The True Doctor of the Soul – Rebbe Nachman
Thousands of newcomers to Breslev thought are living proof that you don't have to become a recluse on a Tibet mountain top...
When I first set out in search of truth and tranquility, I was a 165-pound ticking time bomb of anger and revenge. Neither my initial return to my roots nor my first years in Yeshiva did much to calm the snarling wolf that was within me. Finally, Hashem took pity on me and introduced me to the books and teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev. Rebbe Nachman’s teachings changed my own life drastically for the better.
My environment hasn't changed – I still live smack in the middle of the powder keg known as the Middle East, and a half hour drive from Gaza, one of the most hostile places on earth. But, deep inside after nearly two decades of quenching my spiritual thirst with Rebbe Nachman’s teachings and implementing his advice the best I can, my life flows – I know why I want to get out of bed in the morning, and I know where I want to go. The inner conflicts have disappeared a long time ago. Where there's no inner conflict, there's peace. If I could undergo such a change for the better, you certainly can.
Rebbe Nachman teaches you how to make peace with yourself. He also teaches how to apply emuna – the pure and simple belief in Hashem – to your everyday life. I’ve seen remarkable achievements of former turbulence and stress-sufferers by applying Rebbe Nachman’s wonderful teachings to their lives. They have learned to be at peace with themselves and with the entire world.
Thousands of newcomers to Breslev thought are living proof that you don't have to become a recluse on a Tibet mountain top in order to enjoy a life of emotional sweetness and serenity. Spiritual True North is right here, under our noses.
Remember this simple but immensely important rule of thumb: The more we care for our souls, the more we'll attain happiness. The more we attain happiness, the less stress, anxiety, and other emotional tribulations will have a negative influence on our lives.
Imagine that the soul is an invisible magnetic protective field that encompasses the human psyche. If that magnetic field isn't activated, then any so-called emotional germs stand a strong chance of entering the brain and heart, ultimately wreaking havoc to the entire body. But, once we activate the protective "magnetic field", we are able to function successfully in the face of any stress situation, since we don't internalize the negative influences of the environment. As such, the human soul serves as a spiritual bullet-proof vest that protects us from the dangers of modern society.
Spiritual light has no finite or material characteristics. We use the word "light" for lack of a better term; since our minds are limited to grasping concepts of a physical nature, we have no alternative but to attach physical labels to spiritual concepts. The unique characteristic of the human soul is that is a tiny spark of the Creator himself, the source of the spiritual light that sustains the soul.
The soul consists of three main parts. To function properly, one must activate all three parts of the soul. The soul is breached whenever a person fails to activate a portion of it, just as an automobile can't function with faulty or inactivated parts.
A partially activated or blemished soul resembles a punctured tire. Just as a punctured tire cannot contain air (the bigger the puncture, the faster it loses air and becomes flat), an inactivated or blemished soul is not a fitting vessel for spiritual light.
The more spiritual light the soul absorbs, the more a person gains freedom from turbulent emotions, stress, and anxiety; the more one gains freedom from negative emotions, the more one attains happiness. When a damaged soul fails to absorb or properly contain spiritual light, the person loses any chances of attaining happiness.
Happiness therefore depends on our ability to activate all three parts of the soul, nourish the soul, and prevent damage to the soul. We can be reassured though, that damage to the soul can be repaired. It's also encouraging to know that a repaired soul is better than other second-hand or refurbished objects, since a repaired soul is stronger than an original, unblemished soul. That's why the term "despair" has no place in a spiritual seeker's lexicon.
The more we connect ourselves to The Almighty, His Torah, and to the teachings and advice of a true doctor of the soul such as Rebbe Nachman of Breslev, the more we nourish and activate our souls. The more we activate our souls, the happier we become. It's really that simple.
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