The Praises of Rabbi Nachman 17-19

HH

Shivchay Huran

17-19

17. He also said, that the conjugation of the true tzadik is a very difficult matter for him; and not only does he not have any desire whatsoever, just on the contrary, he has suffering from this, mamash (-literally) like the suffering of an infant during circumcision, because mamash suffering such as this the tzadik has during conjugation, and more than this, because the infant doesn't have intellect, therefore his suffering is not so great, but the tzadik who does have intellect, his suffering is greater then the infant, and this was an obvious matter by him. And he said, that every person can merit to come to this level, and it was apparent from his words that his own holiness was yet very extremely higher.

18. And he said, that by him a man and a woman are equal, that is, that no facet of thought occurs to him when he sees a woman, just everything is the same by him in his eyes, as if he sees a man. And one time he said, that he has no fear, not from a woman and not from an angel. And with this there's a lot to explain, because someone who still has any facet of fear whatsoever from thoughts of women, even if he is chaste in this regard, just that he's not immaculate in the utmost purity, and he still has some fear at all with this, he needs to fear from an angel; but he (Rabbainu) boasted that he has absolutely no fear of this, therefore he has no fear of an angel. This is slightly alluded to in the words of our Rabbis of blessed memory (Kedushin 81a): "I am flesh, and you are fire - but I am better/stronger than you," which Rav Amram Chasiduh said to the angel, and it is brought down in his words of blessed memory in the Torah-teaching "Tikoo (blast the shofar) - memshalu (dominion)" Torah 1 in the second volume of Likutay Moharan, see there well, and understand.

19. He was also very accustomed in his early childhood and in his youth to run over all the time to be by the grave of the Baal Shem Tov za.tza.viku.l. to request of him that he help him draw close to Hashem Yisburach. And he used to go there at night, and in the winter when it was extremely cold he would go there at night and from there he returned and went to the mikvah. And there was a mikva outside the bathhouse and one mikvah inside the bath house, and he chose the mikvah that was outside the bathhouse, when the cold was great and he was already very cold from being by the aforementioned grave, because there was a great distance between his house and the cemetery and also from the cemetery to the mikva, besides for the lengthy stay that he spent by the grave, even still after all this he would specifically go to immerse in the mikvah which stood outside, in order to mortify himself - and all of this secretly at night. And I heard from someone who said that he heard from his holy mouth, that when he performed these practices he was just six years old.

And he was so secretive from people in his devotions, to the extent that one time he went to the mikvah in the morning in the winter, and he came from the immersion, and his pehyos (sidelocks) were wet from the water, and everyone wondered at the oddity that in the winter a person would wash his head, because it did not occur to them that he had been in the mikvah, they just thought that he washed his head, and they wondered at his peculiarity that he washed his head in such cold, and they held it to be an act of his immaturity, because he was very, very secretive in his devotion. Also all the very many fasts that he fasted, absolutely no one in the world knew about them, even his father and his mother and his relatives, just his wife alone knew of it, and he would swear her that she should not reveal it to anyone, and he would do many (many) ruses to hide and to conceal all the fasting that he fasted, in such a way that no one would know of them.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman!

The Praises of Rabbi Nachman 14-16

HH

Shivchay Huran

14-16

14. And every single thing that he wanted to do in the devotion of Hashem was extremely difficult for him with all types of heaviness in the world. And at first it was very difficult for him to sit alone in a designated house for some consecutive hours to engage in the service of Hashem, and this matter was very difficult for him in the beginning. However, he of blessed memory would force himself exceedingly and he broke his desires, and he sat for many hours everyday in hisbodidus in a designated room. And similarly it was very extremely difficult for him the devotion that he had to do everyday, and it was so difficult for him to the extent that it was not at all possible to carry the yoke due to its great heaviness, that it was very extremely heavy and difficult for him, and just by this aitzu (remedy, recourse, scheme) he carried upon himself the yoke of the devotion, that is, that everyday he would think in his mind that he has nothing but this day alone, and he didn't look at the morrow or the future whatsoever, just as if he doesn't have but this day alone, and hence he was able to carry upon himself the yoke of the devotion of that day alone, because for one day alone a person can accept upon himself all types of devotions in the world, since it is only for one day alone, and when he finished the devotion of that day, then on the morrow he returned and accepted upon himself the devotion of that next day; and this is what he used to do always, that he would not think in his mind just that day alone, and through this he was able to carry upon himself the yoke of his devotion, which was extremely heavy upon him, and without this he was not able to bear it whatsoever since he abounded in the service of Hashem tremendously with many types of devotions every day, and everything with great labor and exertion and very great heaviness to the extent that it was not possible to carry upon himself such a yoke except through the aforementioned aitzu, that he would not think in his mind except that day alone as mentioned above.

