אות-טו

In times of destruction and fall, we receive vitality in great concealment specifically — from a very lofty aspect which is the secret of the hidden throne. Only the vitality is drawn very minimally and in wonderful concealment. And then one must very much search for Hashem, may He be blessed, and strengthen oneself and plead before Hashem: "Truly You are hidden among us even now — therefore please let us know: where is the place of Your glory? And do not add to hiding Your face from us!" This is the aspect of what the prophet cried at the end of Lamentations: "You, Hashem, are enthroned forever; Your throne is for all generations… Why do You forget us forever?… Restore us to You, Hashem" [Lamentations 5:19–21]. And through all of this — that one searches also then for His glory — one will merit that the descent is transformed into ascent and one will merit to receive the above high holy vitality openly and in great abundance. (ibid., Ois 17, 23) The evil inclination knocks each time and arouses him to what it arouses him. And even if the person does not listen to it and turns his back on it — even so it knocks again a second time and a third and fourth and more. But if the person is strong in his resolve and stubborn against the evil inclination and does not turn to it at all — then the evil inclination departs and goes away. And likewise in prayer, regarding the thoughts that come to confuse him — it is precisely as mentioned above: the thought comes many times, one after another, to confuse him. And he must be strong not to look at it at all in any manner. See elsewhere about this.