The Ba’al Bitachon Doesn’t Need to Keep Secrets
In the opening of Sha’ar HaBitachon, the Chovos HeLevavos likens the ba’al bitachon to an alchemist who, using inexpensive items, can create valuable materials such as gold; thus, he is always assured of wealth. However, says the Chovos HaLevavos, the ba’al bitachon is superior even to the alchemist in ten ways.
The eighth way in which the ba’al bitachon is superior is that the alchemist never stays in the same place for too long, for fear that his secret will be revealed, whereas one who has bitachon in HaKadosh Baruch Hu sits at home with serenity and tranquility, as the pesukim tell us that one who has emunah and bitachon is calm and serene; he is comfortable remaining at home in peace and serenity.
The Alchemist’s Constant Fear
The mefarshim on the Chovos HaLevavos explain that the alchemist was really a fraudster. He didn’t really have any special formula to turn dross into gold—it only looked like gold, and people thus paid high prices for it.
If he were to remain in one place for too long, however, he would surely be found out, for, as we know, רגלים לו אין שקר, a lie doesn’t have legs to stand on, and thus it cannot last very long. Therefore, the alchemist must constantly move for fear of being found out.
The Serenity of the Ba’al Bitachon
Conversely, the ba’al bitachon can live anywhere in great serenity. He has tranquility and הנפש מנוחת wherever he is, and he has no fear that pushes him away to another place—as the pasuk says שכן טוב ועשה בה’ בטח אמונה ורעה ארץ, one who trusts Hashem and does good may rest in the land in peace and draw strength from his emunah (Tehillim 37:3). It also says צדיקים עליה לעד וישכנו ארץ יירשו, tzaddikim inherit the land and remain living there for eternity (ibid. v. 29).
The Ba’al Bitachon Has True Success
In these pesukim, David HaMelech outlines the contrast between one who trusts in Hashem and a person who does not have bitachon. Sometimes, it may seem as though the one who doesn’t have bitachon has success, but his success is not lasting.
For the ba’al bitachon, however, it is different. David HaMelech assures us that his success is long term. Again and again, the pasuk says that the tzaddikim are always secure—because they draw strength from the truth that is eternal.
A Life of Secrets Is a Life of Fear
It is interesting to note that the Chovos HaLevavos—in discussing how the ba’al bitachon is superior to the alchemist—points to the aspect of fear on three occasions, noting that the alchemist lives in constant fear, for three reasons. Conversely, the ba’al bitachon lives a life free from fear of others, secure in the knowledge that they can’t take anything from him or otherwise harm him.
Alone in the World
Earlier, the Chovos HaLevavos states that the ba’al bitachon is superior to the alchemist because “the alchemist cannot trust anyone with his secrets for fear for his life, while the ba’al bitachon isn’t afraid of anyone, and is even proud to share his secret; namely, his bitachon.” This means that, aside from having to move constantly, the alchemist is alone in the world, unable to share what he does because he may be killed by the authorities or be copied by others and lose his livelihood.
All this fear stems from fearing others and feeling that they can do him harm, while the ba’al bitachon has no fear of others, knowing that no one can harm him.
The Difficulty of Constant Secrets
The Chovos HaLevavos further teaches that “the alchemist is constantly afraid of everyone—from small to large—but the ba’al bitachon is feared and respected by all, even by animals and stones.”
Here, in the eighth point, the Chovos HaLevavos notes that that alchemist must also move from place to place and constantly hide—all out of fear that he will be found out. And this is warranted, for if his secret were to be found out, he would be killed!
The point that the Chovos HaLevavos is teaching is that there a person may have a secure job with a great flow of income, and he has everything he needs from a financial standpoint, but since he must always guard his secret, he has a difficult life. He lives in constant fear, which causes his life to be difficult.
The Ba’al Bitachon Has No Fear That His Secret Will Be Found Out
People Fear That Their Secrets Will Become Known
When we learn such a segment of Chovos HaLevavos, it is important to emphasize how much this is relevant in our daily life—not necessarily regarding parnassah, as this concept is much broader and deeper than that.
