Bliss of the Century

HH

Rashi brings from the Scriptures and Our Sages o.b.m. that the decree to banish the ten tribes from Israel to be scattered around the world to this very day was because of their rampant imbibition of alcohol. The Talmud says that the high that one gets from alcohol is deducted from his portion in the future world G"f. This certainly applies to the high of drugs. Rabbainu was adamant and particular that even on Shabbos the drinking of alcohol should be extremely restrained and kept in check. Rabbainu revealed in Likutay Moharan (volume 2, Torah-teaching 7 – the very first Torah that Saba learned from Likutay Moharan together with R' Yisroel Karduner) that it is our task and duty to fill the world with people, and people are those with daas – sense and reasoning, and one without daas is likened to an animal, see there.

In our times when a very significant percentage of humanity is very dependent on drugs of all sorts and alcohol, there must be a parallel aspect in holiness, for that is how God runs the world that there is always "zeh li-oomas zeh" – equal opportunity on both sides, and of course the side of holiness will obviously be much much more powerful. Also many have already pointed out that the trend of more and more nakedness and less and less modesty is also apropos to the great spiritual unveiling, as Rabbainu revealed, that many things that were great secrets in the past are already now open and revealed, and many awesome spiritual concepts are readily available and within grasp of the public. There is a responsa from the time of the Gaonim (about 1000 years ago) in answer to a request to reveal some secrets of the Kabala, and the Sage writes that with great awe and trepidation etc. etc. he will begin by telling the names of the Ten Sefiros. This was a great revelation for them that demanded great awe and trepidation, today it is common knowledge not even given a moments thought. Also with regard to music, one of the greatest pleasures in life, as Rabbainu revealed in the story of Ancient Times of the exchanged children, that there are melodies that transcend immeasurably all the pleasures of this world, and elsewhere he revealed how there is an angel with a thousand tongues and each tongue etc. etc. the melody being pleasurable beyond this world. Today thank G-d almost everyone has access and ability to listen to the music of their choice in very high quality, something that in the past was extremely limited to either royalty or public occasions like weddings.

So people really have to start getting with the program, and start to learn how to get the highs which are obviously part and parcel of our times – they must start getting them from Nanach.

There is a tradition by chasidim that there is a special light one gets when learning the commentary of the Muggen Avrohom (on Shulchan Aruch – Code of Jewish Law, also known to frequently site the writings of the Arizal). Where the Shulcha Aruch writes the halacha that it is forbidden to cry on Shabbos, the Muggen Avrohom writes that this prohibition doesn't forbid they crying out of dvaikus (-clinging to Hashem). Here the Muggen Avrohom reveals a little secret, that one can really bliss out on dvaikus – to have tears of ecstasy streaming down ones face, without any drugs or alcohol or anything, just to bliss out on G-d – and this is straight up in the Shulchan Aruch.

Rabbainu revealed that one can sit and feel Hashem Yisburach's looking upon him, to the extent that the person will blanch, all the blood will rush out of his face in humiliation before the Infinite One blessed He. Imagine the ecstasy of such an experience. Rabbainu sited the words of Our Sages o.b.m. that a sigh breaks the body of the sigher, and Rabbainu said that he tested and experienced this, he sighed and witnessed how his strength was depleted – imagine falling into such surrender into the hands of Hashem Yisburach, like a beloved falling languish in surrender into the strong powerful hands of her lover. These are just a few examples, for in fact every word of Rabbainu is a gateway to experience, not just in the future world, but mamash right here and right now the most wondrous ecstasy, euphoria, exhilaration, excitement, elation (the mnemonic is e=5^th letter of the alphabet), bliss and so much more, if one sets his mind to it and is committed to abnegating himself to Hashem Yisburach and His Tzadik Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman and to His Torah.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Beer

HH

When you pour beer into a cup, the foam and froth rises up even spilling out. In Yiddish cup means head - and that is exactly what happens when most people drink beer (pouring it into their head) - the foam and frost rapidly fills their brain and all types of garbage comes out of their head.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Who are you, and who do you want to be?

HH

The Zohar reveals a  huge secret, the Torah says that when Joseph saw that he couldn't get out of the seduction and grasp of the wife of Poateephar, he left his "beg'ged" - his clothing in her hands and ran away. The Zohar reveals that this "beg'ged" is in reality the most external layer of the body, which is a demon. Basically Joseph left her a plaything, a man toy, a dildo, and the rest of himself ran away. And if we follow the verses according to this revelation we see that the wife of Poateephar wasn't at all satisfied and in desire of this external superficial body, she had wanted Joseph himself.

The Zohar also reveals that Esther did not sleep with King Achashvairosh, only this very external outer layer of her body, which is a demon, Mordechai and Esther would swear, and command it by oath, to go sleep with Achashvairoash, and after it was done and returned to Esther, she would ritually immerse herself and be with Mordechai. The Ramchal in Kinaas Hashem Tzivoas explains that this demon is so external - it is just like eye makeup - that there was no interference from this activity to Esther's holiness and her  relationship with Mordechai, however even still since this layer had done this, it needed ritual immersion.

Today, unfortunately, due to our sins and the great coarseness of the world, not to mention pornography and all the allurements of the entertainment industry, alcohol, drugs - all of these things play directly and exclusively to this "beg'ged" the outer most external layer of our bodies, which has almost no real connection to who we really are, and yet we empower it and give it our full attention and give it to rule and command our lives, may the Holy Merciful One G-d save us.

We must be strong to stand up to this temptation to lust after this superficial encasing, and live true lives.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman