606 - Transform Your Bitachon! (Part-43)

606 - Transform Your Bitachon! (Part-43)

We've been discussing how fearing another individual or another situation is actually the antithesis of Bitachon. When we choose to rely on Hashem, that ultimately leads us to inner peace and serenity, which would mean that we don't fear anyone else nor any other situation because I know that I'm exclusively in Hashem's hands. Whereas as the Chovos Halevavos points out, our human nature is always to rely on someone or something.   So if we're not relying on Hashem, we're relying on someone else. If I wake up in the morning not feeling well, my natural human instinct is to rely on something. Either I'm going to rely on the doctor which I'm going to visit, or on the medication I'm going to take, or I'm going to rely on Hashem. I'm always relying on something. And as we learned previously, the Chovos Halevavos writes that whatever we choose to rely on, we become under their control and their auspices. Which means when I visit a doctor and I choose to rely on the doctor, that he's actually helping me out, Hashem made it as part of how things work in the spiritual realms that I actually become under the control of that doctor.   And the same would apply with any other situation of my life. And therefore it is vital to take this information that we're learning, not only to have it as a theoretical concept, but rather as we go about our days to try our best to contemplate on this information, to live by the values of Bitachon, sincerely to know and internalize that I'm not bound by anyone or any situation; I am exclusively reliant on Hashem. And by doing so, we are saved from the very grave sin of fear, which again is the opposite of what Bitachon truly is.   Bitachon is as the Chovos Halevavos taught us, the serenity of the soul, inner peace and tranquility, exactly the antithesis of fear. And as we learned, even more than the actual sin than not having Bitachon, but rather having fear leads to, when one does rely on another individual, I become under their control. Which was one of the highest forms of tragedy that can happen to an individual in this world. God forbid if I choose to rely on someone else, I actually become under their control, as opposed to having Bitachon in Hashem and being exclusively in Hashem's boat where things are going to turn out much better for me because Hashem only wants the best for me and is completely beyond any limitation. And not only that, when I choose to rely on Hashem, I am fulfilling the greatest mitzvah, which is ultimately the foundation of all Torah and mitzvos, whereas when I choose to rely on someone else or another situation, I am committing a grave sin, just to digest a little bit how important it is to work on our Bitachon on a day to day basis.   Rabbeinu Bechayei then goes to say that Bitachon is that a person is to rely on Hashem under all circumstances, whether one is a wealthy individual or one is a poor individual. Because if a person is suffering poverty and does not have food or clothing, this poor individual should trust that Hashem will take care of him, and Hashem will give him his food, and Hashem will give him his clothes, and he will not lack anything. Again, Rabbeinu Bechayei is teaching us here loud and clear, the approach for someone who is lacking food, who is lacking clothing, is not to say, okay, I guess it's all for the best; Hashem has a plan, and I accept it with love.   There may be another aspect to get into that mode of thought, which we'll address as we come to those sections. But we are learning clearly here in Rabbeinu Bechayei that a poor individual, he is lacking finances for sufficient clothing and food - he should nevertheless trust in Hashem, and as Rabbeinu Bechaya said previously, without a shadow of a doubt, that He will for sure provide for me. He will take care of me. He will give me the food that I need. He will give me the clothing that I need. He will take care of my needs. He will come through for me in the way that I need. He will send my salvation.   Bitachon is about relying on Hashem to the point that I truly internalize and understand that Hashem will take care of me in the beautiful, sweet way that I imagined for it to be. Not just in acceptance of everything is for the best and whatever happens is good, but rather I am short of food and clothing, I am trusting Hashem will take care of me and give me the food and clothing that I need. B'ezrat Hashem, let's explore this further together as we move forward in our journey about Bitachon.

