Ratzo v’shov – the cycle of life – is like a NASCAR race.  Two very different kinds of time.  Mastering the balance between the two is essential.  And quite possible.

Rebbe Nachman is describing what happens at the top of the ladder – silence, shame, the Hidden, realization.  But this would be a good time to be realistic about where, exactly, we are holding. 

Rebbe Nachman speaks of the three points of teshuva – seeing, hearing, and heart-ing.  Without all of them, it cannot be teshuva.  First we have to see, to get a vision of what the new reality will look like.  That’s hard enough, but it’s easy compared to the next two stages.

When we enter into a new ‘world’ – a new era, a new stage of life, we are beset by negative forces – illusion, desire, confusion.  The way to move past these elements is to embrace the expansiveness of being a new place.

We build up edifices to our own potency and power, and then hopefully realize it before it is too late.  Our brains get wired that way – how (and when) can we rewire them?

To a certain extent, we expert our words – ‘our black fire’ – to have effect.  But there is a certain point at which we invert our perspective and our expectations, and we understand that it is in fact not about us at all. Then we start to let the ‘us’ dissolve, and then…

New class!  What is kavod?  What does it mean to pursue it or be pursued by it?  Heavy-respect-honor-glory.  Honor of G-d and honor of man.  Giving and receiving kavod.  rebbe nachman torah 6 4 12 10

In this class, we discuss one of the most esoteric of Rebbe Nachman’s concepts – the column of souls wherein each of us occupies a space that is unique but completely related to the one above and below.  When we move, the one above us moves in a certain way.  Very deep stuff.

But learning is possible!  Even perceptions and behaviors that feel artificial at first can eventually be integrated and real.

Rebbe Nachman addresses the anatomy of illusion – it comes from the heart and from emotion.  We create or give in to illusions because they seem more attractive than reality.