The Secret of the Illuminating Intellect: How the Depth of Torah Changes Reality

Lesson No. 62 | Thursday, Parshas Matos-Masei, Eve of 25 Tammuz 5756 (Continued from No. 61)

A profound article explaining how studying Torah with intense focus and deep intellect illuminates a person's face, grants them precise advice akin to prophecy, and restores the grace and splendor of the Jewish people in the eyes of the nations of the world. Through the guidance of Rebbe Nachman and the conduct of the Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Akiva, the path to attaining the true light of wisdom is revealed.

When you drive, drive with shmiras einayim (guarding one's eyes). Even if you are stopped at a red light, close your eyes and do not look at the unseemly sights outside. When the light turns green, you will already feel that everyone is moving. And even if someone honks at you from behind—what is the worst that could happen? A few more seconds of guarding your eyes are worth everything. This is how a person merits to draw in the Oros Makifim (Surrounding Lights), surpass all the geniuses of all generations, and become like an angel.

A person must bind himself to the holy Rebbe Nachman and to all of his advice. The first thing to know is that Breslov Chassidus is a matter of profound intellect. We must take everything with the utmost seriousness and depth—the Gemara, Likutey Moharan, Likutey Halachos, and everything in the world. Hashem did not create anything in vain or as a joke.

A Mine of Ready Diamonds

A person who comes to Rebbe Nachman should be at the peak of joy, like someone who won the lottery. He is so happy that he tries not to show his joy outwardly, so people won't swarm him asking for loans. He is practically bursting from a deep, inner joy of:

"I rejoice at Your word, like one who finds great spoil."

He feels that he has discovered a mine of ready diamonds that do not even require polishing. Whoever merits to come to Rebbe Nachman has reached such a treasure that all the diamonds in the world are not worth a single letter of his teachings. To merit this light, a person must decide that he is binding himself to the wisdom and intellect found in everything. It is forbidden to take anything lightly or superficially. He must search for the depth so that his intellect will be illuminated, and only in this way can he draw closer to Hashem, may He be blessed.

Learn slowly, letter by letter, line by line. Interpret and explain everything, and do not read hastily. Then you will see that the intellect is the greatest light there is. When a person is in sadness or when a tragedy strikes, he no longer sees the sun, because the true sun is only the intellect that illuminates within a person.

Restoring the Grace of the Jewish People

When a person delves deeply into everything, studying the Gemara in depth with the Rishonim (early commentators) and Acharonim (later commentators), his learning becomes clear and radiant. Rebbe Nachman says that if the learning is clear and radiant, all the nations of the world will see the greatness of the Jewish people and the light within them.

"He subdues peoples under us, and nations under our feet."

Today, due to our many sins, the grace of the Jewish people has fallen because Torah is studied without intellect and depth. Therefore, the Jewish people lack light, and the nations want to destroy us. But if they were to see a luminary on our faces, the radiance of the Shechinah (Divine Presence) resting upon us—which is wisdom and intellect—everyone would run to serve every Jew. Instead of plotting advice on how to destroy us, they would consult 24 hours a day on how to help this nation.

"Strangers shall stand and pasture your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers."

Rebbe Nachman wants there to be ten people who will listen to his voice and merit that the light of the Torah rests upon them. If there are ten such people, all the nations of the world will be nullified and will feel the vitality. In the future to come, 2,800 gentiles will run after every Jew to merit helping him and clinging to him.

The Intellect of a Prophet: Advice from the Torah

When a person enters the depth of study, the intellect illuminates all his paths, and he no longer needs to seek advice from anyone in the world. He engages in Hisbodedus (secluded prayer) and asks:

"And rectify us with good counsel from before You."

He studies Likutey Moharan line by line, slowly. Rebbe Nachman has already prepared everything for us; there is no need to enter into illusions or spacing out. Breslov is the deepest intellect that exists. Everything must be with intellect, with Daas (knowledge), and with logic.

The Vilna Gaon said that if a person sits for six consecutive hours of Torah study, without moving from his chair and without speaking to anyone—the first thought that comes to him afterward will be like prophecy from Heaven. This is tested and proven. Take a few books: Likutey Moharan, Zohar, Midrash, Chassidic texts. Change the book every half hour. After six hours, the thoughts that come to you will be clear and pure, and whatever you decide to do—you will succeed. The intellect will become so refined that he will have the intellect of a prophet, where every thought that enters his mind is truly a message from Heaven regarding what he should do.

Humility as a Vessel for Wisdom: The Secret of Rabbi Akiva

To merit this wisdom, immense humility is required. Rabbi Akiva, who was a descendant of converts and a baal teshuvah (returnee to the faith), came with a broken heart and submission. The entire essence of a baal teshuvah is submission and lowliness, not to think, "I am smarter than everyone because I did teshuvah (repentance)."

The entire greatness of Rabbi Akiva was that he came with lowliness, without asking any questions of his teachers. The Jerusalem Talmud relates that Rabbi Akiva studied for 13 years before Rabbi Eliezer. Even though he already had 12,000 students, throughout all those years he did not dare to challenge or reply to his teacher with anything. Specifically out of this submission and lowliness, he merited to reveal mountains upon mountains of halachos (Jewish laws) on every single crown of the letters, until Moshe Rabbeinu himself was amazed by his greatness. Because only one who truly nullifies himself merits that the Divine intellect will illuminate within him perfectly and light up all his paths.

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