There are people who spend their lives guarding secrets, constantly in fear that their secrets will become known. Maybe people will find out something private about him... maybe about his family, his children.... He is embarrassed about certain aspects of his nature, or he may have a medical condition that he prefers to keep private.
Privacy Is a Healthy, Yiddishe Trait
When we discuss the desire of people to keep secrets, we don’t mean the healthy צניעות and eidelkeit that are the trademark of Yidden. No one wants their dirty laundry aired in public. This is healthy dose of tzniyus—he does not wish to know the inner life of his neighbor, and he is not interested in having his neighbor know about his own private life.
In fact, in the Gemara we find an entire discussion on damages that are done by looking into someone else’s property.
Even Bila’am understood the importance of this quality when he noticed that the openings to the tents of the Bnei Yisrael were positioned away from the entrances of their neighbors. He pointed to privacy as one of the positive attributes of Klal Yisrael.
“Maybe My Secret Will Be Revealed”
Here, we are discussing a person who lives with overwhelming fear. He is constantly stressed by the possibility of someone hearing about him or finding out something about him. This takes away his peace of mind and causes him to stay away from people, fearing that they will become aware of his secrets.
Because of this fear, he avoids coming to shul at certain times, thinking that maybe people will discern what he is going through, perhaps they will detect something.... He is always burdened by cheshbonos, calculations upon calculations:
“I was always able to put up such a great façade, present such a nice image of myself, as though everything in my life is perfect,” he says to himself. “Now people may realize that my family isn’t as perfect as it seems from the outside.” He lives with the constant fear that יתגלה שמא סודו, perhaps my secret will be revealed.
The Chovos HaLevavos Refers to All Situations
Although the Chovos HaLevavos writes about the contrast between the alchemist and the ba’al bitachon, as we learn such holy words, we must understand that they apply in all life situations. He is teaching us the broad idea that the ba’al bitachon doesn’t have the worries that ordinary people do.
Often, there are people who have so much good in their life, but if they lack bitachon they will surely encounter difficulties and problems. The alchemist is only a mashal for one who lacks bitachon, and his problems are the same as the person who lacks bitachon.
The Ba’al Bitachon Doesn’t Have This Problem
The Chovos HaLevavos teaches us in many places that a ba’al bitachon will experience incredible serenity because he doesn’t fear that his secrets will be revealed. Even when the ba’al bitachon has a problem that affects him or his family, he doesn’t have an overwhelming fear of the secret being revealed, and he doesn’t invest so much energy in keeping it a secret—because, due to his being a ba’al bitachon, he is unafraid of the consequences.
Misplaced Fear
Of course, if we are talking about matters that al pi Torah it is improper for others to know about, that’s another story.
But there are so many matters that people think they need to hide—because if people find out about it, it will affect shidduch prospects for his children, will damage the family name, or lower his position and stature. Why is he so afraid?!
All these suspicions stem from the fear that others can hurt him, and that someone has the power to affect him.
Knowing with Clarity That No One Can Hurt Me
But the ba’al bitachon knows that the Ribbono shel Olam runs the world, and no one can hurt him or take anything away from him! If so, nothing will affect my shidduchim, my parnassah, or my stature and position. It won’t even change the way people look at me!
The ba’al bitachon knows that even if his secret will be revealed, it won’t take anything away from his life—except if it is the will of Hashem! He doesn’t walk around with the overwhelming fear, “שמא סודו יתגלה, maybe my secret will be revealed.” He doesn’t need to change his behavior and his life in order to keep his secrets.
Don’t Invest So Much Energy into Keeping Secrets
How often do we find people who go through challenges, and three-quarters of their energy is invested in keeping it secret from everyone. At every Yom Tov and every simchah, there is a huge investment of energy into figuring out how to keep it from other family members.
Why are you so afraid? Understand that no one has the ability to even think differently of you without a cheshbon in Shamayim! No one can do anything to you, and everything is dependent on the Ribbono shel Olam. The entire way that people view you is only from Above!
