Meditations and Advice of Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov – Installment 1
By zevi770 · July 30, 2017
From Kesser Shem Tov
The Baal Shem Tov’s Ethical Will.
ACTION
Serve G-d: This is a euphemism for “Live-Life – with sincerity.” (In other words, don’t be pretentious.)
ACTION
Every day have a daily study – whether much or a bit – in Chassidus.
ACTION
See to it that your behavior is kind, compassionate, and never cruel, or G-d-forbid sadistic.
ACTION
See to it that every day you do some act of goodness and kindness – in fact, you should eagerly anticipate, perhaps G-d will arrange such a good happenstance.
ACTION
See to it in your daily recital of the Shema, that you concentrate (on the translation / meaning of the words.)
ACTION
(for men) – See to it that you go to Mikvah (daily) especially when you are in need.
ACTION
See to it that you keep every single “minor” detail of the observance of our Holy-Shabbos.
(the numbers follow the book’s sequence)
1.
MEDITATION
Every letter of prayer contains: spiritual worlds, souls and Divinity; and if you meditate to unite these three dimensions, then they unify, and your soul elevates with them.
To give you an idea of the great joy this causes in Heaven, imagine the joy of a marriage which is nothing compared to it.
4.
ACTION
Everyone must work based on their current standing (in other words, not imitate.)
6.
ACTION / MEDITATION
The Baal Shem Tov said in the name of the Ramban – whenever we are not sure what to do; and seeing that any personal benefit (be it a pleasure, or our honor) skews our logic (so the mind presents fallacious rationalizations;) hence to begin with, you must imagine that this action will bring you neither pleasure nor honor… and then G-d will guide.
7.
MEDITATION
Everything in this world contains all potentials (it can be used for good or evil.)
9.
ACTION
It is o.k. to lie to bring unity.
10.
MEDITATION
When God desires a person, first he places a deep love in their heart which arouses, inspires and motivates them – however, then he withdraws this love and it is only through effort that the person perseveres – however, eventually, through their perseverance they begin to derive personal growth, satisfaction and joy.
22.
ACTION
When one studies Torah from a Tzaddik, the words he studies (contain Divine energy/frequency) and they continually expand.
23.
ACTION
One must be careful whom they study from, for if their master (Rabbi) comes from the soul source of unity (Divine light) then they receive unity.
24.
ACTION
The Baal Shem Tov teaches that (as Rabbi Sadiah Goan says) our main purpose in life is to rid ourselves of all negative (vile) character-traits (in other words, we are born with vile tendencies, say ego, which causes anger etc.)
25.
ACTION
(Introduction: the Baal Shem Tov often speaks about two states of mind: the expansive, open, thinking; and the closed, anxious, narrow) – When a person recognizes that they are in the closed state, this itself opens their mind.
26.
MEDITATION
As God is everything (for there is nothing, not directly being created currently) how can evil exist? – firstly evil often becomes the motivator for Good; additionally, a person who sees evil can take pleasure (and pride) in that he is different.
31.
ACTION
A person who is humble (has no narcissism, ego, sense of grandeur) easily becomes one who fears (is close) to G-d.
33.
ACTION / MEDITATION
We should always announce (when something negative occurs) “All that G-d does He does for the good!”
37.
ACTION / MEDITATION
The benefit of jokes – when a person is in the closed state (see # 25) hence by laughing, one elevates oneself.
38.
ACTION / MEDITATION
All fears that come to man are actually God hugging – In other words, drawing the person close; for one must meditate, that “the purpose of this fear is that God desires Me” (which will eliminate the negative.)
40.
ACTION
The Baal Shem Tov teaches, that Teshuvah (repentance) is (for-example) : A person who told lies should stop;
An argumentative person should act peacefully (and this simple principle of ceasing the negative behavior, which is a perfect repentance, applies to everything.)
41.
ACTION / MEDITATION
We have the power to flip negative to positive – for-example if someone has a negative dream, by interpreting it in positive way…
43.
ACTION / MEDITATION
All of our thoughts create universes – if our thoughts are positive, then the experiences that filter down (from these higher universes into our personal universe) will be.
44.
ACTION / MEDITATION
We connect to God when we realize He is found in the holy letters of the Torah and Jewish prayer.
46.
MEDITATION
When Moshiach comes, we will see how each and every event in our life is designed.
47.
ACTION / MEDITATION
The Baal Shem Tov asks, why did God have to hang Mount Sinia over the Jewish people (threatening them if they don’t accept the Torah he would crush them) as in any event they said, “we accept the Torah.” However the lesson is that, “Even when you’re not in the mood…”
50.
ACTION / MEDITATION
A person who has passed personal challenges, is now able to help others.
53.
ACTION / MEDITATION
There was once a king who was a magician, and so he invited people to have a relationship – a personal connection with him – but as one enters the palace grounds, there were millions of gold coins for the taking. Most people came and took some money – some came beyond the palace grounds to the interior, and there they found even greater riches, and so it was chamber after chamber… However the King’s son ignored all and went straight to the King.
54.
ACTION / MEDITATION
If one is looking for pride, one should praise God; if one is looking to denigrate, one should do so to oneself; for praise recognizes God.
54.
ACTION / MEDITATION
When one is negative, we deny God.
55.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Take no pride in the good you do (have done) – imagine, that it was God.
56.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Whenever you think about something, you are one hundred percent “THERE”.
57.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Leave monotony.
64.
ACTION / MEDITATION
We should analyze based on how much attraction physical pleasures attract us, to how much, should spiritual.
65.
ACTION / MEDITATION
When we connect even in the slightest degree to God, we connect completely; and likewise the reverse.
68.
ACTION / MEDITATION
One must have great pride in their Divine service.
69.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Convert evil to good.
71.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Even if you cannot perceive what purpose you serve, you must realize that your life has! – as it is directed by God.
73.
ACTION / MEDITATION
A parable – there was a king who had three good friends – he pretended that he was upset with them and told each to take one of his dogs; gave them a stipend and told them to care for it. One took the money for the dog and made a beautiful crown to give to the king. The second fed the dog very meagerly; the third put all his effort into the dog – the king rewarded the first and rejected the third.
74.
ACTION / MEDITATION
One must understand, there is infinitely beyond…
75.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Our negative thinking and certainly speaking causes there to be others that think and speak negatively against us – however if we use our thoughts and words for prayer and Torah study and we pray for our enemies, then their evil dissipates.
78.
ACTION / MEDITATION
We are always wrong, if we are demeaning.
80.
ACTION / MEDITATION
The most important prayer (outside of Israel,) the understanding that G-d is everything.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Believe that as you request of God, you are immediately answered.
ACTION / MEDITATION
If you wonder – “but sometimes what I prayed for was not helped?” – all prayers work, though some cosmically, for in actual fact, it could be that the circumstance is actually in the interest of the person.
81.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Whenever we pray we have cosmic unifications.
82.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Once we break a taboo 3 times, it seems o.k…. and we need help to even realize what we are doing is taboo.
83.
ACTION / MEDITATION
The first judgment against man (in heaven) is for not having studied Torah, and man complains, “But I was too busy…” but the long summer days and winter nights, show otherwise.
85.
ACTION / MEDITATION
“I G-d have not changed”, it is only that G-d conceals Himself in the miraculous repetitiveness of nature – however, once man is aware that everything is G-d – one of the fundamental secrets that there is then there are no more separation / concealments.
87.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Everything that occurs comes from above – however in its source, it is combinations of letters, hence the word “Tzarah” which is a “problem,” can be rearranged to spell “Tzahor” a “shining light,” therefore when a person accepts suffering with joy, or finds the silver lining, they rearrange the source code.
88.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Faith eradicates pain, as pain is the perception that it is bad, while faith is the reverse.
89.
ACTION / MEDITATION
When you see something or hear something wrong in another, know that even partially you have that in you – You should then include the other in your soul and rectify it, and through this you rectify it universally.
90.
ACTION / MEDITATION
All of Judaism is ratzu / inspiration, and shuv / performance of Mitzvos, in a continuous, flying aloft / landing and Repeat.
91.
ACTION / MEDITATION
We must always connect our intent with our action.
92.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Just as with a fire, if one is too far, one is cold; but too close one gets burned; so with a Rebbe.
93.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Even if everyone is liars, corrupt and thieves; if there is one person who is true, faithful and trusting, this emancipates the generation.
95.
ACTION / MEDITATION
Rabbi Ami said, that if the rain is withheld, people should go to the Tzaddik to pray, and if he succeeds and becomes arrogant (from it) then he brings God’s wrath upon the people. The Baal Shem Tov asks, “Why should people suffer from one man’s arrogance?” He explains, “In truth all people have complete control over nature, for whenever someone truly believes in G-d’s power this manifests – it’s only as they seek their predilections, and remove G-d from their radar and are in need, they go to one who is connected – however, as this then seems miraculous, that person may feel arrogant; so in essence it is the fault of the people (as in a better circumstance it would be commonplace.”)
96.
ACTION / MEDITATION
If G-d causes one to be prevented from observing, as their heart wishes… one should understand this is only to motivate.