On this section of the sichah, we must ask: What is the connection between not having questions and coming to a deep ratzon for Hashem? Clearly, the questions that Rebbe Nachman refers to here are not the heretical inquiries that challenge the existence of Hashem and the truth of the Torah, since a person who has these questions doesn’t yet have any ratzon for kedushah. (In such a situation, a person usually has to go through a test, and by overcoming that test he reaches a basic level of emunah, through which he finds a ratzon to serve Hashem.) Rather, as we explained previously, in this sichah Rebbe Nachman mainly refers to the questions that enter the hearts of people who already keep Torah and mitzvos, which damage their yearning to attach themselves to Hashem.
For example, when we learn the sefarim of chassidus, we usually have questions. This can be a good thing, since it brings us to a greater understanding of the sefer we’re learning. However, we can’t remain with questions in our hearts. Rather, we have to search for answers, and if we’re unable to find them, we have to let go of our confusion and return to our simple emunah.
The reason for this is that when we hold onto our questions, this damages the connection in our hearts to the amazing truth of the tzaddikim, and through this, we lose our ratzon to serve Hashem. The foundation of Torah and mitzvos is emunah in the revelations of the tzaddikim. Thus, we must avoid getting stuck with any questions that harm this foundation.
By doing so, we will discover a deep yearning for Hashem. (And anyways, it is likely that we simply haven’t learned enough, so if we just let go of our questions for now and continue studying, we will find the answers later on (see Sichah 76). Furthermore, when we strengthen our emunah in what we want to understand, the understanding will come sooner or later, as Reb Nosson explains in many places.)
Similarly, when we’re suffering, G-d forbid, we shouldn’t analyze what is happening to us. We shouldn’t ask why life is so heavy and we shouldn’t have questions based on the laws of nature. These things greatly weaken our emunah and our ratzon for kedushah. Instead, by being careful not to slip into these questions, we protect our emunah, through which we naturally awaken a yearning for Hashem. And even when we get out of our suffering, we should continue to have simple emunah and think that everything was purely from the Creator.
