This same R' Shimon also told me that shortly before the Rebbe moved from Breslov towards the end of the Rebbe’s life, he told him, “Look at me today. You know how much I struggled and toiled to achieve what I did until now. I can now accomplish this much in a single day.”
At a later time, the Rebbe told him that he could accomplish that much in a single hour. Still later, he said that he could do it all in a single moment.
Understand well how far this brings us. When the Rebbe said this to R' Shimon, he was already worthy of his great attainment. He had already said that his previous level of perception and devotion was nothing compared to what he later attained. And even this previous level was very great and deep.
This occurred many times. The Rebbe had already attained an immeasurable level before going to the Holy Land. After his return, he was literally ashamed of his previous attainments, saying that they were absolutely nothing. After that, he continuously elevated himself from one level to the next. From our earlier accounts it can be understood that he reached a immeasurable heights, so lofty that it cannot be expressed in words or thought …. After all this, one is able to comprehend a little of this awesome greatness.
I also heard that the Rebbe once said, “When you are worthy of complete knowledge, you can accomplish in a quarter-hour of devotion what another person can attain only after seventy years of struggle and toil.”
שָׁמַעְתִּי מֵרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הנ"ל שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, פֹּה בְּרֶסְלַב סוֹף יָמָיו: "כְּמוֹ שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹאֶה אוֹתִי, כָּל מַה שֶּׁיָּגַעְתִּי וְטָרַחְתִּי וּפָעַלְתִּי עַל יְדֵי עֲבוֹדָתִי מֵעוֹדִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, עַתָּה אֲנִי יָכוֹל לִפְעֹל כָּל זֶה בְּיוֹם אֶחָד".
This same R' Shimon also told me that shortly before the Rebbe moved from Breslov towards the end of the Rebbe’s life, he told him, “Look at me today. You know how much I struggled and toiled to achieve what I did until now. I can now accomplish this much in a single day.”
וְאַחַר־כָּךְ בִּזְמַן אַחֵר אָמַר לוֹ: שֶׁעַתָּה יָכוֹל לִפְעֹל כָּל זֶה בְּשָׁעָה אַחַת. וְאַחַר־כָּךְ אָמַר: שֶׁעַתָּה יָכוֹל לִפְעֹל כָּל זֶה בְּרֶגַע אַחַת.
At a later time, the Rebbe told him that he could accomplish that much in a single hour. Still later, he said that he could do it all in a single moment.
וְהָבֵן הֵיטֵב עַד הֵיכָן הַדְּבָרִים מַגִּיעִים, כִּי בְּעֵת שֶׁאָמַר זֹאת לְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן כְּבָר הִשִּׂיג מַה שֶּׁהִשִּׂיג וּכְבָר אָמַר עַד אוֹתָהּ הָעֵת כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים שֶׁכָּל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְהַשָּׂגָה שֶׁמִּקֹּדֶם אֵינָהּ נֶחֱשֶׁבֶת לִכְלוּם נֶגֶד מַה שֶּׁהִשִּׂיג עַכְשָׁו, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגַּם מִקֹּדֶם הָיְתָה הַשָּׂגָתוֹ עֲצוּמָה וְנִשְׂגָּבָה מְאֹד מְאֹד.
Understand well how far this brings us. When the Rebbe said this to R' Shimon, he was already worthy of his great attainment. He had already said that his previous level of perception and devotion was nothing compared to what he later attained. And even this previous level was very great and deep.
וְכֵן הָיָה כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים עַד אוֹתָהּ הָעֵת, כִּי גַּם קֹדֶם אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיְתָה הַשָּׂגָתוֹ גְּבוֹהָה מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּלִי שִׁעוּר. וְאַחַר כָּךְ כְּשֶׁבָּא מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיְתָה בְּעֵינָיו כָּל הַהַשָּׂגָה שֶׁל קֹדֶם אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶחֱשֶׁבֶת כְּלֹא מַמָּשׁ וְהָיָה מִתְבַּיֵּשׁ מִמֶּנָּהּ. וְגַם אַחַר כָּךְ עָלָה בְּכָל פַּעַם לְמַעְלָה לְמַעְלָה בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וְעֵרֶךְ מַה שֶּׁאֵין הַפֶּה יָכוֹל לְדַבֵּר וְהַלֵּב לַחֲשֹׁב וְכוּ' וְכוּ', כַּמּוּבָן מְעַט בַּסִּפּוּרִים שֶׁמִּכְּבָר. וְאַחַר־כָּךְ אָמַר כַּנַּ"ל. רְאֵה וְהַבֵּט וְהָבֵן בַּסִּפּוּרִים שֶׁמִּכְּבָר, וְאָז תָּבִין מְעַט מֵעֹצֶם גְּדֻלַּת דְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה.
This occurred many times. The Rebbe had already attained an immeasurable level before going to the Holy Land. After his return, he was literally ashamed of his previous attainments, saying that they were absolutely nothing. After that, he continuously elevated himself from one level to the next. From our earlier accounts it can be understood that he reached a immeasurable heights, so lofty that it cannot be expressed in words or thought …. After all this, one is able to comprehend a little of this awesome greatness.
גַּם שָׁמַעְתִּי בִּשְׁמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר: כְּשֶׁזּוֹכִין לַדַּעַת הַשָּׁלֵם, אֲזַי יְכוֹלִין לַעֲשׂוֹת וְלַעֲבֹד הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּרֶבַע שָׁעָה, מַה שֶּׁאָדָם אַחֵר צָרִיךְ לַעֲבֹד וּלְהִתְיַגֵּעַ עַל זֶה שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה.
I also heard that the Rebbe once said, “When you are worthy of complete knowledge, you can accomplish in a quarter-hour of devotion what another person can attain only after seventy years of struggle and toil.”