Rebbe Nachman begins the sichah emphasizing the importance of zerizus (alacrity) in avodas Hashem: “A person should be very efficient in avodas Hashem, going quickly at all times and doing a lot of avodas Hashem, since the main thing is action – to learn very much, to do many mitzvos, to daven and pray a lot, to pour out his heart before Hashem, and so on regarding all other aspects of avodas Hashem.”
This is how we truly accept upon ourselves the obligation of serving the King of all kings. We have to realize that our time in this world is extremely precious. We have to try to fill our lives with Torah and mitzvos. In reality, there’s time during the day for many things. Even if we’re very busy at work and with our families, there is always ten minutes here and twenty minutes there in between all of our activities to chop arain some avodas Hashem. We just need to get down to it and awaken ourselves to do it.
Many sefarim of the tzaddikim that discuss higher levels in serving Hashem talk about the incredible realm of spiritual deveikus, contemplating the greatness of the Creator, and so on. These avodos are very important, but they often require a long period of time and a certain level of kedushah and concentration to perform them. On the other hand, Rebbe Nachman’s focus is on doing avodas Hashem with simplicity – learning specific amounts from sefarim every day, taking more time in davening, doing more mitzvos, and speaking to Hashem in our own words. By filling the small gaps in our day with these simple things, we can change our lives.
Rebbe Nachman wants us to add on to our daily schedule more avodos than what other people have. In addition to learning some Gemarra every day, we should also study halachah, the sefarim of Breslov and chassidus, practice hisbodedus, and do mitzvos with attachment to Hashem.
