Listening to Life's messages - Part 9

00:00 The Hemsach in continuation to the earlier installments where we discussed that one can and needs to derive lessons in life by listening to life's messages and incorporating or internalizing them in one's personal service to the Creator. We now continue with an additional installment in medical science. The title is Injection. Every principle that applies to the body's healing has its counterpart in the healing of the soul. The body and soul are each a component of the whole human being who is in turn a universe in microcosm. To illustrate this concept, the previous Rebbe took an example from the field of medicine when he received an injection from a physician. At that time, before giving an injection, medical practitioners would go to great length to ensure the cleanliness of their instruments. The doctor and his assistants would don white garments. They would wash their hands thoroughly and check their nails, lest there be some accumulation of dirt. Finally, they would pour alcohol over the tips of their fingers to remove any speck of impurity. Following these preparations, the medical team would cleanse the treatment area, removing any bacteria present. Although the patient would be clean, they would follow the proceed, the, the procedure. Prior to piercing the flesh, the surrounding skin had to be scrubbed with a cl-cleansing formula to ensure that no bacteria could enter along with the medication. Among Sidim, there's a practice known as a Fabringen, where people gather to hear and share words of inspiration and to, to sing melodies which express the

02:17 inner feelings of the heart. Its goal is for the speakers to inspire the participants to refine their behavior and improve their spiritual health. The focus is often given to the importance of designating fixed times for the study of Torah and applying the principles derived from such study for self-improvement. The purpose of the gatherings, like the injection, is the well-being of another person. In fact, the warmth of the ideas and the beauty of the melodies have tremendous positive effects on the participants. Nevertheless, it is sometimes necessary to use harsh, cutting words to pierce the skin of the one in need of guidance in order for the message to penetrate his defenses and have its desired effect. As with the medical injection, considerable precautions must be taken by the speakers to ensure the cleanliness of their motives and the purity of their methods. The person receiving the spiritual injection must be thoroughly prepared. All this is essential to ensure that no dirt can enter when a person's skin is open and he is vulnerable. This is from a letter of the previous Rebbe, Volume Three, page two ninety-one. Now we go on to the second title in medical science, The Pharmacy. In a well-stocked pharmacy, one sees an impressive variety of medicines used to treat all types of illness. The pharmacist will in- will inform the visitor that only a qualified expert is allowed to dispense medications. Also, if a patient is to recover from his illness, he must take the medicine precisely as instructed by an

04:27 expert. This situation has an analog in the spiritual realm. Each of us has been sent to this world by the Almighty to, quote-unquote, heal or refine ourselves with the remedies that he has provided the Torah and mitzvahs. However, we still require the service of a pharmacist, a teacher to advise us and guide us to the correct medications. Without the skillful judgment of such a person, we may select the wrong cure, quote-unquote, and seriously endanger our health. It is important to keep in mind that once the medicine is in our possession and we know the proper dosage, we must not delay or make excuses for not taking it. Obviously, one can recover only if one takes the remedy as prescribed. Similarly, we can fulfill our earthly mission only if we take our prescribed medicine, complete the spiritual tasks assigned to us. The operations of a pharmacy provide another interesting insight. One can even find vials of poison on a drugstore's shelves. The pharmacist informs us of a paradoxical fact. Minute amounts of certain poisons that would harm a healthy person can actually help cure some illnesses. There are some instances when one must dispense small amounts of poison. For example, although we are taught never to insult or embarrass another person, we must nevertheless refuse a dinner invitation if the meal will not be kosher. In addition, there are times when a person must gently rebuke a friend who is violating the dictates of the Torah, particularly if he believes that the friend will heed his

06:40 words. Perhaps this small dose of, quote-unquote, poison will be the remedy that heals the person. This is from the Rebbe's series of Igress Kadesh, Letters of the Rebbe, Volume Three, page one forty-five. We will, Im Yirtza Hashem, continue in the next installment.