Words of Rabbi Nachman 43

 

Through bitterness and sadness, they do not know their name. And he quipped, that a dead person, when they ask him to say his name, he forgets his name, as brought (Medrash Chibut Hakever 2, brought in Raishis Chuchma 1, Sefer Hagilgulim secret of Chibut Hakever). And this is because the dead person is in deep sadness and bitterness, therefore, he does not know his name (see Likutay Halachos, Choshen Mishpat, Laws of Shaliach Ligvos Choavo – a messenger to collect one’s debt 2:15). And the general rule is that one must be very, very careful to be happy always. And even if one is, as he is—that is, that he is Heaven forbid very far from Hashem, blessed be He, nevertheless he should rejoice greatly that he was not made a non-Jew etc.

And it is already explained that regarding the matters of his deeds, which are not worthy before Him, blessed be He, for this one needs to set aside an hour in the day to engage in hisbodidus (solitary communion) and break his heart before Him, blessed be He, as explained elsewhere. And also that hour it is forbidden that he should have sadness, only a broken heart, but the rest of the whole day he should be only happy.

Also, through joy one can give life to another person. For there are people who have great and terrible sufferings, may the Merciful One save us, and it is impossible for them to relate what is in their heart. And they would want to tell, but they have no one before whom to tell and speak with all that is in their heart. And they go full of sufferings and worries, and when a person comes with a cheerful face, he can truly revive them. And to revive a person is not a small thing, because it is a very great thing.

And as is brought in the Gemara (Ta’anit 22b), From these two jesters who merited what they merited through this that they made others happy.