Machshovos Zoros - Foreign thoughts: Difference between revisions

When the Beis Hamikdash existed, the main connection between man and Hashem focused on the korbanos service performed by the Kohanim in the Beis Hamikdash.

After the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, davening replaced the korbanos service in connecting man with Hashem, and the term from the laws of korbanos was borrowed to refer to thoughts unrelated to davening that disturb a person.

In Chazal we find that "thoughts of sin are worse than sin itself," an expression teaching that in certain ways, when a person sins through their power of thought, it is even more severe than if they had committed the actual sin.

In Chassidus it is explained that the garment of thought is closer to the soul to the point that it is united with the soul, which is why a person cannot stop thinking even for a moment. Therefore, when a person damages this garment, they damage a deeper place in their soul.

There are different types of foreign thoughts, such as thoughts related to parnassa that confuse a person and prevent concentration, or forbidden thoughts like thoughts of sin or thoughts of avodah zarah.

The Torah forbids a person from dwelling on foreign thoughts, but if it wasn't expressed in actual deed, the person is not punished for the thought, since one cannot be punished for matters of thought.

In a letter responding to a Yid who complained about having disturbing foreign thoughts, the Rebbe instructed him to check his tefillin to ensure they were kosher according to halacha. On another occasion, the Rebbe instructed to memorize the beginning of Chapter 41 in Tanya (until the words "lifnei hamelech"), a section discussing how Hakadosh Baruch Hu constantly watches over a person, and to review this section each morning before davening.

In Tanya (Chapter 27), the Alter Rebbe writes that when one diverts their mind from evil thoughts and desires, "they should be happy with their portion" that even though these thoughts fall into their mind, they divert their attention from them to fulfill the verse "and you shall not follow after your hearts and after your eyes."

In Chapter 28 of Tanya, the Alter Rebbe says that when foreign thoughts fall to a person during davening or learning, they should ignore them and strive to contemplate and delve deeper into the davening or learning, rather than trying to investigate where these thoughts came from and remove the problem at its root.

To prevent foreign thoughts from confusing a person during learning or davening, the Rebbe suggests holding an open sefer and specifically davening or learning from the sefer.

In Chassidic stories, it appears that one of the Polish chassidim asked the Rebbe Maharash why chassidim don't daven quickly to shorten the time of davening and 'escape' from the foreign thoughts that arise during davening. He compared it to Jews traveling in a wagon when boys start throwing stones at them - surely the advice in such a case would be to whip the horses and flee the place.

The Rebbe answered: This advice is correct when the boys are chasing after the wagon, but when they've managed to climb onto the wagon, it won't help to whip the wagon and speed up its journey. Rather, one must stop the wagon, struggle with them, and drive them away.

- Chaim Brandler, Foreign Thoughts in Prayer and Methods of Prevention According to Chassidic Teachings, Kovetz Haoros HaTemimim V'Anash Tzfat Issue 159 (19 Kislev 1983) page 169

- Reb Nota Gerlitzky, How Should I Speak with the Mashpia About Foreign Thoughts That I Have? Kfar Chabad Weekly Issue 2089 page 86 (1985)