TIME TO THINK

From Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, “Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom” (English translation of Shevachey HaRan and Sichos HaRan, authored by Reb Noson; Breslov Research Institute, 1973), “His Wisdom,” sec. 47, pp. 150-151.

Time to Think

You must be very worthy to be able to meditate for a given time each day and regret what you must.

Not everyone can have such mental tranquility each day. The days pass and are gone, and one finds that he never once had time to really think.

You must therefore make sure to set aside a specific time each day to calmly review your life. Consider what you are doing and ponder whether it is worthy that you devote your life to it.

One who does not meditate cannot have wisdom.

He may occasionally be able to concentrate, but not for any length of time. His power of concentration remains weak and cannot be maintained.

One who does not meditate also does not realize the foolishness of the world. But one who has a relaxed and penetrating mind can see that it is all vanity.

Many desire to travel widely and become famous and powerful. They do not have enough perception to realize that this is vanity and striving after wind (Ecclesiastes 1:4, 2:11). It is all the more folish because it does not actually result in pleasure even in this world. The main result of such fame is suffering and insults.

One of the Rebbe’s followers once had a strong desire to become a renowned religious leader. The Rebbe told him, “You cannot even say the prayer after meals sincerely! Everything you do must be acceptable to others. Never once do you do something for the sake of G-d alone.”