During our journey through this world, we can experience things that cause us deep pain—sometimes truly difficult and hard situations, at which point it is nearly impossible to find comfort because we are genuinely suffering. At other times, the distress consists simply of confusing thoughts and constricted awareness that steal away our heart. Regardless of the cause, we are filled with grief and sorrow, and it seems like nothing has the power to encourage us.
However, in this lesson, we discover an amazing path of true, fundamental chizuk, which is based on Rebbe Nachman’s teaching in Likutei Mohoran I, 65. According to the simple meaning of this Torah in Likutei Mohoran, it’s discussing aspects of avodas Hashem—how to daven with concentration and bitul to the Creator. Thus, many people who read it overlook the profound chizuk hidden within it. Here, Reb Nosson illuminates our eyes and reveals the deeper intention of this teaching: how a person can find the strength to rise above any suffering. There is a tzaddik who nurtures our soul and brings us to total bitul to the Infinite Light of Hashem.
This concept of bitul is certainly a lofty idea that relates to the tzaddikim who journey through the higher worlds. But through the power of the great tzaddik, even the lowest person can completely transcend the physical world for a few moments by pausing his thoughts about all his material concerns and focusing solely on the World to Come— the pleasure of being united with the Shechinah.
Certainly, when we go through intense suffering, it is very difficult to remember and internalize that these tests come from Hashem and are entirely for our ultimate good. Nevertheless, it is possible to outside step ourselves for a few moments—to clear away every distraction, close our eyes, forget about This World, and remember the truth of the Next World, attaching ourselves entirely to that thought.
This mirrors the words of chizuk expressed by Dovid HaMelech in numerous verses of Sefer Tehillim: “Even as I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, because You are with me… Hashem is my strength and my shield… My rock and my fortress,” and many more. Through this, Dovid HaMelech strengthened his soul during the most difficult times, getting rid of his confusing thoughts and attaching himself to the reality that he is safe within the fortress of Hashem.
Taking a Break to Close Our Eyes
The best time to practice attaching our mind to the World to Come is during tefillah. When a person connects his thoughts deeply to the words of prayer he’s reciting, he’s able to separate himself, even temporarily, from his immediate surroundings.
This is precisely the inner avodah of Krias Shema: to close our eyes, cover them with our hand, and connect entirely to the emunah that Hashem is One, going beyond ourselves for a few moments to focus only on the absolute everything He does is for our good. unity of the Creator. We should practice this throughout the day as well—stop what we’re doing, shut our eyes tightly, even pressing them completely closed with our fingers, until we bring our thoughts back to clear awareness of Hashem’s Presence and the reality that
This practice is a form of bitul to the Infinite Light of Hashem, which contains within it awesome and profound chizuk that can help us even after we return from this bitul to our regular routine and thoughts in the physical world.