Emuna Daily

Words are a clue to a person’s intentions.  If he says, “I will,” maybe he will and maybe he won’t.  If he says, “I want,” he is likely to be selfish.  If he says, “I am,” pay attention to what he has to tell. ~ The Kotzker Rebbe zt”l

Avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward!

People have more power than the Yetzer Harah himself.  They have great power to influence a person, keeping him…even from serving Hashem.  The Yetzer Hara [on the other hand] is only given power in a particular world.  His ability does not extend beyond this.  However, man includes all worlds.  There is nothing beyond his ability.  Therefore, man can do more to deter a person from Hashem than the Yetzer Hara himself. ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov zt”l

One shouldn’t be praised for his wealth, and one shouldn’t be disgraced for his poverty, because this was Hashem’s plan, that came down from Heaven and reached them… ~ Metzudas David

The author of Kuntros Hasfaikos cited the thought that even if a person was able to see the most amazing and fantastic sights of the universe and understand all the universe’s spiritual secrets, he would not have full pleasure until he was able to relate to his friend what he has seen. In a similar vein, every wise man has a desire to share his ideas and thoughts with others.

Rabbi Chaiyim Shmielevitz commented that this is not a fault, but a virtue.  A person does not feel complete pleasure if he does things solely for and by himself.  Your own pleasure is enhanced when you share with others. ~ R’ Zelig Pliskin

Only a monkey mimics the behavior of his neighbor. ~ The Kotzker Rebbe zt”l

The right temperature in a home is maintained by warm hearts, not hot heads. ~ Rabbi Paysach Krohn

It is not upon you to complete the work. On the other hand, you are not free to refrain from trying. ~ Pirkei Avos 2:21

A person who worked on self-improvement came to the Baal Shem Tov and complained “I have tried for quite some time to become a better person. But I am still very plain and simple.”

“To be aware that you are plain and simple is an accomplishment in itself, replied the Baal Shem Tov.  “Take pleasure in that.” ~ Midrash Rivash Tov

Just yesterday, as I was leaving shul, my friend came over to me and said he had to share the following R’ Nachman quote, which he took a picture of from one of R’ Noson’s sefarim in original Hebrew.   I thought it was an amazing quote and had him send it to me.

I then drove home and sat down to prepare the quotes for this week’s Emuna Daily.  Sitting in front of me was the book “Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom” which I read many years ago, and at the time, placed some tabs next to the quotes that I liked and figured I would one day share here.   I then opened up to a random page (371) and couldn’t believe what I was looking at.  It was the exact quote in English that my friend just shared with me less than 20 minutes before!  This of course made my day.  Here it is:

“True devotion consists mainly of simplicity and sincerity.  Pray much, study much Torah, do many good deeds.  Do not worry yourself with unnecessary restrictions.  Just follow the way of our forefathers.  ‘The Torah was not given to the ministering angels.’  ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov zt”l

See Screenshot Below