As posted on November 9, 2012 by Sam Blustin on Soup for the Neshama
A teaching of Reb. Nakhman:
“A good shepherd has a special tune, according to the grass and according to the place where he tends his flock. There is a special grass for every different kind among the animals. Every blade of grass has its special tunes, and from the tunes of the different grasses is composed the shepherd’s tune.
Each science, religion, philosophy, even atheism, has its particular song. The loftier the religion or science, the more exalted is its music.
When someone hears a beautiful tune, he attaches himself to the Almighty, because all melodies come from the source of sanctity. But impurity does not sing, for it knows no joy. It is the source of melancholy.
Song and music clothe God’s Divine presence in radiant garments; prayer through song mollifies Divine Judgment. It is of importance that every one cause joy to his own soul by means of an inspiring tune.
Common sense is strengthened by joy, but melancholy is a symptom of oncoming sickness. All sadness is very damaging, because it gives strength to the evil inclinations.
Peace is also the result of joy. The ascent to holiness is through joy, because joy is the world of freedom.”
What lessons do you take from this teaching? Please share them below.
This Shabbat, find the song of your life and enjoy that song to the fullest. We never know when the song might end.
Shabbat Shalom,
SB
Passage taken from “Ideas and Ideals of the Hasidim” by Aron, pg 150, where it was taken from Liqqutei Moharan; Kitzur Liqqutei Moharan; Sefer Hamidot; S.A.; Horodettzky: Leaders of Hassidism, London, 1928, p. 96; A Treasury of Jewish Quotations, New York, 1956.)
