Keeping Shabbos comes right before the Ma'aseh Eigel. The Sefer HaK’sav V’haKabalah says that refraining from work on Shabbos involves going against your Tevah (nature) since a person naturally wants to always do and accomplish and be in charge; and on Shabbos he sits back and lets Hashem run His world. The Malbim says that keeping Shabbos gives you a taste of Olam HaBah. By the Ma'aseh Eigel, it says: וּמֻקָיַּו קֵחַצְל לב ו they got up to enjoy themselves and have a good time.
And this is what upset Moshe so much, when he said: ַﬠֵמֹשׁ יִכֹנָא תוֹנַּﬠ לוֹק לב יח I hear their rejoicing. Those who have a Geshmak in evil and Ta'avos Olam HaZeh, obviously aren’t having enough enjoyment in a sweet Shabbos and in learning Torah. In Novardok they learned Mussar B'hispa'alus with such a Geshmak, that Ta'avos Olam HaZeh had no place in their lives.
The entire story of Purim starts off with Achashverosh’s tremendous feasts and fake fun, and Klal Yisroel being Nichshal in: עָשָׁר וֹתוֹא לֶשׁ וֹתָדוּעְסִּמ וּנֱהֶנֶּשׁ מגילה יב א having pleasure from the feast of that Rasha, despite Mordechai begging them not to. The whole Megila is a story of tasting the fake fun, Rachmana Litzlan, and Mordechai & Esther pulling them out of their Hevel (emptiness) and giving them the true Simcha. רָקיִו ןשָׂשְׂו הָחְמִשְׂו הָרוֹא הָתְיָה םיִדוּהְיַּל זט ח
When you are on fire, you are in a different world. R' Pinchos Menachem Malach Zatzal said that in Novardok, they didn’t work on Inyanei Kedusha, since after learning Mussar B'hispa'alus, they were on such a “high” that they couldn’t even think of these issues. Giving a Chabura can also put you into a different world, and save you from your base desires, e.g., Kin'ah, Ta'ava, and Kavod etc. R' Wainkrantz Zatzal once told me that getting drunk on Purim won’t really give Simcha. Learning Chovos Halvavos 3-4 hours gives true Simcha.
Chovos Halvavos especially, has loads of Kedusha, and those who develop a relationship with that Sefer are super happy and they have an easy time with: רֶצֵיַה תַשׁיִבְכּ overcoming the Yetzer Hara. The Velt says that the Yetzer Hara didn’t “get along” with the Chovos Halvavos. Start slowly, with bits and pieces of Chovos Halvavos whenever you have a spare moment.
Some people need to skip around to those parts that turn them “on”. But a continuous soft niggun makes it sink into your system, and it gives you super spiritual energy. It makes you alive with Ahavas Hashem, and you become serious about the value of Ruchaniyus. R' Michoel Schwarz Zatzal told me that you have to pour: םיִבַּר םִיַמ rivers of Chovos Halvavos upon yourself.
R’ Wainkrantz Zatzal was once describing to me each “Shaar” of Chovos Halvavos, and his mouth was watering. You develop a love for this Sefer, and it won’t betray you. Try to make this your #1 priority in life, and make this Sefer dominate you. R' Nosson Wachtfogel Zatzal once remarked about the custom in Yeshiva of learning Sefer Orchos Chaim of the Rosh during Chodesh Elul, that: “The Ikar is the niggun!” The: הָבָהֶל flame is the “Niggun” and the “Hispa'alus”. When a person brings Hashem into his life, this causes his potential to blossom in all its glory. Learning Chovos Halvavos brings Hashem into your life, especially with a soft Niggun; it will wake up your soul.
For good reason did R' Wainkrantz Zatzal say that hours of learning Chovos Halvavos gives us much more Simcha than wine, or dancing and singing. This Sefer changes your mode from being a “taker”, to being a “giver”. This: תוֹבַא יִבַא founding father of Mussar Seforim is loaded with the Yesod of gratitude to Hashem. The “Chovos Halvavos mentality” is what caused so many Jews to happily give their lives Al Kiddush Hashem. Learning Mussar and especially Chovos Halvavos gives you a: רָשָׂבּ בֵל feeling heart. R' Nosson Wachtfogel Zatzal used to talk loads about having a true Lev. It’s worth investing time, with lots of Chovos Halvavos, to develop a Lev Tahor; which is the Ikar. It will make you much happier, and more “real”.
