The Secret of the Illuminating Intellect: How the Depth of Torah Changes Reality
Lesson No. 62 | Thursday, Parashas Matos-Masei, Eve of 25 Tammuz 5756 (Continued from No. 61)
An in-depth article explaining how studying Torah with intense focus and deep intellect illuminates a person's face, grants them precise counsel akin to prophecy, and restores the grace and splendor of the Jewish people in the eyes of the nations of the world. Through the guidance of Rebbe Nachman and the practices of the Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Akiva, the path to attaining the true light of wisdom is revealed.
When you drive, drive with shmiras einayim (guarding your eyes). Even if you are stopped at a red light, close your eyes and do not look at the immodest sights outside. When the light turns green, you will sense that everyone is driving. And even if someone honks at you from behind—what is the worst that can happen? A few more seconds of guarding your eyes are worth everything. This is how a person merits to draw in the surrounding spiritual lights, surpass all the geniuses of all generations, and transform into an angel.
A person must bind himself to the holy Rebbe Nachman and to all of his advice. The first thing one must know is that Breslov Chassidus is a matter of profound intellect. We must take everything with the utmost seriousness and depth—the Gemara, Likutey Moharan, Likutey Halachos, and everything in the world. There is nothing that Hashem created in vain or as a joke.
A Mine of Ready Diamonds
A person who comes to Rebbe Nachman should be at the peak of joy, like someone who just won the lottery. He is so happy that he tries not to show his joy outwardly, so that people will not swarm him and ask for loans. He is practically bursting from a deep, inner joy of:
"I rejoice over Your word, like one who finds abundant spoils."
He feels that he has discovered a mine of ready diamonds that do not even require polishing. Whoever merits to come to Rebbe Nachman has reached such a treasure that all the diamonds in the world are not worth a single letter of his teachings. To merit this light, a person must decide that he is binding himself to the wisdom and intellect found in everything. It is forbidden to take anything lightly or superficially. He must search for the depth so that his intellect will be illuminated, and only in this way will he be able to draw closer to Hashem, may He be blessed.
Learn slowly, letter by letter, line by line. Interpret and explain everything, and do not read hastily. Then you will see that the intellect is the greatest light there is. When a person is in sadness or when a tragedy strikes him, he no longer sees the sun, because the true sun is only the intellect that illuminates within a person.
Restoring the Grace of the Jewish People
When a person delves deeply into everything, studying the Gemara in depth with the Rishonim and Acharonim (early and later commentators), his learning becomes luminous and clear. Rebbe Nachman says that if the learning is luminous and clear, all the nations of the world will see the greatness of the Jewish people and the light within them.
"He will subdue peoples under us, and nations under our feet."
Today, due to our many sins, the grace of the Jewish people has fallen because Torah is studied without intellect and without depth. Therefore, the Jewish people lack light, and the nations want to destroy us. But if they were to see a radiant light on our faces, the splendor of the Shechinah (Divine Presence) resting upon us—which is wisdom and intellect—everyone would run to serve every Jew. Instead of plotting ways to destroy us, they would consult 24 hours a day on how to help this nation.
"And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers."
Rebbe Nachman wants there to be ten people who will listen to his voice and merit that the light of the Torah rests upon them. If there are ten such people, all the nations of the world will be nullified and will feel the spiritual vitality. In the future to come, 2,800 gentiles will run after every Jew in order to merit helping him and clinging to him.
The Intellect of a Prophet: Counsel from the Torah
When a person enters the depth of learning, the intellect illuminates all his paths, and he no longer needs to ask for advice from anyone in the world. He engages in hisbodedus (personal prayer) and asks:
"And rectify us with good counsel from before You."
He studies Likutey Moharan line by line, slowly. Rebbe Nachman has already prepared everything for us; there is no need to fall into illusions or spaciness. Breslov is the deepest intellect that exists. Everything must be with intellect, with daas (knowledge), and with logic.
The Vilna Gaon said that if a person sits for six consecutive hours of Torah study, without moving from his chair and without speaking to anyone—the first thought that comes to him afterward will be like a prophecy from Heaven. This is tested and proven. Take a few books for yourself: Likutey Moharan, Zohar, Midrash, Chassidic works. Change the book every half hour. After six hours, the thoughts that come to you will be crystal clear and pure, and whatever you decide to do—you will succeed. The intellect will become so refined that he will have the intellect of a prophet, where everything that comes to his mind is truly a message from Heaven regarding what he must do.
Humility as a Vessel for Wisdom: The Secret of Rabbi Akiva
In order to merit this wisdom, immense humility is required. Rabbi Akiva, who was the son of converts and a baal teshuvah (returnee to the faith), arrived with a broken heart and submission. The entire essence of a baal teshuvah is submission and lowliness, not to think, "I am smarter than everyone else because I returned in teshuvah (repentance)."
The entire greatness of Rabbi Akiva was that he came with lowliness, without asking any questions of his teachers. The Jerusalem Talmud relates that Rabbi Akiva studied for 13 years before Rabbi Eliezer. Even though he already had 12,000 students, throughout all those years he did not dare to challenge or answer back to his teacher about anything. Specifically from this submission and lowliness, he merited to reveal mounds upon mounds of halachos (Jewish laws) on every single crown of the letters, to the point that Moshe Rabbeinu himself marveled at his greatness. Because only one who truly nullifies himself merits that the Divine intellect will illuminate within him completely and light up all his paths.
Part 1 of 2 — Lesson No. 62
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