Likutei Moharan ליקוטי מוהר"ן
The teaching of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: faith, joy, simplicity and speaking to God in one's own words.
Likutei Moharan is a collection of the lessons of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, recorded by his disciple Rabbi Natan. Each lesson begins from a verse or a saying of the sages and travels far, weaving halakha, kabbalah and inner work so that the connection appears only at the end.
Its main themes are known well beyond hasidism. Hitbodedut—an hour alone in which a person speaks to God in ordinary words, as to a friend. "The whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the main thing is not to be afraid at all." Joy as an obligation and an effort rather than a mood. And the insistence that doubt and falling are part of the path: "there is no such thing as despair".
Rabbi Nachman died at thirty-eight in Uman; his hasidim never chose a successor.
On the timeline
Related
Sources
Acharonim and later rabbinic literature
- Sichot HaRan — Rabbi Nachman’s conversations as recorded by Rabbi Natan
- Likkutei Moharan, lesson 1 — the opening of the book: “wisdom and understanding” in every thing
- Likkutei Moharan, lesson 282 — azamra — to look for the good point in a person
- Likkutei Moharan Tinyana 24 — hitbodedut — speaking to God in one’s own words
Basis: tradition.