The Secret of the Beggar Without Hands: The Power of the Tzaddik to Remove All the Arrows
Lesson No. 340 | *Monday, Parashat Behar-Bechukotai, 18 Iyar, Lag BaOmer 5762, lesson after the lighting at the yeshiva.*
An in-depth article based on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, explaining the power of the true tzaddikim, led by Rashbi, to heal the deepest blemishes of the soul. Through the parable of "the beggar without hands," it is explained how one can be saved from the arrows of the evil inclination, primarily the trait of jealousy, and merit complete teshuvah (repentance) in any situation.
Ultimately, everyone was joyous and yearning: how do we bring here that same beggar who was "without hands"? Because the true tzaddik is the one who removes all the arrows. The Sitra Achra (Other Side) shoots arrows at us throughout all the years and in all the reincarnations, especially blemishes of the covenant, and it shoots relentlessly, twenty-four hours a day. Our goal is to remove all these arrows that were shot at us, and that beggar "without hands" is the only one who can remove them. The moment they ask, "Where is he?", he immediately answers, "Here I am." This is Rashbi, this is our holy Rebbe – they are the ones who remove the arrows.
The Great Wedding of Rashbi
The beggar says: "And behold, I have come to you for the wedding." Now a great wedding is taking place in Heaven. In all the firmaments and in all the worlds, they must dance with joy for twenty-four hours. This is a tremendous wedding that does not cease for a second – the wedding of Rashbi. Now, Rashbi ascends to completely new levels, through which he can remove all the arrows. The more a person falls, the higher Rashbi ascends to loftier levels, up to infinity, so that he can extract even a person who has fallen into infinite descents and the lowest depths of the abyss.
The Sitra Achra shoots infinite arrows at a person, but Rashbi can extract him from all the lowest depths and from all the falls in the world. This is his wedding now – he ascends to a new firmament, to a new chamber, and to a completely new sefirah, to an attainment that no mortal has ever reached. With this new attainment, he can extract all of us from wherever we have fallen, and transform us into completely righteous people without any blemish.
The Power in the Hands of the Tzaddik
The beggar took them and said to them:
"I am not blemished at all; rather, in truth, I have power in my hands."
We do not see Rashbi and our Rebbe with our physical eyes, but we know they are alive. The tzaddik says: "With the power in my hands, I can remove all the arrows in the world, all the blemishes, and all the bad traits, and transform the person into a completely righteous tzaddik."
This is a moment when a person can be transformed into a completely righteous tzaddik. This time is greater than Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, and one can now accomplish anything in the world. The moment Rashbi receives his new level, he can atone for every sin and rectify every tikkun (rectification). If a person truly does teshuvah (repentance), dances in teshuvah (repentance), and ignites the fire within his heart – the fire of Rashbi enters into him.
Ten Types of Poisons and the Venom of Jealousy
In the story, it is told of a group of people who sat together, and each one boasted of the power in his hands. These were awesome tzaddikim who could rectify the world. Each tzaddik boasted about what tikkunim (rectifications) he could perform and from what lowest depths he could extract souls. But to extract from the absolute lowest depths – which is blemishes of the covenant – only Rashbi and our Rebbe can rectify that.
One of the tzaddikim there boasted that he has power and might in his hands, that he shoots an arrow and can return it and draw it back to himself. The beggar asked him: "Which arrow can you return? For there are ten types of arrows and ten types of poisons." When they want to shoot an arrow, they smear it with a deadly poison. The blemish of the covenant is the poison that kills the person. For a single second of pleasure, the person is completely murdered.
The ten types of poisons include all the venoms in the world, such as arrogance and jealousy. Jealousy is the worst of all. What are you jealous of? Granted, a person needs to bring children into the world, to eat, and to sleep, but why be jealous? Why should you care if the other person is a king, or a mayor, or received an important position? Do you have a cup of water? Recite the blessing "Shehakol nihiyah bidvaro" and drink. You have no reason to be jealous. Eat, sleep, drink, learn, dance, and sing – why should you care that the other person has a position?
On the contrary, the tzaddik always yields. Like a taxi driver who gives up passengers for the benefit of his friends, and in the end receives the best rides. The tzaddik is 'last but not least', he yields to everyone. Like Mashiach, who waits patiently and lets everyone else rule, and in the end will take the world. Jealousy is the greatest poison, and it has no justification whatsoever.
Returning the Arrow in Mid-Flight
The beggar asked that tzaddik who boasted: "Can you return the arrow only before it has struck, or also after it has struck?" The beggar "without hands" testifies about himself: "I can return the arrow in mid-flight, before it strikes, and also after it strikes!"
The tzaddik is all-powerful; one only needs to truly connect to him. He can remove any arrow in the world. If we truly leave our nonsense behind and do true teshuvah (repentance), we will understand that for a single second of lust, a person loses this world and the World to Come. But if a person decides at this very moment to do true teshuvah (repentance), the tzaddik can lift him up in a single second and bring him to all the levels in the world.
Even if the arrow has already struck, and even if the person says, 'I am already halfway down the path and I have no desire to return' – connect to our Rebbe, and he will bring you back in a single second.
Part 1 of 5 — Lesson No. 340
All Parts: Part 1 (Current) | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5