Editing The Baal Shem Tov (section)

==== The Power of Thought ====
The Baal Shem Tov placed special importance on the power of thought, stating that "wherever a person's thoughts are, that is where they are entirely." In avodas haTorah and tefillah, the Baal Shem Tov greatly emphasized the importance of d'veikus of thought to the root of the letters, which is the Ohr Ein Sof. The Baal Shem Tov guides a person to always attach their thoughts to the Shechinah Hakdoshah.

Chassidus relates several stories where the Baal Shem Tov showed his talmidim how a person exists where their thoughts are. For example, once the Baal Shem Tov showed his talmidim how one ox was eating another ox, while in the physical world this was a person eating ox meat out of desire during a Shabbos meal. In another case, one of the baalei batim of Mezhibuzh had a dispute with another baal habayis, and once while they were with the Baal Shem Tov in shul, he shouted that he would "tear his opponent like a fish." The Baal Shem Tov instructed his talmidim to hold hands and stand beside him with closed eyes. The Baal Shem Tov placed his holy hands on the shoulders of the two talmidim standing beside him. Suddenly the talmidim began shouting in fear: they saw how the baal habayis was tearing his opponent like a fish! This clearly shows that every force has a result and effect: whether in physical form, or spiritual, which can only be grasped with higher and more refined senses.