11. Furthermore, a person should know that the greater the object of his desire, the greater the barrier he is presented with. This is in order that his desire will grow that much more, since the desire [that a person has for something] is determined by the degree to which he is prevented [from attaining it].

Therefore, a person who needs other people for something finds it very difficult to pray in public, since in public, he is overcome by all kinds of insincerity and deceptions that are glazed over with truth.

The holy Baal Shem Tov said, “Before a Heavenly decree is passed against a person, the person himself whom the decree concerns is asked about it. If he agrees to it, then the decree is passed, God forbid. That is to say, the person is asked about a situation comparable to his own, upon which he passes judgment, and then the decree is made [against

For the fact is that if a person really knew and believed with his whole heart that “the whole world is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3), and that God stands over him as he prays and He hears, attends and listens to each and every word of his prayers, he would no doubt be extremely meticulous to recite his words with focused intention and he would

That is, when I live my own life and I do not need other people, [then I can pray to God alone]. For “When a person needs other people, his life is not life” (Beitzah 32b)-that is, his life is not his life, because he lives off other people. But when I do not need other people and I live my own life, then I will be able to praise God and to pray

This is because the barrier exists only for the sake of desire, and when a person has the strong desire and will and intense yearning which befits

Repentance primarily depends on the Torah. Specifically, when a person studies Torah, laboring in it until he merits to deduce other things from the things he has learned and to develop new Torah ideas for the sake of Heaven-this is complete repentance.

A person of understanding, however, draws himself closer to God precisely then. For he looks and finds the Creator within the obstacle itself-since in truth, God Himself is hidden within this obstacle.

Nor should he look behind him to see if these images and thoughts have left him.