Bliss of the Century

HH

Rashi brings from the Scriptures and Our Sages o.b.m. that the decree to banish the ten tribes from Israel to be scattered around the world to this very day was because of their rampant imbibition of alcohol. The Talmud says that the high that one gets from alcohol is deducted from his portion in the future world G"f. This certainly applies to the high of drugs. Rabbainu was adamant and particular that even on Shabbos the drinking of alcohol should be extremely restrained and kept in check. Rabbainu revealed in Likutay Moharan (volume 2, Torah-teaching 7 – the very first Torah that Saba learned from Likutay Moharan together with R' Yisroel Karduner) that it is our task and duty to fill the world with people, and people are those with daas – sense and reasoning, and one without daas is likened to an animal, see there.

In our times when a very significant percentage of humanity is very dependent on drugs of all sorts and alcohol, there must be a parallel aspect in holiness, for that is how God runs the world that there is always "zeh li-oomas zeh" – equal opportunity on both sides, and of course the side of holiness will obviously be much much more powerful. Also many have already pointed out that the trend of more and more nakedness and less and less modesty is also apropos to the great spiritual unveiling, as Rabbainu revealed, that many things that were great secrets in the past are already now open and revealed, and many awesome spiritual concepts are readily available and within grasp of the public. There is a responsa from the time of the Gaonim (about 1000 years ago) in answer to a request to reveal some secrets of the Kabala, and the Sage writes that with great awe and trepidation etc. etc. he will begin by telling the names of the Ten Sefiros. This was a great revelation for them that demanded great awe and trepidation, today it is common knowledge not even given a moments thought. Also with regard to music, one of the greatest pleasures in life, as Rabbainu revealed in the story of Ancient Times of the exchanged children, that there are melodies that transcend immeasurably all the pleasures of this world, and elsewhere he revealed how there is an angel with a thousand tongues and each tongue etc. etc. the melody being pleasurable beyond this world. Today thank G-d almost everyone has access and ability to listen to the music of their choice in very high quality, something that in the past was extremely limited to either royalty or public occasions like weddings.

So people really have to start getting with the program, and start to learn how to get the highs which are obviously part and parcel of our times – they must start getting them from Nanach.

There is a tradition by chasidim that there is a special light one gets when learning the commentary of the Muggen Avrohom (on Shulchan Aruch – Code of Jewish Law, also known to frequently site the writings of the Arizal). Where the Shulcha Aruch writes the halacha that it is forbidden to cry on Shabbos, the Muggen Avrohom writes that this prohibition doesn't forbid they crying out of dvaikus (-clinging to Hashem). Here the Muggen Avrohom reveals a little secret, that one can really bliss out on dvaikus – to have tears of ecstasy streaming down ones face, without any drugs or alcohol or anything, just to bliss out on G-d – and this is straight up in the Shulchan Aruch.

Rabbainu revealed that one can sit and feel Hashem Yisburach's looking upon him, to the extent that the person will blanch, all the blood will rush out of his face in humiliation before the Infinite One blessed He. Imagine the ecstasy of such an experience. Rabbainu sited the words of Our Sages o.b.m. that a sigh breaks the body of the sigher, and Rabbainu said that he tested and experienced this, he sighed and witnessed how his strength was depleted – imagine falling into such surrender into the hands of Hashem Yisburach, like a beloved falling languish in surrender into the strong powerful hands of her lover. These are just a few examples, for in fact every word of Rabbainu is a gateway to experience, not just in the future world, but mamash right here and right now the most wondrous ecstasy, euphoria, exhilaration, excitement, elation (the mnemonic is e=5^th letter of the alphabet), bliss and so much more, if one sets his mind to it and is committed to abnegating himself to Hashem Yisburach and His Tzadik Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman and to His Torah.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Five Levels of Pleasure

HH

Truth is that this is really good Torah, I am not sure how he merited to it, but he did. This is a Torah from my uncle (grandfather's younger brother) R' Noach Weinberg ob"m. You can see it at length at the aish website they have a page with the whole thing laid out.

Basically we know that man was created to delight in G-d (Ramchal, who's hilula is this Friday), so my uncle laid out 5 levels of pleasure (which can easily be correlated to the 5 partzufim, nukva, zeir, ema, aba, arich). 1st level pleasures are sensual, including sex. 2nd level: love and children. 3rd: a cause. 4th: power. 5th: G-d.

As my uncle points out, the problem is that people don't know how to enjoy these pleasures, and usually they actually suffer from them. So he introduced a Yiddish word that actually made it into the English dictionary: kvell. Which means to experience the joy and pride from something. Parents can just sit and kvell watching their children in delight.

The thing is that kvell also falls short, both in quality and quantity. That of course is where meditation comes in. The problem with meditation is that most of the systems out there are based on pagan idiots, and the framework for "Jewish meditation" is quite shaky.

[This is why addictions and pornography prevail. People get an easy score from them, whereas they can't find any satisfaction from a higher source. Once a person learns how to reach and push Divine buttons, he creates a refuge, allowing himself the possibility of delving into kosher channels, even if it takes more effort, instead of feeling compelled to resort to low measures].

In addition, meditation can not be the complete solution, for even someone who can achieve very satisfying experiences when meditating must still face the challenges life presents to him, and the chances are, the higher that person can go while meditating the more cataclysmic life will be for him. Take for example the great Kabalist Avrohom Abulafia who achieved what can be considered minor prophecy - Abulafia writes how he was completely confounded by tempest of trials and tribulations which encompassed him subjugating him to impure forces and energies, making it utterly impossible for him, for many years, to even attempt achieving the states of consciousness he knew how to access.

Rabbainu's way of hisbodidus is therefore the supreme method and guide in forging a path of meditation which builds a persons life in balance, giving him mastery of all the pleasures G-d set out for him.

Rabbi Nachman and his disciples offered many important tips and directives on how to go about doing hisbodidus. Some of them are brought down directly in regard to hisbodidus, and some are small statements found interspersed in the great vast teachings of Breslov. Today different rabbis or gurus have assembled packages of instructions which they offer to the public. Unfortunately I have yet to see, or even hear of anyone today that can profess achieving any serious ecstasy from their hisbodidus. Sure many people experience euphoria and some transient high, but I haven't found someone who can actually build a proper establishment of Divine pleasure.

Like everything, especially with Rabbainu Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman, the key is in complete simplicity and straightforwardness. Focus on this objective, latch on, and keep strong till you win.

Since the objective is G-d Himself. Focus on G-d, latch on, and don't let go.

This is what Rabbainu said once, to sit down by the table, and feel G-d looking upon you until you turn red in the face. Very simple, extremely powerful, utterly rewarding!

This should be a common practice, exercise, the Baal Shem Tov praised the tzadikim who go about their whole day with this consciousness. So it is a good idea to do it for at least a few minutes a day. To feel the effect, the touch, the kiss of the Divine...

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

ושמן על ראשך אל יחסר -- Divine Flush

HH

Koheles 9:8 'and the oil on your head will not (-al) be deficient' the holy books often use this in referring to higher states of consciousness "moachin" ('brains').

A key to achieving this is following the words of the verse like this: When a person feels deficient before the Ein Sof (-al 'nothingness' - the Infinite), that person will experience a Divine Flush -- likened to being anointed with oil.

With this we can develop the verses in Yermiah (9:22-23) that a wise man should not exalt in his wisdom, nor a powerful person in his power, nor a rich man in his wealth....
exalt (hallel) this is the rectification of the void (vacated space - challal), hallel can mean to enlighten. should not (al) is the Ein Sof. A person needs to view his virtues in the light of the Ein Sof B"H.

May we merit...

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

קהלת ט:ח ושמן על ראשך אל יחסר, יש לפרש כאשר האדם מרגש את עצמו חסר לפני האין סוף ב"ה - בחי' אל, יזכה לבחי' ושמן על ראשך, ירגיש בראשו ממש כמו שמושחים אותו בשמן.

שנזכה...

ובזה יש לפרש הקרא (ירמיה ט:כב), אל יתהלל חכם בחכמתו, ואל יתהלל הגבור בגבורתו, אל יתהלל עשיר בעשרו, (כג) כי אם בזאת יתהלל המתהלל השכל וידע אותי וכו'.
יתהלל זה תיקון של החלל, שמאיר באור אלהות, לשון בהלו נרו, אל זה הא"ס ב"ה, שהחכם צריך להאיר חכמתו באור הא"ס ב"ה, וכן הגבור בגבורתו והעשיר בעשרו.

נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן!