Tanya 27 part 5

There a great Simcha in store when these disgusting thoughts enter your mind and heart.



ובכל דחיה ודחיה שמדחהו ממחשבתו, אתכפיא סטרא אחרא לתתא

With every repulsion of this thought from his mind, the sitra achra is suppressed here below in This World,

ובאתערותא דלתתא אתערותא דלעילא

and, since “the arousal from below (in our case, the initiative of the Beinoni in suppressing the sitra achra) produces a corresponding arousal above,”

ואתכפיא סטרא אחרא דלעילא המגביה עצמה כנשר

the sitra achra above in the supernal worlds (the root of the sitra achra of this world) which soars like an eagle, is also suppressed,

לקיים מה שכתוב: אם תגביה כנשר וגו׳ משם אורידך נאם ה׳

thus realizing the verse, 3 “Though you soar aloft like the eagle…I will yet bring you down from there, says G d.”

וכמו שהפליג בזהר פרשת תרומה דף קכח בגודל נחת רוח לפניו יתברך כד אתכפיא סטרא אחרא לתתא

Indeed the Zohar, in Parshat Terumah (p. 128), extolls the Divine satisfaction that occurs when the sitra achra is subdued here below,

דאסתלק יקרא דקודשא בריך הוא לעילא על כולא יתיר משבחא אחרא, ואסתלקותא דא יתיר מכולא וכו׳

for “thereby G d’s glory rises above all, more than by any other praise, and this ascent its greater than all else, etc.”

Thus, it is the evil thoughts which enter the mind of the Beinoni that enable him to fulfill G d’s command in averting his attention from them, thereby subduing the sitra achra



You are busting the evil of the world

Without realizing it , you are actually changing and revolutionizing the world.

You are alone in an office, an airport, a street, a car, a simcha ,a conference, a train

And an unhealthy thought arises.

(AS YOU SHOULD EXPECT,AND NOT BE SHOCKED WHEN THIS OCCURS)

No one sees.

No one knows.

And you refuse to give in to it.

You are BUSTING evil on a GLOBAL level.

Yes, I mean you.

Indeed the Zohar, in Parshat Terumah (p. 128), extolls the Divine satisfaction that occurs when the sitra achra is subdued here below,


for “thereby G d’s glory rises above all, more than by any other praise, and this ascent its greater than all else, etc.”

and again


for “thereby G d’s glory rises above all, more than by any other praise, and this ascent its greater than all else, etc.”

You mean when I subdue the yetzer horah this happens”

Yes, I mean you.

And again


for “thereby G d’s glory rises above all, more than by any other praise, and this ascent its greater than all else, etc.”


And again

for “thereby G d’s glory rises above all, more than by any other praise, and this ascent its greater than all else, etc.”


and again

for “thereby G d’s glory rises above all, more than by any other praise, and this ascent its greater than all else, etc.”

and again


for “thereby G d’s glory rises above all, more than by any other praise, and this ascent its greater than all else, etc.”
and again


for “thereby G d’s glory rises above all, more than by any other praise, and this ascent its greater than all else, etc.”

You said “Hashem Hu Ha’elokim” seven times at the end of Neilah, did you not?


This is not less important because this is what it is all about.

So cherish the opportunity

There is no tragedy here.

You are not meant to be a tzaddik

You have a unique gift that to the naked eyes does not look like a gift –AT ALL.

But this is the greatest gift Hashem could give a person

We are the souls of the last generation before Moshiach.

Very very far.

And that is why we are the most dear to Him.

Because we create such a pleasure for Hashem when we serve him from far far far away.

That is why He will draw us the most close.

And that is why these next words are probably one of the most important words we will ever hear




ולכן אל יפול לב אדם עליו ולא ירע לבבו מאד


Therefore one should not feel depressed or very troubled at heart (— he ought to be somewhat troubled by the occurance of these thoughts, otherwise he may become indifferent to them and will cease to wage war against them; but he ought not to be sorely troubled by them),


גם אם יהיה כן כל ימיו במלחמה זו


even if he be engaged all his days in this conflict with the thoughts which will always enter his mind.
Though he may never rise to the level which precludes their occurence, yet he should not be depressed.


כי אולי לכך נברא, וזאת עבודתו: לאכפיא לסטרא אחרא תמיד


For perhaps this is what he was created for, and this is the service demanded of him — to subdue the sitra achra constantly.

Aloneness

The benefit of
reporting only to
one's self is
more than offset by
serious aloneness

Being alone
permits one to
think well and
complete doing
things desired

But deep lengthy
aloneness turns
against us
in ways that
devour and destroy


F William Broome 2007



same is true with many of us

aloneness can bring great blessing and can save us from sin

but extended self-forced aloneness can lead one to a very bad place

As in all things, we need balance - a solid network of support, but also time to be alone, and contemplate.

