself heard from my grandfather M. Weinberg o.b.m. this exact expression regarding R. Avner - that he learned Torah roaring like a lion):

One time, when he came home on the night of Shabbos, he was covered in blood. The explanation was that Rabbi Avner has sat and studied at the big pulpit in the middle of the Ari synagogue, where the Seven Shepherds had ascended to the Torah reading during the time of the Ari, as is described in the book Praises of the Ari. The Ari appeared to Rabbi Avner in an awakened state, and he was terrified by it, and leaped down all the steps of the pulpit at once, and fell and was injured, and when he came home he was shaken, and did not want to explain at all what had happened, and his mother decreed in the name of honoring one's parents, that he not go there alone anymore. He fulfilled the decree, and afterwards he always had a room designated for service of G-d and also for hosting guests, etc...


On the other hand we find that when a person merits to be accompanied by the holy souls of the righteous, they will probably be completely unaware, as we find in the story of the Ari when he stood for someone who came to him, and the person asked the Ari what that was about, and the Ari told him that since that person had done an awesome mitzva that morning of redeeming captives at great personal cost, the soul of the holy Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair - who exemplified this mitzva - came to accompany him, and the Ari stood up in his honor. 


Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman





Monday, August 13, 2018

The Difference Between the Arizal and the Ramak and the prominence of the Tikunay Zohar


HH

The Life Of Our Leader Rabbi Nachman

364

(25) One time I (Rabbi Nussun) spoke with him (Rabbainu NNNNM) about the Kabballah of the Ar”i (-Lion, acronym, The Godly Rabbi Yitzchok[1]) o.b.m., and he said that the Kabballah of the Arizal is completely in unison with the Kabballah which our Teacher Rav Moshe Kordivero (Rama”k) o.b.m. composed. After some years, it reoccurred that I spoke with him about the Kabballah which the Arizal revealed, and he said that his Kabballah is distant and extremely superior from the Kabballah of the author of the Pardess[2] o.b.m.. And I stood aghast, and I asked him fearfully, “Did I not hear from your (-respectful plural) mouth once that really it is all one?” And he answered, “Presumably if I said that, I knew what I said.” And the words are seemingly incognizable and sealed. However, he who has a heart to understand, can comprehend from afar that everything is correct, and his words are living and enduring, and everything is true and upholding, and correct, and enduring[3], and just. Because in truth certainly everything is one in the immanence (-pineemeyus) of the faith, in the real truth. However, even still, the way of the revelation of the secrets of the Arizal is far and very superior from the ways of the Pardess, even though in real truth it is all one. And it is impossible to elaborate on this matter because (Proverbs 25:2), “The honor of G-d is the hidden matter,” “And the keenly wise will understand (Daniel 12:10).”[4]

(26[5]) He (Rabbi Nachman) related that he knew all the words/matters of the Aitz Chaim, and Pree Aitz Chaim, and all the (other) writings of the Arizal, and the Book of the Zohar, and most importantly the Tikunim (-Tikunay Zohar). And it was understood from his words that this was in the days of his youth. And several times he very radically praised the greatness of the holiness of the Tikunay Zohar. And he would frequently engage in it exceedingly, even the whole year, even not in the days of (the month of) Elul[6]. And he said that in the book of the Tikunim are included all the wisdoms of the world.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman!


