Each of us has some good point which is uniquely our own. With regard to this quality or aspect of your being, you are a “Tzaddik.” The same is true of your friend. With regard to his good point, he is a “Tzaddik.” Each of you is virtuous and righteous in a different attribute. Make it your business to speak to a friend about serving God every day. This way, you’ll be able to receive from his good points while at the same time share your own (Likutey Moharan I, 34:4). Thus, Reb Noson writes: The best way to draw knowledge is by illuminating the hearts of our fellow Jews with the faith and knowledge that God is here, waiting for us to turn to Him. This can be accomplished through comradeship and unity, in that we help each other seek the truth (Likutey Halakhot, Netilat Yadayim li’Seudah 6:49).
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Whoever wants to have true pity on himself and think of his ultimate goal, should begin each day anew, as if he were just born. Today is what really counts. Begin anew. Start afresh. Each Jew, as long as he wears his Jewishness proudly, certainly performs at least a few mitzvot every day. We pray, we study some Torah, we give some charity, we do something kind; some of us more, some of us less, but we all do something worthwhile each day. It is essential to realize that the past is gone, the future hasn’t happened, and the present is essentially all we have to work with. Today, this day, never existed and will never exist again. As a new creation, it affords us the opportunity to begin anew. If that’s the case then the important thing to remember is: TODAY COUNTS! (Likutey Halakhot, K’riat HaTorah 6:17).
Whoever wants to have true pity on himself and think of his ultimate goal, should begin each day anew, as if he were just born. Begin anew. Start afresh!
Rebbe Nachman teaches: The world considers forgetfulness a shortcoming. I consider it a very great advantage. If a person didn’t forget, it would be impossible for him to serve God. Remembering all his wrongdoings would prevent him from ever being able to pick his head up [and start again]. With forgetfulness, however, a person can forget the past and face the future [with hope] (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom #26).
The important thing to remember is: TODAY COUNTS!
Reb Noson illustrates this with the following law: Even before we read the weekly Torah portion in the synagogue on Shabbat morning, a small passage of this reading will have already been read on three occasions during the course of the preceding week: on the previous Shabbat afternoon, then on Monday and Thursday morning. However, this small passage may not be applied to the Shabbat morning reading, when the entire weekly Torah portion must be read from start to finish. [We may not include what was read during the week and begin from where we left off on Thursday morning.] This emphasizes the importance of always making a fresh start. A person should not look back over his past. Whatever happened, good or bad, it has passed. It’s now time to face forward, forgetting what has already taken place. Start afresh. Study Torah, pray harder, do mitzvot. The past is gone. Look, with truth, to the future (Likutey Halakhot, K’riat HaTorah 6:17).
(Taken from the book: Crossing the Narrow Bridge: A Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman’s Teachings; pp. 44-46)