Faith Only Exsits Where Mind Does Not Grasp
It is not possible to reach 'faith' except through 'truth'. (Meaning, the essence of faith only exists regarding what the mind does not understand, since regarding concepts that the mind understands, faith does not apply. If so, that the mind does not understand, how will a person come to have faith in the proper beliefs? Therefore the essence of faith is dependent on 'truth', if a person wishes to look at the authentic truth, he will understand by himself that one needs to have faith in Hashem, the true Tzadikim and the holy Torah, even though it is not possible to understand this with our physical mind. By looking at the truth with an eye of truthfulness, one will understand from afar what the truth is, only that he can not understand it with his mind. We have to strengthen ourselves in complete faith, understand this well).
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 4)
Truth Only Possible by Attachment to Tzadikim Which Leads to Tikkun Habris
It is not possible to reach 'truth' except through coming close to the true Tzadikim and proceeding with their advice, not drifting from their words to the right or left. Through this, 'truth' will become embedded in a person and he will merit 'faith'. Additionally one has to distance himself from the advice of the wicked, those that oppose and dispute the truth. All this a person can merit through the mitzvah of Tzitzis, which is a manifestation of the concept of 'protection from impurity', 'impurity' which is the concept of the 'advice of the wicked' and one merits to rectification of the Bris which is the concept of the 'advice of the Tzadikim'.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 5)
One Needs Perfect Emuna to Become a Leader
A person should not accept leadership or a position of authority unless he has such complete faith, that no higher level of faith exists. Even if a person believes in something or other that falls into the category of divination (Darchi HaEmori), for example; if a deer cuts him off on the road, even though he also believes in Hashem, he should not accept the position of leadership. Even if the person himself is convinced that he has mercy on the world and therefore wants to lead them. In truth he is chasing after honor and attributing his desire for leadership on mercy. Through this, it is possible to come to atheism and disbelief, Heaven forbid. However in Heaven they have mercy and they do not leave the leadership in their hands.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 9)
Illegitimate Torah Scholars Cause Damage Through Their Torah
Through Torah Scholars that are not legitimate, that say fallen Torah teachings, through this comes disbelief, humiliation and opposition to those that fear Hashem. A rectification for this is to be hospitable to guests that are true Torah Scholars. Through this one merits to faith, to break the disbelief and humiliation and to overcome the opposers.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 15)
Main Existence of Emuna Through Shmiras Habris
The main existence of faith is only through Shmiras Habris.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 18)
Emes is One, Sheker is Many
Truth is one, while falsehood is many. It is not possible to say the truth about anything in more then one way. That is, exactly what it is. For example; on silver - only that it is silver, on gold - only that it is gold. However falsehood is many, since you can say countless lies. For example on silver, that it is copper or tin or lead or countless other names. Therefore in the final end, the truth will for sure be revealed and the opposition will become nullified, since all opposition is only due to the large endless quantity of falsehood, that from there originates all the opposition. In 'one' opposition is not possible. Therefore the truth that is one, will certainly remain existing forever, since the truth is the unification of Hashem. All the falsehoods from which originates the opposition will be vanquished and He will remain forever, since the truth of Hashem is forever.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 25)
With Emuna Unexplained is Obvious
Faith is only relevant regarding something you do not know its reasoning. Despite this, by the believer the thing is clear, as if he sees with his eyes the thing that he believes in due to the intensity of his complete faith.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 28)
Kiruv is Main Completion of Emuna
The main completion of faith is by brining close those that are far from Hashem. This one merits through fasting. Then he merits that through his eating he unifies Kodsha Brich Hu and the Shichina face to face.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 29)
Emuna Leads to Eventual Understanding
When a person is very strong in faith, he later merits to reach understanding. The more he strengthens himself in faith, the more understanding he receives. The concept that he initially needed to understand since he did not understand it, he later merits to understand this with his mind as a result of his strong faith. However afterwards there are other higher concepts that are hidden from him and he is unable to understand them with his mind. He then has to strengthen himself more with faith, to believe in the concepts that are currently hidden from him and does not understand them with his mind, until he merits to understand these concepts as well with his mind... so too forever. However the faith has to be very, very strong, until the faith spreads in all his limbs, then he is able to merit reaching understanding through faith as mentioned above.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 32)