Humbling exactly where it is needed - the kishkas
Thank you YECHIDA,
as always.

posting this

knowing that some of you (and some of me at times) felt this way


A silent Death by Melissa Ferrer



 
  AND IM CRYING
and i have no reason why
thoughts are racing in my head
feelings of dread
feeling the dead
rise up
inside
it bubbles and gurgles
AS I CRY.

AND IM DYING
on the inside
is it a crime
if its not physically
suicide
I remain dead
and in my head
there is a vast fog
and im in the middle
im locked
in
trying to get out
cant let it win
AS I DIE.

AND IM BEING REBORN
Approching souls that were torn
by my menal departure
They are trying to enscare
my thoughts
So im not brought off
again
They are trying to win
a battle
while i stay focused
on winning the war.
I cant concetrate anymore
I look for the light
at the end
but its so dim
so i swim
in my thoughts
trying to be reborn.

here is one more


Amnesia of the heart  by Melissa Ferrer

 

  How does it feel
To know your loved
To know someone cares
Im not saying from up above
But from right here.

I once knew how it felt to be loved;
How it felt to be treated like you were special
How it felt to be cherished
Even though you were, tarnished, blemished.

I once had that special feeling
from my head down to my toes
Because when i got home
I'd always know
Someone would croon
I love you so.
But I've forgotten how the feeling goes.

and another.

many young people have more wisdom than people think

do not write them off

An Away Message by Melissa Ferrer

 
  God didnt promise
Days without Pain
Laughter without Sorrow
and Sun without Rain
But He did promise
Stregnth for the Day
Comfort for the Tears
and Light for the Way..

So at the moment i am not Here...
Im off enduring the pain the Laughter and the Tears
In all my fourteen years, I have never known...
That it was all meant to be..
Till now when i see...
That he is comforting me..

So im away
and i dont know if i will be back today
But I will definitely be back...
In time to help you pray...
In time to be there
for you
when you need me most

Melissa Ferrer

Hashem is Everything

But the fact remains that He creates us in a way that we need love and friendship

see stories in Chazal,about Choni Hamagel,about how Reb Yochanan had trouble coping after the loss of Resh Lakish.

But why should that be?

Isn't Hashem enough?

But that is the way Hashem wants it.

We need our fellow Yid.

And he needs you to reach out to His children

it is not "enough" for Hashem to do this Himself. 


Earthly Friend by  Melissa Ferrer 

 
  I do believe in God I do
But I need Some Earthly Loving too.
Like I cant talk or I cant see him.
I need someone to hold hands with
To cry on their choulder
To be my soldier
Whode keep me from Harm
If not that than just some body
I know cares
If not that than just some one
I know will always be there

I do trust in God trust me
I know Hes the way
I know Hes there to stay.
But I need some one whos here today
Some one who will take my troubles away
Some one I can see
Some one that will be
My friend, my help, maybe even my lover.
If not that then at least a LOVING sister or brother.

So before you say you need to believe
Dont - Because I do.
Before you say that it is he you can see
Dont - Because I know.
So let me say what I need
Let me tell you I do believe
But as long as I have an Earthly friend Like You
IM COOL.

that human friend or spouse does not need to be "awesome"

Awesome?

Few of us
are good enough
or revered enough
as yet
to be held in awe
but it is satisfying
to be held
in respect
and in the arms
of friends during
encompassing hugs


2007 F William Broome

Another reason not to own a TV (aside from the more obvious reasons)

This is an article from aish.com called "Inteference"

Where’s the remote?” I asked my husband. It was Saturday night, the house was finally clean and the kids blessedly asleep. There was nothing I wanted more than to sink into my couch and stare at a bunch of strangers gallivanting through their fascinating lives on my television screen.

There was only one problem. We don’t own a television.

When my husband and I got married we decided that we would leave our TVs behind. We had spent too many hours of our lives on self induced mindlessness and it was time to cut our losses. We wanted to build a home infused with Jewish values, without the long arm of the television probing its sticky fingers into our world view.

At first I didn’t miss it. My husband and I had all the time we needed to work through the kinks of a fledgling marriage and then later, we were able to focus intently on the awesome newness of being parents. But the family grew, the responsibilities mounted and the ennui set in -- I needed an escape.

“What happened to your writing?” my husband asked me.

“What do you mean?”

“When I first met you, you told me that you love to write. I haven’t seen you lift a pen since then.”

Oh yes, writing. It had been my outlet in my elementary school years, before high school and all of its conformity set in. Before college and its academic pressures. Before juggling graduate school while having babies. But writing for me was also an abiding love, for which I had neither sufficient time nor ambition to cultivate.

“Writing is hard,” I said. “I want something easy.” I wanted to relax, to anaesthetize myself to the gentle pressures of my own life and to lose myself in the calamitous lives of others.

