{"id":1078689,"date":"2020-10-26T07:28:34","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T07:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/%d7%9c%d7%9c%d7%90-%d7%a7%d7%98%d7%92%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%99%d7%94\/a-matter-of-life-and-death-a-new-light\/"},"modified":"2024-07-04T11:33:20","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T08:33:20","slug":"a-matter-of-life-and-death-a-new-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/1078689\/","title":{"rendered":"A Matter of Life and Death – A New Light"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Rabbi Arush<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>instructs<\/span><\/span>\u00a0us to ignite a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>fiery<\/span><\/span>\u00a0desire to overcome our negative behavioral patterns and character flaws. This is a key\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to attaining<\/span><\/span>\u00a0our life mission and soul correction.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Rabbi Arush says that w<\/span><\/span>hen a person prays for his life, he\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span>\u00a0personally involved and he feels the danger strongly<\/span><\/span>. He<\/span><\/span>\u00a0cries out from the depths of his heart<\/span><\/span>\u00a0for an urgent salvation<\/span><\/span>. However,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>when praying for spiritual<\/span><\/span>\u00a0matters,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a person may not feel a sense of extreme urgency. H<\/span><\/span>e does not see his spiritual danger\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>s\u00a0<\/span><\/span>akin to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0death.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
Deep down inside he<\/span><\/span>\u00a0thinks,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>If<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Hashem<\/span><\/span>\u00a0gives,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>H<\/span><\/span>e gives, and if not, that is not so terrible. Life will continue.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Therefore, his prayer is anemic<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and weak.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
In<\/span><\/span>\u00a0order to obtain the perfect work of the will, a person must\u00a0<\/span><\/span>acutely\u00a0<\/span><\/span>feel the spiritual danger.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>R<\/span><\/span>ebbe\u00a0<\/span><\/span>N<\/span><\/span>achman said that we must pray for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>piritual salvation like a person praying for help as he is hanging by his\u00a0<\/span><\/span>fingertips<\/span><\/span>\u00a0from a wall and at that very moment feels that he’s about to fall to his death.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
The\u00a0<\/span><\/span>M<\/span><\/span>idrash tells us that when the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>C<\/span><\/span>hildren of Israel were trapped at the Red Sea, they made use of the skill of their forefathers and cried out to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Hashem<\/span><\/span> with all their might. Rabbi\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>Yerucham<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>Leibovitz<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>asks<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>\u201cWh<\/span><\/span>at is the meaning of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/span>the skill of our forefathers?<\/span><\/span>\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0He explains that every time the holy forefathers prayed for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>piritual salvation<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0they felt exactly like the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Jewish people<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>who were<\/span><\/span>\u00a0trapped between the Egyptians and the Sea, and who had no staff and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>no support, and no option\u00a0<\/span><\/span>but\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to pray and cry out<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to Hashem. The skill of our forefathers was that they knew to live and experience\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the spiritual<\/span><\/span>\u00a0danger\u00a0<\/span><\/span>lurking before them\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in every prayer.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Visualize the C<\/span><\/span>onsequences<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n

A<\/span><\/span>t a time\u00a0<\/span><\/span>when<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the craving is not engulfing you, you must\u00a0<\/span><\/span>visualize<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the dangers and consequences of your addiction.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I<\/span><\/span>f you<\/span><\/span>r<\/span><\/span>\u00a0perception is\u00a0<\/span><\/span>not\u00a0<\/span><\/span>v<\/span><\/span>ivid, you<\/span><\/span>r<\/span><\/span>\u00a0outcry will be weak.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\n

However,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>if you perceive in your heart the full gravity of the situation, you will be able to generate a powerful outcry\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will help<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>precipitate a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>wift salvation\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0great changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Hence, t<\/span><\/span>he first stage of the work of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will is<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to arouse the heart to experience a sense of danger.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>If<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a person does not feel the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>danger<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0that means he does not have a sense of urgency. Since he is not in such a hurry to be sa<\/span><\/span>ved<\/span><\/span>, Hashem\u00a0<\/span><\/span>also<\/span><\/span>\u00a0isn’t in such\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a hurry.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
Anyone who is working on any issue must engage in visualization<\/span><\/span>. For example, if\u00a0<\/span><\/span>you are\u00a0<\/span><\/span>working\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on eradicating<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a sense of anger, you must visualize\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that<\/span><\/span>\u00a0anger is literally\u00a0<\/span><\/span>ak<\/span><\/span>i<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to death. That is because the Zohar states that when a person grows angry\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it\u00a0<\/span><\/span>rips apart his soul. Our\u00a0<\/span><\/span>S<\/span><\/span>ages lik<\/span><\/span>en<\/span><\/span>\u00a0anger to idolatry.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>This is also\u00a0<\/span><\/span>true\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with<\/span><\/span>\u00a0regard to evil speech<\/span><\/span>. You<\/span><\/span>\u00a0should remind\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>yourself<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 that the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>G<\/span><\/span>emara\u00a0<\/span><\/span>say<\/span><\/span>s that evil spee<\/span><\/span>ch<\/span><\/span>\u00a0kills\u00a0<\/span><\/span>three\u00a0<\/span><\/span>people<\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>T<\/span><\/span>he speaker,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>t<\/span><\/span>he\u00a0<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>istener, and the subject of the speech. Therefore,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>you<\/span><\/span>\u00a0should visualize that every word of evil speech is literally death.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>In this<\/span><\/span>\u00a0way you can cry out properly<\/span><\/span>\u00a0for G-d to help you to not speak even one word out of place!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
I<\/span><\/span>f a person does not recognize the spiritual danger<\/span><\/span>\u00a0he is in,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it\u2019s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0because he has\u00a0<\/span><\/span>sinned<\/span><\/span>\u00a0so many times that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it<\/span><\/span>\u00a0seems permissible<\/span><\/span>. He<\/span><\/span>\u00a0should cry out about this\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in and of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>itself. He has lost all of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>basic<\/span><\/span>\u00a0sensitivity and awareness of the fear of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Heaven and he\u00a0<\/span><\/span>urgently needs to beg Hashem to help restore this<\/span><\/span>\u00a0back to him<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Though Rabbi Arush doesn\u2019t mention it\u00a0<\/span><\/span>here<\/span><\/span>, I think he would agree that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>you<\/span><\/span>\u00a0should also visualize the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>great<\/span><\/span>\u00a0benefits that will accrue when\u00a0<\/span><\/span>you overcome<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>your negative character traits, lusts,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and addictions.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>This will increase\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>your<\/span><\/span>\u00a0determination to persevere during the difficult struggle until\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the beautiful breakthrough finally comes.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
No Handouts<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Rabbi <\/span><\/span>Arush<\/span><\/span>\u00a0says that the principal\u00a0<\/span><\/span>theme<\/span><\/span>\u00a0of your prayer must be obtaining will and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>not\u00a0<\/span><\/span>your request to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>be saved<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>C<\/span><\/span>rying out to Hashem\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to be saved<\/span><\/span> does not mean asking for a spiritual hand out.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>A<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 person who asks Hashem to help him come straight to his spiritual goals may as well ask Hashem to free him from doing the work entirely.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0In other words<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0he says to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Hashem<\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>I want\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Y<\/span><\/span>ou<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to do\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Y<\/span><\/span>our part without me having to do mine.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Hence<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>instead of praying for what we want directly –\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we must pray to attain the ability to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>truly\u00a0<\/span><\/span>want<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to get rid of a sin or craving.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0We must pray for Hashem to help us to do our work properly and quickly, such that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>then\u00a0<\/span><\/span>He can save us! We aren\u2019t asking to be rid of our part, and our work on ourselves \u2013 only that Hashem should help us with that work, and to succeed in that work.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
Furthermore<\/span><\/span>, when we tell Hashem\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201cY<\/span><\/span>ou must save me<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0we must bring receipts. There is no better receipt\u00a0<\/span><\/span>than<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a person’s habituation to doing the work of the will at a set time every<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>day. That constitutes the proof that he\u00a0<\/span><\/span>has<\/span><\/span>\u00a0true will. Now when he\u00a0<\/span><\/span>asks<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to obtain a strong and mighty\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to overcome that Evil Inclination in whatever\u00a0<\/span><\/span>form,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that<\/span><\/span>\u00a0is a request that is reasonable\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0pleasing<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
Victory: The <\/span><\/span>O<\/span><\/span>nly\u00a0<\/span><\/span>A<\/span><\/span>cceptable\u00a0<\/span><\/span>O<\/span><\/span>ption<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n

In summary<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0when we want to do the work of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in a complete fashion and attain\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>salvation, we must\u00a0<\/span><\/span>use visualization to attain a deep and vivid sense<\/span><\/span>\u00a0of the danger. Only\u00a0<\/span><\/span>when we are aware of this truth can<\/span><\/span>\u00a0we<\/span><\/span>\u00a0truly cry out to Hashem with all our might. Until we reach that point, all of our prayers\u00a0<\/span><\/span>should<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>primarily<\/span><\/span>\u00a0be a request to attain the strong and forceful will that leads to a true outcry.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

We must recognize<\/span><\/span>\u00a0how much our well-being in this world and the next depend\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>making behavioral and character changes.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0When we\u00a0<\/span><\/span>attain<\/span><\/span>\u00a0this clarity<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0stagnation<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and complacency become completely unacceptable.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

When one views this as a life-and-death struggle, there\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is no<\/span><\/span>\u00a0acceptable alternative to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>v<\/span><\/span>ictory. This\u00a0<\/span><\/span>v<\/span><\/span>ictory can only come through\u00a0<\/span><\/span>strong will and steel<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>like determination.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Our best efforts are a necessary but insufficient\u00a0<\/span><\/span>prerequisite to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0success.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Achieving our spiritual goals is possible only<\/span><\/span> when we realize that Hashem\u2019s help is\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>indispensable<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we cry out to Him with all our hearts<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rabbi Arush\u00a0instructs\u00a0us to ignite a\u00a0fiery\u00a0desire to overcome our negative behavioral patterns and character flaws. This is a key\u00a0to attaining\u00a0our life mission and soul correction.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Rabbi Arush says that when a person prays for his life, he\u00a0is\u00a0personally involved and he feels the danger strongly. He\u00a0cries out from the depths of his heart\u00a0for an urgent salvation. … Continue reading “A Matter of Life and Death – A New Light”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62109,"featured_media":1078690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[15186],"tags":[24828,21720],"author_post":[15855],"new_serie":[86774],"class_list":["post-1078689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spiritual-growth","tag-desire","tag-ratzon","author_post-dennis-rosen","new_serie-if-theres-a-will-theres-a-way"],"acf":{"intro_text":"

What if you were hanging off a tall wall by your fingertips? How mightily would you cry out for help? That is what every single prayer should be like!<\/p>\n","special_content_in_the_post":"none","meta_title":"A Matter of Life and Death - A New Light - Chapter 6 Part 3","meta_description":"What if you were hanging off a tall wall by your fingertips? How mightily would you cry out for help? That is what every single prayer should be like!","paragraph_first":"","paragraph_second":"","youtube":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1078689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62109"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1078689"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1078689\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1078690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1078689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1078689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1078689"},{"taxonomy":"author_post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/author_post?post=1078689"},{"taxonomy":"new_serie","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/new_serie?post=1078689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}