The Healthy Brain

Translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody
 
 
A person is his mind; your brain is the real you. The mind is what differentiates between people. A person is the product of the content of his brain. A new input to the brain virtually changes a person. We have witnessed countless times, all over the globe, how a person has dramatically changed simply by reading an emuna book or listening to an emuna CD.
 
With today’s computer technology, the above principle is readily understood. The brain is like a computer; it functions according to the programs and data in its memory bank. The most sophisticated computer in the world won’t be able to edit a photograph if it doesn’t have a program in its memory for photo editing. In addition, even if the best computer is equipped with the best programs and ample memory capacity, it won’t function properly – or could be destroyed altogether – if it’s infected by viruses. In like manner, a person functions according to the content of his brain. He too must be careful to guard against “viruses” – harmful content that destroy his judgment and thought process.
 
In light of the above, intense and in-depth Torah learning is very healthy for the brain. Any acquired Torah knowledge becomes an integral part of the brain. If the brain is the person, then this person is the sum of the Torah that his brain has internalized. For that reason, says Rebbe Nachman, every morsel of Torah that a person learns is an eternal success of the soul.
 
We turn to the generation’s leading righteous Torah scholars with every type of question we have in life, for by virtue of the vast amount of Torah they’ve learned, internalized and practice, they possess a Torah outlook. The Torah outlook provides us with the best advice and the optimal solution for any problem, especially mental and spiritual health.
 
To keep the brain healthy, we have in-depth Torah learning; we’re not just referring to learning the Gemara with Tosephot’s elaboration or learning the Shulchan Aruch with all its commentaries. In-depth Torah means Torah that we’ve so deeply internalized, to the extent where live by everything we’ve learned. This is the level of Torah that has the power of purifying one’s soul. This is the level of Torah that enhances a person’s love and awe of Hashem.
 
In his introduction to the Book of Proverbs, the Gaon of Vilna writes that the ultimate purpose of Torah and mitzvot is the refinement of a person’s character. Similarly, Rabbenu Bachiya ibn Pekuda writes in “Duties of the Heart” that a person’s main obligation is to internalize the mitzvot that affect the heat, such as loving Hashem and fearing Hashem. Learning Torah as a mere intellectual exercise is therefore contemptible. Proper in-depth Torah learning should bring a person to yearn for constantly enhanced service of Hashem.
 
The Torah is therefore the input that a brain needs. This includes the simple understanding of Torah, Gemara, Halacha as well as lessons in ethics, emuna, Chassidism and Kabbalah (for those who are seasoned enough), each person according to his own level.
 
Torah learning must be “lubricated” with extensive prayer, especially personal prayer. A person must pray that he merit in internalizing and implementing everything he learns. Rebbe Nachman stresses that a person can’t be a truly upright individual without daily personal prayer.
 
Understandably, if a person feeds his brain garbage, then he too will become garbage, for we are what our brain is. One whose brain fills with heretical concepts therefore severs himself from Hashem, Heaven forbid.
 
The above teachings are all designed to help us understand why we must so carefully guard the “seven candles” of our personal “menorah” – the seven accesses to the brain – if we want to maintain mental holiness and well-being.
 
To maintain a healthy and holy brain, we can’t let our mouths speak lies or slander. They should be praising Hashem and speaking Torah. Our nostrils shouldn’t be smelling the perfume of strange women; it should be smelling fresh-baked challot for Shabbat or the spices of Havdalah. Our ears shouldn’t be listening to gossip and idle talk; they should be listening to words of Torah and songs that praise Hashem. And of course, our eyes should be guarded from seeing anything that’s not wholesome or holy.
 
Rebbe Nachman emphasizes the need to tell the truth and avoid uttering lies, for anything that’s not truth is a lie. A person who is therefore careful in guarding his speech will not say anything that go against the laws of Torah, for Torah is truth. Such a person will sanctify his mouth. In doing so, he’ll attain a higher level of loving and fearing Hashem. The more one focuses totally on Hashem, the more he will succeed in maintaining a healthy brain. May we all so merit, amen!