Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 144

Likutay Moharan 144

No Man Dies with Half His Desire in His Hand

[In the words of our Rebbe, of blessed memory:] No man dies with half his desire in his hand [Midrash Rabbah, Kohelet 1]. For with the tzadik there is no distinction between life and after death, for even after death he serves Hashem, Blessed Be He.

This distinction exists only with the person who pursues desires of eating and drinking all his days, and after death there is no eating and drinking—this is called dead, and the death is evident in him.

And there are days when eating and drinking are permitted, as our Sages, of blessed memory, said [Pesachim 68b]: "Half is for Hashem and half is for you." And the tzadik, even regarding this half, conquers his inclination and holds his desire firmly in his hand. Even half his desire—in this permitted half—he still controls his desire in his hand.

Certainly, such a one does not die, but is always alive even after death. There is no difference between death and life for him, for he always serves Hashem.