The right balance to introduce HY into your life

HH

Rabbainu made a big revelation in the beginning of the second volume of Likutay Moharan. The holiness of the Temple is not because HY constricted Himself to be there, rather since the temple is so beautiful and magnificent, HY extends holiness there. The difference here is extremely profound to the way we live our lives.

Man is created in the image and design of the Temple, and the big question is how he will merit to have HY preside-reign-pervade in and over his little Temple. There is one school of thought held by the scholarly, that almost rules out any real association of a person to the Divine Presence. They do not G-d forbid deny that G-d dwells in the world and that good deeds and Torah learning earn His attention and companionship, but they see this relationship as something beyond a person’s grasp to actually work on it directly, it is something that they consider a Divine consideration not something mere humans can understand, whomever or wherever HY deems worthy for reasons and considerations only He can fathom, there He will be.

The Baal Shem Tov came to dispel such despair, self-abasement, and false humility. The Baal Shem Tov crusaded to make known that even the most distant and alienated person can and should have a very intimate relationship with HY, and can very readily merit to have HY preside over his life, fully interacting with him in all his affairs.

Rabbainu revelation here cements the foundations for a person to be a Temple mamash. As long as people are mistaken to believe that the Temple held a special constriction of HY, then it is certainly out of reach, sure we must believe and do what we can to do His Will and only His Will, but we have no real connection to Him, for HY is completely above any paradigm of His creation, and according to this mistaken opinion that the Temple is a special constriction, that means that the only special connection one can have with HY, is for HY to make a special constriction for Him, and who can merit to such a thing? So this school of thought does their best to trek through life, doing the mitzvos and Torah as best as they can, hoping that they are fulfilling the Divine Desire, and that they will merit to ultimately be with HY. However, in truth, the Temple is not a special constriction of HY, for HY constricted Himself to be the very space of all creation, and the Temple exists in this space, and only because of its beauty, its special design and configuration that HY revealed in the Torah, because of this magnificence HY draws extra special holiness to preside-reign-pervade there. Knowing this a person can understand that the more he grooms himself, fixing his character and his fulfillment of the Torah and mitzvos, the more he will merit directly to draw extra special attention and holiness from HY.

May we merit, in the merit of Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman!

The way to know Gd personally and directly

HH
Everyone wants to really know Gd. They tried, they spoke a few words, looked for a sign a miracle, and even if they found something to keep them going, they didn't find Gd in the finite way they would have liked. What is missing?
Parable. A friend tells you he's going to hook you up with some extremely powerful people, and then he takes you to a party, and you have a great time with everyone, and you are left wondering when you're friend is going great to hook you up. But the reality is that those in the party are the powerful people, and partying with them is your connection, and if you want to make a more meaningful, direct, and personal connection you have to see these people for whom they really are, their true power, and directly approach them. According to his conception of their power, so they will in turn relate to him. If he takes them to be simple millionaires, they will respond accordingly, he can gain some business tips, small investment capital and the likes, and if he understands that they are far more powerful than simple wealthy people, holding clout in the government and in major corporate empires, he can gain lucrative and valuable contracts worth fortunes. And if he can understand that their power is even more than all that, he can get them to take him to the top.
So too with HY, everyone in the world is partying with Him, and if they play by the rules they will  thereby undoubtedly be making awesome connection with Him. However if one wishes to merit to a more direct and personal relationship and knowledge of HY he must understand who it is that he is with, and approach Him accordingly directly.
Understanding the enormity of HY is gaining the vessel to approach Him directly, and in fact as soon as one has the vessel, the light is already filling it.
Together with the understanding of HY is fear and awe and shame i.e. realization of one's own inadequacy.
Thus our Sages revealed that the gate to Hashem is fear-awe.
This is a simple principle and so profound it is considered the highest of secrets. So I will not elaborate, only understand it well and in practice and merit!
Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman

Generation with the face of a dog

HH

The face of the generation will resemble the face of dog – פני הדור כפני כלב

This is the description of the Mishna at the end of tractate Sotah. The commentaries explain this to refer to imputence and brazenness. However, it occurs to me that there is another intention here.

Dogs are so loyal to their masters, but even more they are loving. This I have observed many times how dogs ingratiate their masters, and their masters revel in this love and attention. Jews never were big into dogs. In fact Rabbi Nachman revealing in his Book of Traits (Sefer Hamidos, Hamtukas Hadinim – Sweetening of Judgements #92) – one who raises a dog arouses din (judgement). For many this relationship of rosy love and attention from the dog is fulfilling and meaningful, but Jews were rarely that superficial. Sure animal life is important and respected, but where does it come to par in the relationship of a human being?!

The Mishna is describing the relationship we see today between the contemporary rabbis and their congregations, where the rabbis dole out to their masses all the beautiful messages that are expected from them. It so warm and rosy, and it so devoid of import.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!