Take Care Not to Fall Into Falsehood Due to Suffering
When a person is undergoing a hardship, Heaven forbid, then the 'truth' is flawed. He therefore has to guard himself even more so he does not become trapped in any mistakes and falsehood due to his suffering, Heaven forbid.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 39)
Tip for Faith, Proclaim it Verbally
Faith is dependent on the mouth of a person, that he must verbally proclaim his faith, as it says "I will proclaim my beliefs with my mouth". Therefore when a person falls from his faith, Heaven forbid, a recommendation for this is to speak out the beliefs with his mouth. He should proclaim with a full mouth that he believes in etc... This in itself, that he speakswords of faith with his mouth, this in itself is a concept of faith. Also through this one merits to reach complete faith, since faith is dependent on a persons mouth as mentioned above.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 45)
Avoid Looking at Books of Philosophy
A person has to very careful not to look at all in books that discuss philosophy. They are very harmful and damaging to our holy faith. This is already explained in a number of other places (in Rebbe Nachman's books). However it is necessary to repeat this warning a number of times, so a person does not lose his world in an instance, Heaven forbid.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 47)
Vapors Emitted From Wise Wicked Cause Niuf
There are wise men, some of them that are even wise in the teachings of the Torah but they do not have any faith. These wise men are are referred to as 'Baali Rason' and one has to distance himself from them and their surroundings with all forms of separation. Our Sages of blessed memory have warned us to distance ourselves from 'Baali Rason', since the breath of their mouth is very damaging for a righteous person. Because of it he can sometimes fall into impure lusts, Heaven forbid, due to the breath of their mouth, since these wise men are generally big perverts.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 50)
Fasts Only Needed Due to Limited Emuna
When there is constricted consciousness and flawed faith, a person needs to perform difficult forms of spiritual worship such as fasts and similar acts. However when a person's faith is complete, he can serve Hashem through anything, since Hashem does not approach his creations with grievances.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 52)
Thoughts of Atheism Caused by Sins or Impure Birth
There are those that have doubts about our 'holy faith' since they were not born in proper purity. Then there are those that added these thoughts upon themselves through their bad actions that they personally committed, since there are sins that place heresy in a person. Because all of this a person needs to be greatly embarrassed and have a broken heart. A person that has such thoughts and calculations against our holy faith, Heaven forbid, it is befitting that he should be very greatly embarrassed that he came to these thoughts through his sins. Through the embarrassment and and broken heart, he will nullify and expel the thoughts of heresy. Also it was already explained that a great recommendation for faith is to say and speak out the beliefs with his mouth.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 56)
No Life Without Emuna
A person that has faith, his life is a life. However without faith, he does not have a life at all. There is no person that will not experience much suffering, misery and dilemmas, since "man was born to toil". When a person has faith, then even when he is undergoing suffering and misery, Heaven forbid, he can comfort himself that Hashem will have mercy on him and things will eventually get better and that all the suffering is for his good and serves as an atonement, since everything Hashem does is surely for a great benefit. However a philosopher that does not have faith, when he experiences a hardship, he does not have anyone to turn to and does not have something to revive and comfort himself. Therefore he has no life at all, since he lives without Hashem and Divine Providence, may the Merciful One save us. However, through faith a person always lives a good life.
(Likutei Etzot, Emes Vemuna 57)
Sighs of Holiness Are Very Valuable
A sigh of holiness is very valuable. When a person sighs about how he is far from holiness, through this he severes the rope of impurity and ties the rope of holiness. On the contrary when a person sighs about a lust that he is craving, it causes the opposite, Heaven forbid.
(Likutei Etzot, Anucha 3)
Sighing Even Better Then Fasts
A sigh that a person sighs regarding his sins or his lack of spiritual understanding is even better then a few sigufim and fasts.
(Likutei Etzot, Anucha 4)
Holy Speech and Shmiras Habris Enable Face to Bring Teshuva
A person that has perfected 'holy speech' and is Shomer HaBris has the ability to awaken the sparking of the Hebrew Letters in any object. Therefore his eating, drinking and all other enjoyments are only from the actual sparking of the Hebrew Letters. This causes his heart to light up, which in turn causes his face to glow. He merits to purify his face to such an extent that he can awaken others to repent just by having them look at his face without having to do anything else. Each person will then will see himself reflected on his face like a mirror and they will see how they are steeped in darkness. Then without any rebuke or criticism he will awaken his friend to repent just by having him look at his face alone.
(Likutei Etzot, Achila 3)
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