[1] It is fascinating to note that in The Praises of Rabbi Nachman, part 2, which records the highlights of Rabbainu’s voyage to Israel, including the different tombs of tzadikim he visited, it does not mention that he visited the tomb of the Arizal even though Rabbainu was in Tsfas (-Safed).
[2] One of the classics of the Ramak. Pardess means orchard, alluding to the field of the esoteric. It is also acronym for all of the four main categories of the study of the Torah (pshat, remez, drush, soad).
[3] These adjectives are found in the blessing said after the Shema in the morning prayer.
[4] The Ramchal actually explains very simply and succinctly that the Ramak spoke only in general terms of the Sefiros, whereas the Arizal spoke of their particular qualities as they are manifested in the Partzufim (countenances). See Klach Pischay Chuchmuh – 138 Gates of Wisdom, Gateway 17, and Maamar HaVeekuach (Exposition of Disputation, published in the beginning of Shaaray Ramchal), articles 83-4. Probably Rabbi Nussun did not have access to most of the manuscripts of the Ramchal. It is also probable that even if he had he would still have chosen to conceal the matter and keep the difference amorphous and obscure, for in this way the holy methods retain strong allure and appeal, and they are not reduced to a slotted cold classification. Nevertheless from here we can gain insight into the important role the Ramchal can play in providing much groundwork and background to the holy teachings of Rabbainu. The connection between the Ramchal and Rabbainu is well established and elaborated upon in Likutay Nanach and elsewhere.
[5] Printed in Sichos Huran – The Words of Rabbi Nachman, article 128.
[6] There is a custom to read the entire Tikunay Zohar during the month of Elul until Yom Kippur. See Sichos Huran – The Words of Rabbi Nachman, article 127.
Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman!



Monday, August 28, 2017

Strong roots

HH

Obviously it is very important to know your roots, and obviously this is critical for serious meditation. All real and true meditation today is based on the system of Kabala which the Arizal revealed. Here there is a great deficiency. The Arizal primarily revealed only from Adam Kadmoan and below, and even though there are a few holy books (such as Mikdash Melech) from his disciples which reveal many awesome details of higher worlds, they provide a great deal of amazing information, but there is still missing a simple map of the structure, and how it all works in the big picture (-according to my very limited knowledge).

True, the very prime source, root, and reasons of creation are known and openly proclaimed in the scriptures and holy teachings of the Oral Torah, but from there on there is a very big gap until the worlds of Adam Kadmoan. 

The only one who revealed all of this, setting up the basic frame and delineating the overall functioning and working of all the major increments of the formation of Creation, from the inception to the present, is the Ramchal, particularly in his book (which he authored in the year Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman etc. etc. as explained elsewhere) Adir Bamurom [and in fact the acronym is Aleph Bet... the abc of the business...].

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!


Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Adventures on the Arizal's Hilula

HH

5th of Av, was really heavy, thought I'd have to lie half dead till after Tisha Bu”av, so I opened up a book from R' Shimshon Ostropoler, who's hillula was just a few days back and I had downloaded it then, and I read an amazing pshat on ובני ישראל יוצאים ביד רמה the medrash says from here we learn that Pharoa made for them a PRIMA (pyramid?!?!?! - the given translation is a mask, shield) from all mazikin (things that harm), so he explains how in the world the medrash deduces this from the verse, in his inimitable fashion revealing Divine Names and numerical values etc.. see there. Bottom line, that even after reading this amazing Torah I didn't gain the drive to get up. But as I was stuck, contemplating do I go to the Arizal or is it better for me to stay put, because obviously I need the rest etc., and who can decide, even a tzaddik won't tell a person to have meseeras nefesh…. But B”H ultimately the holy petek stood up for me, and I said that this is the Arizal, and it could be all this heaviness is just an impediment to keep from him, and even if it isn't related, certainly it is well worthy to get to the Arizal, and to have trust that this will quash all the disturbances. So I slowly got on my feet and started walking, without any real plan of how to get there, and as I walked I got the determination that I'd pay whatever it costs with money that I don't really have, and with that I got to the bus stop, only to learn that the bus to Tsfas doesn't go from there. So I kept walking almost aimlessly trusting in HY that I was walking to the tzaddik, doing my part, and B”H I'd make it. On my lifeless walk I was looking out for signs to Tzfas, and the first sign I see says “PRIMA -→” and I got a little flush, and a new energy, still kind of lethargic, but now I mamash knew that I was going out of the dejection (mitzrai'im – confines, constraints) with a high hand, with protection… B”H. NNNNM.

