Beginnings -- concept expansion

bs''d

I'd just like to talk a bit more about something briefly mentioned in the November 6/7/8 post:

This effort is already a flop, but that is utterly OK.  Beginnings are all about the flopping.  Think Magikarp, or Feebas.  (Or look at Likutei Moharan 62:5)

I'm going to take some time here to discuss the ideas in this lesson from Rabbi Nachman, as I understand them.  They are simple, but important.

First, a translation of the relevant part of LM 62:5 is in order.  (i.e. I don't know that everyone still reading at this point is interested in learning about fasts, or "sparks", or speech, so let's get to the readily accessible part.)

The main aspect of a fast is only when we regard the hours when we initiated fasting as important.  For instance, when a person fasts for two days -- the second day, which is rendered 'more important' [than the first day], isn't [more important] because of itself, but rather because [on the second day] we 'review'/'go back to' the first day -- then the second day is regarded as a greater merit [than the first].

And similarly,  the essence of all things is the initiation, because "all initiations are difficult" (Mechilta, Jethro, as clarified in the commentary of Rashi), because [the thing] 'goes out' from one extreme, over to another extreme [Jeremy's Note: c.w. Rambam, Hilchot Deot 3:1], but after the initiation he enters into habit ['momentum' may be more literal here] and it's not quite as difficult for him.  And thus, every day that he distances himself from his initial change, the thing becomes easier, and he enters into habit.

It is thus found that the main part of the effort of the work of all the days is only in the initiation, and that a person must 'turn' back, towards the very first day, when he began to develop his ability to put [his desire to do good from his current situation] into practice and [began] to fast, which was the beginning of repentance -- for the initiation was difficult for him, and he went from one extreme to another -- and on every day he must 'turn back' in order to receive strength from the initiation.

Honestly, I am proud just to have put that into English, even if it's still unreadable for all but the patient.  If someone non-ironically wants, I will return to it.  Even if nobody does, I hope to share some examples, to ground the idea.

(Must go, lots of important cashiering to do! :D :D [I seriously love my job right now.  I know this is weird, but I really enjoy it.])