אות - קפד

And Rabbainu o.b.m. said that he knows all the roots of the souls of Israel. And at first he said he knows them from the Written Torah — and not yet from the Oral Torah. Afterward some time later he said he had already merited to know the roots of Israel's souls also from the Oral Torah. And he knew how to give rectifications to each and every one according to the root of his soul. And all the matters he commanded were not matters of secrets — to intend mystical intentions and unifications. Rather all the conduct he commanded to those close to him was practical matters. To one he commanded at first to fast certain fasts. And he warned his close ones not to fast from themselves at all — only on the days he commanded them (362). And sometimes he commanded one person to fast from Shabbas to Shabbas. And he commanded several people to be awake one night per week — and not to eat meat for twenty-four hours once a week (363). To several people he commanded to fast erev Rosh Chodesh. And similarly he commanded most people to be careful to go to the mikvah and immerse on days when Tachanun is not said (364). And this he commanded several people. To several people he commanded to say 18 [eighteen] chapters of Mishnah each day (365). And similarly many many instructions he commanded regarding learning — to one he commanded to learn this and to another he commanded to learn that. And this was the general instruction he commanded and warned all of them: to learn a section of Shulchan Aruch every day — even on a day when one has no time, one should at least learn some section of Shulchan Aruch wherever it is. And he said it is a great obligation upon every Jew (366). And also this was a general instruction he warned every single one about: to engage in hisbodidus every day and to pour out one's speech before Hashem Yisburach and to ask from before Him mercy and supplication to merit to draw near to His service blessed He. And this speech should be in the vernacular that one speaks etc. And as is explained about this in his holy books, and has already been printed (367). And similar to this are other matters of conduct he commanded each and every one in particular — for he commanded each and every one different conduct (368). And even in one person there was change in the matter of the conduct — that at first he commanded one person to practice these conducts, such as to say 18 chapters of Mishnah and the like. And afterward after some time he released him from that conduct and commanded him other conducts. And afterward after more time he commanded him other conducts. And so he conducted himself with those close to him always. To one he commanded to say a particular verse each day, and to another he commanded to say a certain Mishnah each day, and similar things. And the rule: to each and every one he commanded particular conduct according to what he needed to rectify from what he had blemished, and according to the root of his soul. And there are general instructions he commanded all those close to him as mentioned. And there are instructions that were general for many many people. And there are instructions that were particular to every single one individually. And similarly regarding time — there are instructions he commanded to practice all the days of one's life, such as the learning of Shulchan Aruch — about which he explicitly warned every single one to practice this all the days of their life. And there are instructions that were dependent on the time — that at this time he commanded to practice this instruction. And at another time he commanded other instructions, as mentioned above. And all the instructions he commanded — even if they appeared to be very simple matters — there was no instruction that was simply according to its face value. For he o.b.m. had in this many many hidden and awesome secrets. But to us he revealed nothing. Rather he commanded to do the matter with simplicity, and he accomplished what he accomplished. And I heard from his holy mouth explicitly that he said: every instruction and instruction that I command to do — it is a segulah and a rectification. And it is effective for what has passed, and for the future, and for after the departure of the person, and for the days of Mashiach, and for the resurrection of the dead, and for the World to Come. And all that he commanded to do — even if it seemed a very light and simple matter — was very hard for the person to do. And all kinds of heaviness rested upon him, and there were many many obstacles upon him even though the matter was a simple thing. And had Rabbainu o.b.m. not commanded to do that thing — rather the person wanted to do it of himself — it would have been very easy for him to do. But when Rabbainu o.b.m. commanded to do it, it was very heavy. And had he not commanded, it would have been easy — but since Rabbainu o.b.m. commanded, it was very heavy. But even so, his followers always fulfilled his words. For they knew of this — that his words that he commands are very heavy to do. And they compelled themselves very greatly to fulfill his words specifically. And they would beseech and ask greatly from Hashem Yisburach for this — that He help them to fulfill the words of his holy conduct. And Hashem Yisburach helped them in this. And I heard from his holy mouth explicitly that he said: everything I command to do is very heavy to do etc. And whoever merited to draw near to him saw some of this. And Rabbainu o.b.m. had no rest all his days — not even one moment. For he waged the wars of Hashem at every time and moment. And it is impossible to elaborate and tell of this for many reasons. And this was the matter of the great contention that was against him etc. (369). But even so, Hashem Yisburach was always in his help, and he merited to ascend through this every day and at every time to very lofty levels and attainments — the like of which had not been heard and seen etc. And even now there still rests all kinds of heaviness upon learning his holy books, and there are many obstacles upon them — even one who merits to know from Rabbainu o.b.m. and wishes to learn them has great heaviness and many many obstacles as is known perceptibly to us. And the light is still concealed and hidden. 362. RAK: See Chayai Moharan, Service of Hashem, 48. 363. RAK: Rabbainu gave this instruction to Moharnat at the beginning of his drawing near. 364. RAK: See Avneiha Barzel 22. 365. RAK: This instruction too Rabbainu gave to Moharnat. 366. RAK: See above 29. 367. RAK: See above 68. Likutay Moharan Tinyana 25. See Kochvei Or 108, note 15. 368. RAK: To Moharnat himself, Rabbainu commanded on Shabbas Chanukah to change the order of his learning and to learn Shulchan Aruch. In the summer afterward he told him to learn Kabbalah. 369. RAK: See above 96.