605 - Transform Your Bitachon! (Part-42)

Let's continue to explore this beautiful passage in Rabbeinu Bechayei with regards to many of the fundamentals of bitachon. In the previous session we discussed how Rabbeinu Bechayei teaches that the verse in Mishlei which states that a person who fears another individual or another circumstance is actually committing a sin. We are learning here that to fear someone else or to fear something else is considered a sin. Again, it's not just a nice added benefit to our lives but rather to realize that when we fear something else we are committing a sin.   Now when learning this concept people ask, but how can that be? Fear and anxiety much of the time are an emotion which would seem to be against my control. How can Hashem hold me accountable for fearing something or for feeling feelings of anxiety and worry when that's just my natural response to the situation? And as the Steipler writes in his Sefer Birkas Peretz (Parshas Shoftim), Hashem will not hold us accountable for fear that automatically comes to us because of our emotional state; rather we are called on to make an effort to minimize fear in whatever way we can. If by exposing myself to a specific activity or situation that is going to bring on more anxiety, worry and fear, that would be something that we should do our best to stay away from. And if God forbid we intentionally bring that fear on ourselves, that is classified as an outright sin.   And again, if we are doing our best to take steps forward in our bitachon journey, that's all that Hashem requires of us and we are certainly a success story. And if fear still finds its way into our lives, that's okay, because we are human beings. But we are called on to do our best to get rid of those things that are anxiety triggering and can bring more fear into our lives.   The other point that Rabbeinu Bechayei taught us was that when a person fears another situation or another individual, God forbid it becomes like a magnet which actually attracts that fear to materializing into reality. Of course to understand the ins and outs of how this works spiritually and why Hashem made this setup is beyond our capacity of understanding, but we don't need to understand the ins and outs of how it works. For our purposes as human beings in this world, we just need to have the conclusion loud and clear: When we fear someone else, God forbid, that item that we're fearing from coming about becomes much more attracted to us and possible to materialize.   But this discussion is not just limited to fearing someone else. As the Chovos HaLevavos and many others point out, that when one trusts in another individual or another situation, one actually becomes under the control and auspices of that situation and that individual. And this can explain how much of the time it could apparently appear how I am in the hands of my boss or the doctor and the like. Because when I am placing my trust and reliance in this boss of mine that he ultimately provides my salary, actually what happens is I become under his control. And God forbid one can fall into a very bad cycle because the more bitachon I have, the more I realize I am not in the hands of that boss and the more it will become clear to me that I am exclusively dependent on Hashem. But God forbid if a person goes down the other road and relies on other individuals and situations such as the doctor or my boss, then the more I choose to rely on my boss, the more I actually become under his control. And then it actually does appear more and more in my life that I do need him to provide for me because the truth is, if I am relying on him, I now do need him, as the Chovos HaLevavos points out to us.   It's so vital and important to make our maximum effort to do everything we can to internalize what we're learning. Not just to know the information that we're supposed to rely on Hashem and not rely on anything else and no one else, but rather to internalize it. It's not the doctor, it's not the boss, it's no one else. It's Hashem exclusively who takes care of me and Hashem exclusively who I am called on to rely on. B’ezrat Hashem, let's move forward together in discussing and exploring these Torah sources and transforming our bitachon.

604 - Transform Your Bitachon! (Part-41)

