How many times do we suddenly feel a stiffness and have questions as to why this pain is suddenly upon us? I know that often what is ailing me physically is not coming just from sitting or moving the wrong way but from something deeper. We know our physical pain is often the outward manifestation of spiritual, social or emotional pain. This is why good holistic medicine offers people supports that move beyond the questions of just where does it hurt to questions about what is currently going on in one’s life and explorations of current stressors that might need to be expressed. Truth be told, like so much else in modern spirituality and psychology literature, these wisdoms are not new. They are known thoughts and ideas we have been exploring for centuries.
For example, the below quote from Rebbe Nachman suggests when we find ourselves struggling with our faith, as we so often do, we are more susceptible to struggles that cannot be cured by simply taking a pill, calling on Gd to help or even relying on the merits of our ancestors (a deeper topic that isn’t directly tied into my train of thought in this piece). Many of our difficulties stem from the imbalance we might be experiencing. Or, as Rebbe Nachman suggests:
הָעִקָּר הוּא הָאֱמוּנָה. וְצָרִיךְ כָּל אֶחָד לְחַפֵּשׂ אֶת עַצְמוֹ אִם אֱמוּנָתוֹ שְׁלֵמָה, וּלְחַזֵּק אֶת עַצְמוֹ בֶּאֱמוּנָה תָּמִיד. כִּי עַל־יְדֵי פְּגַם אֱמוּנָה בָּאִים מַכּוֹת מֻפְלָאוֹת, שֶׁאֵין מוֹעִיל לָהֶם לֹא רְפוּאוֹת וְלֹא תְּפִלָּה וְלֹא זְכוּת אָבוֹת. גַּם אֵין מוֹעִיל לְהַחוֹלֶה קוֹל צְעָקוֹת שֶׁל אָח וּגְנִיחוֹת. כִּי לִפְעָמִים מוֹעִיל לְהַחוֹלֶה אֵלּוּ הַקּוֹלוֹת, שֶׁמְּרַחֲמִין עָלָיו עַל־יְדֵי זֶה, אֲבָל עַל־יְדֵי נְפִילַת הָאֱמוּנָה גַּם אֵלּוּ הַקּוֹלוֹת אֵין מוֹעִילִין: (לק”ת סי’ ה’ אות א’)
The main thing is emunah (faith). Every person has to search within himself and strengthen himself in faith. The fall of faith brings to astounding afflictions, for which neither medicines, nor prayer, nor ancestral merit helps. Neither is the sick person helped by the sound of his sighs and groans. There are times when such sounds help the sick person by arousing mercy for him. But on account of the fall of faith, this, too, does not help (II 5:1).
Strengthening our sense of faith is a foundation of regular spiritual growth. By faith, I am not speaking in a narrow sense, though Rebbe Nachman would be more limiting as to the word’s definition. I am speaking in the broad sense of recognizing that spiritual contentment and spiritual struggle will have a positive or negative effect, respectively, on our lives. We are tasked to always be strengthening our faith, a theme we have seen in some of the other quotes from Rebbe Nachman. Through this spiritual vigilance, we often have the fortitude to overcome many obstacles.
It is important for me to emphasize that this is not a post suggesting that modern medicine or taking care of our physical health is unimportant. It is of paramount importance to be vigilant with our bodies and couple that with spiritual/emotional vigilance. And while Rebbe Nachman had many negative things to say regarding physicians (keeping in mind in his late 18th century/early 19th century world doctors did not have nearly the amount of knowledge or tools at their disposal as they do today), I think we can read his words in light of our seeing ourselves in the holistic way I mentioned above.
Are you struggling with your spiritual growth? Faith? Feeling lost in the midst of the journey of life? Contact New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC at 732-314-6758 ext. 100 or via email at newbeginningsspiritualcoach@gmail.com
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