ערך מחשבות

The essential warning regarding love of friends is most of all in the matter of money — that they should not be resentful and should not be jealous of one another in their money. Rather, on the contrary — their fellow's money should be as beloved to him as his own. The essential purification from the blemish of the bris is through the purity of thought — as our Sages of blessed memory said: "A person should not entertain improper thoughts by day" [Niddah 13b]. For every person — even if he is as he is — must guard himself from now on at least, so that his thought not go outside at all. For he must remember well that thought is in a person's hands to direct as he wishes. And even if his thought has already become very habituated to going outside — even so, it is within his power to redirect it every single time to the straight path. And it is like a horse that goes off the road — which can be seized by the bridle against its will and redirected to the straight path. For it is impossible for two thoughts to exist simultaneously under any circumstances. And therefore if he will think of something else for the good — his alien thought and all improper imaginings are necessarily pushed away. For it is impossible for two thoughts to exist simultaneously under any circumstances. And one must remember and review this very — [very] — well every single time. For many have been caught, G-d protect us, in what they were caught — and all of this — because it seemed to them as if their thought was not in their control, G-d forbid. And in truth this is not so — for thought is always in the person's hands. Therefore one must guard the mind like a hairsbreadth — not to allow it to go outside the boundary. And even if it has already gone as it has gone — it is easy to return it through a hairsbreadth. For as soon as one begins — like a hairsbreadth — to think a different, good, and fitting thought — the first thought will immediately be pushed away by itself.

The essential evil thoughts are in the desire for licentiousness [na'of], G-d protect us. And even all other kinds of alien and evil thoughts — everything derives from there. For through the blemish of the bris, da'as is corrupted and blemished — until through this come all the confusions and muddles of thought. And from them come all the sins and blemishes in the world, G-d protect us. And when the confusions of thought intensify — especially the specific confusions and improper thoughts themselves, G-d protect us — this is the aspect of a literal flood [mabul mamash] — wishing to literally inundate the person and destroy him from both worlds, G-d protect us. As the majority of people know — each in his own soul — the wound of his heart and his pains from what he passes through in this matter. And all of it — through the blemish of thought. And even people who are somewhat upright — who are saved from the rushing floodwaters so greatly — even so the baal davar intensifies to splash some of the floodwaters upon them as well. Which is the aspect of what our Sages said: that in the Land of Israel there was no flood — even so, some splashed into it. And King David, peace be upon him, cried out about this on behalf of all of Israel in many verses, in great cryings — in the aspect of: "For this let every pious person pray to You, etc. — at the time of the flooding of great waters, etc." [Psalms 32:6]. And likewise: "Let not the flood of water engulf me, etc." [Psalms 69:16]. And many like these. And as explained in the writings of the Arizal, of blessed memory — that improper thoughts and confusions of mind are called metzulos yam [the depths of the sea]. And therefore one must be especially careful to clarify one's thought — for upon this depends all the holinesses and all the sweetening of all judgments in the world. And each person — commensurate with how much he merits to sanctify his thought — so the aspect of the holiness of the Land of Israel is revealed. Which is the aspect of the repair of the bris — dependent upon the holiness of thought. But it is impossible to merit the holiness of thought and to be saved from all manner of floodwaters in the world except through the ways of temimus [wholeness, simplicity] and straightforwardness that the true Tzadik draws into the world.

A person should not think at all from one day to the next — and not even from one hour to the next. For even in every single moment, exceedingly — [exceedingly] — wondrous changes take place for the good and for the reverse — as it is written: "You appointed him every morning, You tested him every moment" [Job 7:18]. And a person does not know at all what is being done with him at every time and moment — as it is written: "Many are the thoughts in a man's heart, but the counsel of G-d — it shall stand" [Proverbs 19:21]. And it is written: "Do not boast of tomorrow — for you do not know what the day will bring forth" [Proverbs 27:1]. And many similar verses. As is plainly evident: for sometimes a person is preoccupied with his worries and schemes — and suddenly strange afflictions come upon him, G-d protect us, that he had never even thought to think or worry about. And therefore in truth our Sages of blessed memory said: "A person should always precede prayer to trouble" [Berochois 30a]. And likewise sometimes the reverse — for the measure of good is greater [midah tovah merubah], and "the earth is full of the kindness of G-d" [Psalms 33:5]. And therefore most often wondrous salvations and kindnesses are renewed for a person suddenly — that they had not even occurred to them at all. Therefore what advantage has a person from all his thoughts and all his schemes? He must only direct his eyes upward at all times — as it is written: "Only to G-d be silent, my soul — for from Him is my hope" [Psalms 62:6]. And it is written: "Commit your way to G-d — and your thoughts will be established" [Proverbs 16:3]. And it is written: "Cast upon G-d your burden, etc." [Psalms 55:23].

And even people who are somewhat upright — who are saved from the rushing floodwaters so greatly — even so the baal davar intensifies to splash some of the floodwaters upon them as well. Which is the aspect of what our Sages said: that in the Land of Israel there was no flood — even so, some splashed into it. And King David, peace be upon him, cried out about this on behalf of all of Israel in many verses, in great cryings — in the aspect of: "For this let every pious person pray to You, etc. — at the time of the flooding of great waters, etc." [Psalms 32:6]. And likewise: "Let not the flood of water engulf me, etc." [Psalms 69:16]. And many like these.