DA'AT
TRUE KNOWLEDGE
A
1)Occasionally, God makes certain things happen to a person in order
for him to then appreciate Godliness and mercy.
2)When a person is confused he should make a habit of reciting the
prayer of the prophet Habakuk (3:1-19).
3)Learning the legal codifier known as the Siftei Kohain is also
particularly beneficial for [eliminating confusion]; as is eating
wheat.
4)The nature of the food which a person eats will give rise to a
similar temperament within him.
5)The taste of grains brings a person true knowledge.
6)Wine and fragrance sharpen the mind.
7)Dispute unsettles the mind.
8)A person suffers more from what he actually sees than from what he
only hears about.
9)The man who studies Torah and performs acts of charity merits
understanding.
10)Eating bread in the morning makes you wise. The Holy One rests His
prophecy on a prophet for a particular mission, even if he is not a
man of wisdom.
12)With their wisdom, wise men are able to ascertain many things which
the normal intellect cannot comprehend.
13)One who desires wisdom should turn southward [while praying].
14)When a person wants to know how to proceed in a particular
situation, let him open a holy book and he will understand what to
do.
15)Olive oil makes the heart clever.
16)Following the path of simplicity makes one intelligent.
17)He who has faith will afterwards merit serving God with great
wisdom.
18)Fear of God will earn you wisdom.
19)The recognition of Tzaddikim will earn you understanding and true
knowledge.
20)When a person conducts himself with modesty, his thoughts are
clear.
21)It is easier to understand something when you see it with your own
eyes.
22)A person who is careful not to eat the cooked foods or drink the
wine of gentiles merits wisdom and understanding of all the holy
writings.
23)A haughty person cannot comprehend God's sovereignty over
everything.
24)Not performing acts of kindness causes you to lack true
knowledge.
25)Being the cause of any sort of damage should make you realize that
you have blemished your intellect.
26)When a person gains a revelation of some deeper insight, it
indicates that he will soon experience an elevation of some kind.
27)When a person wholeheartedly repents, the Holy One gives him [the
ability] to grasp His desire and will.
28)A person who has not rectified his sins cannot truly know God.
29)By being truthful you will merit knowing the way of God.
30)You can also come to [know God's way] by being hospitable.
31)By performing deeds of true kindness for Tzaddikim, you will come to
know that all paths - be it prayer, eating or any of the [physical]
pleasures - are all the way of God.
32)Expressing your happiness in song will make you wise.
33)When a person is repaid with bad for the good he has done, God shows
him mercy and grants him great wisdom in serving the Creator.
34)The more good deeds a person does, the more the Holy one deepens his
thoughts; that is, he is given a great mind.
B
1)Know! Each world and each creation has its own particular form and
individual construction. For example, the structure of the lion
differs from that of the sheep in its strength, in its bone
structure, and in its voice. This is also true within the lion
species itself; there being differences between one lion and the
next. These distinctions between creations are alluded to in the
forms of the letters and their combinations. One who merits
understanding the Torah is able to understand these differences. He
will also know what they have in common - their origin and end - in
which they are identical, without distinction.
2)Know! A man has mastery over the world in direct proportion to his
knowledge of Torah and Nature. This is why Daniel was able to subdue
the lions, he was very wise and "no secret escaped him." He knew the
lion's nature and Nature itself follows and is under the dictates of
Torah knowledge. (The words of Rabbi Nachman Tulchiner: "I heard from
Rabbi Nathan that this chapter belongs with the one preceding it.
'Know! A man has mastery ...' relates to 'One who merits
understanding the Torah...' Thus, his understanding of the
combinations of letters in the Torah is in direct proportion to his
knowledge of the natural behavior of things in the world. Understand
this! For a wonderful and very gratifying explanation of this, see
Likutey Halakhot, Yoreh De'ah, Milah 5:23ff. The truth is that one
who looks with a positive and true eye and with an upright heart will
find no difficulty in comprehending this. On the contrary, he will
see the wonders of God's greatness and that of the true Tzaddikim.
These opponents, who arrogantly speak against the Tzaddik and from
the ery outset view the Tzaddik's holy writings with an eye towards
finding fault, will never find a satisfying explanation. Even after
all these explanations and truths, they continue to look for pretexts
and false charges with which to haughtily speak against the Tzaddik
and his disciples, may their merit protect us. Nevertheless, I could
not hold myself back from presenting some of what I have heard
regarding this. Truth stands! 'But a lying tongue is for a
moment'(Proverbs 12:19),'and the truth of God is forever.' He will
save us from the double-edged sword; and, as His mercy has supported
until now, so will it support us evermore. Amen! Study Lik-utey
Moliaran Lessons 17 and 19 and you will understand a little.")
