Foreword
Could it be that the chair on which you sit empty?
- This is ridiculous! How can it be empty?
You're right, it's impossible ... After all, you're sitting in it!
But it is possible that the person sitting in the chair feels completely empty, devastated. And then the chair is really empty -
despite the fact that someone is sitting in it!
***
Rabbi Nachman was about to begin a lesson, when holding arms of the chair in which he sat, he said: "When a man sits in a chair, on-Mench \".
Dictionary "Webster" gives the following definition of the word Mench in Yiddish: "Worthy of respect for an honest man." But those who know the Yiddish word says something more. And those who are familiar with the teachings of Rabbi Nachman, know that in this word entered an even deeper meaning.
In the modern language the word Mench called whole person. Such a person, connecting vsebe various forces and elements, both physical and spiritual, overcomes the inner emptiness we all feel sometimes. When a person sits in a chair, it is not empty. He sits
in his chair, and he - Mench.
***
Rabbi Nachman was born in 1772 in the Ukrainian town of Ìåäæèáîæ. The great-grandson of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement, Rabbi Nachman reached the highest heights of holiness and wisdom. He was able to penetrate into the depths of mysticism, Kabbalah, but at the same time remained a practical man, standing firmly on the ground and teaching people the simplicity, sincerity and faith. He told wonderful stories about princesses, giants, beggars and kings. He talked about healing the sick and the spiritual wholeness ... The life of man!
Rabbi Nachman and attracted the common people, and learned sages, who saw him as a "rabbi", a teacher who gave them spiritual support and pointed the way to life. Even after the death of Rabbi Nachman in 1810, it had a huge impact. His teachings were passed both in writing and by word of mouth. Followers of Rabbi Nachman continued to study his books, finding answers to questions and a source of inspiration. Today, almost two years after his death, he founded the movement is full of life, and the number of his followers is growing day by day. Great optimism and earthly wisdom of Rabbi Nachman are the reason that even outside the circles of Bratslav Hasidism, it is one of the most studied and cited Jewish thinkers of all time.
Rabbi Nachman lived in an era that is considered one of the most important turning points in the history of mankind. In the years of his life, the industrial revolution, was the American War of Independence, the French Revolution occurred. At one time lived with him Goethe, Kant, Byron, Beethoven and Mozart. During these years, dramatic changes have led to the heights of rational thinking and at the same time to a deep skepticism, in the years when it is widely parted the outer limits of human knowledge and at the same time revealed a previously unheard of inner emptiness, Rabbi Nachman identified the most characteristic feature of the coming epoch, saying, " Let me tell you a secret. A huge lack of confidence will come into the world ... ".
Today, two years later, we see how right he was! We also know that a single person moving away from God, comes to mind yet another of disbelief - the loss of his inner self. Letting the mind's eye to the era when will dominate the spiritual emptiness of Rabbi Nachman developed his universal teaching, which faces towards those who seek spiritual heights, and the common people, busy with their daily problems. His teachings, full of hope and joy, tells us that even if it seems that we will not ever know the depths of our own soul, there is always a spark of light in it, just waiting to find out. Inspirational words of Rabbi Nachman addressed to people of all faiths, as well as to those who do not not believe in anything.
In this small in size, but rich in content the book collected thoughts of Rabbi Nachman of how one can achieve spiritual wholeness, "think positively", look for the good in melee. All of this - to live in harmony, to continue the spiritual journey that leads a person to wholeness. Rabbi Nachman gives us advice on how to get to know themselves, to unite feeling and reason, to strengthen the internal strength through faith, simplicity and truth. To open the gates of Heaven, he asks to open the gates of our hearts, thoughts and prayers and meditation mouth. All these paths lead, eventually, to what he wants so much to Rabbi Nachman - that we achieve wholeness, filled the empty chair - devastated "I"-leaving sadness, finding hope and finding joy.
Content
Preface 9
1. Living in Harmony 13
2. In the spiritual journey 39
3.With faith, simplicity and truth 63
4. Unfold the gates of Heaven 81
5. Leave a sadness, to find hope and joy to find 97
English
Russian