Eventually I got to the main road, and very quickly got one ride from a guy who was mamash thirsting to hear about Nanach, and then from an old man and his daughter {in merit of the little Nanach sticker they had on the dashboard…} who went so slow that one time on an incline the car just stopped, completely, and as everyone waited for him, he took his time to slowly decide to give a touch of gas, B”H.

In Tsfas where they dropped me off Gavriel picked me up and brought me to the Arizal, and gave me the new Likutay Nanach that we just printed, 1 copy for Y.E. and another also sold, and 3 still for sale. At the Arizal B”H there was great joy singing Nanach, and showing everyone for 100 shekel they can buy Likutay Nanach. One Charaidee actually asked about it, and when I told him some amazing Nanach Torahs he gave me a few shekel, and came back I think twice to give me more. B”H he said it that way it is: If he had come only to hear from me about the Petek it would have been very well worth it. B”H. NNNNM!

Going back B”H I also got rides pretty quickly, and I had the guy drop me off at Rami Levi so I can buy internet, even though it was slightly after closing time, they were still busy with an arab family – the young boy was looking at me with such intense hate B”H. A few days ago I called up my own carrier asking for extra bandwidth because they were at fault for my shortage, and as I explained this over and over again to the girl on the line, who already knew everything I was telling her, but now got to hear it with constant mention of Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman and encouragement not to despair etc, never despair, there is no despair! Until she eventually tells me – previously she had mentioned her first name, but now after hearing so much Nanach she was forced to tell me: agav (by the way- as an aside) my name is “so and so Nachman”… Gevald! NNNNM! In the end the only solution she had would cost 150 shekel. So now I got a ride all the way to Rami Levi, and their solution costs 75 shekel, and they want my decision very fast because they are past closing time and want to get out of there. So looking desperately for a holy book to consult, I realized why not go for the freshly printed Likutay Nanach, and they are astounded what are you doing, and I tell them, I want to see what Nanach has to advise, and they are incredulous. So they watch as I open up the Likutay Nanach, and I see it is talking there about Torah 6 of Likutay Moharan, and I see distinctly the concept of “hamtain” waiting – so I tell them, the message I'm getting is to hold off – B”H on Monday I'm back to full coverage, so I just have to wait till after the nine days, when the machmeerim don't use internet anyways (or maybe I'm confusing that with drugs). So one of them says – without knowing or seeing – it also says “laasoas” - to do, and I say, “Where?” So they take the holy book and look and look and actually find the word there “laasoas!!!!” Now I'm in a turmoil, and they are already into it. So I tell them it looks to me to go after the “hamtain” and they are like, maybe you should do it, like it says. And I tell them the message might be that if you guys do teshuva I should do it, you guys have to come to Uman, so one of them says he'll go to Thailand, and there was no talking sense into him. Finally they say, you should do it, come back and do it, now we are closing, come back and do it (that is what it says there “laasoas teshuva….” - they of course didn't realize this). They were thrilled by this little escapade they took pictures of the page with my finger pointing to the words. So B”H by doing the hamtain then and there, I was pushed into doing the complete hamtain, and will probably be without internet until after Tisha Bu'av.

On the way back from Rami Levi, I decided a bus wasn't good enough, and trecked to the road through a large field, where I decided to make a little feast in honor of my newly published book, and it was then that I realized I was mamash fulfilling “the King is in the Field!” which is now, B”H. When I got to the road after a few minutes a guy stopped for me saying that he wasn't going very far because he was turning in right away, and it turned out that he was going mamash to a house right above the holy tombs of Rabbi Akiva and Ramchal, and now B”H he is that much closer to actually wearing a Nanach beanie.


Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!