15. And he was very very frequent with nedarim (-vows), that many times, when the day came he accepted upon himself with a vow the whole order of the devotion that he desired to do on that day, and afterwards even though it was extremely difficult for him he was forced to do it because of the vow, and he did this many many times. And similarly with all types of fences (-restrictions) and safeguards of abstinence from some (bodily) desire or some character trait, he was very frequent with vows many times, and many times he made an oath (shivoo-uh) binikeetas (while holding) chaifetz (an article - such as a Torah scroll, such an oath has much greater severity) over something, in order that he be strong to abstain from that thing that he wanted to abstain (himself from).

16. And the utter greatness of the magnitude of the virtue/high level of his holiness and breaking the general (bodily) desire, which includes all the bad desires, which is the s*xual desire, is impossible to explain or relate. And he said, that he had innumerable tests, but in reality it is not a test at all, because he said that this is not a desire whatsoever (t.n. this seems to be analogous to what Rabbainu says in Likutay Moharan volume 2 Torah-teaching 119 that perhaps there is "this world," but it doesn't seem so, see there, and see Sichos Huran article 50, this world is nothing etc. see there, and since Rabbainu revealed (Likutay Moharan 36) that the main test of this world is this desire, and here Rabbainu says that it is in fact not a desire at all, it comes out that this world is likewise). And he said, to whoever is just a true scholar, even a pagan, just because he is a true scholar, it is befitting that by him this desire is not considered a desire whatsoever. And he said, that whoever is knowledgeable in the science of dissection (of the body) and knows the order of the limbs of a person according to the science of dissection, it is fitting that he should be disgusted by this desire with the utmost disgust. And in the matter of the repulsiveness of this desire he spoke exorbitantly, a great deal of this matter which is impossible to explain because of forgetfulness, and the general upshot is - that he tremendously repulsed this desire in the utmost repulsion, to the extent that he decreed and said, that whoever is a bit of a true scholar, this desire is not considered a test whatsoever.

However, also before he merited to this, that this desire would be completely nullified and repulsed by him, also before this, also then he had many (many) great and very awesome tests in this desire which is impossible to explain in detail, because in his very youth, when the blood boils (-with hormones), he had many (many) innumerable great tests in this desire, that he had the ability to fulfill his desire and he was in very extremely great danger, but he was mighty strong and he surmounted his inclination and quashed his desire many (many) times, and even still he would not distance himself a second time to run from a test, just on the contrary, he desired tests, and he would pray to Hashem Yisburach to summon for him tests, because how is it possible for him to do a sin Heaven forbid and transgress the desire of Hashem Yisburach(?!), only if he would become crazy Heaven forbid at that time, but since he would have some sort of intellect (in the world) at the time of the test, certainly he would be able to withstand it according to the greatness of the strength of his heart that he was extremely strong in Hashem; and even still when he was confronted with the test, he was in very great danger, and he would scream to Hashem Yisburach profusely until he merited to surmount his inclination and to be saved, and even still he did not distance himself from a test another time, even though at the time of the test it was extremely difficult for him as mentioned above. And so it was many (many) times, extremely numerous to no measure, and Hashem Yisburach was to his succor, and he merited to surmount his inclination and to break the conflagration of the inferno of this general desire, and he was very, very extremely holy in abstinence from this desire with great abstinence and very great and awesome holiness.

And he said, that the bal duvur (-litigator, evil-inclination, Satan) wanted to leave him be with everything, just that he should acquiesce in one matter, but he said the opposite: that he would leave everything, just that matter he does not want to leave from breaking it, that is, that the bal duvur (-litigator...) was willing to leave him be to break all the (bodily) desires, just (on condition) that he acquiesce to him in one matter, that probably being the aforementioned general desire, for the main evil inclination is in this desire, but he of blessed memory, said the opposite - that he would leave everything without breaking it, just this desire he wants to break completely.

