In Halachic terms, there are two possibilities of coercion, corresponding to the stages of submission and separation. The first is physical coercion—using a physical instrument to coerce behavior. This is coercion in its most literal sense. But there is also coercion with words, which employs different types of verbal persuasion: commands, criticism, or requests.
Physical coercion corresponds to submission. It operates on the assumption that a person's will is inwardly good, but the evil inclination itself employs coercion to force him to misbehave; the evil inclination needs to be subdued with its own medicine—a strong hand.
Coercion with words is based on persuasion and corresponds to separation—helping the individual intellectually realize the distinction between good and evil, and why life should be spent pursuing the good. The third form of coercion is in line with the Chassidic interpretation of the Talmudic statement “He held the mountain over them like a barrel.” When giving them the Torah, God revealed to the people of Israel such a power of love, that despite themselves, they responded to Him with a loving commitment to accept the yoke of the commandments.
This is coercion that is entirely sweetening. In the story, Baba Sali uses all three methods: he forces the young man to promise to improve his ways, rebukes him powerfully, and awakens his heart, and it is all infused with sweetness in the end, as he gives him his hand and raises him to his feet.
