Whenever his high spiritual level was mentioned, the Rebbe would say, “But I worked very hard for all this. Ich hab zehr gehoravet. Ich hab zehr fil gefast – I struggled very much. I endured many fasts” (see “His Wisdom” #158).
We are taught, “Envy of scholars increases wisdom” (Bava Batra 21a). This is why the Rebbe told us all these things. He wanted us to envy his great achievements and emulate them, following his ways in striving to serve God.
The Rebbe once spoke to one of us about his attainments. He seemed to boast of his high level and deep perception just like one taunts another and tries to make him jealous of some mundane achievement.
The other man replied to the Rebbe, “How can I achieve this? Who is worthy of attaining such a high level? Surely only one with a lofty soul like yours!”
The Rebbe seemed very irritated and answered, “This is the trouble. You think that tzaddikim attain greatness merely because they have a very great soul. This is absolutely wrong! Any person can attain my levels and become just like me. All it takes is true devotion and effort” (see “His Praises” #25).
בְּכָל פַּעַם שֶׁהָיָה מְסַפֵּר מֵעֹצֶם הַפְלָגַת מַעֲלָתוֹ וּמַדְרֵגָתוֹ הַגָּבוֹהַּ מְאֹד מְאֹד. הָיָה אוֹמֵר בְּכָל פַּעַם: "אֲבָל מְאֹד יָגַעְתִּי עַל זֶה" (אִיךְ הָאבּ זֵייעֶר גִּיהָארִווֶיט. אִיךְ הָאבּ זֵייעֶר פִיל גִּיפַאסְט).
Whenever his high spiritual level was mentioned, the Rebbe would say, “But I worked very hard for all this. Ich hab zehr gehoravet. Ich hab zehr fil gefast – I struggled very much. I endured many fasts” (see “His Wisdom” #158).
וְעִקַּר סִפּוּרוֹ בְּפָנֵינוּ דְּבָרִים כָּאֵלּוּ, הָיָה בִּשְׁבִיל קִנְאַת סוֹפְרִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁנִּהְיֶה מְקַנְּאִים עַצְמֵנוּ בְּמַעֲלָתוֹ הַגְּדוֹלָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁגַּם אֲנַחְנוּ נַעֲשֶׂה כְּמוֹתוֹ וְנֵלֵךְ בִּדְרָכָיו לְהִתְיַּגֵּעַ וְלִטְרֹחַ וְכוּ' וְלַעֲבֹד ה' כְּמוֹתוֹ.
We are taught, “Envy of scholars increases wisdom” (Bava Batra 21a). This is why the Rebbe told us all these things. He wanted us to envy his great achievements and emulate them, following his ways in striving to serve God.
וּפַעַם אַחַת סִפֵּר עִם אֶחָד מֵעִנְיָנִים אֵלּוּ, וְהִתְפָּאֵר לְפָנָיו, מֵעֹצֶם גְּדֻלַּת מַעֲלָתוֹ וְהַשָּׂגָתוֹ הַגְּבוֹהָה הָעֲצוּמָה וְכוּ', כְּמוֹ שֶׁמִּתְפָּאֵר וּמִתְגָּרֶה עִם חֲבֵרוֹ בִּגְדוֹלוֹת, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְקַנֵּא בּוֹ חֲבֵרוֹ.
The Rebbe once spoke to one of us about his attainments. He seemed to boast of his high level and deep perception just like one taunts another and tries to make him jealous of some mundane achievement.
וְזֶה הָאִישׁ אָמַר לוֹ: "מִי יוּכַל לָבוֹא לָזֶה לִזְכּוֹת לְמַדְרֵגַתְכֶם כִּי יֵשׁ לָכֶם נְשָׁמָה גְּבוֹהָה מְאֹד בְּוַדַּאי?!" וְהִקְפִּיד רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל מְאֹד עַל זֶה.
The other man replied to the Rebbe, “How can I achieve this? Who is worthy of attaining such a high level? Surely only one with a lofty soul like yours!”
וְאָמַר: "זֶהוּ הַחִסָּרוֹן שֶׁלָּכֶם, שֶׁנִּדְמֶה לָכֶם שֶׁעִקַּר גְּדֻלַּת וְהַשָּׂגַת הַצַּדִּיקִים הַגְּבוֹהִים הוּא רַק מִצַּד הַנְּשָׁמָה הַגְּבוֹהָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם, כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת לֹא כֵן הַדָּבָר, רַק כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד יָכוֹל לִזְכּוֹת לָבוֹא לְמַדְרֵגָתִי, לִהְיוֹת כָּמוֹנִי מַמָּשׁ. כִּי הָעִקָּר תָּלוּי רַק בִּיגִיעוֹת וַעֲבוֹדוֹת בֶּאֱמֶת".
The Rebbe seemed very irritated and answered, “This is the trouble. You think that tzaddikim attain greatness merely because they have a very great soul. This is absolutely wrong! Any person can attain my levels and become just like me. All it takes is true devotion and effort” (see “His Praises” #25).
וְכֵן שָׁמַעְתִּי גַּם כֵּן כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה מִפִּיו הַקָּדוֹשׁ כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים שֶׁהָעִקָּר תָּלוּי רַק בִּיגִיעוֹת וַעֲבוֹדוֹת וְכוּ'.
I also heard this from him many times – that it depends mainly on hard work and doing.