Thursday, July 9, 2015

Chag HaPetek and the Ramak

HH today 23 Tamuz is the day that Saba received the holy Petek from Rabbainu. It is also the hilula of the Ramak. The Ramak was the chief Kabalist before the Arizal, and until his passing the Arizal was strictly behind the scenes. Hence with his passing the Arizals enormous revelations began to come out. Apparently today is mesugal for awesome revelations.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman


Sunday, May 17, 2015

Secrets of the Torah

HH

Secrets of the Torah

Some people consider the Zohar and the works of the Arizal to be “nistar” (hidden) – the “secrets of the Torah”. However this is a big mistake. The Yosher Divrey Emess (“Straight Words of Truth” an extremely powerful little book composed of two long letters. Recently I found out that I am actually a descendant of this great person. My brother-in-law who is a big Rosh Yeshiva has a great aversion to this amazing book, because he has witnessed some of his best students become broken from it. What a blessing these boys were saved from living lives of mediocrity and tasting in their hearts and souls the utter necessity for true existence. Yes, if it can't break you it can't make you.) contends that this is ridiculous. How can books that are readily available to the public be considered secrets?! Who has a secret that he divulges to anyone interested? The Yosher Divrey Emess asserts that those scholars who have mastered the TaNaCh (Torah and Prophets – Written Torah), the Talmuds, and Medrash, and purport to being complete scholars of the revealed Torah, just deficient in the Concealed Torah, waiting for when they are worthy, these people are completely deluded living in hypocrisy. A person who has not mastered the entire Zohar, works of the Arizal, and other such works can not pretend to be a scholar what so ever. These are books readily available and readily understandible for anyone who sets out to study them and know them. So what then is the Concealed Torah?

Rabbi Nachman says that the secrets of the Torah are such that even when they are spoken and revealed they remain secret. Sometimes they can be grasped by a person only in passing, and later a person will not merit to fathom that which was in his grasp.

The Baal HaSulam explains with a parable, if you see two people whispering, it won't really interest you, but if you hear them whispering your name – that they are whispering about you, then you will be completely intrigued and extremely curious to know what they are saying. When a person studies the Torah and hears his name being whispered – he senses how the Torah he is studying is directly speaking to him personally, he is in essence learning the secrets of the Torah.

[This is where chabad lubavitch philosophy went off. The original holy leaders felt that if they would exhaustively explain and describe their personal attainments, they could somehow jump start their followers to taste their experience. However the true tzaddikim of the generations did not feel that this approach was truthful. Consider explaining to someone how pizza tastes by offering them a ten volume treatise on its ingredients and similarities to other food etc.. Or consider explaining to someone the thrill of a rollercoaster.... The secrets of the Torah are very much levels of personality in the Supernal Man, how can one relate responsibility by skirting it - spoonfeeding someone who should be called to duty?!]


The main secret is: Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Spiky Apples!!! - See what the Arizal says about tripping on drugs!

ב"ה מצאתי בכתבי האריז"ל (שער הגלגולים הקדמה לו) ז"ל עשב הדודאים, והם בלשון תרגום יברוחין וכן בלשון ערבי יברו"ח, ומוציאים פירות הנקראים תפוחים שוטים. הנה אחיזתם למעלה בלהט החרב הפתהפכת, ולכן נקראים תפוחים שוטים, ולכן גורמים שטות לאדם האוכלם כנודע. וסגלתם הוא, שאם יכרכום תוך קלף צבי, ויתלום בצואר האדם, יעוילי, שאם ירימו חרב על האדם הנושא אותם להרגו, תהפך החרב על האדם, ותהרוג בעליו. גם קליפת התפוחים האלה יבשה וכתישה לאבק דק, יועיל מאד לכחול העינים רעות, עכ"ל.


הרי לפניך מה שהאריז"ל אומר על טרי"פ בסמים, שזה שטות ששורשו מלהט חרב המתהפכת.




Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Show this to the scientists!

HH

The scientists are constantly seeing how erroneous all their theories and "facts" are. Recently in the news they reported that einstien's theory that there are no spooky stuff going on in the logistics of nature is about to be proven wrong as evidenced by an experiment in which rotating a particle in one place resulted in the rotation of distant particle. In any event the Arizal revealed (Shaar Hagilgulim, chapter 25) that the the mountains are constantly growing bigger or shrinking, he also revealed that sometimes they will split in half -- all of this depending on the state of their supernal officials.... so much for nature.... Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!