Consecutive Hurdles
We jump over one hurdle in life, only to find that a new one is in our way. But, when our eyes are glued to the ultimate goal, we overcome successive obstacles too.
Translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody
The Tale of the Lost Princess Part 35 from The Garden of Yearning
So the giant said to him, “I think it is nonsense. But since you persist, I am in charge of the animals. I will do this for you: I will call them all. For they traverse the whole world, perhaps one of them will know where the mountain and the castle are.” And he called them all, from the smallest to the largest, all the varieties of animals, and asked them. And all of them answered that they had not seen these things. So he said, “You see that they told you nonsense. If you want my advice, turn back, because you certainly will not find it, for it does not exist…”
Although the viceroy has overcome the obstacle of the giant, he’s now faced with another formidable obstacle, since the animals have circumvented the globe and now report that they’ve seen no mountain of gold and castle of pearls. But, once again, the viceroy is neither deterred nor confused; with clarity of thought, he remains committed to his firm convictions. As such, even the obstacle becomes a source of assistance, for the giant decides to help the viceroy in his search for the princess.
And he pleaded passionately with him, saying, “But it absolutely must exist!” So the giant said to him, “Behold, in this desert also lives my brother, and he is in charge of the birds. Perhaps they know, since they fly at great heights – perhaps they saw this mountain and castle. Go to him and tell him that I sent you to him.” So he searched for him for several years…
The viceroy continues on his way, but this time, he makes a mistake: Instead of searching for the princess, he is searching for the giant’s brother. Such a mistake can be tragic; once a person develops a connection to a true tzaddik, he or she shouldn’t seek advice from others. The giant already tried to discourage the viceroy from continuing the search altogether. By a miracle, the viceroy summoned the inner strength and self composure to do what he knew was right, despite the apparent proof and arguments to the contrary. If the giant almost succeeded in convincing the viceroy to abort the search, then why is the viceroy now searching for the giant’s brother? Who’s to say whether he’ll be able to withstand another test of faith?
Therefore, one should never accept advice from or depend on those who don’t lead him on the path of the true tzaddik. Rebbe Nachman explains that only the true tzaddik can give complete and proper advice (see Likutei Moharan I:7): “It’s impossible to arrive at truth without getting close to tzaddikim and walking in the path of their advice. The advice one receives from them is spiritually tantamount to a marital bond. How does advice resemble the marital bond? Advice comes from the kidneys (see Gemara, tractate Shabbat 61), and the kidneys are also vessels of the seed and tools of giving birth. As such, when a person receives advice from someone, it’s like receiving the seed of that person, whether he is righteous or wicked. The advice of the tzaddik is totally the seed of truth…”
And again he found a very large man, as before. He was also carrying a massive tree, as before. And this giant also asked him as had the first. And he told him the whole story, and that his brother had sent him to him. This giant also discouraged him, saying that it certainly did not exist. And he pleaded with him as with the first. Then the giant said to him, “Behold, I am in charge of the birds; I will call them, perhaps they know.” So he called all the birds, and asked them all, from the smallest to the largest, and they answered that they did not know anything about this mountain and castle. So the giant said to him, “You see, it certainly does not exist. If you want my advice, turn back, for it simply does not exist.” But he pleaded with him, saying “It certainly exists…”
The events of the viceroy’s encounter with the first giant now repeat themselves in the encounter with the giant’s brother. The latter, willfully or not, also tries to discourage the viceroy from continuing the innocent search for the princess, or true and complete emuna. This is what happens when a person seeks advice from others, rather than depending on the advice of the tzaddik with simple and pure faith.
Fortunately, the viceroy’s self composure and strength of conviction come to his aid. He knows what he has to do and he knows that the princess’s instructions are absolute truth. If she said to search for a mountain of gold and castle of pearls, then there’s no doubt whatsoever that they exist! This strength of conviction gives the viceroy power to continue and to stand on what he knows is right, and once again, the obstacle becomes an aid. Everything takes a turn for the best. Then, as another test of faith, things turn for the worst, for the birds know nothing about a mountain of gold and castle of pearls. Once again, the viceroy doesn’t budge from his stance of truth – he shatters the obstacle and the giant’s brother now becomes a source of assistance, and sends the viceroy to a third brother. This time, the viceroy focuses on his search for the princess, and not on his search for outside help; as such, he succeeds!
To be continued.
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