The Greatness of One Who Receives Counsel from the Sages of the Generation

Likutay Moharan 143 The Greatness of One Who Receives Counsel from the Sages of the Generation The greatness of one who receives counsel from the sages of the generation is that it sweetens the judgments. For when a person needs counsel and does not know how to act, this is a state of constriction, because his intellect is constricted and he does not know what to do; this is a form of judgment, as is known. And when the sage gives him counsel, he expands his understanding and illuminates his wisdom. This is an aspect of kindness, for kindness is the illumination of wisdom, as it is written in the holy Zohar [Lech Lecha 94a]: "El is the illumination of wisdom." And it is written: "Kindness of El all the day" [Psalms 52:3].

Also it is written: "Salvation is in the abundance of counselors" [Proverbs 11:14]. Furthermore, the tzadik is called "abundance," as our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said [ Taanis 9a]: "Moshe, since his merits are abundant, is like many." Even if one receives the advice of the tzadik and afterward it did not turn out well for him because of that advice, he knows that it was only from Hashem, Blessed Be He. But if he did not receive the advice of the tzadik, it could be that evil would come upon him without a decree from Above—only because he brought it upon himself, as it is written: "The folly of man perverts his way, and against Hashem his heart rages" [Proverbs 19:3]. But if he received the advice of the tzadik, he knows that it is only according to the judgment from Above.

The greatness of one who receives counsel from the sages of the generation is that it sweetens the judgments. For when a person needs counsel and does not know how to act, this is a state of constriction, because his intellect is constricted and he does not know what to do; this is a form of judgment, as is known. And when the sage gives him counsel, he expands his understanding and illuminates his wisdom. This is an aspect of kindness, for kindness is the illumination of wisdom, as it is written in the holy Zohar [Lech Lecha 94a]: "El is the illumination of wisdom." And it is written: "Kindness of El all the day" [Psalms 52:3]. Also it is written: "Salvation is in the abundance of counselors" [Proverbs 11:14]. Furthermore, the tzadik is called "abundance," as our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said [Taanis 9a]: "Moshe, since his merits are abundant, is like many." Even if one receives the advice of the tzadik and afterward it did not turn out well for him because of that advice, he knows that it was only from Hashem, Blessed Be He. But if he did not receive the advice of the tzadik, it could be that evil would come upon him without a decree from Above—only because he brought it upon himself, as it is written: "The folly of man perverts his way, and against Hashem his heart rages" [Proverbs 19:3]. But if he received the advice of the tzadik, he knows that it is only according to the judgment from Above.