;.cR. Shlomo's text for 12/93 Yakar Seminar - Reb Nachman, Advice
;.l1,6,60,66,1,0,10,75,192,2,15,20,25,127,10,0,
.h2, Excerpt from Advice, copyright, Bratslav Institute, Jerusalem
=shtx1293

TEXT OF R. SHLOMO TEACHINGS, Yakar, 12/26-29/93
Reb Nachman:  Advice, which is a 
Translation of Litutei Etzot, which is a topical re-arrangement ofLikutei Maharan, which includes most of the (posthumously writtendown, by Reb Nathan) teachings of Reb Nachman.  Mimi Feigelsonnotes that Reb Nachman taught in Yiddish, but his works werewritten down in Hebrew.
The numbering is from Advice, cross-referenced to Likutei Maharan
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PEACE:

1)  The gateway to Torah is through humility and meekness.  Torahhas the power to draw penitents and converts closer to G-d, andthis is how the glory of G-d is exalted and magnified and the fearof G-d spreads throughout the world.  This brings peace. (14:2-5)

2)  There are two kinds of peace.  There is the peace 'in one'sbones' -- in oneself.  This is the first priority, because attimes a person has no peace in himself, as it is written:  "Thereis no peace in my bones because of my sin" (Psalms 38:4).  When aperson develops genuine fear of Heaven he can attain peace withinhimself.  Through this he is able to pray.  And prayer leads tothe second kind of peace -- universal peace, when there is peacein all the worlds.  (Ibid.  8 [ie, Likutei Maharan 14:8])

3)  The leaders of the generation, who give criticism andguidance, bring abundant peace into the world.  They also makepeace between Israel and their Father in Heaven (22:1).

4)  As peace spreads in the world, the whole world can be drawn toserve G-d with one accord.  Because when men are at peace witheach other they talk to one another and together they can thinkabout the purpose of the world and all its vanities.  People thentalk to each other about the realities of life -- that in thefinal analysis, when a person dies, nothing remains of him exceptwhatever preparations he has made for the eternal world whichawaits him after death .  Neither silver nor gold accompany a manafter his death ... {ellipsis in Advice}  When people understandthis they will abandon their illusions and their idols of silverand aspire only to G-d and His Torah.  Their only aim will be toserve G-d and seek out the turth.  But when there is no peace inthe world, and even worse when there is strife and dissension, menare not open with one another and they never discuss the purposeof life.  Even when someobody is open about it his words fail toentered the hearts of other people, because peple are notinterested in finding out the truth, all they want is to win theargument:  they are aggressive and full of hatred and jealousy. When someobdy wants to win an argument his reasons are not open tothe truth.  The main reason why most peple are so far from G-d isbecase of the divisiveness and strife which are so widespreadtoday due to out many sins.  (Ibid 6) [ie 22:6]

5)  Moral purity leads to peace (Ibid 6)

6)  The searach for peace must be twofold:  within the Jewishpeople as a whole and within each indiviudal himself.  Each personmust resolve any conflicts which exist between the different partsof his character.  He must also develop a hamrmonious approach tohis life experiences as a whole, so that it makes no difference toim whether things are seemingly good or bad:  he will always findG-d in eveything.  It is through Torah and the Tzaddikim that wecan achive this harmony.  Both are called 'peace' and through themeach person can feel his love for G-d regardless of his situation-- whether things are good or seemingly bad.  He will also feelhis love for his fellow Jew.  This way peace will spreadthroughout the Jewish people (33 [Ie, Likutei Maharan 22:33? orChapter 33?]

7)  To spread peace, give charity.  [57:6]

8)  Divisivness leads to atheism, and prevents people from prayingwith genuine devoiton. But when men are at peace and open witheach other, people can be guided away from their illusions andfree themselves of their doubts and atheistic inclinations.  Whenthere is strife between people, they are not open with one anotherand it is impossible to speak to other people and draw themtowards the truth.  Even if people do talk to each other, theirmain concern is to win the argument, which means that neither sideis open to the words of the other.  Therefore true faith dependson peace. (62:2)

9)  The way to attain peace is through studying Troah law as setforth in the legal codes. Then you will be able to pray with allyour heart. (Ibid.)