And so he was accustomed from the onset, that his entire aspiration and all his exertion was just to break at first this general desire, and he did not pay attention at all in the beginning to breaking the desire of eating, just on the contrary, at the beginning he would eat a very, very great deal, much more than other people, and he said that then he drew all the desires into the desire of eating, and afterwards he broke as well this desire of eating. And he had many types of exertions, and devotions, and battles, and tests innumerable before he broke the aforementioned general desire, and many (many) prayers, and beseeching, and crying, and talks that he prayed and beseeched and poured out his heart before Hashem Yisburach in many (many) types of beseechings, and appeasements, and conciliations that Hashem Yisburach should be to his aid to be saved from this desire, until he merited to withstand all the tests, and he sanctified himself immensely with the abstinence of this desire to no calculable measure or estimation, until he merited to break this desire completely, to the extent that it was wondrous by him someone who considered it hard to break this desire,  because he said, that this is not a desire at all, and he would abound to speak about this matter, in the matter of nullifying and repulsing this desire.

And he said, that it is impossible to speak of this with people that are already coarse in this matter, because their blood is already so mixed up to the extent that their mind is mixed up until they cannot understand at all, and it does not enter their heart whatsoever that it is possible to repulse this desire, therefore it is impossible to speak of this a lot. However, in reality, whoever is a bit of a true scholar, can easily repulse this desire completely, because he said, that this is not a test whatsoever for someone who is just a true scholar as mentioned above. And he said, that there must be in all of this a secret, because in reality it is not a desire whatsoever. And he boasted of himself profusely of his great strength in breaking this desire, and he was very immensely and awesomely holy in this matter, and he said of himself, that he has no (bodily) desire whatsoever, and he said, that by him male and female are equal, that is, that he does not have any battle brought on by any manner of (desirous) thought when he sees or when he speaks with a woman, because everything is the same by him.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman

Elul - Man and His Beloved

ELUL

Elul is acronym Ani Lidoadee – I am for my beloved, Vidoadee Lee – and my beloved is for me, and we found countless times where the relationship between HY and the Jews is likened to that of a Man and his Beloved.

Previously on this blog I already wrote how this makes it more natural for a woman to connect with HY, then for a man, see there. Here I would like to build on this.

A woman has 4 very strong emotions regarding her man, these her body and whole being scream out, even if she doesn't actually let them escape her lips. These are not simple pronunciations, but repeated and continuous, incessant, flowing and gushing, and pleading. Much of this unfortunately is reduced to vulgar and coarse language, simply because the way of holiness has been despaired[1]. Obviously it will be more powerful if one actually expresses himself out loud to HY, but there is also the factor of streaming the thoughts intensely as described above.

1.       NEED. Even before any contact is made, and throughout any union, there is the overall urgent and or definite NEED.

2.       GRATITUDE. [YES!]

3.       The need to really experience him completely: GIVE IT TO ME….

{particularly on the inhale}

4.       Surrender. I AM YOURS.

{particularly on the exhale}

One should offer these up to HY, every second, for every second in this world one's very being and essence, his composition, consciousness, and breath is all from HY, and one can max out on this, pouring out, even only in thought – in his mind, thanks and gratitude, and plead to receive more, and to fully surrender and be His.[2]

The wise will understand that this is just the groundwork, the beginning, every detail enhances, intensifies, and fortifies the aggregate effect. One must be nak*d – completely bare and open before G-d, completely vulnerable, and then of course there is the factor of humiliation, and so much more.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

---

[1] There is a story of the Baal Shem Tov who saw that there was great prosecution against Israel because there was a priest who had never experienced a nocturnal emission. So the Baal Shem Tov visited him and caused it to happen, the Baal Shem Tov spoke in holiness cloaking his words in worldly expressions, which were enough to bring the priest over the edge just by hearing them. And as the power of holiness is infinitely greater, who can imagine what the Baal Shem Tov experienced!

[2] These four can parallel the 4 preceding steps of the building of the Malchus in the first blessing of Shemoneh Esray (very succinctly): Melech (Kessehr) – need. Oazair (chaba"d) – gratitude for being there for you. Oomoasheyu (chaga"t) – getting everything. Oomugain (nihe"y) – completely dominated.

Also the three particular expressions can correlate to the three main paradigms of the Yichudim the Ramchal revealed. 1. Gratitude – zivug of the middle – azteelus, where we are just recipients. 2. Give it to me – the second level of Yichudim where azteelus is the soul and the tzadikim are the body – definite players. 3. Utter consummation – the highest and final Yichud of the beginning and the end, where the end shows that there is just the beginning, there is only HY.

Transgender

HH
One of the most highly regarded works in Brisk and the Yeshivos is the Minchas Chinuch (my father gives lectures on this book, and many have been recorded and are available online on frumtube or koshertube), which analyzes the mechanics of the mitzvos. Very, very often the Minchas Chinuch presents different approaches and in order to show why and how it actually makes a difference which way you see it, he resorts to the case of a tumtum (se**al organs covered and unknown) and androgeenus (having both)- where according to one approach such people would be obligated and according to the other approach they would be exempt, or vice versa.

