Likutey Morharan #222
rebbi nachman states beautifully that a person must always act cheerfully and to serve hashem with complete joy. Even if the person happens to fall from his level, he has to strengthen himself with the earlier times of when the light did shine upon him. The world operates via the laws of natures. As Newton said, "what must go up; must go down". This rule applies to the emotional state of a human being. If he is happy or on an aliyah, Awesome. Unfortunately due to nature, it will not remain, Sorry. Rebbi is preparing a person for the inevitable fall and the pathway up. During a time of an aliyah a person must learn to play offense. Score as much as you can because "THERE IN NO MERCY RULE". When it comes time to play defence you will be welled prepared and trained. As some of the great sport legends said, "sports is 90% defense and 10% offense or Defence wins championships." ( I remember when i played leagued sports in the JCC. At the end of the season, they gave the whole league trophies and announced that we are all winners. I didn't understand that then and i don't understand that now. I don't get it, are they trying to breed losers. why play sports if you can't win. This is an American concept. When is comes to spiritual growth you fight relentlessly to win. Beat up the yetzer harah) The awesomeness and kindness of hashem is that we have the power to go against nature. once an object is in motion and slows down or stops, it is naturally impossible for it to regain the previous state of motion. In spiritual development it goes both ways. what goes up must come down and even, what is down must come up. Don't be discourage when you fall from your level of ruchneus and simcha. Our levels of ruchneus is not subjected to the laws a gravity. The gift is that a person goes against nature by moving up. I will try to delve deeper in the meaning of yaredahs and their gifts. I have learned that in a down time, I can acknowledge it stinks and i don't like, But i Know its not going to last because hashem has a greater plan for me and is in control of my life. I'm gonna go to sleep because I've been up studying for my anti- american political science class. But who cares, it is all shekar. I realized that what a great gift it is too smile, I'm so grateful to be able to smile and laugh. to be cont........
hey there,
NO YOU,
smile
because
you
are
jewish!!!!!!
NO YOU,
smile
because
you
are
jewish!!!!!!
Is it possible in ruchniyus we get a trophy for trying even if it didnt work out?
ReplyDeleteyou are right, i was being a Lil too harsh. I was thinking on my way to class, what a trophy represents. A trophy means that you have won or that the game is over and here is your reward. I think that in ruchnius, one's perspective can not be viewed as if has won or accomplished. He has to always want more. It does not mean that he has to be critical and forgo is gains. he must give himself positive reinforcement, with the reemergence of going further on his journey. we don't play for the immediate reward, as it says in pirkei avos, "Antignos of Socho received [the transmission] from Shimon the Righteous. He used to say: Do not be as servants who serve the Master to receive reward. Rather, be as servants who serve the Master not to receive reward. And let the fear of heaven be upon you."
ReplyDeletewe "play" and put forth the effort to become closer to hashem. Not to get a golden plastic trophy.
although plastic golden trophies are pretty sweet
ReplyDeleteI hear that.......
ReplyDeleteyou know what the worst trophy is... THE MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD!
it is demeaning. they are giving you a trophy that means before you stank, but now, you are ok ( meaning that now you are not good, but you are not bad. they are also hinting that if they were picking a team, they would probably pick you eighth instead of twelfth. its like when people say, "you have come so far", who says i was far? or who said i was bad that i need the most improved player award). its like the EVERYBODY IS A WINNER TROPHY,
Poor Man's Bread-
ReplyDeleteI think you are right that we should be in the game to get closer, but at the same time we need constant chizuk and should give ourselves mental plastic trophies. It's important to recognize the effort that is put in, even when we fail or when it doesn't work out. That recognition can be a trophy of it's own.
A little story Rav Yoel told me at shalashudes: The Leshem, one of the past centuries greatest kabbalists, sent one of his books to the Ben Ish Chai. When the Leshem was close to death, someone told him the Ben Ish Chai's reaction upon receiving his book. The Ben Ish Chai lit shabbos candles, wore shabbos clothing and had a seudas mitzvah, just upon receipt of the book. The Leshem said to his talmid, why didn't you tell me this earlier? If you would have told me earlier, I would have written many more books.
This story shows that if someone like the Leshem, who is a ridiculous kabbalist, needs chizuk, so too we should keep giving each other and ourselves chizuk for every little thing possible.
thanks man for your comments. this is a great way to exchange torah thoughts with you.
ReplyDeletegreat story, wow. Your right and i agree that the positive reinforcement/ chizuk is key and a necessity for everyones growth. however, i think we have two different meaning for when i said trophy. I'm talking about the grand trophy that one gets at the end. once that trophy is received the "game" is over. please correct me if i'm wrong , i think your talking more about a memorabilia, where one can smile at noteworthy things. I know that when i'm in a yaredu. i look at all the noteworthy actions that i have done and all the possibilities i can do. this gives me the strength to want to get out of my negative state of mine.
Poor Man's Bread:
ReplyDelete"you know what the worst trophy is... THE MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD"
thanks PMB... because I wasn't the benefactor of that exact same award for the 2003-2004 Frisch Cougars @ Joe's bbq.
(jk - I don't mind )
right on!
ReplyDelete