Let's move forward together on our bitachon journey. So we've been exploring this beautiful Torah piece from Rabbeinu Bechayei, which many of the concepts of bitachon are brought to light. We discussed so far that Rabbeinu Bechayei taught us that bitachon means to rely on Hashem to such an extent, to make our maximum effort to internalize, that Hashem exclusively runs every single detail of our lives, and there is no statistic or natural limitation beyond Hashem's salvation.   We are called on to rely on Hashem that He will send our salvation from challenging circumstances. And we are to work to getting to a point of such reliance on Hashem that I have absolutely no doubt that He will save me from this situation. And as we discussed, we are to build our reliance on Hashem to such an extent that we rely on Hashem exclusively, realizing that we are not dependent whatsoever on anyone or anything else, but rather exclusively from Hashem, and although we have a mitzvah to explore which we'll get to, of Hishtadlus, where we are called on to make our own efforts, however it is very clear that we are not to rely on our own efforts whatsoever.   And how this will translate practically is if I don't have a practical effort to make, do I suddenly feel anxious that I cannot do anything about it, or do I rather feel relieved that I don't need to do anything about it, but rather can leave it completely up to Hashem? There are many situations that are clearly beyond any form of our control. For example, if there is a war going on and there is absolutely nothing that I can do about it and I have absolutely no idea how this is all going to turn out, do I feel serenity and calm because I know Hashem is in control? Or am I anxious and panicking because I don't know how this is all going to turn out? And there are many other situations that can apply in all of our personal lives.   We now move to the next segment of this beautiful introductory piece about bitachon from Rabbeinu Bechayei. He writes, Bitachon means to not trust and rely on any other individual whatsoever. Notice the emphasis of Rabbeinu Bechaye: that a person should not rely on another individual whatsoever. We ought to know that it is not the doctor who provides my healing. It is not the Shadchan who finds my soulmate. It is not the boss who provides my salary. And it is not my own brain who finds my solutions. It is exclusively Hashem that I rely on to take care of all my needs.   Rabbeinu Bechayei continues: And this is the meaning of the verse in Mishlei which states “The fear of an individual is specifically what leads to their downfall” - and as Rabbeinu Bechayei explains, this means to say, when I fear another individual, that itself is the cause of what will be my stumbling block. Rabbeinu Bechayei is teaching us a fundamental principle about bitachon. In a sense, the opposite of bitachon is fear. Because as we learned right at the beginning from the Chovos HaLevavos, Bitachon leads to serenity and the opposite of that is fear, worry, and anxiety.   Bitachon is to not rely on any individual whatsoever. And when I work towards relying on Hashem exclusively, without placing any reliance whatsoever on another individual, that will lead me to feel no feelings of fear. And as Rabbeinu Bechayei pointed out, when I do feel feelings of fear, not only is that classified as an outright sin, but in fact, spiritually speaking, it gives more of a power to that item or that individual that I am fearing. The less we fear other people and other circumstances, the less we'll be under their control. Let's continue to explore this together, B'ezrat Hashem, and transform our bitachon.

603 - Transform Your Bitachon! (Part-40)

We continue exploring this beautiful passage in Rabbeinu Bechayei. As mentioned, Bitachon is all over the Torah, but this piece is a nice summary to many of the concepts of Bitachon. What we've looked at so far in this piece in Rabbeinu Bechayei is that Bitachon is to know that Hashem is absolutely in control of every single detail of our lives, to the point that He's completely beyond any and all forms of natural limitations. Nothing can stop Hashem from sending our salvation when He desires to. And Rabbeinu Bechayei teaches us that specifically when adversity strikes, that is the time to practice Bitachon and rely on Hashem and say, “Hashem, I know You're going to come through for me.” To the point that Rabbeinu Bechayei taught us, we are supposed to have no doubt whatsoever that Hashem will for sure send our salvation to the adversity we're experiencing.   We left off in the previous session that Bitachon is to rely on Hashem exclusively - to know that it is nothing else whatsoever that provides for us. No individual, no job, no doctor, nothing whatsoever except for Hashem is what we're supposed to place our reliance on. Yes, I may have a mitzvah of Hishtadlus - to go to the doctor when one might be sick, to make an effort for paranasa, and the many other things that encompass our lives, but I am not to rely on any of those ventures, even 1%. I am not to believe that Hashem is 99% in control, and those ventures help me just that 1%. No, as Rabbeinu Bechayei taught us - to rely on Hashem alone, exclusively, that He exclusively runs the show.   Rabbeinu Bechayei then writes that we are to remember Hashem in all the minute details of the activities we are involved in, and to contemplate and internalize that the activity we are involved in is not in our hands but rather exclusively in Hashem's hands. When we learn Torah commentaries such as this passage in Rabbeinu Bechayei, we are gaining the true perspective of how the world runs. Unfortunately, in the Western world, many of the ideas that are portrayed of how the world is run or supposed to run are completely against Torah values. You are your own boss. You can do it if you really want. You can be what you want to be. There are many good messages in those statements, but if the fundamental ingredient is missing, that ultimately you cannot rely on your own abilities nor anyone else's abilities. The only thing that is reliable is Hashem Himself. If one does not have that foundation, one is missing the point of life.   The whole point ultimately of the whole Torah and all the mitzvos is for the sake of Bitachon, and if I'm missing this most fundamental ingredient of Judaism, I'm ultimately missing the whole point of Torah, mitzvos and Judaism itself. And it's not easy to take this information truly to heart. It's one thing to learn the information that yes, Hashem runs things exclusively, but how do I respond now when I go to the doctor and he tells me, I'm sorry, but there is no cure for your situation. Ideally, we should be aiming that if such a thing would God forbid happen, we would feel calm to the exact same extent as before we walked into the doctor's office and heard that information, because again, we are not reliant, not on the doctor, not on any of the statistics of the world, but rather exclusively on Hashem Himself. B'ezrat Hashem, let's move forward together on this journey of trying to not only know the information, but truly digest and internalize the truth that I am reliant exclusively on Hashem. Let's move forward now on this journey together and transform our Bitachon.

