סַבְלָנוּת

When a person knows that all their experiences are for their benefit, this aspect is a semblance of the World to Come. This is merited through confessing words before a Torah scholar. Then, they will merit to know that everything that happens to them all the days of their life is for their benefit, because it is all due to the love that the Holy One, Blessed be He, has for them. This is the primary perfection of a person’s understanding, that they do not rebel or become confused by the events that befall them, but believe that everything is for their eternal benefit (4:1, 3, 4).

Just as all physical medicines are made with bitter herbs, so too the remedies for the soul require receiving through bitterness, namely, the obstacles that must be broken and the sufferings that must be endured before meriting true healing of the soul. Just as in physical illness, sometimes the weakness becomes so overwhelming that the patient lacks the strength to endure the bitterness of the medicines, and then the doctors withdraw their hands from the patient and give up on them, so too when sins, which are the illness of the soul, become very overwhelming, one cannot endure the bitterness of the remedies, and then hope is nearly lost, G-d forbid. But the Blessed Name is full of compassion, and when He sees a person who desires to return to Him but lacks the strength to endure the bitterness of the remedies needed due to the multitude of their great sins, then He, Blessed be He, has mercy on them and casts all their sins behind His back, so they do not need to endure much bitterness for their healing, only according to their ability. From this, each person should understand for themselves: one who wishes to spare their life and desires to return to the Blessed Name, often when they begin to enter slightly into the ways of the upright and draw close to the Blessed Name, many obstacles and sufferings come upon them from various sides, each according to their situation. Sometimes it seems to them that it is impossible to endure such bitterness, sufferings, and obstacles. Some fall because of this and return to distance themselves, G-d save us. But one who truly desires must know and believe that all the bitterness, sufferings, and obstacles that come upon them are with great kindness. For according to their many sins, they would have needed to endure much more bitterness for their healing, which they could not possibly endure, and their hope would have been lost, G-d forbid, as mentioned above. But the Blessed Name has mercy on them and sends them only bitterness and sufferings according to their ability. This bitterness, sufferings, and so forth that they have, they certainly must endure, and they certainly have the strength to endure them. For the Blessed Name does not send anyone bitterness and obstacles that are impossible to endure and break, even though according to their deeds, they would deserve such, as mentioned above (27:7).

Every person must have peace in their traits, meaning they should not be divided in their traits and experiences, making no distinction between good times and adversity, always finding the Blessed Name in them. They should not be alarmed or confused by anything in the world, but know and believe that everything that happens to them each day—whether good, sufferings, troubles, worries, or misfortunes, G-d forbid—is for their eternal benefit, and through this specifically, they can draw close to the Blessed Name if they truly desire. Likewise, they must love their fellow and have peace with all, enduring from their fellow even if they suffer from them, striving to judge them favorably, finding good in them, and turning the matter to good, saying in their mind that their fellow did not intend as much harm as they think, and so forth. They should strive greatly to seek and pursue love and peace with their fellows and all Israel. This is merited through Torah and through tzaddikim, who are called peace, and through this, one merits to love peace in every place, whether in good times or otherwise, and each will love their fellow, and there will be peace among all Israel (33:1). The primary distress a person feels from sufferings, troubles, and misfortunes that befall them, G-d forbid, is only because their understanding is taken from them, so they do not see the purpose, which is entirely good.

For if they see the purpose, they are certainly not bad at all but great goods. For the intention of the Blessed Name is certainly only for good, whether to remind them to repent or to cleanse their sins through these sufferings. It is fitting for them to rejoice greatly in the sufferings when they see the purpose, which is entirely good, as mentioned above. From this comes the human instinct to tightly close their eyes when they have great sufferings and pains, G-d save us, for by closing their eyes, they flee in their root to the eternal good purpose, which cannot be included in except by completely closing the eyes from the vision of this world [see within, section 65] (65:3). Through accepting sufferings with proper joy, through this, one merits Torah innovations. This is a sign that they achieved through the sufferings and accepted them properly, when they merit afterward Torah innovations (ibid.). Endure and accept with love all the evils and sufferings that come upon you, G-d forbid, for it is fitting that you know that according to your deeds, He still deals with you with great mercy, for you deserved much more, G-d forbid, according to your deeds (165).

