Our thoughts, speech and behaviors - even our acts of loving kindness are not our essential selves. They are merely an expression of a deeper level of soul; they are like the fruits of a tree. The real "us" - the self we are truly meant to be - is our good character traits. Our character traits are like the roots of a tree, and the life of a tree depends on its roots.
What brings meaning and purpose to somebody's life? Forty years ago I would have said: to be a starting forward for the New York Knicks. During my college years, it was about the freedom to do as I pleased; and, later on, when this nagging question got worse, I tried to comfort myself by thinking that I would find my ultimate satisfaction in being a psychotherapist...or so I thought.
I always admired people who were passionate about a mission or cause that was dear to them such as the civil rights movement and other types of humanitarian causes. Even if they seemed quirky, naïve or fanatical, people who really believe in something, a cause which is greater than themselves, live with a broader more encompassing sense of purpose than someone who defines himself as a "therapist," a "lawyer," a "teacher," a fireman." As I studied these people, I found that most of them were ready to die for what they believed in.
How does a person become a believer in something worth dying for?
Only when he leaves himself behind. It's when he forgets about himself that he starts to know something about his life's true mission. It's when he gets a reprieve from the perpetual knot in his head that he gets that bit of clarity and wisdom that enables him to "see." Knowledge about spirituality comes naturally to a person who lets it in. He does not need
to strain himself to achieve this knowledge. It comes from outside his "power
of reasoning," it comes from beyond. This is the subject of today's lesson. I hope you can join me!
G-d Willing we'll be broadcasting today's lesson live from the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva in Jerusalem at 5:00 PM Israel time. The broadcast, as well as my lessons posted are Mac and iPod compatible. If you tune in too early to the live broadcast link, you'll be sent to the main page of the Breslev Israel website, so try to tune in as follows: 10:00 AM in NY; 7:00 AM in LA and the West Coast, 8:00 AM Denver, 10:00 AM Mexico and Central Daylight; 3:00PM in the UK, 5:00 PM Johannesburg and Capetown, 5:00 PM Israel. G-d willing, we'll try and post a link to the lesson for all those who couldn't see it live by 12:01 AM Monday (Israel time). If you can't see the broadcast, you might need to download a new version of Flash Media player, which you can do here. We hope you enjoy the broadcast.
With blessings,
Dr. Zev Ballen
Every spiritual affliction and negative character trait, even the traits of anger and resentment contain hidden within them a very precious and beautiful treasure. That treasure is your G-d given Light of goodness, beauty and your endless treasury of positive traits.
This is how you can break anger or any bad character trait and awaken your infinite treasury of positive traits such as love, mercy, and compassion for others.
Practice the following Emuna Coaching exercise and you'll be ready the next time someone provokes you and you have that urge to retaliate with cruelty:
1. Close your eyes and take a few very deep breaths and exhale slowly.
2. Strongly affirm in your heart that there is no power in the world besides for G-d.
3. With your eyes closed, picture an old beat up treasure chest (like the one above; the old chest is the anger that conceals the Light).
4. With absolute sincerity, implore G-d to reveal the great inner Light of goodness that's within you.
5. As your anger subsides, you'll have a new awareness of your purpose in this world.
6. Ask G-d to remind you to practice this exercise repeatedly.
7. Thank G-d for reminding you of why you're alive: to be as loving, tolerant and compassionate as possible to everybody, everywhere, always!
Make today the best day ever!
With blessings,
Dr. Zev Ballen
Adapted from: A Guide to Avodas Hashem: A Scent of Eden: Collected Discourses of Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter, pp. 64-65.
Photo by: BiggiFraley
1. Pick a physical exercise.
2. Look up at the sky and declare that you are about to exercise so that you will be more fit to serve G-d.
3. Ask Him with sincerity and a pure heart to help you to accomplish and benefit from the exercise.
4. Ask him to help you let go and allow Him to correctly and safely position your arms, legs and whole body in the best possible ways.
5. Ask him to supervise and watch over you so that you're real potential can be released.
6. By keeping G-d in mind, the exercise will awaken your happy, uninhibited and spontaneous inner-child.
7. You will become in touch with the hope, optimism and confidence of youth.
8. You will experience the joy that comes with knowing that you can 'stretch your limits' and still progress in your life.
