The Rebbe ridiculed the sexual desire, quoting the words of the morning prayer, “Do not bring me to a test or to disgrace.” He said, “Ader a nisayon, ader a beziyon – Either a test, or else disgrace.” That is, if you do not pass the test, you will come to disgrace.
We have discussed how the Rebbe spoke of the baseness of this desire, saying that it is really no temptation at all (see “His Praises” #16; “His Wisdom” #51).
The Rebbe said, “People are so bound up with their bodily desires, and tied to this one in particular, that it does not help when you explain how base this is. On the contrary, the more you speak of it, the more lewd thoughts they have. In most cases, it is therefore best not to even begin to think of it at all.”
This is explained in Sefer HaMidot: “Do not enter into litigation with your tempter. Thinking about something for any length of time, even of its avoidance, strengthens desire and turns one’s will towards it.”372The Aleph-Bet Book, Adultery and Immoral Behavior, A:10.
פַּעַם אַחַת הִתְלוֹצֵץ מִזֶּה וְאָמַר שֶׁעַל זֶה מְבַקְּשִׁים בְּכָל יוֹם "וְאַל תְּבִיאֵנִי לִידֵי נִסָּיוֹן וְלֹא לִידֵי בִּזָּיוֹן". וְאָמַר בְּזוֹ הַלָּשׁוֹן: אָדֶער אַה נִסָּיוֹן אָדֶער אַה בִּזָּיוֹן (אוֹ נִסָּיוֹן, אוֹ בִּזָּיוֹן). הַיְנוּ כִּי אִם לֹא יַעֲמֹד בַּנִּסָּיוֹן, יִהְיֶה לוֹ בִּזָּיוֹן.
The Rebbe ridiculed the sexual desire, quoting the words of the morning prayer, “Do not bring me to a test or to disgrace.” He said, “Ader a nisayon, ader a beziyon – Either a test, or else disgrace.” That is, if you do not pass the test, you will come to disgrace.
וּכְבָר מְבֹאָר קְצָת שֶׁסִּפֵּר הַרְבֵּה מֵעִנְיַן מִאוּס תַּאֲוָה זֹאת וְאָמַר שֶׁאֵינָהּ תַּאֲוָה כְּלָל וְכוּ'.
We have discussed how the Rebbe spoke of the baseness of this desire, saying that it is really no temptation at all (see “His Praises” #16; “His Wisdom” #51).
אַחַר כָּךְ אָמַר: שֶׁנִּמְצָאִים הַרְבֵּה שֶׁמֵּעֹצֶם גַּשְׁמִיּוּתָם וּרְגִילוּתָם בְּעִנְיָן זֶה, אֵין מוֹעִיל לָהֶם כְּלָל מַהש ֶּׁמְּמָאֲסִין לָהֶם עִנְיָן זֶה, אַדְּרַבָּא בְּאֵיזֶה לָשׁוֹן שֶׁיְּדַבְּרוּ עִמָּהֶם מִזֶּה יִתְגַּבְּרוּ עֲלֵיהֶם הַהִרְהוּרִים יוֹתֵר. עַל כֵּן טוֹב לְרֹב בְּנֵי אָדָם לִבְלִי לְהַתְחִיל לַחֲשֹׁב בָּזֶה כְּלָל.
The Rebbe said, “People are so bound up with their bodily desires, and tied to this one in particular, that it does not help when you explain how base this is. On the contrary, the more you speak of it, the more lewd thoughts they have. In most cases, it is therefore best not to even begin to think of it at all.”
וְכַמְבֹאָר מִזֶּה בְּסֵפֶר הא"ב: אַל תִּכְנֹס עִם פִּתּוּיֶיךָ בְּטוֹעֵן וְנִטְעָן וְכוּ'.
This is explained in Sefer HaMidot: “Do not enter into litigation with your tempter. Thinking about something for any length of time, even of its avoidance, strengthens desire and turns one’s will towards it.”372The Aleph-Bet Book, Adultery and Immoral Behavior, A:10.