By
Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz
Until this
point, we have explored the Jewish angle of manifesting. Briefly, this
involves
a primal
shift in focus
from the popular standard "Secret" orientation. Instead of focusing on
what G-d
can do for
you, we say the opposite. [This sort of recalls what President Kennedy
used to
say,
"Ask not
what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your
country"]...
Our Jewish angle
or secret of "The Secret" is all about aligning my will with the Divine
Will - wanting
what He wants.
To the extent that I do this, He will want to manifest what I want,
even to the
point that
others will come flocking to help me carry out my desired outcome, and
[if I'm
really
and truly
aligned] miraculous manifestations will happen for me constantly and
automatically
without me
even needing to ask for it! The question and challenge to be posed is
how do
I
transform myself in to becoming so aligned. Our lesson will begin to tackle that challenge
from at least one
of a number of angles - becoming a 'Tzaddik' [a righteous person]...
WHAT
- ME A TZADIK?
I know that many
of you [ maybe myself included] are probably
saying at this point,
that Yitzchak just
lost it. All he wants us to do to manifest
our desires is to become a
'Tzaddik' [or
'Tzaddekes'] - and everyone knows that maybe the
most elite spiritual people,
after a lifetime
of the hardest work and discipline MAYBE can
become a Tzaddik - a
person who by
definition is aligned with the Divine Will and
also who by definition is a
person who by
definition manifests miracles at all times - as
our sages say, 'The
Tzaddik declares
[in any area of life] and Hashem causes it to
manifest'. Well friends... I
have a surprise
for you - Being a person who was born and raised
in the good old USA,
I've come to
recognize that one of the most important
contributions that America gives to
humanity, is that
you can take any challenge in life [the
bigger, the better] - and as long
as you clearly
package it in a clear step by step formula - that
shows you the way to
make it happen,
with the right will power, you can make it
happen... In light of that, I am
going to throw at
you a portrait of a Tzaddik and the components
that make up this
unique being...
the formula will with G-d's Help come eventually
also - but at least you
can see the
components...I am drawing my portrait from the
classic Chassidic work on
the subject
called, 'Noam Elimelech' by R. Elimelech of Lizhensk
[Zushia's brother]. I think
it will best work
for you if you relate to all the components as
something that you can
incorporate into
your life right now [even in a minimal type of
a way]...
TZADIK
[some key
characteristics]
A. [A
person who's] plugged into the Mitzvah or challenge of the generation
[some say
that our generation's
challenge is to be able to distinguish the difference between a Jew and
a
non-Jew]
B.
Becomes a living source of Blessing - the word for Blessing is Bracha
which comes
from the root Brachia or
Wellspring
– i.e. ..connecting with this person, is like connecting
with an overflowing
wellspring of abundance and blessing.
C. Include
themselves and their prayers and desires in the first person plural -
'WE' – i.e.
..I as a
part of Israel or
as a part of humanity.
D. Constantly
working to awaken and perfect all their character traits in a holistic
fashion
[thereby having
the ability to influence all character traits in
all people that they either meet or
don't know]
E.
Constantly aware of all of their thoughts, actions, words, feelings
etc. ... so
that they can
micro-manage
themselves... [ our Sages say that if you see a Tzaddik sin at night,
you can
be
sure that by
the morning, they will have rectified the problem -
surely being so aware of
themselves is a
big contributing factor]
F. With
great personal sacrifice, they bridge themselves to lower level people
in order
to help lift them
up.
G. Even their mundane activities are intended to inject G-dliness, sweetness and good
influences where
these same elements would otherwise be absent
and hidden
H. "Ohr
Zaruah Letzaddik" - ['Light is Sown for the Righteous'] -
whatever abundance
that they
receive from On
-High, they pass it on to others, not holding on
to it for themselves.
I.
Accepts the burden of helping to rectify [do 'tikun'] the entire nation
of
Israel as well as the
entire world.
J. They
never consider themselves to be a 'Tzaddik', but rather a person whose
achievements
and blessings are
a Divine gift.
K. They
are in sync. with the energy changes that occur at various times of the
day ,
the week and the
seasons... etc. ...
L. They
live in a very detached and transcendent state of being - [ they are
holding by
a state of
equanimity - i.e.
..not affected one way or another by people's
praises or putdowns]...
M. One
of the gauges of a Tzaddik is that their words will always penetrate
people's
hearts, their
very
presence will serve as a mirror reflecting back to the person their own
strengths and
weaknesses -
either way causing them to feel deep happiness.
N. Very
powerfully affected at hearing people's troubles as well as people's
miracle
stories
O. Seek
at all times to study the ways of the Creator in order to emulate Him
in all
that he does.
P.
Maximally taps into the principle of "Hashem
Tzilcha" - i.e. ...Hashem reflects
back to you what
ever you put out
there [similar to the 'law of attraction']
Q.
Constantly seeks to liberate their thoughts words actions and feelings
by
elevating them
from the level of
finite to the level of infinite and Eternal
R. They
are privy to the proper utilization of the Ohr Ganuz -
Hidden Light - the
supernatural