Listening to Life's Messages - Intro

00:00 The in continuation to the earlier installment where we discussed the introduction to listening to life's messages. We continue now with part two and the conclusion of the introduction. The Baal Shem Tov's philosophy holds that in each profession, a model can be found which offers a fundamental lesson to guide the practitioner in his spiritual service and relationship to Hashem. As occupations become more abstract and complex, people tend to feel alienated from the work they perform. By pointing to the spiritual messages encoded in that work, this can help one create cohesion between his professional activities and other aspects of his personal life. Furthermore, according to Hasidic teaching, people involved in worldly matters such as business and commerce have an advantage over secluded scholars. The scholar is often insulated from events outside the whole of study, whereas the merchant actually sees the hand of Hashem in the opportunities and the fortunes which come his way each day. We now see how King Shlomo's statement takes on a deeper meaning. In all ways know Him. A person's mundane livelihood becomes more than just a means to secure physical sus- sustenance, but rather an ac- an activity inherently replete with possibilities for spiritual transcendence. Even more, a Yid can take advantage of his opportunities for daily interaction with the material world to gain awareness of the godly nature of all existence, and especially the portion of the universe which it is his unique task to use and illuminate. When he thereby clarifies the underlying metrics of meaning in his own

02:14 mind and also in the mind of others, he fulfills the sublime purpose of his existence. By bringing out the truly godly nature of the world, we transform the world into a dwelling place for Hashem. Indeed, we become partners in its creation. Over the course of more than forty years, these ideas were articulated in the Rebbe's personal correspondence and in his public discourses. The Rebbe translates mundane activity into a m- a metaphor for spiritual practice. A famous parable is told by the Alter Rebbe about a great and powerful king who had an only son. The boy was sent to a faraway place to attain wisdom. While studying there, he came down with a severe illness that even the greatest medical experts could not cure. Finally, the king was informed that only one remedy could restore his son's health. The proposed cure consisted of a powder that would be made by grinding up the most precious jewel in the king's crown. The powder was then to be mixed with an elixir offering his, the prince his only chance for recovery. The king did not hesitate for an instant. He was prepared to sacrifice his greatest treasure so his son might live. For what use was his glory if he did not have his beloved son to survive him? The elixir alludes to the dissemination of Hasidus, the crown jewel of the Torah. The king's son in this story represents Am Yisrael. Suffering from a long and difficult exile that has degraded their spiritual state, Yidden today are

04:17 surely in great need of the reviving effects of the precious crown jewel, namely the inner aspects of Torah as illuminated by the light of Hasidus. These teachings are bound up with the soul of every Yid. For this reason, hundreds and thousands of Yidden have been attracted to the godly truth resonating from these ideas. Likewise, this compilation contains a few doses of the life-saving powder derived from the king's jewel. Profound ideas which have been diffused and filtered down to a practical level. With this, we mark the conclusion of the introduction by Rabbi David Sraga Poulter to the book Listening to Life's Messages and im yirtze Hashem in the next installment, we will begin elaborating, discussing different professions and what they imply and teach a person in avodas Hashem.