So maybe all the learning of the Minchas Chinuch was instrumental in an oblique way to the sexual mayhem prevalent today, or as a true yeshiva person would say: If people would be learning more from the Minchas Chinuch, the world would be spared the craziness of people actually going that way.

There could be another facet. For time immemorial the world was led to believe that learning Torah is more important than prayer. In recent times Rabbi Nachman has made it abundantly clear that prayer - for spirituality - is much higher. Torah is the aspect of the male, and prayer is the aspect of female. So now that the world is make the transformation, and shifting its focus to favor prayer over Torah, this effects all the echelons of society, ultimately bringing severe identity crisis and issues to some of those more prone to confusion, may the Holy Merciful One spare us and save us and redeem us very soon.

Na Nach Nach Nachman MeUman! 

Holiness of eating

HH

Rabbi Nachman revealed that the Tzadik's eating is even higher than his conjugating.

When a person engages in a relationship the union draws down a soul or souls from Heaven. Great tzaddikim are even active in the actual choosing and drawing of the desired soul. Here we see that the main act is conducted in the actuality of this world, drawing from the supernal. In contradistinction when a person eats, grinding the food, pulverizing it, and ultimately completely negating it. It seems to me that a Tzaddik performing this would also come to such a consciousness of being completely abnegated before HY, and in this way the Tzadik draws the supernal life from the food, as he meets the food in complete negation before the Ein Sof, drawing the holy letters which stand out - receiving life directly from the Ein Sof. This is an act of complete abnegation to HY.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Spiritual Orga*m

HH

The holy Torah reveals that a person binding his (/her) soul to the One Merciful G-d can have many different experiences. G-d presents Himself in the world in both a feminine and masculine attitude. The feminine presence, is the Divine Presence known as the Shechina which "rests" in the world -- the Glory of G-d, the Jewish People of Israel as a whole are a reflection of the Shechina. The masculine presence, the husband of the Shechina, is the hand and spirit of G-d emanating and projecting from Above. The Tzadik incorporates and plays the role as a chariot and vehicle for the masculine, and directly fertilizes the Shechina, cultivating her and providing her with her every need. Those who have attained such a status will not be needing to read my whimsy words.

Although the Shechina is a feminine presence, that is only with regard to the Spiritual worlds above, but with regard to the worlds underneath it, the Shechina plays a very masculine role providing and taking care of the universe as we know it. Therefore when a person binds himself to the Divine, if he is deserving he will experience the presence of the Shechina, the Shechina will be projecting to him, which means that the person will be on the receiving end, just as a female receives from a male. If the person manages not only to bind himself, but to actually achieve an encounter of complete relationship to the satisfaction of a complete devotion, there will be a spiritual orga*m. For males this will take more time and devotion to master, because men in their physical role are designed to experience the spontaneous gratification which culminates with very tangible expression, which is not going to be forthcoming spiritually. It will take them much time to even realize they have achieved a strong relationship. Whereas women, physically do not so much aim for and definitely do not depend on a dramatic clima*, but rather grow and develop their feelings with intensity, warming and getting hotter, all the while basking in the pleasure of what is being done to/with/for them. Therefore women have an outright advantage in achieving meaningful union with the Divine. They are more at home and natural to this relationship. This could be working reasoning to what our Sages revealed that Sarah's prophecy was superior to her husband's - Abraham (of course this is only with respect to the Shechina, whereas Abraham's main role would be as the tzadik, which attends to the Shechina). When a man to feel tears spurting from his eyes he will not naturally associate that with orga*m, but a woman will revel and delight even as if reacting from physical stimulation.

May the Glory of G-d be revealed to the whole world, may we merit to bask in His Presence!

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman

Shukelling -- שוקולים

HH
When people pray and study the holy Torah their bodies sway back and forth (shuckle), the holy books say this is an expression of their souls which are like flames that jump around. Their is a deeper secret, these people are having se* with G-d.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

ב"ה המתפללים והלומדים את התורה הקדושה גופותיהם מתנועעים, וכתוב בספרים הקדושים זה תוצאת נשמותיהם כמו אש ולהבה שקופצת מפה לשם. ויש סוד יותר עמוק, הם מזדווגים עם השם יתברך.

Experience Nanach

HH Rabbainu Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman revealed that when a Jew claps in prayer and dances in holiness he is having se* with G-d.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman!