I Versus I - Daily Dose of Wisdom

There are times you must be like a reed in the wind.
And there are times you must face it like an iron wall.

When it comes to matters that lie at the surface, then “I hold like this” and “my opinion is like this” stand in the way of harmony and peace. Every such “I” is the very root and source of evil.

But when it comes to matters that touch your essence and core, the purpose for which you were placed in this world, then you must be an iron wall. Then you must say, “On this, I cannot budge.”

Liberated from its thick shell of ego, empowered and emboldened, the essential self breaks through the concrete, blossoms and flourishes.

Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

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.

More articles by Tzvi Freeman | RSS

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January 25, 2012

Confidence Issues

This exercise seems to be very easy, but: where do we go to be sure? It seems that effort leads to somewhere "btwn a rock and a hard place". Hopefully we don't get squashed

JackBlack
Kiev, Ur

January 25, 2012

incitement versus essence

i just recently read that the yetzer hora ( evil inclination has two aspects:

The first is incitement, a habit which must be destroyed. It can be as important as say doing cocaine or awaking an going back to sleep cozily rather than going to a yeshiva class. Such incitements of the mind must be destroyed.

The second aspect, essence, is to transform the habit into something good/G-dly. Instead of cocaine, do charity. Instead of sleeping in , go to the Torah class.

I am thinking that the Daily dose is getting at this point. Incitement is to boast about the ego , look at me. Destroy that aspect. By virtue of the second aspect, essence, change boastfulness to humbleness or to pride as in proud to be a Jew.

The title could be I versus i. Don't put your ego ahead of all else.

Anonymous

January 25, 2012

Can you please explain?

kelilah
bakersfield