קיא

And I did not wish to hasten bringing him out for burial immediately — for the parting from him was very painful to me. And also because it is explained in the Shulchan Aruch that concerning one's father or one's teacher [rav] — the one who is quick is not praised. And the matter continued until the day had grown dark. And everyone said that a great man should not be brought out in the darkness of night. And it was delayed until the next day — Wednesday. On the next day they commanded that everyone go to the mikveh to immerse. And after the completion of the prayer they engaged with him. And he was clean and pure — without any unpleasant odor whatsoever. On the contrary — Hashem Blessed be He arranged that very good fragrances wafted from him. And all the members of the burial society asked us how to conduct themselves with him. And they said that as we commanded — so they would do. And I said that they should do with him only as is done with all other Jews. For I understood that this was his wish. And they also asked whether we ourselves wished to engage with him. And I said that the members of the burial society who always engage in this should engage with him — for I knew in my soul that according to his greatness there is no person in the world worthy of engaging with him. But in the place of his greatness there we find his humility — and his wish zichrono livracha was that each person do what is proper to him. And at this time — the engagement of his holy burial belongs to the members of the burial society who always engage in this. And it will be a merit for them forever. And before they began to engage with him — while he still lay on the ground — I hurried myself. And I had prayed only until the end of Shacharis [morning prayer] and had not yet said Hallel and had not yet blessed the esrog. And I went to his room and sat beside him on the ground. And I spoke in his ear what I had longed to speak before him in those times during his lifetime — but the matter had not come about. And I said: I will speak before him now. And afterward I wept over him greatly — as I sat beside him on the ground. And in the meantime other men gathered and stood over him and wept with me. And there was no person in the world who wept over him on the ground — except me alone. For "My eye has shed tears upon my soul — from all the daughters of my city." For he himself zichrono livracha had already testified concerning me that I know him more than all of them — as recorded elsewhere [Introduction to Chayay Moharan].