Sichos HaRan
Rebbe Nachman's Wisdom

by Reb Noson of Nemirov

#220.

The Rebbe once told someone, 'I will tell you a secret. Great atheism is coming to the world. Atheism will come to the world as a test from on high. I know that my followers will be strong and remain firm in their faith without this, but I am revealing this to further encourage them. Let them know that this has already been predicted.Ó

Similar words were heard from the Rebbe's holy lips many times. With a deep groan he would say, 'Woe! How can a few men stand up against all the world?!Ó

The Rebbe's words came true. Immediately after his death, atheism spread in the world as never before since the beginning of time. The leprous plague began to flourish in faraway lands where notorious atheists put together such works as the Meassef. This plague did not spread to our lands until after the passing of the Rebbe and other great tzaddikim. When it reached our area, the genuine tzaddikim cried out like a whooping crane, but none listened to them, for the non-believers already had the upper hand.

Woe is to us! See what has happened in our generation! See the evil decrees that have resulted from their deeds! Woe, what has become of us? It all came about as the Rebbe predicted with his holy inspiration. We see that it is still spreading, even now. Woe, who knows what will be in days to come?

The Rebbe told us many times that this was predicted by the prophets. It was especially predicted by the prophet Daniel, who said, 'Many will purify themselves and be refinedÓ (Daniel 12:10) He told us that in the End of Days Jews will be refined in faith, for many will rise up to pervert it. These are the 'enlightenersÓ and atheists of our generations.

It should be easy to withstand this test, since it has already been predicted. But the temptation will be so great that many will stumble and fall to the depths. We are writing this so that all who desire the truth of our holy faith should know that the Rebbe already predicted this. Let this restore their soul and strengthen their heart toward God and his holy Torah as taught by our sages of old.

#221.

There are many almanacs, both Jewish and otherwise, which claim to predict the weather. The Rebbe ridiculed them as having no relation to reality. The Rebbe said, 'If they really know, let them predict the different types of weather that occur in a single day. There are many kinds of weather each day. One day may bring cold and heat, rain and snow, wind and calm, and countless other variations. Who can know all this, much less predict it in advance?

Thus it is written, 'How great are Your deeds O God; very deep are your thoughts. A brutish man does not know; a fool does not understand thisÓ (Psalms 92:6, 7). Only a fool would claim to know with non-Torah wisdom the changes that take place each day.Ó

(Scientific works also state that these almanacs are totally confused. See in particular what is brought at the end of the work, Nechmad V'Naim.)

#222.

I heard that the Rebbe was once encouraging a man who was greatly confused about his beliefs. The Rebbe told him, 'It is written that all creation only came into being because of people like you. God saw that there would be people who wold cling to our Holy faith, suffering greatly because of the confusion and doubts that constantly plague them. He perceived that they would overcome these doubts and remain strong in their beliefs. It was because of this that God brought forth all creation.Ó

This man was then greatly strengthened and unperturbed whenever he had these confusing thoughts. The Rebbe said many times that the creation was mainly for the sake of faith. Thus it is written, 'All His works are through faithÓ (Psalms 33:4).

#223.

A number of people were once praising Rashi's commentaries in the Rebbe's presence. The gist of the conversation was that one should use only Rashi's commentary on the Bible and not those which follow the philosophers.

Some Biblical commentaries occasionally abandon the traditional Talmudic and Midrashic interpretation in favor of one agreeing with philosophical teachings. These should be avoided. The only necessary commentary is that of Rashi.

The Rebbe then remarked, 'You may not realize it, but Rashi is like the Torah's brother. Every Jew, from childhood on, studies both the written and oral Torah with Rashi's commentary. Think of this and you will understand Rashi's unique greatness.Ó

#224.

Our sages teach us that it is forbidden to gaze at what is above and below, what is before and what is after (Chagigah 11b). The Rebbe said, 'There is a different 'above and belowÓ for each individual where he may not gaze. It all depends on his level.Ó

There are many whose intellect can go no further than the bounds of the physical world. They are therefore forbidden to delve any further. This is true of philosophers. Their intellect may reach up to the stars, but it cannot penetrate further. They know nothing beyond the sphere of the physical and even within it, are often confused and mistaken. This is but another reason why one should avoid their works.