3)When a person achieves the understanding that God is one and that
there is no other, this enables him to force corporeality upon the
angels and then send them to do his bidding.
4)When a person uses his faith to banish thoughts of idolatry, these
thoughts turn into the "aspect" of the dew of blessing. As a result,
his mind also remains firm and never becomes confused. Even when his
mind is overtaxed by deep concentration on a complex subject, the
Holy One provides him with thoughts that offer relief.
5)The merit of those who support the poor saves the masses from plague.
It is also in their merit that expanded consciousness precedes
[rather than follows] constricted consciousness.
6)Even foolishness and folly contain [some] wisdom.
7)The voice of a person who is wise in the ways of holiness is
beneficial for [acquiring] the fear of God.
8)Confusion of the mind corrupts one's fear of God. It also causes his
control [over others] to crumble.
9)The sages of a generation are its wings. The generation's closeness
to and understanding of God, or on the countrary its distance from
Him, is in direct proportion to wisdom of these sages. But in the
future, they will not require wisdom in order to ascertain His
Godliness, as in, "And your Teacher will not withdraw Himself
anymore" (Isaiah 30:20).
10)A person who wants to use his intellect to delve into and
investigate some subject should bind his intellect to the Holy
Temple. This is indicated in the verses, "I will fetch my knowledge
from afar" (job 36:3), and, "He saw the place, [the Temple Mount,]
from afar" (Genesis 22:4).
11)Faith settles the mind.
12)When people convert they cause true knowledge to be increased in the
world.
13)Even the prophets only know that which the Holy One reveals to
them.
14)A physically strong person has only mediocre intelligence.
15)A hurried step hampers concentration.
16)A person who steals loses his wisdom.
17)When a person concerns himself with his friend's physical needs and
his friend thinks about his, this forms the backbone of the
world.
DEREKH
TRAVELING
A
1)When traveling on the sea, take along a bird and a sea fish as this
is a segulah for reaching one's destiny in peace.
2)A person who rejoices with the bride and groom as they exit from
under their wedding canopy will not be harmed when traveling.
3)The Traveller's Prayer should be recited while the coachman prepares
the wagon and horses.
4)Taking along lime is a segulah when traveling at sea. This will save
one [from danger].
5)A person who arranges the livelihood of Tzaddikim is assured that God
will protect him on the road and on the sea.
6)A man who rides a horse should take along willow branches.
7)Before traveling, bind yourself to the quality of trust in God and
You will not stumble [along the way].
8)Give charity before setting out on a journey.
9)All the paths which a man follows come from and are the will of God.
But it is only the humble person who can understand His way.
10)Carrying stones found in the fields will save you from wild
beasts.
11)Reciting the prayer of the prophet Yonah
(2:2-10)is a segulah when
traveling on the sea.
12)The escort [which a person is given when he leaves a place] will
protect him from harm on the road.
13)A man who has no one to escort him should study Torah.
14)A person acquires the place upon which he treads.
B
1-2)In the merit of those who confess, the Holy One provides [the world
with] schoolteachers who instruct faithfully. Confession also
brings about the repairing of roads from obstacles.
3)The perils of traveling come about when a person blemishes the sign
of the Covenant, as hinted in the verse, "You have measured my going
and my lying down, [and You are acquainted with all my ways"] (Psalms
139:3).
4)Travel provides a person with understanding.
5)After having frightening dreams at night, don't take to the road on
the [following] day.
6)Travel brings a person to slander, idolatry, licentiousness and
bloodshed. These sins diminish one's livelihood.
7)A hurried step hampers concentration.
DAYAN
A JUDGE
B
1)The decision of a truthful judge is never annulled. His verdict is
carried out, even against the will of the litigants.
2)A decline in [adherence to legal] judgements based on the Torah
produces a decrease in livelihood; conversely, [an increase in
adherence brings greater sustenance].
3)The appointment of unqualified judges gives rise to thoughts of
idolatry.
4)When people choose Torah scholars for their daughters to marry,
proper judges are appointed.
5)Through [the appointment of] proper judges, the Torah comes to be
valued in the world.
6)The land's produce is cursed when judges are treated with
contempt.
7)When Jewish judges are disgraced, the world is beset by inflation.
8)Whenever a wicked man prospers, it becomes difficult to develop new
insights into Jewish Law. [His success also has an effect on court
cases, in that] the litigants cannot accept the judge's verdict.
9)A renewal of taxes and city charges [upon the inhabitants of any
given place] is directly related to [the quality of] their judges.
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