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Book Title Be Within Stay Above
Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson
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Snake Poison

Without its poison, the snake is no more and no less than any other of G‑d’s creatures.

Whether it be the snake of hatred, of greed, of indifference, of jealousy, of pride, of any foul aspect of human character—they are only evil because of their poison, the poison of “I exist.”

Because when “I exist,” there is no room for any other being in the world to exist.

Without the “I,” even jealousy and pride can be glorious animals; even they can drive a person towards greater good.

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Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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11 Comments Posted  |  Post A Comment
Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: July 3, 2011
The I
i disagree on this, i am sorry but you need the "I" !
Posted By kameo, Holland

Posted: June 25, 2011
Wisdom
Dear Honourable Rabbi Freeman:

I always ensure that I read your comments. Your innate wisdom is mind-boggling - it is simply shocking that it still thrives, and grows in today's climate of spectacular falsehoods, distortions, self-serving attitudes, and utter lack of common sense.

I am very very deeply grateful that you make your gifts available to those such as I, who still seek, desperately, to grow and understand.

Todah Rabba
Posted By Anonymous, Toronto

Posted: June 24, 2011
Who am I?
Reciently while learning how to write a resume for school we where instucted not to use the "I " if we could help it. We the students where told to write how we could be of service to whom we where writing this resume for.
Another way to look at the "i" is if I don't know who I am or if I have never experienced pain how can I help others or feel thier pain?
I is not allways selfish and be a service. I can be used to find out who I am!
Posted By Michelle Andre, cc, fl

Posted: June 24, 2011
no clue
Usually, I love your daily offerings.This one however, is way too esoteric. What does it mean? Just say it.
Posted By Rich, Santa Monica

Posted: June 24, 2011
Hmmm
I actually think you are on the mark with this comment.
Posted By David, Vienna, Austria

Posted: June 24, 2011
Hey, Stick Up for Yourself
The poison of "I" starts from the core-I have this opinion...and inside this core you are being told to listen to the force to deveop your "I" or Ego over all other beautiful beautiful parts that make up the whole of you. Now this force..is very very strong like a tidal wave and it makes you feel that you must must be STRONG in this world and even LONELY and STRONG which is almost funny...noone sticks up for you then certainly wait till someone does certainly you are nice enough.
Posted By Miss Judith L Witten, Brockton, Ma/USA

Posted: July 28, 2008
Snake Poison
How can jealousy and pride exist without the "I"?
Posted By Anonymous, Perth , Australia

Posted: July 28, 2008
For explanation see "Where the Self Lives" thought in this section
Posted By Elie Bashevkin

Posted: July 28, 2008
The Rebbe may mean that many things that we see as GOOD or BAD if we would only percieve them for as they truly are - realities INDEPENDANT OF our true selves, and not percieve them AS our selves, they could be used as major assets. Example: Jealousy, a GOOD thing or BAD thing? Well, look at what it IS: man percieves that X belongs to him, even though in truth it does not. That is not GOOD or BAD, it just is an INCORRECT perception of reality that may stem from one of a numer of causes. Jealousy can Motivate man to do GOOD or BAD, and man is able to choose. If MAN - the true I - chooses, then he may use jealous feeling toward GOOD. However, if man percieves this feeling of jealously to mean that X really does belong to him then this scewed perception of reality can lead him to do terrible things. Man can be motivated to perform well on the basketball court or in his studies, & Man can be motivated to act like a jerk. "The snake is...only evil because of...the poison of 'I exist'"
Posted By Elie Bashevkin

Posted: July 28, 2008
snake's poison
i don't understand.
Posted By Anonymous, ferndale, mi



 


Getting Past the Mind
Where the Self Lives
Snake Poison
No Limits
The Escape Hatch
Unexperience
Certainty
Supermind
The Convenient Mind
A Real Fool
Being Not That
Memory
Mind Over Matter
A Quiet Heart
Mind and Heart
Harmony
Full Index...
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