Awakening from Below
By Rabbi Nissan David Kivak shlita.
In the writings of the Arizal is described the
concept of the wondrous tzimzumim
(constrictions) that took place before the
creation in a form of “running and returning”,
“reaching and not reaching”; how originally
Hashem constricted the light and then
began to draw forth a certain degree of light,
the light then returned to its original place
and left behind only a slight impression, for it
[was so powerful that] it was still impossible
to bear this light. Afterwards, He again drew
forth a degree of light in a wondrous new
constriction and then concealed it so that
there should not be too much light. This happened
many times until the concept of the
“vacant space” was formed. After this He
drew forth the light of “the kings” and they
were unable to receive this light and they
“shattered” and “died” until the “world of
rectification” began. The whole reason for
this shattering was because there was no
“arousal from below”.
The main arousal from below takes place
though man specifically because he possesses
the ability for free will, and all this takes
place in every generation and with every
person, at all times. All this is for the purpose
of free will because free will is formed
through the concealment and revelation
which are an aspect of all the spiritual highs
and lows that a person endures. For this reason,
anyone who wants to go on the path of
Hashem must be proficient in “walking” – an
expert in “ascending and descending”, in
“running and returning”, strengthening himself
in Hashem in all that he endures and
knowing that the concealment and constric
tion are for the purpose of revelation.
However, owing to the fact that the constric
tions are the source of the harsh judgments
and evil inclinations which are the
cause of all the bad thoughts that attack a
person, one must be very cautious to flee
from them and to draw into one’s heart holy
thoughts of how to serve Hashem. Through
all this one merits to serve Hashem progressively
and in the right measure until through
this, His Godliness and Kingship will be revealed
to the entire world and the world will
be completely rectified through man’s arousal
from below, specifically because he possesses
free will.
This process also happens to the Tzaddikim
on each and every level [that they achieve]
for they too endure ups and downs, however
it is in a very subtle form, an aspect of the
darkening and illumination on the mochin
(mentalities/state of mind) and even this is
extremely subtle and with great holiness.
However, more than anything, these rectifications
are needed for those who have already
transgressed the Torah’s commandments,
G-d forbid and need to do teshuva.
This is all achieved through the power of the
great Tzaddikim who draw down Hashem’s
mercy upon them too and illuminate their
hearts each time with deep advice and wondrous
encouragement in a way that they
should merit to returning from wherever
they may be every time. However, it is impera
tive that there be some arousal form
below for without this it is impossible and
this is the aspect of all the thousands upon
thousands of ascents and descents that each
person experiences, even those who are
extremely far from Hashem; they too have
aspects of ups and downs for even by them
no day is similar to the next and even in a
single day everyone experiences infinite
changes.
This is especially true regarding the very
weak who are aroused to return to Hashem
and to draw near to the true Tzaddikim, the
forces of evil strengthen themselves against
them and seek to overthrow them. These
souls struggle and exert themselves to overcome
this and endure countless changes in
the aspect of ascents and descents. This requires
very great and tremendous encouragement,
the main form of which is through
the power of the Tzaddikim who already
stood strong in the battle of this world appropriately
and with utter perfection; they
make known to us that no arousal for Hashem
is ever lost, even from the depths of
hell and below. On the contrary, through this
is created tremendous tikkunim
(rectifications) by the greatest Tzaddikim
who gather all the good points of these
arousals and generate wondrous rectifica-
tions with them. The main thing is at that
they [who wish to return to Hashem] at least
not oppose these Tzaddikim but on the contrary,
heed their words and constantly
arouse themselves to Hashem anew. Then,
they will eventually merit to a good ending
and they will have a great part in the arousal
from below through which all the worlds are
rectified. (Likutey Halachos, The laws of the
mincha prayer, law 7, section 23).
After these wondrous
words of Reb Nosson
we must contemplate
whether we indeed
have some perception of
just how great every
arousal from below is –
what it means to exert
oneself to learn and
pray with strength
specifically when we
don’t feel like it or to
strengthen oneself not
to sin during a downfall
when one’s fear of heaven is diminished.
Here we have some
revelation of just how
great this truly is,
for these are not just arbitrary
words of encouragement.
On the contrary,
we must understand that
this is the very
secret of creation
which was created only for
this purpose – that
there should be an arousal
from below, this is why
there must be times
of difficulty. Yet
ironically a person sees these
situations as if they
are only second best and
doesn’t seek to
understand that all the
“changes” that he
experiences , the lack of
enthusiasm that he
feels and all that seems to
him as if he is being
distanced from above, are
only in order to build
the proper vessels of
arousal from below. It
is this misconception
that causes us to take
so long to merit
attainting any level of holiness.
This is what Reb Nosson
reveals to us – that
our main avodah in this
world is to complete
the arousal from below
and this is attainted
through one’s heart’s
enthusiasm being constricted
until he enters into
the service of
Hashem progressively
and in the correct
measure. Without the
constrictions and concealment
it would be impossible
to complete
the arousal from below
and merit serving
Hashem truthfully from level to level.
However since the
avodah of perfecting the
arousal from below from
within the constric
tions is difficult and
many get stuck there,
it is necessary to draw
close to Tzaddikim who
perfected this avodah,
for they too endured
many ups and downs, but
they nevertheless
encouraged and aroused
themselves to Hashem
from amidst all they
went though. Even
after they attained
what they merited, they
continue to toil in
completing the arousal
from below through
gathering all the strands
of our minuscule
arousals and uplifting them
to Hashem, thereby
completing the original
intention of the
creation of rectifying the light
through arousal from below.
These Tzaddikim, who
are involved in this,
reveal to us and
illuminate our minds with the
knowledge of just how
precious every arousal
that ascends from the
lowest of worlds is.
Through this we receive
strength to truly exert
ourselves more and more
with many beginnings
of arousal from below
until Hashem’s
magnificent light
shines throughout the
world.
This Publication
is a project of the Gates of Emunah Institute for the dissemination of
the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov in English.
Published by: Gates Of Emunah
Authorized to publish this article in Jornal
Mitsvá
Translation by: Gilson Sasson