Every person has a place where his intellect ends. Beyond this it is forbidden for him to gaze, for this is 'what is above and below.Ó It is a realm where he must depend on faith alone.

#225.

A man had been told that it was impossible to understand the Kabala without fasting and regular immersion in a mikveh {and other ascetic practices}. He saw the Rebbe in Uman and asked him about this. The Rebbe answered, 'It is possible to know the wisdom of Kabala without this. For it is wisdom.

'The reason why the main Kabalistic work, Etz Chaim, is so difficult to understand is because it is not written in order. Where science and philosophy end, that is where true wisdom, Kabala, begins.Ó

Scientists and philosophers can only speculate within the limits of the physical world. They can reach up to the stars and galaxies, but beyond that, they know absolutely nothing. Even their understanding of the physical world is very incomplete, as they themselves admit. The wisdom of Kabala begins where their wisdom ends, beyond the physical world.

The Kabala includes the entire physical world as part of the World of Action. Its teachings then go beyond the World of Action, to the Universes of Formation, Creation and Emanation. The World of Action also has a spiritual level beyond the realm of science and philosophy. The Kabala speaks only of the spiritual roots of the World of Action and above. Therefore, the Kabala begins where scientific knowledge ends.

Once, when speaking of awesome degrees of perception, the Rebbe said that the wisdom of philosophy ends with the physical world. Beyond the stars, philosophy can only imagine God's essence. There are really many levels of worlds beyond this world. This truth is only found in the Kabala. It is written, 'His understanding cannot be graspedÓ (Isaiah 40:28). One who knows the truth of Kabala well perceives this. For there is level above level....

The Rebbe once saw a book containing writings of the Arizal not found elsewhere. This work speaks of the levels of development before the Universe of Emanation contained in the World of the Garment. This is also discussed in the work, VaYakhel Moshe. I was very surprised when the Rebbe told me this. I had thought that there was nothing higher than the World of Emanation and was astonished to discover Kabalistic teachings speaking of higher levels.

I expressed my surprise to the Rebbe and he remained silent for a while. Then he said, 'Don't you realize that philosophers think that all knowledge ends with the stars?...Ó This is also the case with true knowledge. Even in the transcendental worlds there are levels above levels, high above high, without limit or bound. Thus it is written, 'There is no fathoming His greatnessÓ (Psalms 145:3). But words cannot express this.

#226.

The Rebbe once laughed and said, 'If they would allow one dead soul to visit an assembly of philosophers, that would be the end of all their teachings.Ó

#227.

I found this in a manuscript written by a member of our group:

It is best if the hitbodedut is done in the meadows outside the city. Go to a grassy field, for the grass will awaken your heart.

#228.

The Rebbe once said, 'There are certainly many religious people who do not practice hitbodedut. But I call them pleetim, confused and confounded. When the Messiah suddenly comes and calls them, they will be baffled. When a man wakes up from a restful sleep, his mind is calm and relaxed. This is how we will be when the Messiah comes, totally without quandary or confusion.

#229.

The Rebbe once spoke to a youth and encouraged him to seclude himself and converse with God in his native language. The Rebbe told him that this is how prayer began. The main form of prayer was an expression of the heart before God in each man's native tongue.

Maimonides speaks of this in the beginning of his code on prayer. He states that this was the main form of prayer in the beginning, before it was formalized by the men of the Great Assembly. It was only then that a formal order of prayer was introduced.

But even according to the law, the original form is still foremost. Even though we follow the order of prayer ordained by the Great Assembly, the original form is still most beneficial.

Make a habit of praying before God from the depths of your heart. Use whatever language you know best. Ask God to make you worthy of truly serving Him. This is the essence of prayer. In many places, we discussed the importance of making this regular practice. This is the way all the tzaddikim attained their high level. Look well in our words.

{*Hitbodedut is secluded, private prayer in one's own words, in one's native tongue. Rebbe Nachman advised engaging in hitbodedut for an hour every day.}