9. You are becoming more physically, emotionally and spiritually fit.
With blessings,
Dr. Zev Ballen
Thought for Today
Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, author of Nefesh HaChaim gives us a powerful technique by which we can completely short-circuit any negative, hostile or destructive energy that others may send our way, G-d forbid.
1. Strongly affirm in your heart that there is no power in the world besides for G-d.
2. Focus with all your might on the truth that all the worlds are completely filled with G-d's absolute Oneness.
3. Now give yourself over COMPLETELY to this awareness and pay no attention to anything else.
4. Think only about G-d being the One and Only Master of the universe and attach all of your thoughts to Him.
Rabbi Volozhin says that G-d will nullify all destructive energies that are being directed toward a person that does this technique with pure, sincere and unwavering faith. Since the person has attached himself or herself so strongly to G-d alone, G-d will transcend the laws of nature for the person and perform wonderful miracles on their behalf.
I saw this technique printed in: A Guide to Avodas Hashem: A Scent of Eden. Collected Discourses of Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter, p. 246.
With Blessings,
Dr. Zev Ballen
Thought For Today
If you want to build a new house you must have a plan. You'll need to hire an architect and workers and to purchase the supplies that you need. By having a vision of the house you want in your mind you not only keep yourself focused on your goal but you continuously give yourself the encouragement and incentive that you need to keep working hard.
If having a clear vision of your goal is important in building your dream house how much more vital is it to have a clear and compelling vision for the plan and purpose of your life. Rebbe Nachman of Breslev says that we must find the time to think about the kind of life that would be best for us and then to get used to keeping that vision of our goal alive and before us at all times. By doing this, we will be able to avoid the inevitable distractions that come up and keep ourselves running with inspiration in the right direction.
With blessings, dear friends,
Dr. Zev Ballen
In the end, unfortunately at a funeral, the real purpose of life is recognized by everybody, religious and non-religious alike. After-all, no matter how wealthy or famous or intelligent the person was, these are not the things that they mention at upon his passing. Rather, what they do speak about is the person's kindness, his compassion and his connection, however slight, to the ideals of Judaism and Torah. All of the person's other worldly pursuits are not even mentioned. In the end, the truth comes out. Everyone admits to the falseness and vanity of a life that is devoted mainly to pleasure and recognizes the true purpose of life (Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter).
With blessings,
Dr. Zev Ballen
Your self has certain invisible personal boundaries which at times separate you from other people and the beautiful flow of life around you. We need our personal boundaries for our sense of individuality and identity and yet when our boundaries become a bit too rigid, then we may feel somewhat anxious, lonely, irritable or like you're carrying the burden of the whole world on your shoulders. If you ever experience any of these unpleasant symptoms try this:
1. Close your eyes and imagine that you are standing with hundreds of thousands of people at Mount Sinai at the historic giving of the Torah ( by giving us His Torah, G-d, is about to transform the whole world from a barren wilderness into a world with spiritual existence).
2. Imagine, in your own way, your personal boundaries sort of dissolving or melting away as you breath and allow yourself to feel more at one with the others and with Hashem.
3. Allow yourself to let go and feel the blissful oneness of being connected to the One cosmic soul that joins you to EVERYBODY and EVERYTHING.
4. As you are becoming more connected with others and the flow of life, your personal problems, pains and worries are simply dissipating and flowing away and you are able to stop all your striving and just yield to G-d!
Happy Shavuot, cherished friends,
Dr. Zev Ballen
A Thought for the Eve of the Eve of Shavuot
Did you ever wonder why G-d gave us the Torah in the middle of a barren wilderness and why he later caused us to meander around in the wilderness (of all places) for 40 years before leading us into Israel?
Rabbi Nosan of Breslev gives us the answer. He says that the message G-d was giving us is that without the spirituality of the torah the whole world is an empty wilderness that has no spiritual existence at all.
This means that all the modern technology and wealth in the world is worth no more than a barren wasteland if they are achieved without spirituality and G-d in the picture.
Also on an individual level, Rabbi Nosan is telling us that in order for each of us to have true existence (which is eternal) and fulfill our purpose in life we need to internalize G-d through His holy torah.
Have a really sweet day, dearest friends,
Dr. Zev Ballen
