T115 (Tinyana) PNC - Stay on Your Chosen Derech — Do Not Let the New Machshavois In

**Siper she-hayah lo his-chazkus gadol be-avodaso, ve-loi heini'ach atzmoi le-vatel klal.** Reb Nosson tells us *Rabbeinu's actual practice* of avoidah-management. **Ve-darko hayah, she-hayah boreir lo eizoh derech yesharah eich le-his-naheig ba-avoidas HaShem, ve-his-chil le-his-naheig be-eilu ha-hanhagois u-ve-osoi ha-derech she-bachar lo.** *He would choose a derech, and begin to walk in it.* **Ve-hayah mis-naheig be-eilu ha-hanhagois eizeh zman, ve-chol mah she-hayu ba'im alav machshavois acheirois le-valbeloi mi-hanhagah zois u-le-his-naheig be-derech acheir — loi hayah shoime'a la-eilu ha-machshavois klal, ve-hayah doche'ach es eilu ha-machshavois mi-da'aso, ve-loi heini'cham le-hikaneis be-da'aso klal, rak hayah chazak ve-amitz be-da'aso me'oid, ve-hayah hoileich u-mis-naheig ba-derech she-bachar lo eizeh zman.** The shi'ur is set. *He did not switch.* The new machshavois of "maybe a different derech" — *he did not even let them into da'as*.

**Ach achar kach be-hemshech ha-zman, achar kammah shavu'ois, chazar u-va al da'ato eizoh machshavah, she-tzarich le-his-naheig be-derech acheir, ve-az, achar she-kvar avar zman aroch, az yashev atzmoi u-vachar lo eizo derech ve-seder acheir, ke-fi she-hayah nireh lo az.** *After significant time has passed* — weeks, sometimes longer — *only then* did he reconsider, *sit with himself*, and *choose* a new seder. **Aval loi heini'ach atzmoi le-valbeil be-chol pa'am mei-avoidah le-avoidah u-mei-derech zeh le-derech acheir, rak hayah chazak lileich be-derech echad zman gadol ka-na"l.** *Two opposite mistakes both refused*: (a) blind rigidity that never reconsiders, (b) restless flipping that prevents *any* derech from being walked. Rabbeinu's *third path*: *commit firmly for a long time; then, in due season, sit and re-choose*.