Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 233

233 - When evil thoughts and ponderings overpower a person

When evil thoughts and ponderings overpower a person and he strengthens and overpowers them and conquers them, there is to the Holy One blessed be He great pleasure from this, and it is very precious in the eyes of Hashem, blessed be He, like the parable that there is with kings, sometimes on a festive day they place several animals to fight (conquer) each other, and they stand and watch, and they have great pleasure from the fight (conquest), similarly the thoughts, they come from aspects of the animals (cha’yos, see Tikun 21 at its end), and holy thoughts, they are aspects of pure animals, and evil thoughts, they are aspects of impure animals, and from Above, they place intentionally that they fight (conquer) each other, and there is to the Holy One blessed be He great pleasure when the person overpowers the impure animals and conquers them.

The general rule is, that it is impossible in any way in the world that there be two thoughts together at one time, therefore one can easily chase away evil thoughts by only remaining stationary (“sit and do not do” – shev vi’al taaseh) that is, not to think that thought, only to think some other thought in Torah or service or even business, because it is impossible that there be two thoughts together in any way, and this is already explained in another place (above in Torah-teaching 72), that one does not need to make war and to shake their head here and there in order to banish the evil thoughts because this does not help at all, on the contrary by this they overpower more, only not to pay attention to them at all, only to do one’s own thing - in what he is occupied in Torah or prayer or business, and not to look behind him at all, and by this it automatically departs.

 

Fight Back

HH

People are getting clobbered by their evil inclination, many have even given up, and many are angry. The Talmud already revealed that if HY doesn't help, a person alone cannot surmount his evil inclination. Drawing on this dictum are programs like the 13 steps which demand that a person acknowledge his own inadequacy and his need for help from on high and from others. Beautiful. The glaring omission which screams out is why doesn't a person at least strike back at this terrible foe who is constantly trying to undermine and trample him?! True, the Talmud warns that one mustn't taunt the Satan, however if one is suffering from the onslaught of the evil inclination certainly it is his right and call to hit back. Thus we find that King David lavished hideous curses upon the evil realms (perhaps the strongest case is Psalm 109). Rabbi Nachman even summoned Satan before a Heavenly Tribunal (no one knows what transpired). There is a prayer from Rabbi Yishmuel the High Priest which bitingly addresses all the evil forces that prey on man - the prayer is available here: http://naanaach.blogspot.com/2018/06/blog-post_72.html.

So if you have had enough of being pulverized by the evil, it might be a good idea for you to dedicate a few minutes every day and call it out directly and return the favor. Instead of being frustrated and angry, mete out all that passion to where it is deserving.

Amazingly two years ago to the day I wrote on this same vein: http://naanaach.blogspot.com/2017/02/know-enemy.html

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman

Triggers programmed to holiness - Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

HH

Reverting evil to the epitome of holiness and good

When a person is confronted by bad thoughts, hears vulgar language, or sees enticing thing, all of which bombard his mind, swamping him with ill desires trying to overwhelm him to give up his hold and give in, plunge down Heaven forbid, and when a person accustoms himself to scream to Hashem Yisburach at all such instances, to scream and scream with all his heart and might, in this way he ultimately brings about a fundamental phenomenal tikkun. For in this way the person trains and ingrains in himself that these images, sounds, or thoughts trigger strong crying out to Hashem Yisburach. Everytime this person experiences such and such, together with the evil urge comes a strong shouting and upheaval to find refuge in the mercy and unity of Hashem Yisburach. In time, it may take one day, one year, twenty or fifty years, it could take till after he dies, but eventually the evil lure will fade, and the objects of enticement will remain bare skeletons of emptiness, and now they will only be conduits and reminders of the holiness which they conjured. The most disgusting perverted glamor which held so many captive to the other side will actually conjure only yearning and longing for Hashem Yisburach!

Sometimes unfortunately we are afflicted by opposite, certain words or images invoke in us reminders of something unholy, and we must do our utmost to reprogram these instinctive reflex triggers to holy ones. Take the time to address it head on, if it is a word, try to figure out how this word actually has holy roots and persuasion, something to latch on to and project for yourself instead of the unholy. Empower the good venue you found with strong conviction, which itself is screaming to Hashem Yisburach to help afix you on the path of holiness.

In this way one changes the whole world for the good, sanctifying his surrounding and his very well-being. Rabbi Nachman said that there is a construct that everything is turned to good.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

HY Look at me!

HH

Imagine, whatever you ask HY, He gives you right away, but He won't look at you. He'll give you everything but won't look at you. Not very appealing. That's why in Shmone Esray before we ask for healing and livelihood, we ask HY, "Look at us!"

Awesome

According the Kabbala, there is a great unification that takes place when someone sees something, because that object is inscribed in the eye of the beholder, bringing them together. So by the very act of HY looking at us, we achieve an amazing unity with Him, as we are inscribed in His eyes.

The blessing continues, "and fight our battles," – imagine that, HY Himself fighting for us, against the evil inclination, and all our struggles.

Awesome.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!