But we had chosen to forgo the television. So with nothing else to do, I wrote, then I read, and then I wrote some more. And at the end of a long string of Saturday nights writing and reading, I’m surprised to see where I find myself: A published author with a number of books enjoyed by children and adults, and a flourishing writing career. I have the privilege of working at something which brings me immeasurable satisfaction, building a career that allows me to work at home while balancing my familial responsibilities.

I am fulfilling my childhood dream – a result of our decision to leave the tube out of our home.I am fulfilling my childhood dream, a dream whose kite strings I had let go of so long ago.

And I know, doubtlessly, that it never would have happened if not for our decision to leave the tube out of our home.

My professional journey is only one spoke in the silver wheel of our lives glinting under the sun instead of the glare of the television screen. The relationships in my life benefit incalculably from its absence.

When you don’t have a television, you can’t drown out a disagreement with your spouse with a well tuned program.

When you don’t have a television, children can’t retreat to the den for some R&R, shushing you as you pass through the room with your laundry basket so they don’t miss a word.

When you don’t have a television, the only characters that live in your home are you and your very own family. Tensions must be smoothed over instead of masked, problems that your children are having are the only things glaring at you and so they must be dealt with, and family members hover next to Mommy as she replaces the television as the hub of the home.

And then of course there’s that wonderful relic called imagination that my children have the freedom to cultivate. Since the media doesn’t govern anything that my children think or do, a chair can really be a horse and a piece of string can be a lasso. A stick is a scepter, a foundation for a clubhouse, a campfire stoker, a limbo game, a cane for dress up and a javelin throw.

Sometimes I still wonder if we aren’t missing out too much. I was brought up on Sesame Street and Electric Company and what was the harm there? Sometimes people need a distraction. After all, not all of my children are voracious readers…

I remember recently, watching my children as they balanced on somebody’s discarded frying pan on the street, the rim teetering to and fro. It was a bit chilly out but we all needed to get out, the brisk air a reprieve for all the energy that had swelled inside the house.

“I’m bored,” my seven year old daughter said.

“I know honey,” I said. It was too cold for bike riding. We had to go inside soon. Maybe this was all just crazy.

Just then, my daughter spotted a girl from her school, a special child in a wheelchair who was integrated into the mainstream school my daughter attended.

“Oh, I know!” she said. “I’ll play with Rachel.”

“Hide and go seek” my son called. My daughter took Rachel’s wheelchair and ran off with her to hide while my son covered his eyes with his fingers and began to count.

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-

The sun was setting in a purple sky, I heard my children giggling as Rachel squealed.

And I knew right then that there couldn’t be any reality program better than my own





yechida grew up with TV and since marriage has not had one.

I do have a labtop and I on occasion do take out certain DVD's from the library system but it is all with my wife's knowledge and permission, and only on certain occasions.

But it will never be a lifestyle for me.

If I would have a TV in my home,my learning would go down , I would interact much less with my kids,spend less quality time with my wife,and the yechida thread would not exist.

drop the TV.

It's hard.

very very hard sometimes because you crave that diversion(I'm even talking about "clean" and "old" TV )

But that is when the neshomah starts coming out

Wow - that is a great article. Thank you for reminding us!

With you 100%, though it took Hashem to melt ours...since then (~10 years) TV-free! Boruch hashem shelo asani goylem!!

The Thirty Second Quiz 
Author Unknown 


Don't bother getting a pen and paper... just read... if you can't
answer them, just keep going.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.

5. Name the last five Academy Award winners for Best Actor and Actress.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remembers the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They're the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Now here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. Name three teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worth while.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson?

The people who make a difference in your life aren't the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They're the ones who care.


(Wishing you a BEAUTIFUL day!)

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass.

It is about learning to dance in the rain.

The Generation Preceding the Messiah

The Rabbi of Safed, Rabbi Jacob David Willowsky (known by the acronym the Ridbaz), criticized Rav Kook for his congenial relations with the non-religious (and often anti-religious) pioneers who were settling the Land of Israel. Rav Kook responded to this criticism by noting the distinction between different forms of holiness.

"In our generation, there are many souls who are on a very low level with regard to their willed-holiness. Thus, they are afflicted with immoral behavior and dreadful beliefs. But their innate segulah light shines brightly. That is why they so dearly love the Jewish people and the Land of Israel." [Igrot HaRe'iyah vol. II, letter 555 (1913), pp. 187-188]


Rav Kook went on to explain that heretics and non-believers usually lose their inner segulah holiness, and separate themselves from the Jewish people. However, we live in special times. The Zohar describes the pre-Messianic generation as being "good on the inside and bad on the outside." That is to say, they have powerful inner holiness, even though their external, acquired holiness is weak and undeveloped. They are the allegorical 'donkey of the Messiah' [see Zechariah 9:9], as the donkey bears both external signs of impurity, but nonetheless, contains an inner sanctity, as evidenced by the fact that firstborn donkeys are sanctified as bechorot [Ex. 13:13].

[Gold from the Land of Israel, pp, 124-126. Adapted from Olat Re'iyah vol. I, p. 236]