The Secret of Constant Devekus: The Maggid's Promise to the Beis Yosef
Class No. 105 | Sunday, Parashas Re'eh, 21 Menachem Av 5753 | Monday, Parashas Re'eh, 22 Menachem Av 5757
This article reveals the secret of constant devekus (attachment) to Hashem, as transmitted to Rabbi Yosef Karo by the angelic Maggid. It explains how placing the Name of Hashem (Havayah) before one's eyes at every moment is the key to attaining Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration), performing miracles, and achieving the supreme level of mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) for the sanctification of Hashem's Name.
Following the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple), the tikkun (rectification) of the world was accomplished through the Ten Martyrs. Since the Temple was destroyed, it is impossible to draw down mochin (spiritual intellect) and divine abundance to the world except through those tzaddikim who sacrifice their lives for the sanctification of Hashem's Name. They are the ones who draw down atonement for all of Israel. For this reason, we mention them on Yom Kippur, which is a time of atonement for the entire Jewish nation and for all souls.
Only through those who are killed for the sanctification of Hashem's Name do we merit to draw down loving-kindness to the world, because one who is killed for the sanctification of Hashem's Name opens the channel for the flow of this kindness. From there, all divine abundance is drawn down to the world, and particularly to those tzaddikim who practice mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) for the sanctification of Hashem's Name.
The Maggid's Warning and the Immense Promise
These concepts are brought down in the book "Maggid Meisharim" of the Beis Yosef (Rabbi Yosef Karo). The angelic Maggid tells him: "Hashem is with you in all that you do, and Hashem will make you successful. However, the condition is that you do not separate your thoughts from Me for even a brief moment."
The Maggid promises the Beis Yosef: "If you do not separate your thoughts from Me for a brief moment, then I will elevate you to high and lofty spiritual levels, and I will grant you free access among those who stand (the angels)." The Maggid, which was the spirit of the Mishnah that had impregnated him, would speak out of the Beis Yosef's mouth, and voices would emerge from his lips.
The Maggid told him: "I am the Mishnah speaking through your mouth; I am the mother who disciplines her children. Know that the moment you separate your thoughts from Me, all disasters will come upon you. But the moment you think of Me, you will be able to say:
'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.'"
The Power of the Name of Hashem Before One's Eyes
The Maggid warns the Beis Yosef that the S"M (the evil inclination) and the primordial serpent are chasing after him, and their entire desire is to cause him to stumble. The only way to rule over them is by constantly seeing the Name of Hashem (Havayah) before his eyes. As King David said:
"I have set Hashem before me always."
Whoever places the Name of Hashem before his eyes at every moment merits to fulfill, 'I will pursue my enemies and overtake them, and I will not return until they are destroyed.' All the miracles of the Beis HaMikdash were performed by people whose minds were bound to the service of Hashem without any alteration or interruption. Such a person will always be saved by Hashem.
The Beis Yosef explains how all the Rishonim (early Torah authorities), such as the Rashba and the Ramban, were able to perform miracles in heaven and on earth. Their power stemmed from the fact that they were attached to the Name of Hashem all day long. Even when they studied the simple meaning of the Gemara, the Name of Hashem was literally right before their eyes. Their entire thought process was attached to Hashem without pausing for even a single moment, and through this, they would ascend from moment to moment to the highest spiritual realms.
Filling the Intellect with Holiness
The Maggid tells the Beis Yosef: "You, too, must do the same. Always attach your thoughts to Me and do not move from them for even a single moment." Regarding this, the verse states:
"My son, give your heart to Me, and let your eyes observe My ways."
The heart must always be filled with words of Torah and the service of Hashem. And if the heart is not always there, then at the very least, "let your eyes observe My ways." The main thing is that the intellect should be filled with holiness. When a person's intellect is filled with words of Torah, he can repel every evil inclination in the world.
The Maggid explains to the Beis Yosef that the trait of zerizus (alacrity) means to constantly place the Name of Hashem before one's eyes. Through zerizus, one reaches purity of mind, which is the salvation from every sin. When a person attaches all of his limbs to Hashem, his body becomes a camp of the Shechinah (Divine Presence), and he is saved from the judgment of the grave and from worms and decay.
The Condition for Meriting Mesiras Nefesh
The Maggid promises the Beis Yosef the greatest promise of all: "You will merit histalkus (passing away) al kiddush Hashem (sanctifying Hashem's Name)." But he conditions this with a clear stipulation: "Do you want to die *al kiddush Hashem*? To merit this tremendous level? This will only happen if you do not divert your mind from me for a single second, not even for one moment."
The Maggid reveals to the Beis Yosef that the entire Heavenly Academy sent him to transmit these secrets to him. Every Jew can say, "When will my actions reach the actions of my forefathers," and merit to learn Gemara that will bring him to Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration). The condition for this, as the Maggid relayed to the Beis Yosef, is twofold: to learn Torah lishmah (for its own sake), and to place the Name of Havayah (Hashem) before one's eyes constantly and without interruption.
Part 1 of 4 — Lesson No. 105