Likutei Moharan I #2, Point-by-Point Summary

All the following points are explained and proven in the full text of Likutei Moharan from the Tanakh, the statements of Hazal, the Midrashim, the Holy Zohar, the writings of the Arizal, and more.

1. Prayer is the essential weapon of the Messiah and the man of Israel, that through it one can win all wars, both physically and spiritually.

(Note: be aware that this does not mean, as is too commonly misunderstood, that in a time of war one can rely on a miracle from HaShem. Instead, one must pray and also take all necessary action to wage war, as R' Nahman states in Sefer HaMidot, Meriva #101 that in a time of war one must prepare weapons and fight, and not rely on a miracle. Point #1 simply means that prayer is the backbone of physical and spiritual wars.)

2. One who guards himself from sexually impure thoughts, words, and actions, merits prayer; and one who does not guard himself has true prayer taken away from him.

3. Giving tzedaka (charity) before praying makes the prayer fluent in the mouth.

4. A person is saved from foreign thoughts that come during prayer via tzedaka.

5. Through whole prayer, which does not veer to the right or left, one "manages his affairs with mishpat (justice)"; mishpat is the Middle Pillar.

6. Complete prayer comes through completely guarding oneself from sexually impure thoughts, words, and actions.

7. The true Tzadik of the generation (note: this is R' Nahman for all the generations between him and the Messiah) knows how to elevate prayers to the proper place. Therefore, all must attach their prayers to him.

8. From the above-stated prayers in #7, the Tzadik builds up the stature of the Shekhina (Divine Presence), drawing closer the coming of the Messiah.

9. Torah learning and prayer strengthen each other, and the letters of the Torah that one learns for the sake of keeping and doing it are sparks of souls that enclothe within the prayer and are renewed there in the aspect of a pregnancy.

10. If a person prays and does hitbodedut (secluded and personal conversation with HaShem) daily for a long time, and it seems to him that it isn't benefiting him, he should only continue because the of the Shekhina (see #8 above) simple has not been built up yet [to the level needed for him to see his prayers come to fruition].

11. It isn't proper to expect reward for anything or to think that one's successes are from his prayers and Torah learning - because everything is from HaShem and His mercy (meaning He is both the cause and the effect).

12. The evil inclination is mainly for sexual promiscuity, and the main testing of a person in this world is in this lust.

13. The true Tzadik of the generation is the 'great luminary' and he shines and enlightens prayer, which is the aspect of the 'small luminary'.

Open My Eyes and I'll See Wonders from Your Torah I

Use Rabenu's Torah in everything you learn.

In Yalqut Shim`oni on Bereshith 50, it states about the burial of Ya`aqov:

בתחלה עד שלא ראו כבודן של ישראל לא נהגו בהן כבוד, ולבסוף שראו כבודן של ישראל נהגו בהן כבוד, שנאמר: ויבואו עד גרן האטד. 

וכי יש גורן לאטד? 

אמר רבי אבהו: 

מלמד שהקיפו כתרים לארונו של יעקב, כגורן זה שמוקף לו אטד. שבאו בני ישמעאל ובני עשו ובני קטורה למלחמה, וכיון שראו כתרו של יוסף תלוי בארונו של יעקב, נטלו כולן כתריהם ותלאום בארונו של יעקב.

The important information above is that the sons of `Esaw, Yishma`el and Qettura (descendants of Yishma`el's brothers) came to wage war among each other and they saw Yosef's crown placed at the head of Ya`aqov's sarcophagus. Instead of fighting they came and placed their crowns upon Ya`aqov also.

What does this mean?

In the books of Kabbalah and Breslov:

- Ya`aqov signifies the idea of da`ath (and tifereth), which is knowledge of HaShem and Torah.

- Yosef signifies the sadiq who is called such because of the purity of sexuality he attained, which is considered as keeping the whole Torah. Only one who guards the brith, keeps pure sexuality, can truly attain da`ath. One who damages it throws his da`ath out the window, because semen is derived from "drops of the mind/brain".

- Crown refers to the maqifin, attainments of knowledge, awareness, and information in Torah. It is Ruah HaQodesh, "divine inspiration" as commonly translated. Torah 21 of Liqutei Moharan explains this and how to attain it.

So, what we see in this story is Yosef, the sadiq, leading all Israel at the passing of their father Ya`aqov, who signifies da`ath. The crown is placed upon Ya`aqov/da`ath, meaning that the people of Israel, under the Sadiq, achieve tiqun habrith (pure/corrected sexuality) and thus achieve divine knowledge, then the nations see this and react. Annulling their warfare against each other because they attain a higher perception of da`ath of HaShem - symbolized by placing their crowns on Ya`aqov. Greater da`ath leads to the annulment of idolatry and greater mercy. This is what the prophets speak about that in the future the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and that the nations won't wage war anymore.

Filter this through the fact that the war of Gog uMagog must happen as it is a great mercy to Israel and a vengeance upon the 70 prototype nations who are divided 35-35 under the dominions of `Esaw and Yishma`el (Hayyei Moharan 6) - this short passage in Yalqut Shim`oni means this:

After or during the war of Gog uMagog, when the Messiah will come and bring Israel into an elevated state of purity through tiqun haklali/tiqun habrith and wage war against them to throw their control off of the people of Israel, the nations will eventually cease their fighting and attain a higher state of da`ath - perhaps initially through revelation of an inexplicable miracle from Heaven - through which they will cast away their idols, their false religions, and they will submit to Torah and to King David's restored kingdom. All war will cease and we will enter into the days of Messiah, which should come soon and speedily in our days.