The Baal Shem Tov did not appoint a successor for himself. Instead, he told his Hasidim to look for a teacher outside.
- But how do we recognize him? - asked the students.
“Ask everyone the same question,” said the mentor. - “How to free yourself from vanity?”
- And the one who gives the answer will become our teacher?
“On the contrary,” said Besht. “Anyone who claims to know the answer to this question is a liar.” Vanity comes with a sense of self. Is it possible to free yourself from yourself? To think otherwise is the height of vanity.
“But,” one of the disciples remarked, “aren’t we created in the likeness of God?” Don't we reflect the image of God in ourselves? He is not vain, how can we be vain?
Besht replied:
“The Psalms say: “Lord, You are clothed with glory and majesty.” God's "greatness" is actually humility. The infinite God is clothed in infinite humility. It is true that God is reflected in people, but just as a mirror inverts everything that is reflected in it, so the divine is often inverted in the human world. Therefore, if the humility of the Lord is immeasurable, then human pride is also immeasurable.
After the Baal Shem Tov died and the time of mourning for the deceased had passed, the disciples went in search of his successor. They turned to many great teachers and righteous people, asking how to banish vanity from the heart. Each tzaddik gave them some wise advice. In the end, they addressed their question to Rebbe Pinchas of Korets. The Tsadik shook his head sadly and said:
“I’m also afraid of vanity and I don’t know how to get rid of it.”
- Here is our new rebbe! - the students exclaimed.
Commentary by Rami Shapiro How can we understand that the greatness of God is actually Humility? The word “greatness” implies strength and splendor: the greatness of a king or queen presupposes their veneration, no one even thinks of hiding greatness; the grandeur of the sunset is so irresistible that it takes our breath away. Can God's greatness be different?
Yes, it can. Our world reflects God like a mirror, and when reflected in a mirror, everything often turns out to be upside down, as if turned over - from left to right and from right to left. We think that God's greatness is above us, when in fact the opposite is true. Genesis 1:2 says that God “move over the waters”—but doesn’t the water flow downward? God is not a powerful king commanding people from on high; He is the humble guide who supports us from below.
When we imagine that God is above, it seems to us that spiritual practice should be aimed at climbing to the highest peaks through willpower. But when we discover God in the lowest places, spiritual practice becomes simply submission to the laws of gravity - it becomes effortless and natural. All that is required of us is humility. Can you be proud of rolling down the side of a mountain? Is it possible to be proud that you gave up? There is no victory, there is nothing to be proud of - this is what Besht draws our attention to. Anyone who claims to have conquered vanity is mistaken; his self is still climbing up the slope in an effort to plant his flag at the top. But the rebbe, aware of his vanity and realizing that it is impossible to protect himself from it, is ready to come to terms with the fact that man is not destined to be equal to God - one can only surrender to Him.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru