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

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

The Greatest Wisdom of All - NNNNM


HH

Parable:
There was once a big convention of the greatest minds of times, nobel prize winners and the most renown scientists, researchers, and inventors, each one lecturing and sharing their wisdom. The convention took place on a luxury yacht. There was a simple little Jew running from group to group trying to get their attention, but for the most part he went unheeded. He claimed that despite the great wisdom of those present, he possessed knowledge far more superior, but his cries were dismissed and ignored completely, what could this poor fellow know that could contend at all with the great wisdom being discussed. There was one humble fellow who was curious what in fact could this guy know that he felt was superior to everything else?! So the little Jew told him, “There’s a big hole in the bottom of the boat, and it is going to capsize….”

Rabbi Nussun in Likutay Halachos, Laws of Slaughtering (5), elaborates beautifully in his inimitable style on this concept, how the greatest wisdom of all is the realization and consciousness of the impending end and tachlis. This is a wisdom that our holy Sages excelled in acquiring and disseminating.


Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!



Monday, February 19, 2018

The Praises of Rabbi Nachman - part 2 - His Voyage to Israel - 34 to End

HH
Shivchay HuRan
Part 2
34.
And it was already heard from his holy mouth that he said, that there are tzadikim that served (Hashem) and labored until they merited some high level, each one according to his prominence/virtue, like for example by a king whose ministers merit through their service, each one to some prominence, to some high office according to his service. However, of himself he said, that if he were to know that he is now on the same height and level as a year ago, he would not be conciliated ("desirous of") with himself at all, (and he spoke disparagingly of himself regarding the aforementioned matter if he were to remain in the level of the previous year), just, every time he ascends from level to level.
And there is a very great deal to speak about this matter, however, it is impossible to relate all of this in writing whatsoever, only someone who merited to see with his eyes and hear with his ears was able to fathom in his heart a slight bit of this matter, how he never stood on one level anytime, just, immediately he would yearn to ascend to a higher level until he merited etc. and so forth forever. And he was a great novelty in this matter. And all of this is according to our minuscule grasp (-comprehension), but there is more to this, there is in this matter hidden secrets, wondrous wonders, but suffice with this.

35.
And regarding the matter of "the tachlis (-ultimate extent or purpose) of knowing is not to know," he also spoke with us a little a few times how in every knowledge there is this tachlis. And therefore even though one merits to come to this tachlis of not knowing, even still this is not yet the final tachlis, because this is still not the tachlis of the (-all) knowledge just for this knowledge, and it is necessary afterwards to labor to merit to a higher tachlis, to merit to a higher level of the tachlis of not knowing, and so forth forever. (And this is already explained a little in our words elsewhere). And this matter is very extremely deep and hidden. And there is more to this matter, what we heard one time after Passover, and it will explained elsewhere G-d willing (see The Life of Our Leader Rabbi Nachman 282, Rabbainu said that he had just gained knowledge that the tachlis of knowledge is not knowing, means really not knowing, and this is something that seems obvious and cannot be explained, but was a new understanding, and even though he had now attained this understanding he still knows nothing, because previously he had also thought that he had come to this tachlis of not knowing and yet only now he understands that it is to really not know, and he had been very far from this new comprehension, see there).
36.
One time a king sent three men to a country with a secret message to a different king. And they passed through countries where there were opposers to the king.
And the first (of the three men) conducted himself shrewdly, and concealed the matter completely, and he crossed the country and they didn't discern at all that he has (-had) a hidden agenda (/secret message). And the second (of the three men) traversed there, and the people of the country picked up on the matter, and they understood that he has a secret agenda/message and they grabbed/incarcerated him so that he should tell (it to) them. And he acted shrewdly or with might, and he escaped from their hands. The third (of the three men) traversed there, and they also caught on to him, and they figured out that he has a secret, and they incarcerated him, and they tortured him with very profusely with many, many tortures, and all that they did to him, tortures, and torments, and great duress, and (-even still) he didn't say anything, and he withstood the trial and didn't reveal the secret. Until they saw that nothing will work on him and they let him go (because they thought that he presumably doesn't know anything at all), and he passed through and came to the king.

And they were appraising which of the aforementioned three is deserving more reward. Some said, "To the first more is due, because he acted shrewdly to be completely discreet." Some said, "To the second more is due, for they had already figured out his intent and even still he escaped from them with his wisdom etc." as mentioned above. The king said: "To the third is due more reward than all of them, because he was already caught in their stronghold, and certainly he also wanted to be discreet but was unsuccessful, and he was caught in their hands. And they tortured him and made him suffer with such suffering and torture, so that were he to reveal one secret, everyone would have been chasing after him, and even still he stood up to such a test and did not reveal anything, therefore he deserves more reward than all of them. (And the moral is slightly understandable a bit to the understanding).
The End
Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman


Sunday, February 18, 2018

The Praises of Rabbi Nachman - part 2 - His Voyage to Israel - 33

HH
Shivchay HuRan
Part 2
33.
And after all of this, after he did all the aforementioned devotions with truth and wholeheartedness, and he abounded in fasts and in prayers a very great deal, and in mortifications, and breaking (bodily) desires and vices, and withstood many tests, and all the other aforementioned matters, and he abounded very extremely in hisbodidus - to converse between himself and his Maker -and to express himself in Yiddish (-i.e. his vernacular) etc. as mentioned above, until he merited to a very extremely lofty and supernal level in the utmost of holiness and in the utmost of abnegation and drawing close to Hashem Yisburach, in the level of the greatest of the binay aleyuh (-men of ascent, i.e. who ascend to very high and even Divine paradigms in their devotion to HY). And all of this he merited in his very childhood, because he did not rest at day and did not sleep nor was he passive at night. And he was extremely diligent in his devotion from day to day from the beginning of his childhood and the days of his youth. And he toiled and labored arduously from day to day, until he merited in his very youth to all that was mentioned above, to lofty and awesome holiness and very enormous hasaga (-spiritual conception) etc. in the level of greatest binay aleyuh.

And after he merited to all this, even still he wasn't placated with this, and he did not allow himself to stand. Just, even afterwards, everyday and every hour he longed, and yearned, and pined for Hashem Yisburach as if he did not start yet whatsoever with any devotion in the world. Even after he came from the Land of Israel and merited there to very extremely high and lofty hasaga (-spiritual conception) which is utterly unfathomable, even still from the day that he came from the Land of Israel until the day that he passed away in peace (to) very high above, he always had yearning and longing etc. for Hashem Yisburach as if he still had not started whatsoever.
And to speak of this matter vast folios would not suffice, even what we merited to understand a little of this matter according to what we heard from his holy mouth and we saw with our eyes. Because it was his way every time that he would yearn for Hashem Yisburach, and he was truly lowly in his own eyes, and he had great compassion on himself as if he had still not smelled ever any fragrance of the service of Hashem, and as if he still had not started whatsoever.
And in reality even someone who transgressed the whole entire Torah, Heaven forbid, many, many times, and when this person is aroused in true repentance, at which time (certainly) he certainly has a very broken heart when he looks upon himself where he is in the world, and he has very great compassion on himself with great meekness etc., and there's no need to elaborate on this, on a matter understood of itself, even still, even this compassion and broken heart of the aforementioned baal teshuva (-person repenting), does not reach a thousandth or one ten thousandth of the great compassion and broken heart in great meekness etc. that Rabbainu o.b.m. had, each and every time before he came to some hasaga (-spiritual conception).
And in short, (that) he never rested nor was he still even in the days of his greatness. Even though he had already merited to what he merited, to conception of the Divine, on a very enormous and awesome lofty level, even still he did not suffice himself with this, and he toiled and labored at all times and all hours, and he took upon himself suffering, severe and bitter suffering which are almost unparalleled in this world, and he abounded in many prayers, and pleading, and entreaties, and supplications, and very extremely great and awesome yearning and longing, until he came to a higher hasaga and level. And afterwards, immediately when he merited this hasaga (and) then he was a happy a little. And sometimes we merited to hear from his mouth that he informed us that now he has come to know new things etc. and he was happy then a little. And afterwards, immediately when he merited this, afterwards he began again anew, And he forgot everything that transpired as if he still had not begun at all, and he returned and began anew as if he was starting to go and enter in the holiness of Israel (-a Jew). And sometimes we heard from his holy mouth explicitly that he said in an expression of longing and yearning: "How does one merit to be a Yehoodey (-a Jew)?" And he said this honestly and with great temeemus (-wholeheartedness, sincerity) as if he still did not begin at all. And so it was many times.
And he constantly went and rose from level to level. Even though he merited to extremely lofty and awesome levels high, high above etc., Even still he was never pacified with this at all, and immediately afterwards he would have a broken heart and he had great compassion on himself with great meekness etc. as mentioned above, until he merited to a higher level. And this was his way always until the end.
And many, many times it was his way that he said that now he does not know anything whatsoever, absolutely nothing. And sometimes he swore on this, that he truthfully knows nothing at all (see The Life of Our Leader Rabbi Nachman 215), even though on the previous day or the previous hour he revealed formidable ("ateekim" also connotes very well established in time (like 'antique'), principle, and esoteric) concepts, even still afterwards he said that he does not no anything. And in this matter he was a very extremely great novelty. And he said explicitly of himself that his Torah is a very great novelty, however, his "not knowing" is a phenomenally greater novelty. I.e. the aforementioned matter, that every time it was his way to say that now he does know at all, and see more about this elsewhere (see the next article #35, and see Words of Rabbi Nachman 3 - about the tachlis (ultimate extent or purpose) of knowledge is not knowing. And see The Life of Our Leader Rabbi Nachman 215 and 283).
Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman


Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Blossoms of the Spring - Letter 14

Letter 14[1]

B.H., 19 Elul 718 (Thursday, 4 September, 1958), Tel Aviv.

To an astute man who seeks and quests the palace of truth, Mr. Z. Shazar, abundant Shalom.

Brudehr <brother> halt zich <hold up – keep strong>, luz zich nisht up <don't let up>. Be strong and let us be strengthened, and we shall not be like a large elephant and like a camel even when the mouse pulls it by its nose it won't kick it[2], gird your waist like a mighty warrior, and gird your loins with might to fly like an eagle to the tzadik who heals all sickness, and (to) a man of suffering[3] (who) extracts souls from nethermost hell, reverses descents to ascents, and willful sins to merits[4].

Know that there are two kinds of palaces, in one lives a king, and in the second lives a slave, and both of them are completely similar to each other and it is difficult to differentiate between them. Because there are many souls that bond until there is made from them a house and palace, because they bond one with another and one with another until there is made from the a foundation and afterwards there is made a tent, until there is built from them a house and an abode where truth lives, and whoever wants to find truth he will find (it) in this house and palace of these souls who from them was made an abode for truth. And there is correlating to this, that many souls bond and there is made from them a house where it is the house of falsehood who is the aspect of a slave. And behold between these two aforementioned houses it is possible to err, that is, between the truth and the falsehood, because the falsehood simulates itself to the truth, because also there, there is a bond from many souls, until it is extremely difficult to differentiate between the truth and the falsehood and it is possible for a person to err and not know where the truth is and where to draw himself close[5], however, if he looks[6] upon his eternal tachlis (ultimate end/purpose) with a really true eye, certainly he will merit to understand which way to go and to whom to draw close[7]. The main exile is through the sins of Israel and the main rectification is through repentance, and the main prevention of the repentance is the strife of the opponents of the true tzadik, because the majority of the multitudes of the Children of Israel would listen to him[8], however, the main prevention is through the opponents of the point of truth in many many aspects and from these opponents suck nourishment the aspect of the forehead of the snake and evil beasts who are the sages of nature etc. etc., and through all these evil views (there) is the main prevention from repentance[9].

The bal duvur (-litigator-Satan-evil inclination) strengthens and endeavors with his conniving to prevent (one) from drawing close to the true tzadik in whom is contingent the complete rectification of his soul, and the greater a person is, and the higher level and aspect he has – the more he (-the bal duvur) strengthens over him to prevent him. Because if he would draw close, who know what would sprout forth from this, goodness and rectification for Klal Yisroel <the collective people of Israel> and for all the worlds.[10]

Through the bonding to the true tzadik people can traverse safely in all the deserts, in all types of darkness and grave danger. Even when traversing, Heaven forbid, a region of snakes, vipers, and scorpions, and thirst etc., for in all these places it is imperative for one who desires to approach the holy to traverse, particularly someone who already failed (-sinned) and desires to return it is compelling for him to traverse these places, and from all of them Hashem will save him through the power of the holy desire that he will merit through the bonding to the true tzadik who through him one rises from all types of darkness of the world.[11]

The transcriber and the editor who supplicates for him and mentions him (in prayer) for benefit always, blessing him with a good and blessed year from the Source of the blessings and the salvations.
Yisroel Dov Odesser



[1] Includes most of Letter 131.
[2] Shir Na-im – Pleasant Poem published at the beginning of Likutay Moharan.
[3] Isaiah 53:3.
[4] Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim II, Mincha 7:32, and elsewhere.
[5] Discourses after Rabbi Nachman's Legendary Tales, article 6. See there where Rabbainu concludes that one can merit to differentiate between the two by virtue of the mitzvah of redeeming captives.
[6] Pays attention (as in Ethics of Our Fathers 2:1 – "look at three things etc.").
[7] Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 1, Laws of Prayer 94.
[8] Ibid – Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 1, Laws of Prayer 91.
[9] Ibid – Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 1, Laws of Prayer 91.
[10] Rimzay Hamaseyos, Story 8 of a Rabbi and an Only Son.
[11] Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 1, Morning Blessings 5:45.


Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!


ספר אבי הנחל - הוצאת נקודות טובות - לפי המכתבים המקוריים

אב"י הנחל חלק א'

מכתב יד:

ב"ה , י"ט אלול תשי"ח, תל-אביב
לאיש משכיל הדורש ומבקש הפלטין של אמת, מר ז.שזר, שלום רב.

ברודער האלט זיך, לאז זיך נישט אפ {אחי היקר, אחוז עצמך ואל תרפה}. חזק ונתחזק ואל נהיה כפיל גדול וכגמל, אפילו כשמשכהו בחטמו העכבר - לא יבעט בו, אזור נא כגיבור חלציך, וחגור בעוז מתניך לעוף כנשר אל הצדיק המרפא כל חולי ואיש מכאובות מוציא נפשות משאול תחתיות, מהפך ירידות לעליות, וזדונות לזכויות.

דע שיש שני מיני פלטין, באחד דר מלך, ובהשני דר עבד, ושניהם דומים זה לזה לגמרי וקשה מאד להבחין ביניהם. כי יש כמה נפשות שמתקשרין עד שנעשה מהם בית ופלטין, כי מתקשרין אחד באחד ואחד באחד עד שנעשה מהם יסוד ואחר כך נעשה אוהל, עד שנבנה מהם בית ומדור ששם דר אמת, ומי שרוצה למצוא אמת ימצא בבית ופלטין זה של אלו הנפשות שמהם נעשה מדור לאמת. ויש כנגד זה שמתקשרין כמה נפשות ונעשה מהם בית ששם דירת השקר שהוא בחינת עבד. והנה בין שני הבתים הנ"ל אפשר לטעות, היינו בין האמת והשקר, כי השקר מדמה עצמו להאמת, כי גם שם יש קשר מנפשות רבות, עד שקשה מאד להבחין בין האמת והשקר ואפשר לאדם לטעות ואינו יודע היכן האמת ולהיכן יקרב עצמו, אך אם יסתכל על תכליתו הנצחי בעין האמת לאמיתו, בוודאי יזכה להבין באיזה דרך ילך ולמי להתקרב. עיקר הגלות על ידי עוונות ישראל ועיקר התיקון על ידי תשובה, ועיקר העיכוב של התשובה הוא המחלוקת של החולקים על הצדיק האמת, כי רוב המון בני ישראל היו שומעים אליו, אך עיקר העיכוב הוא על ידי החולקים על נקודת האמת בכמה וכמה בחינות ומאלו החולקים יונק בחינת מצח הנחש וחיות רעות שהם חכמי הטבע וכו' וכו', ועל ידי כל אלו הדעות רעות הוא עיקר העיכוב מן התשובה.

