Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 156

Likutay Moharan 156

What one speaks between himself and his Creator is an aspect of the Holy Spirit

“Create in me a pure heart, O God…” [Psalms 51:12]. That which a person speaks between himself and his Creator is truly an aspect of Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit). King David, peace be upon him, whose stature was immensely great, established from this the Book of Psalms. Likewise, every person, according to his spiritual level, possesses this aspect of the Holy Spirit, as it is written: “To You my heart has said…” [Psalms 27:8]. Rashi explains that “To You” means on Your behalf and as Your envoy, “my heart said to me,” implying that all words of the heart express the Divine Himself, literally—this is the Holy Spirit.

One must constantly renew one’s words—each time requesting with fresh supplications of capitulation and beseeching. To merit this, one needs purity of heart, which is attained by having one’s heart flame and burn for Hashem, may He be exalted. Through this zeal the heart is purified. [Explanation: Fire drives out air—just as a cannon’s explosion expels air when burning powder, so too the fervent heat of love for God expels impure spirit from the heart.]

As it is written: “Everything that comes into fire—you shall pass through fire…” [Numbers 31:23]. Having purified the heart, one merits to speak new words every time they draw near—words that are an aspect of the Holy Spirit.

And so, “Create in me a pure heart, O God,” and then: “And renew a steadfast spirit within me”—that is, may one merit to generate fresh words of Holy Spirit again and again.

Achieving this inner burning for Hashem comes through movement. For movement produces heat—when an arrow in flight melts wax on its tip, or a person walking sweats from motion. [Explanation: The source of such movement is thought: while at rest, thought is peaceful—but as the mind transitions from one idea to the next, that movement calls forth heat, hence internal warmth.]

Similarly, in spiritual life—when a person contemplates the greatness of the Creator and His holy Torah, and thought moves from reflection to reflection—heat is generated and the heart ignites in Divine passion.