Q I've heard that changing a name is something sometimes recommended to people
who are sick as a segulah. Would the same hold true if the Neshamah is
sick? Would adding a name help a person fight off the yetzer hara?
A It might, but it is not advisable. When a father names his son at the Bris
a low level of Roach Hakodesh descends on him, causing him to choose one
name over another. This names contains the attributes, characteristics
and mission of the new borne. Changing a name should only be used in an
extreme emergency. A person should not run away from his destiny but rather
work to make it come true.
Q Is learning Kaballah (Rav Aryeh Kaplan Sefarim, Likutey Maran ETC.) suggested to someone who is still in the start of the fight, to someone who is still steeped
in the uttermost pits of tumah?
A There are certain levels of Kabbalah that can be very harmful to a person if
he studies them before he is ready and worthy of it. However the basics
of Kabbalah should be known to everyone. If a person is asked to make
such a big sacrifice as to be Shomer Habris he need a strong drive to
do so. A person also needs to attain the fire of Kedusha that he can use
to cleanth himself and drive away the Klipot. He also needs a replacement
for the impure energy he was living on until now.
A person in the pits of tumah the best thing he can do for himself is to begin studying
Kabbalah. However he has to know his limits so he does not damage himself.
Rabbi Kaplan's books are fine; they have caused many people to do Teshuvah.
Reading Zohar is highly recommended. Likutay Maharan was written for everyone.
A person who wants to get himself out from the pits of Tumah, the first
thing he should do is study Likutay Maharan. As Rabbi Nachman himself
said "the most ill patient needs the most experienced doctor".
Q If it's ok for me to ask out of curiosity,
as I have been somewhat around Bresslov although clearly not enough- which
Rav in Bresslov of today this organization follows?
A We do not follow any particular group. Every Breslov is good. We do not involve
ourselves in controversy and politics.
Q I have been to Uman once, should I still consider it an utmost priority to return regardless of my financial situation?
A For the first trip a person should give up everything and go. After that it
goes as follows. A number of times Rabbi Nachman was asked by students
facing extreme opposition whether they should be by his Rosh Hashana or
not. Rabbi Nachman would reply that his Rosh Hashanah was everything.
When the disciple would starts complaining how hard it was for him to
make it Rabbi Nachman would reply so don't come. This would go back and
forth a number of times. Rabbi Nachmans rule was he would never force
anyone to do anything. He gave his answer, Yes he thought he should be
there. However the person would have to make up his own mind.
Some people go to Umon they see miracles. Others only see opposition from it. Ether
way everyone knows that he is receiving a priceless tikun. How much a
person is willing to sacrifice to get there is truly his own personal
decision.
Q I have made a couple of attempts at Hitbodedut, all to no avail. I have
allot of trouble letting go and speaking freely to and I don't believe
its because I cant see who I'm talking to, as even when I'm by a Tzadik
I am never able to say what I need to say. What recommendations do you
have?
A Hisbodedute is by far the highest Tikun possible. If a person does it right it is
higher then any fast and segufim. There is therefore an immense amount
of opposition. There are many tips and pieces of advice. Nothing works
all the time a person has to constantly switch tactics. Most of this information
is brought down in Hishtapchut Hanefesh translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
Outpouring of the Soul (small paperback). The main trick is to set aside
time and due hisbodedute every day no mater what happens. Even if a long
period of time passes before he brakes through in the end he is guaranteed
that he will.
Q I feel like a hypocrite, doing Tikunim and then messing up and being Pogem Habris.
A It is not hypocrisy at all. A person has a Yetzer Tov and a Yetzer Hara sometimes
one is stronger then the other. It is not a contradiction at all. A person
should try to make sure his Yetzer Htov is always dominating. However
if he succumbs to his Yetzer Hara once in a while it does not mean that
he is a hypecrit, it does not mean that he should stop doing Tikunim.
If a person has fallen he should just ignore it, never look back and keep
on doing Tikunim.
Rabbi Nachman
the Tzadik Yesod Alom stated very clearly that
ONE MUST NEVER GIVE UP
If he falls even hundreds of times and keeps on getting back up in the end he will
win.
Also Rebbe Nachman writes that the further a person is away from Hashem the more
Hashem receives enjoyment from his actions when he does do a small move
for the sake of heaven. A person that grew up religious in a family that
were all Shomer Habris, this person sits and learns torah all day and
never visits places of impurity. It is relatively easy for this person
to be Shomer Habris. However a person that his whole life was sunk in
the Klipot and now for the first time he is fighting with all his might
to be Shomer Habris, this person even if he fall a number of times in
the process, still each time he gets up and starts again, this is very
enjoyable in the eyes of Hashem. This can be compared to a father that
is watching his son learning to walk. Even though the infant falls many
times, each and every time that he gets up determined to continue, the
father derives much enjoyment from this.
added on this page
http://www.truekabbalah.org/pages/Documents4/k00216.htm
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