One must have the trait of long-suffering in all aspects, both in not being angry or strict about anything and in lengthening their patience to endure all that befalls them without letting the events, confusions, and so forth that come upon them slightly disrupt their service.

They should not have impatience about anything, but lengthen their patience to endure everything and perform their service of G-d with diligence and joy. All this is merited through complete faith, which is merited through the Land of Israel [see Faith, section 34] (155).

You must know that in all the troubles and sufferings in the world, there is some relief, apart from expecting that in His kindness, He will save and completely nullify the trouble. But even in the trouble itself, there is certainly some relief. Look at this well, and through this, you will be able to endure and accept everything that happens to you all your days with love and not be alarmed by anything. Through this, you will always be able to draw close to Him, Blessed be He, in everything that happens to you, and through this, the Blessed Name will save you (195).

Through weeping with tears before the Blessed Name during times of distress and sufferings, G-d forbid, through this, one draws understanding and providence, and through this, the distress and sufferings are nullified. For the primary distress and sufferings come only from a lack of understanding, because they do not settle their mind that everything is under His providence, Blessed be He, for their benefit, as explained above (250). When people dispute with a person and pursue them, it is all so that through this specifically, they draw closer to the Blessed Name.

For the more they pursue them and cause them sufferings, they must flee each time to the Blessed Name, for there is no advice or remedy other than this. Thus, through the pursuits and sufferings, they draw closer to the Blessed Name (Part II, 13). You must know that every person in the world experiences many sufferings, troubles, and various boundless misfortunes, whether in matters of livelihood, physical health, or their wife, children, and household.

There is no person in the world who does not experience many sufferings and misfortunes, for “man is born to toil,” and it is written, “All his days are anger and pains.” There is no remedy to escape this except to flee to the Blessed Name and His Torah.

Endure and accept with love all the evils and sufferings that come upon you, G-d forbid, for it is fitting that you know that according to your deeds, He still deals with you with great mercy, for you deserved much more, G-d forbid, according to your deeds (165). You must know that every person in the world experiences many sufferings, troubles, and various boundless misfortunes, whether in matters of livelihood, physical health, or their wife, children, and household. There is no person in the world who does not experience many sufferings and misfortunes, for “man is born to toil,” and it is written, “All his days are anger and pains.” There is no remedy to escape this except to flee to the Blessed Name and His Torah. Therefore, every person must have great patience to endure all that befalls them, as our rabbis of blessed memory said, “The medicine of sufferings is acceptance.” As the wise man said, “Patience is a strategy for one who has no strategy.” All the wise expound on this, saying that this world is full of boundless sufferings, worries, and misfortunes. For man was not created to indulge in this world at all, but to toil in this world to merit the World to Come. Therefore, one must endure everything and believe that it is all for their benefit, for “All that the Merciful One does is for good.” They must flee each time to the Blessed Name and His Torah, to pray and supplicate before Him, for there is no place to escape the blows of the world except to Him, Blessed be He, alone, as it is said, “A refuge in my day of trouble.” Even the lowest of the low can always flee to the Blessed Name, for the Blessed Name is in every place, as explained at length in our words elsewhere. As soon as one flees to the Blessed Name, everything that happens to them is transformed into great eternal good. There is much to say about this, but this is not the place to elaborate (Sefer HaRan 208). Therefore, every person must have great patience to endure all that befalls them, as our rabbis of blessed memory said, “The medicine of sufferings is acceptance.” As the wise man said, “Patience is a strategy for one who has no strategy.” All the wise expound on this, saying that this world is full of boundless sufferings, worries, and misfortunes. For man was not created to indulge in this world at all, but to toil in this world to merit the World to Come. Therefore, one must endure everything and believe that it is all for their benefit, for “All that the Merciful One does is for good.” They must flee each time to the Blessed Name and His Torah, to pray and supplicate before Him, for there is no place to escape the blows of the world except to Him, Blessed be He, alone, as it is said, “A refuge in my day of trouble.” Even the lowest of the low can always flee to the Blessed Name, for the Blessed Name is in every place, as explained at length in our words elsewhere. As soon as one flees to the Blessed Name, everything that happens to them is transformed into great eternal good. There is much to say about this, but this is not the place to elaborate (Sefer HaRan 208).