THE GREATNESS OF HITBODEDUT

“Imagine,” said Reb Noson, “the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies is likened to the person who sits and pours out his heart before God”!

A person’s prayers before God in hitbodedut are a form of Ruach haKodesh (Divine Inspiration). This is how King David made up the Book of Psalms. He aroused himself to pray and speak before God. “To You, my heart speaks” (Psalms 27:8), he said. Rashi explains: “To You” – in Your service, as Your messenger – “my heart spoke.” His heart served as the messenger of the Holy One, delivering the words which God Himself provided for King David to pray before Him. From these works, words of Divine Inspiration, the Book of Psalms was formed. Each person’s level of Divine Inspiration is determined by the extent that he draws upon himself these words – which come from God (Likutey Moharan I, 156).

Reb Noson was once describing the greatness of hitbodedut. Try to picture the High Priest as he entered the Holy of Holies at the one time of the year that this was permitted, Yom Kippur. In describing his appearance, the liturgy states that the High Priest looked like “one who sits in solitude to pray before God.” “Imagine,” said Reb Noson, “the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies is likened to the person who sits and pours out his heart before God” (Hishtapkhut HaNefesh, Introduction). (Through hitbodedut, we can, as it were, enter the Holy of Holies each and every day!)

His heart served as the messenger of the Holy One, delivering the words which God Himself provided for King David to pray before Him.

Concerning hitbodedut, the Rebbe gave the following analogy: You’ll see that thieves generally congregate around the well-known and often-used roads, waiting to set upon innocent passers-by. Someone who wants to outwit them has to find a new road, so that the thieves won’t notice him. The same is true when it comes to prayer. The standard, often-used prayers are well-known to the “thieves” – the detractors and forces of the Other Side. Hitbodedut, on the other hand, is an entirely new path. Taking this new approach, using new words and original supplications, deceives these spiritual “thieves.” Then our prayers are able to ascend without hindrance (Likutey Moharan II, 97).

Hitbodedut is an entirely new path…

Reb Noson said: Test it out. Practice hitbodedut for forty days straight. I guarantee you’ll see results (Aveneha Barzel p. 66).

Reb Noson writes: The Rebbe prescribed different devotions for each of his followers. Some he told to study eighteen chapters of Mishnah a day, while he advised others to fast a certain amount of times a year. Still others were counseled to immerse themselves in a mikvah and others were given different devotions to perform. Yet, there were two devotional practices that were universally prescribed for all his followers – in his generation and for all time. They are the daily study of the Codes and the practice of hitbodedut. This advice is for everyone, because it is something that every Jew has the ability to perform (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom #185).

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Every devotion the Rebbe prescribed is helpful as a remedy to rectify both the past and the future. They will help you after your passing, when you’ll face the Heavenly Tribunal, stand by you in the Messianic age, assist in the time to the Resurrection, and be of help in the World to Come (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom #185).

(Taken from the book rossing the Narrow Bridge: A Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman’s Teachings, chapter 9 – Hitbodedut)