T253 PNC - Reduced Sleep Reduces the Desire for Licentiousness

Reb Nachman teaches that reduced sleep diminishes the desire for forbidden sexual relations. There is an inner fire in a person from the moment of his creation; from this fire all the burnings of every desire are kindled. All food and drink given to the body are also consumed by this fire. When sleep is reduced, the fire is weakened and loses its power to burn. But — and this is critical — reduced sleep harms the brain. Excess sleep also weakens the fire, and that too harms the brain. Only when a person sleeps in proper measure (the natural amount) is the desire at its full strength. Reb Noson adds (in brackets): the conclusion is that there is no clever stratagem to weaken this desire safely. Every shortcut damages the brain. The only working path is to be a true gibbor and conquer one's yetzer, and Hashem will help him remove this desire.