602 - Transform Your Bitachon! (Part-39)

Let's continue our bitachon journey. We mentioned previously how Rabbeinu Bechayei states that bitachon is to know that Hashem is beyond all of nature, and there is nothing stopping Hashem from sending our salvation. And really what bitachon means is to know that when adversity strikes, Hashem's salvation is around the corner, to the point that we are supposed to have absolute conviction without any shadow of a doubt, that Hashem will send my salvation. And again, going right back to the beginning, to the chovos halevavos, which we learned, that bitachon ultimately leads to inner peace and tranquility. The more one internalizes that not only can Hashem send my salvation, but Hashem will send my salvation, the more that will lead me to feeling calm and inner peace.   B’ezrat Hashem, as we proceed in our bitachon journey, although we may learn that at the absolute highest levels of bitachon, I may not even need to have a desire of my own to reach that true tranquility and inner peace, because I know Hashem is so taking care of every single detail in my life that I actually don't in a sense care what the outcome will be. However, for most of us, we do have very real desires and needs. And when those desires and needs are not met, usually that leads to anxiety and worry. Again, for most of us, if we're short of money and have no idea where we're going to get food on the table from, that usually will lead to feelings of anxiety and worry. And as Rabbeinu Bechayei is teaching us, our bitachon needs to be with conviction that when adversity strikes and challenge presents itself, I know without a shadow of a doubt that Hashem will for sure send my salvation.   We now continue in this passage from Rabbeinu Bechayeh. “And bitachon means to rely on Hashem exclusively.” The concepts of emunah and bitachon are very, very subtle. They are literally a billion levels. I might rely on Hashem that He will take care of my situation, but I'm actually also relying on my own efforts and my own activities, or perhaps the security I might have from someone else. Do I feel confident that I'm going to have food on the table because I've got a stable job with a secure salary that comes in on a monthly basis? Or do I feel that I'm going to have food on the table because I'm relying on Hashem exclusively? Again, as we'll learn with regards to the topic of Hishtadlus, I still go to my job on a daily basis and fulfill the mitzvah of Hishtadlus, but what is my perspective? Do I know without a shadow of a doubt that it is not my job providing for me even 1% - it is Hashem 100% exclusively providing for me? Or do I think, of course Hashem is running the show, but you know, my job helps Hashem fulfill that plan?   Rabbeinu Bechayei is teaching us that bitachon is to rely on Hashem exclusively - to know that Hashem alone without the need of anyone else or anything else including even my own efforts, Hashem exclusively is running the show. And again, as mentioned, these concepts are actually very subtle. You could have two people going through the exact same actions and motions where one could be an absolute success story in Emunah and Bitachon and the other God forbid not. And they both seem to be pretty similar in the way they are acting. They both go to work, they both fulfill the mitzvos where the one truly believes that Hashem exclusively is providing for them and the other doesn't feel so comfortable with Hashem as his own security, but rather places more trust and reliance on the job.   We're not going to get there in a day. Bitachon is a journey; it's our life's journey; it's the point of our life. And even if at the moment we find ourselves placing quite a heavy reliance on our job or other people and the like, although that is certainly not the ideal and it's certainly not the perspective of Bitachon, but we're not expected to be experts in Bitachon in one day. As long as we're taking this information and doing our best to apply it just a little bit more into our lives on a daily basis, we are absolute success stories in our Emunah and Bitachon journeys. B’ezrat Hashem, let's move forward in our journey together and transform our Bitachon.