Question & Answer With Rabbi Lazer Brody - The Benefit Of The Fall
A Simple Jew asks:
In his book "The Garden of Yearning", Rabbi Shalom Arush explained that when we attempt to get closer to Hashem and wind up stumbling and falling it can actually be beneficial to us since it dispels our delusional thinking and provides us with a true indication of exactly where we are holding:
"When a person doesn't succeed in one of life's tests, then he should thank Hashem profusely for not giving him false success, illusions of grandeur, and spiritual levels that he does not deserve. The greatest joy is recognizing one's own reality - where we stand and our task at hand."
Could you elaborate a little more on this teaching from Rabbi Arush and explain how it is an really and act of Hashem's kindness to let us succeed only when we are truly worthy?
Rabbi Lazer Brody answers:
Imagine that you're in the army. You've been through basic training, advanced infantry school and NCO school, and now you've earned your corporal's stripes (2). Yet, you'd feel a lot prouder being a platoon sergeant, and strutting down the street with 4 stripes on your sleeve. But there's a problem - you're not yet qualified and you haven't yet fought in real combat situations. Still, like a spoiled child, you want your 4 stripes right now. If your commander is totally daft, he gives them to you, puts you in charge of a platoon, and throws you on the front lines. Inexperienced, chances are that you'll not only endanger your life, but the lives of another 50 soldiers too. Is that what you want? Certainly not. When Hashem holds back the promotion, it's the same deal - we're not ready, and we might do damage to our souls (with arrogance, illusions of grandeur, etc), G-d forbid. Hashem doesn't want that. So, like a tough (but devoted and caring) commander, Hashem trains us and tests us until we're ready for the new madrega.
In his book "The Garden of Yearning", Rabbi Shalom Arush explained that when we attempt to get closer to Hashem and wind up stumbling and falling it can actually be beneficial to us since it dispels our delusional thinking and provides us with a true indication of exactly where we are holding:
"When a person doesn't succeed in one of life's tests, then he should thank Hashem profusely for not giving him false success, illusions of grandeur, and spiritual levels that he does not deserve. The greatest joy is recognizing one's own reality - where we stand and our task at hand."
Could you elaborate a little more on this teaching from Rabbi Arush and explain how it is an really and act of Hashem's kindness to let us succeed only when we are truly worthy?
Rabbi Lazer Brody answers:
Imagine that you're in the army. You've been through basic training, advanced infantry school and NCO school, and now you've earned your corporal's stripes (2). Yet, you'd feel a lot prouder being a platoon sergeant, and strutting down the street with 4 stripes on your sleeve. But there's a problem - you're not yet qualified and you haven't yet fought in real combat situations. Still, like a spoiled child, you want your 4 stripes right now. If your commander is totally daft, he gives them to you, puts you in charge of a platoon, and throws you on the front lines. Inexperienced, chances are that you'll not only endanger your life, but the lives of another 50 soldiers too. Is that what you want? Certainly not. When Hashem holds back the promotion, it's the same deal - we're not ready, and we might do damage to our souls (with arrogance, illusions of grandeur, etc), G-d forbid. Hashem doesn't want that. So, like a tough (but devoted and caring) commander, Hashem trains us and tests us until we're ready for the new madrega.
3 Comments:
Makes a lot of sense to me.
I'm assuming that Hashem would not let someone fall so hard they couldn't get up, right? I mean you may have to beg Him for a hand up (which is part of the point) but I'm operating under the assumption that after doing a face plant one could be consoled by the fact that there's a rung on the ladder within reach if one is really looking to improve oneself.
I have read his book book "The Garden of Yearning" and I think is really, I can recommend this for any person, read it,is good, thanks for this posting.
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