The Serenity of Knowing That Everything Is for Your Good
A person who lives with the knowledge that everything about his life is controlled only from Above will be completely at peace with his situation. “It’s fine! Yes, I have this weakness or this problem—and there is nothing wrong with me as a result! My weakness is part of my tachlis, my ultimate purpose on This World. My personal problem is part of my mission on This World. My physical flaw is for my good.” Such a person has no problem with his imperfections, he is completely at peace with them!
This person understands that the Ribbono shel Olam gave him this flaw, and it is his mission to serve Hashem in a unique way with this apparent defect. Every person was created by the Ribbono shel Olam with perfection! There is nothing more perfect than the way Hashem Created you!
Bitachon That My Flaws Are for My Good
Just as when it comes to parnassah, a Yid believes that every step is ordained by Hashem, and the Ribbono shel Olam gives us only good, so too, when it comes to our flaws, we believe that if Hashem has given us this nature it is because it is good for us. He wants us to serve Him with and through these flaws—and we will certainly not come to any harm as a result, and our sheleimus will emerge from it.
If so, why are we so afraid? What will happen already if someone were to notice our flaws?!
The ba’al bitachon knows that no one in the world can interfere with his life! Even if people do become aware of his problem, there is no way that they can impede his shidduchim or parnassah, etc.
Even if a shidduch is abandoned by the other side due to their becoming aware of an issue, the ba’al bitachon will sing and dance—because Hashem saved him from a shidduch that was not right for him. The Ribbono shel Olam ordains everything for the good, and thus there is nothing to worry about from other people.
No One Can Harm Me in Any Case
Often, we see a person who struggled to keep his secret for ten years—with so much energy invested therein—and later he sees how he gained nothing by hiding it. His secrecy simply didn’t help him in any way.
The reason the ba’al bitachon is unafraid of his secrets being revealed is because he knows that no harm can befall him from others. He has no problem with his secret being revealed because no one can harm him!
Living in Our Own World with the Ribbono shel Olam
Indeed, in the introduction to Sha’ar HaBitachon, the Chovos HaLevavos writes about this very lack of fear and concern about what others will think that are natural to the ba’al bitachon:
“One who trusts in Hashem... his trust will cause him not to serve others, not to hope to any man, not to work to please people, not to flatter others, not to agree with them on anything unrelated to avodas Hashem.... Their matters will not frighten him, he will not fear their disagreement, and he will shed the layers of their favors and the toil of thanking them.”
The ba’al bitachon has no need to flatter people or agree with them. He lives in his own world together with the Ribbono shel Olam, not caring whatsoever what others think of him.
A More Enjoyable Life
Surely, there are madreigos in this. There are Yidden who have such strong bitachon that they indeed care not at all about what others think. Then there are people whom it bothers somewhat, but immediately they’re able to be mechazek themselves with emunah that it doesn’t matter. Everyone must work to constantly ascend the ladder of bitachon.
By working on this area of bitachon, we gain so much serenity and tranquility, and it provides us with such a pleasant life. There’s no need to run and hide, and there’s no need to make cheshbonos before every gathering of relatives.
In the beginning, it will likely be difficult—but the ba’al bitachon will break through. He will strengthen himself with the instructive words of the holy Torah, and slowly, difficulties from his surroundings will dissipate. He will no longer need to please people so much, and, in many cases, he will even see that he is even more well-liked by others, because he lives with such bitachon and joy!
The Serenity of the Ba’al Bitachon Even When His Secret Is Revealed
We Can’t Bring Results for Ourselves
There is yet another reason the ba’al bitachon doesn’t invest excessive energy in hiding his secrets:
As we have discussed at length in previous shiurim, a Yid must believe that his hishtadlus has nothing to do with the results. We must do the necessary effort, according to the order of This World, but the results are ordained only from Above!
We see constantly that two individuals will do similar hishtadlus, but the outcome will be vastly different; one person sees desirable results while the second person does not. A person must put in the necessary effort, but whether or not anything comes of it is up to the Ribbono shel Olam.
Without Bitachon We Can Only Bring the Opposite Results
The same applies when there is a certain secret that a person wishes to keep to himself. Often, a person thinks that if he only does the right moves to keep it secret, he will be successful in hiding it, and he will thus have peace of mind.
