Hayom Yom 27 Tammuz - Remove your ego replace it with Bittul

אֶחָד מֵהָעִלוּיִם הַמְפוּרְסָמִיםA brilliant and renowned prodigy,בַּעַל כִּשָׁרוֹן גָּדוֹל וְעַמְקָן נִפְלָאwith great talents and wondrously deep comprehension,בָּא לְלִיאָזנאָ וְשָׁקַד בְּלִמּוּד הַחֲסִידוּתcame to Liozna and devoted himself to the study of Chassidus. וּבְגוֹדֶל כִּשְׁרוֹנוֹתָיוThanks to his immense gifts,רָכַשׁ לוֹ בְּמֶשֶׁךְ זְמַן קָצָר יְדִיעָה גְּדוֹלָה וּרְחָבָה בְּתוֹרַת הַחֲסִידוּתhe acquired a vast and broad knowledge of Chassidus in a short period of time.בַּיְחִידוּת הָרִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁנִּכְנַס לְרַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן שָׁאַלAt his first yechidus, he entered the Alter Rebbe’s study and asked:רַבִּי מַה חָסֵר לִי“Rebbe, what am I lacking?”וַיַּעֲנֵהוּ רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵןThe Alter Rebbe answered him:אֵין חָסֵר לְךָ מְאוּמָה“You lack nothing,כִּי יְרֵא אֱלֹקִים אַתָּה וְלַמְדָןfor you are G‑d-fearing and a scholar.רַק צָרִיךְ אַתָּה לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הֶחָמֵץ שֶׁהוּא הַיֵּשׁוּת וְגַּסּוּת הָרוּחַYou only have to remove your chametz, which signifies ego and arrogance,וּלְהַכְנִיס מַצָּה שֶׁהוּא בִּטּוּלand replace it with matzah, which signifies bittul, self-effacement.וּכְלִי שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּמֵשׁ בּוֹ בְּיֵשׁוּת“Now, a person who is arrogant [what is the remedy for arrogance?], a utensil, that was used with the arroganceשֶׁנִּדְמֶה לוֹ שֶׁהוּא אוֹרthat one imagined to be lightכְּגוֹן שִׁפּוּדִיןsay a roasting spit,שֶׁדוֹחֲקִין רַגְלֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה‘repels the feet of the Divine Presence,’ דְּאֵין אֲנִי וָהוּא יְכוֹלִין לָדוּרfor ‘he and [G‑d] cannot dwell in the same place.’ צָרִיךְ לִבּוּןrequires libun. וְהַלִּבּוּן הוּאThis means that it must be heatedעַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַנִּצוֹצוֹת דְּהַבֵּרוּרִים נִתָּזִין וְנִכְלָלִין בְּהָאוֹר הָאֲמִתִּיuntil sparks fly off; that is, until the sparks of self-refinement fly outward and are incorporated in the true light.”Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]