The Serene Life of the Ba’al Bitachon
The Material Benefits of Bitachon
In the first part of the introduction to the Sha’ar HaBitachon, the Chovos HaLevavos enumerated the many ruchniyus benefits of bitachon that come to a person. The ba’al bitachon will have everything he need b’ruchniyus in order to properly serve the Ribbono shel Olam.
In the following segment, however, he reveals to us that the benefits of bitachon extend to the material/gashmiyus realm as well. The ba’al bitachon will have a serene and blessed life in the simple and real sense. All his gashmiyus needs will come to him in a much easier and lighter way.
But since the main purpose of a person’s life on this world is ruchniyus, the Chovos HaLevavos addressed those first, and then turned to the gashmiyus side.
Familiarize Yourself with the Gashmiyus Benefits of Bitachon
It is important to note that every person is on a different madreigah and matzav. For some people it’s important to learn the second part first. For them, it’s more important to learn how bitachon will change their life in the gashmiyus realm, and later learn about how it helps us spiritually.
The rule is that we must always begin speaking to a person with words that speak to his heart. Therefore, if a person is worried about his gashmiyus, and these worries take up space in his heart, this person must learn well this section in which the Chovos HaLevavos convinces us: You have no idea what kind of Olam HaZeh awaits you if you will have bitachon—in addition to the great benefits in Olam HaBa.
Serenity from Worldly Worries
Says the Chovos HaLevavos: Among the benefits of bitachon, here, on This World, is the heart’s serenity from worldly worries. The ba’al bitachon will not have to endure all the worries that exist in the world. Every person who lives on This World experiences worries that are called דאגות העולמיות, worries that pertain to life on this earth. People on Olam HaZeh walk around with these worries. But the ba’al bitachon is spared from them.
When a grownup looks at a young cheder boy, he sees that the child had childish worries and concerns: He has worries about his friends; worries about who will win the game; worries about who will catch the first place... worries that are appropriate for his age.
The same takes place in the Upper Spheres. The Malachim look down at us, and they see our childish concerns of This World. These have a name: העולמיות, דאגות worries of This World. These problems are not real problems; they exist only on This World: We want to grab material objects... we’re afraid of what this one will say... and so forth.
But when a person is a ba’al bitachon, his heart experiences complete serenity regarding these worries of This World.
Surrounded by Serenity
Continues the Chovos HaLevavos: The ba’al bitachon experiences serenity from the upheaval of the soul and the pain of feeling a lack of fulfillment of his physical desires. The ba’al bitachon is surrounded by a pleasant atmosphere, with great serenity and calmness. His nefesh doesn’t waver from place to place.
Sometimes, a person feels that his soul is experiencing drastic ups and downs (mood swings). One moment he’s very happy, and the next moment he’s deeply downcast. This occurs because his nefesh is wavering... it’s unstable. But the ba’al bitachon has a calm and serene nefesh. His inner calm isn’t shaken, because he has great serenity in his soul.
The Pain of Lack
Upheaval, nagging, and pain of the soul usually come from a לחסרון "הגופניות" תאוותיה, a feeling of lack of fulfillment of the bodily needs. The body pulls the person in many directions, to all different “needs,” and the person is preoccupied with figuring out how to fulfill those needs. Most of the day is allocated to considering how to attain the things we want.
But the ba’al bitachon feels 100 percent serene. He simply has no pain due to the lack of material possessions.
“He is calm, secure, and serene in Olam HaZeh,” the Chovos HaLevavos says, “as it says מבטחו, ה' והיה בה' יבטח אשר הגבר ברוך blessed in the man who trusts in Hashem, then Hashem will be his security (Yirmiyahu 17:7). The pasuk says further: יבא כי יראה ירא ולא שרשיו ישלח יובל ועל על־מים שתול כעץ והיה פרי מעשות ימיש ולא ידאג לא בצרת ובשנת רענן עלהו והיה חם, he will be like a tree planted near water, which spreads its roots along a brook, and does not see when heat comes, whose foliage is ever fresh. It will not worry in a year of drought and will not stop producing fruit.
Serenity and Security
This is the blessing of the ba’al bitachon. He is always blessed with good; he never feels that he’s lacking. Even when pain and suffering come onto the world, he feels no worry.
One who doesn’t have bitachon is likened to a tree that is distant from the water; sometimes he is watered, and sometimes he isn’t. But the ba’al bitachon is right at the banks of the source of water. He feels no fear that he will ever lack anything. He has no worry that a problem will come his way. He lives with security and serenity.