The ba’al bitachon doesn’t even go in that direction. He knows that without bitachon, not only will he not achieve the desired result, but he may even get the opposite of what he desires.
Of course, we don’t judge people who carry around pain; rather, we are discussing a general case, in which people are excessively preoccupied with thinking, “What will others think? What will others say?” And they place excessive faith in the hishdatlus that they’re doing to hide their secrets—but this can often bring about the opposite of what they want.
Results Come Exclusively from Tefillah
The proper way to obtain results is by knowing and acknowledging that we can’t achieve them through our own efforts. No matter what we do, we cannot make the results happen. There is only one way through which to obtain results: Tefillah!
This is the way HaKadosh Baruch Hu designed the world. First, we must make some kind of effort, a kind of beginning, for example, by working for a living. But in order to derive positive results from those efforts, we must speak to the Ribbono shel Olam!
Have a conversation with the Ribbono shel Olam. Daven to Him that it would bother you if your flaws were to be revealed. Implore Him to help you in one of two ways: either the issue shouldn’t be revealed in any way, or it shouldn’t bother you if it does become revealed. But the first and most important step is to speak with Hashem. Nothing can be accomplished through our own efforts!
But even if his secret is revealed, the ba’al bitachon doesn’t become lost. He knows that everything is from Above, and it is all for his good!
Don’t Go Overboard in Keeping Secrets
If a person has a business, he prefers that others do not know exactly how much he earns. The proper approach of the ba’al bitachon is to do his part, as a form of hishtadlus. He doesn’t discuss the matter, but he doesn’t go overboard to keep it secret, using various tactics.
He knows that, ultimately, it is in the hands of the Ribbono shel Olam. And if in the end others became knowledgeable about the inner workings of his business, it is clear that no one can cause him damage or otherwise affect him without the will of the Ribbono shel Olam. Therefore, he lives with a tremendous serenity and joy, with tefillah and with bitachon that Hashem is watching over him.
The teaching of Chazal (Taanis 8b), מן הסמוי בדבר אלא שרויה הברכה אין העין, blessing only comes when things are hidden from the eye, simply means that people shouldn’t walk around publicly discussing their money or other affairs. One shouldn’t show off and make others jealous. But if a person does the normal hishtadlus to keep things private, yet in the end it became revealed, he doesn’t lose himself over this—he knows that it was bashert.
Summarizing the Yesodos
Let us review the three nekudos outlined above:
- If the ba’al bitachon has a certain weakness or flaw that he prefers not to come out, he is nevertheless not afraid of the possibility that it will be revealed. Because he is secure in the knowledge that no one can harm him (in areas of shidduchim, parnassah, etc.), there is nothing to worry about.
- Even in areas where it is proper to want to keep a secret, we must remember that ultimately this is in the hands of the Ribbono shel Olam. All we can do is our hishtadlus, according to the order of This World, that it shouldn’t become public, but what will ultimately happen is in the category of “results,” which is entirely out of our control. We can daven for results, but we can’t affect them through our actions. Only tefillah and bitachon are effective here.
- Even in the event his secret is revealed, the ba’al bitachon knows that it is from Above. He truly believes that it is impossible for anything to happen without it being ordained from Above—and since the secret was revealed, it was obviously meant to be. If so, the ba’al bitachon is filled with gratitude.... He thanks Hashem, because he knows that as it comes from Hashem, it is surely good! And if something is good, we must give thanks for it! When the ba’al bitachon sees that his secret was revealed, he gives thanks with all his heart. He fulfills the Chazal לברך אדם חייב הטובה על שמברך כשם הרעה על, one is obligated to give thanks for the bad just as he is gives thanks for the good—either because this wipes away aveiros (as Rabbeinu Yonah explains), or because much good will yet come from it (as the Rambam says peshat).
The Ba’al Bitachon Is Serene, No Matter What Happens
Even in situations where it is proper to try and hide things, the ba’al bitachon will always live with serenity—because he has done his part, and, no matter what happens, he will give thanks for it! He lives with menuchas hanefesh, with no stress. He davens to the Ribbono shel Olam, and he accepts everything that Hashem does with love.
