The Previous Rebbe once told a story he heard from his father the Rebbe Rashab describing how his father the Rebbe Maharash once took him along on his travels. The Rebbe Maharash led the Rashab to the realm of heavenly, supernal palaces. At one point the Rebbe Maharash ascended to higher levels where the revelations would be too intense for the Rashab to withstand.
While waiting for his father’s return he noticed a chamber from which an especially bright luminary was shining. He went to investigate and saw a Jew who, at first glance, was not on a level to dwell in such an exalted abode.
When the Rebbe Maharash returned the Rahab asked how it was that a Jew of that level could have merited such a reward.
The Rebbe Maharash answered that, true he was a simple Jew but he was fluent in Tanya, having learned it so many times that he knew it by heart.
Our Rebbe says that we can learn from this story that even when one does not understand the explanation of Chassidus, the light that is found in the palace of the luminary is shining for him. But he is sitting there with closed eyes – seeing without knowing what he is seeing, and hearing but not understanding.
The remedy is to learn it in a way that he clearly understands and grasps its meaning to reach a level of open eyes and open ears.
Effort and Understanding
And the way to accomplish understanding is through effort in opening the mind to receive -- simply to apply oneself, putting in the effort necessary to understand the teaching of the Rebbe. As it says in Pirkei Avos that if one does not work and says he found then don’t believe him.
In addition, there is the council to give tzedaka – physical – tzedaka and certainly spiritual tzedaka through which the mind and heart will be purified a thousand times over.
