Merirut (Bitterness): Difference between revisions
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== Its Essence and Virtue == | == Its Essence and Virtue == | ||
Merirut in divine service occurs when a person feels the fact of being distant from holiness, and consequently finds themselves in a state of dejection. Although in sadness there is a similar movement of spiritual dejection | Merirut in divine service occurs when a person feels the fact of being distant from holiness, and consequently finds themselves in a state of dejection. Although in sadness there is a similar movement of spiritual dejection - [[Atzvus]] there is a fundamental difference between them: while Atzvus - Sadness comes from the element of earth in a person, which makes them heavy like earth and unable to do anything to improve their situation; merirut, on the other hand, contains within itself energies of positive action to change the situation. | ||
This is also the reason why merirut leads afterward to joy, since the person sees the future - that the situation is about to change (through their future work). | This is also the reason why merirut leads afterward to [[Simcha (joy)|joy]], since the person sees the future - that the situation is about to change (through their future work). | ||
For this reason, although Chassidut completely rejects the feeling of sadness, it encourages the feeling of merirut, as in the saying of the Alter Rebbe: "Sadness and melancholy are forbidden things; merirut is a proven and tested remedy for success in learning and in the ways of divine service." | For this reason, although Chassidut completely rejects the feeling of sadness, it encourages the feeling of merirut, as in the saying of [[the Alter Rebbe]]: "Sadness and melancholy are forbidden things; merirut is a proven and tested remedy for success in learning and in the ways of divine service." | ||
As explained in the Tanya, the feeling of sadness regarding matters of this world or general sadness - should be "transformed" into the feeling of merirut - which affects the person and causes them to work - regarding their spiritual state, which will also eliminate their sadness in worldly matters and bring them to joy. | As explained in the [[Tanya]], the feeling of sadness regarding matters of this world or general sadness - should be "transformed" into the feeling of merirut - which affects the person and causes them to work - regarding their spiritual state, which will also eliminate their sadness in worldly matters and bring them to joy. | ||
Merirut is characterized as smallness and contraction in divine service, unlike contemplation of G-d's greatness, which is characterized as greatness and expansion. | Merirut is characterized as smallness and contraction in divine service, unlike contemplation of G-d's greatness, which is characterized as greatness and expansion. | ||
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The [[Rebbe]] explains in one of his talks that there are two ways of working with merirut: | The [[Rebbe]] explains in one of his talks that there are two ways of working with merirut: | ||
* On Friday night to work with the matter of merirut, and on [[Shabbat]] with joy. | * On Friday night to work with the matter of merirut, and on [[Shabbos|Shabbat]] with joy. | ||
* To work with both matters together. | * To work with both matters together. | ||
In [[Kuntres HaAvodah]], the Rebbe Rashab wrote that there are two types of divine service - general service and particular service. General service is concerned with joy; particular service is concerned with merirut. General service, for example, is contemplation of a general picture, that is, without contemplating the details of the picture but the general picture. Particular service is contemplation of the details of the picture. | In [[Kuntres HaAvodah]], [[the Rebbe Rashab]] wrote that there are two types of divine service - general service and particular service. General service is concerned with joy; particular service is concerned with merirut. General service, for example, is contemplation of a general picture, that is, without contemplating the details of the picture but the general picture. Particular service is contemplation of the details of the picture. | ||
== Merirut in Chassidic History == | == Merirut in Chassidic History == | ||
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== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
* [[Simcha (joy)|Simcha]] | |||
* Simcha | * [[Atzvus]] | ||
* Atzvus | |||
== External Links == | == External Links == | ||
* The Rebbe in 5752: One should strengthen the feeling of bitterness and inspire others in this, on the website 'Lachluches Geulatis' | * The Rebbe in 5752: One should strengthen the feeling of bitterness and inspire others in this, on the website 'Lachluches Geulatis' | ||
* A fascinating farbrengen of the Rebbe Rashab on engaging with bitterness in Divine service, on the website 'Lachluches Geulatis' | * A fascinating farbrengen of the Rebbe Rashab on engaging with bitterness in Divine service, on the website 'Lachluches Geulatis' | ||
[[he:מרירות]] | |||