הבעל דבר מתגבר ומשתדל בתחבולותיו למנוע מלהתקרב להצדיק האמת שבו תלוי שלמות תיקון נפשו וכל תקות ישראל, וכל מה שהאדם גדול ביותר ויש בו מדרגה ובחינה גבוהה ביותר מתגבר עליו למנעו ביותר. כי אם היה הוא מתקרב מי יודע מה היה נצמח מזה טובה ותיקון לכלל ישראל ולכל העולמות.

על ידי התקשרות להצדיק האמת יוכלו לעבור בשלום בכל המדבריות בכל מיני חושך וצלמות. אפילו כשעוברים חס ושלום במקום נחש שרף ועקרב וצמאון וכו', שבכל מקומות אלו בהכרח שיעבור בהם הרוצה לגשת אל הקודש, בפרט מי שנכשל כבר במה שנכשל ורוצה לשוב שבהכרח שיעבור באלו המקומות, ומכולם יצילנו ה' על ידי תוקף הרצון דקדושה שיזכה על ידי התקשרות לצדיק האמת שעל ידו עולים מכל מיני חושך שבעולם.

המעתיק והמסדר המעתיר בעדו ומזכירו לטוב תמיד, מברכו בשנה טובה ומבורכה ממקור הברכות והישועות.
ישראל דב אודעסר

נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן


Thursday, June 23, 2016

Don't get into something that can't end well - that you can't take all the way

HH

Yesterday I was inundated with bad thoughts, and I was desperately calling up all my little tricks to escape but was not fairing well. B"H one thing snapped me out of it, I thought of what I would look like if I actually went full out with bad thoughts and even acted upon them G"F, and I got a pretty scary (-i.e. utterly disgusting) image, and with that B"H I got right out. This is probably the same with many things, like drugs, hitting up even once has to be understood in the context of the big picture - what is the tachlis (-end-ultimate purpose), to get high, and if this high is a good thing, so it would be done more and more, ultimately ending in the person G"F being a junky, hence this high is actually a piece and part of a very nefarious ordeal. The desire for money on the other hand, although we know that our Sages obm revealed one who has a hundred wants two etc., even still there is a certain satiation point or goal where a person is providing for his needs, just like eating. The highs from drugs or the gratification from sexual desires are not the same, because they are not intrinsic to a persons life -- a person does need highs and does (if he is not a tzaddik) need a sexual outlet, but those have a kosher scheme which in and of itself means that they are are being used intrinsically for his life, and not some external quest. Quests for holy highs are very intrinsic and satisfying, yet even they are surrounded by great dangers, for at every new level one is faced with more powerful needs of gratification, and if he is not constantly on guard and aspiring to the holiness he has become accustomed to, he will be hit very hard for vitality from the other side G"F.

There's a great more to be said about all of this, and of course it is much better to read about these things directly from the holy teachings of Rabbainu, but B"H it is good to at least write a little something and not let it go unmentioned.

May the Holy Merciful One G-d help us have holy thoughts and only holy thoughts and holy consciousness.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!