10)  The real meaning of peace is to fit together two opposites.So you shouldn't be disturbed when you come across someone who isthe exact oppostite of yoruself and thinks the exact opposite.
	Do not assume you will never be able to live amicably withhim. And similarliy, if you see two people who are completelyopposite types, you should not decide it is impossible to makepeace between them.  Quite the contrary!  Perfect peace isachieved through the effort to make peace between two opposites,just as G-d makes peace in His high places betwen Fire and Water,which are two opposites.  The way to achive peace is throughcomplete self-sacrifice to sanctify the Name of G-d.   Then it ispossible to pray with genuine deveotion (80:11)  G-d always takesinto account the good that people do.  It may be that somethingnot so good was mixed up with it, but G-d pays no attention tothis.  If this is G-d's way, how much more so should we attempt todo the same.  Never look for the bad side of other peple or huntout their shortcomings and weak points when it comes to religion. Look only for the good and always search out the merit and worthin them.  You will then be at peace with everybody (II:17).

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R. NACHMAN EXCERPTS ON ANGER.  FROM ADVICE.

1)  You must break the force of your anger with love.  If you feelyourself becoming angry, make sure you do nothing unkind becauseof your anger.  You must make a special effort to be kind to thevery person you are angry with.  Sweeten your anger with kindness. When you do this you will be able to draw benefit from the tzaddikand then you will be able to understand the true goal of allthings.  You will taste the delight of the World to Come, and youwill see how everything in the world is part of the movement tothis ultimate goal. Your perception will be accrording to the rootwhich you have in the soul of the Tzaddik. (18:2)                                        
2)  Through breaking the force of anger with love and kindness,the true Tzaddikim receive honor and greatness and the world findsa true leader -- one who will have pity for the world and lead itin the right way, bringing each individual to his ultimate goal(Ibid) [Ie, 18:2]

3)  Anger and unkindness arise when people's understanding islimited.  The deeper their understanding the more their angerdisappears, and kindness love and peace spread.  This is why thestudy of Torah, which deepends the understanding, brings love andpeace into the world and banishes anger (56:6)

4)  Immersing in the mikveh is also an antidote to anger, becasueimmersing in the mikveh brings understanding (56:7)

5)  When a person gives way to anger, it stirs up the greataccuser -- Esau, or Edom.  The accuser in the upper world is thesource of a flurry of accusers and enemies who come down and takecharge of this angry man.  His anger puts his wisdom to flight,and the image of G-d disappears from his face.  He no longer hasthe face of a man.  This is why he is in the power of his enemies. Becasue he has the appearance of a beast they are not afraid ofhim. (57:6)

6)  The remedy for anger is to fast.  In fact the main value offasting lies in this.  That is why when a person is fasting theEvil One comes against him and creates all kinds of pretexts formaking him angry.  The Evil One wants to spoil the fast.  One hasto be very careful to avoid getting angry on a fast day.  Thewhole value of the fast lies in subduing one's anger. (Ibid. [Ie,57:6]

7)  Through the holy act of eating on Shabbat, anger is crushed(Ibid) [Ie 57:6]

8)  Anger can make a person lose his money.  When a person getsangry he spoils the blessing of wealth which was due to come tohim.  He causes a stain upon his good name and indeed, his verysoul.  But when a person holds his anger back and behavespatiently even in the most trying of circumstances, he attainswealth, a good name and an unblemished soul.  All the other soulsyearn to be merged with his soul and he can succeed in drawingmany souls closer to G-d.  Through this the glory of G-d isrevealed. (Ibid) [Ie 5i7:6]

9)  When a person fights his anger and breaks it, the spirit ofMeshiach is drawn into the world.  Such a person is accountned asif it was through him that the world and all that is in it wascreated and brought into being.  He will be worthy of richblessings, and he will attain true prayer, directing himself toG_d alone without any extraneous motives of gaining people'srespect and admiration.  He will succeed in carrying out out allthe mitzvot and other holy acts that he must accomplish. (66:3)

10)  Through the sanctity of the Land o Israel it is possible tobreak the force of anger, depression and laziness completely.  Forthis reason one must plead with G-d to be worthy of coming to theLand of Israel speedily.  There a person can attain tranquility inthe face of any experiences he many undergo.  He will never beangry or upset with anyone, no matter what they may have done.(Ibid 155) [Ie, 66:155)
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