Seek Peace With Your Friend
A person must seek peace with his fellow human, and seek peace with himself. Inner peace means that one doesn't differentiate between...
In the previous article, we’ve completed Level Nine and now we conclude Chapter One with the last step, Level Ten.
Ten Exemplary Levels from Total Anger to Total Tranquility
Level One: Overt Anger and Violent Revenge
Level Two: Silent Anger and Emotional Revenge
Level Three: Incessant Overt Anger, But No Revenge
Level Four: Calm in Public, Angry at Home
Level Five: Trying to Do Better
Level Six-Seven – No More Outward Manifestations of Anger
Level Eight-Nine – The Peacemaker
* * *
Level Ten: Loves God and His Fellow Human No Matter What and is Equally Happy at Bad Times as at Good Times
At this point, I’d like to introduce you to Old Isaac, the innkeeper. Old Isaac is an allegorical character, but I’ve had the privilege learning from several saintly and scholarly individuals who resemble Old Isaac in every way.
Old Isaac
Old Isaac the innkeeper transcends time. He looks like a combination of Rip Van Winkle, Elijah the Prophet, and Heidi’s Alpine grandfather. He’s as massive as a medium-sized Brahma bull, but as gentle as a lamb. He loves people.
That’s him standing over there on the front porch, in his black-leather knee-high Cossack boots, sheepskin vest, and Ukrainian fur cap. Don’t be shy – go say hello. You’re about to receive the warmest greeting you can imagine. Old Isaac’s semi-tooth smile is as warm as summer sunlight.
* * *
I’m going to tell you two stories about Isaac; the first describes a typical Level Ten’s relationship with God, and the second describes the way Level Tens react toward their fellow human.
The Hailstorm
Thunder and lightning exploded in the Heavens. The roof of the barn sounded like a thousand drums. Hailstones the size of apricots were falling to the ground in curtains. Before you knew it, eighteen inches of ice pellets had accumulated on the ground outside.
After thirty minutes of atmospheric bombardment, the storm subsided. The clouds disappeared as fast as they arrived. The sun had the last word for the day, reappearing about four fingers above the hills in the west.
Isaac took advantage of the remaining hour of daylight, and ran to survey the damage to his apple orchards. Strong hail is capable of splitting adult trees.
That morning, the trees were overloaded with shiny, succulent, aromatic Jonathans. The harvest was to begin tomorrow morning.
Isaac’s heart skipped a beat. The earth was carpeted with apples. The hail had knocked most of the crop clean off the trees. The few that remained on the branches had gaping holes in them. The entire crop was ruined.
Jerry Miller, Isaac’s best friend and neighbor, came running out to the orchard. Tons of apples covered the ground. The harvest was ruined, but Isaac was laughing and dancing an Irish jig.
“Isaac,” Jerry gasped, “nearly half of your income has gone down the drain! How can you laugh at a time like this?” Jerry thought that poor old Isaac had lost his mind with sorrow.
Isaac stopped dancing and smiled patiently. “First of all, my friend, the Almighty sent the hail, and everything He does is compassionate. A hailstorm is always preferable to a bodily affliction, Heaven forbid. Second, the Almighty provides for me. If there won’t be money from apples, there’ll be something else. Third, I was laughing when I thought about the merry time my goats and your horses are going to have, eating apples and apple silage all winter long!”
That night, Isaac hired a local 4-piece Klezmer band, with clarinet, fiddle, organ, and drum. He declared a festival and donned his best Shabbat garments – his fur shtreimel cap and black silk robe. He looked like a character from Fiddler on the Roof. He, his neighbors, and his guests danced all night long.
“Isaac,” Jerry pulled him aside in the middle of the dancing. “I understand your faith in God and your acceptance of His Will, but why a festival – with music and dancing?”
“Jerry, up until now, it was no big deal to be a happy man and a lover of God amidst success and abundance. Ah, but when I encounter misfortune, I have a golden opportunity to show the Almighty that my love for Him is unconditional. I won’t pass up such an opportunity! The Talmud says that we must thank God for the bad just as we thank Him for the good. I’m happy to be alive! C’mon, let’s dance a jig! And dance they did – all night long. Jerry slept the whole next day.
* * *
Level Tens know how to find the good in everything and everyone. Most people see gray clouds in life, but Level Tens can see the silver lining.
A person must seek peace with his fellow human, and seek peace with himself. Inner peace means that one doesn’t differentiate between favorable occurrences and unfavorable occurrences, and happily sees the hand of God in whatever happens. — Rebbe Nachman of Breslev
Here’s another story, about a Level Ten’s relationship with a fellow human, based upon the writings of the renown 16th Century Kabbalist from Safed, Rabbi Moses Cordovero:
The Thief
It was midnight in the middle of a snowy winter. Old Isaac, the innkeeper, heard rustling in the kitchen.
At first, he thought that the noise came from a raccoon or a stray cat. Later, he heard footsteps. Maybe a guest is thirsty, he thought. Then, he heard drawers and closets opening and shutting from the direction of the reception desk.
Isaac dressed quickly and went downstairs. Sure enough, a thief was emptying drawers and closets as fast as he could.
Isaac was twice the thief’s size, and could’ve easily apprehended the midnight intruder. He didn’t. Instead, he looked at him in pity.
“You look hungry, my friend. When’s the last time you had a decent meal.”
The startled thief was amazed at the innkeeper’s reaction. He was caught red-handed, yet his apprehender showed no displeasure, let alone anger. He replied shyly, “Matter of fact, Mister, I don’t have a dime. I haven’t eaten in two days. Truth is – I’m really hungry!”
In the next few minutes, Isaac prepared a four-course banquet for the intruder. Afterwards, he gave him a room and put him to bed for the night. The next day, he fed him breakfast, packed him a two-day’s supply of food, gave him five hundred dollars to help him stand on his feet, and sent him on his way with a blessing.
A year later, Isaac received a letter with a five hundred dollar check in it:
Dear Isaac,
Thank you for treating me like a human, and not like a thief. I don’t steal, but that night, I really was cold, hungry, and desperate. I had just gone through a painful divorce, and the lawyers stripped me of everything. Now, I’m back on my feet.
Thanks to you, I’m not in jail, nor do I have to live the rest of my life with the stigma of a criminal. Instead, I have a nice apartment and a good job as a mechanic. I want to repay you the $500, but I can never repay you for your kindness. You showed me what a human being can be. You gave me a new life. May the good Lord bless you always.
Yours truly,
Harry Higgins
* * *
Level-ten people are so close to God that their behavior seems Divine. Even when people transgress, God patiently continues to sustain them. It’s mind-boggling to think how God gives us our pulse and our breathing during the very moments that we go against His Will. That’s the epitome of patience, compassion, and loving-kindness. It’s difficult to imagine a policeman telling an apprehended burglar, “You look tired and hungry; let me get you something to eat and drink.” Yet, God acts that way with us every minute of the day. Level Tens emulate that very same Divine behavior.
Similarly, as with Isaac and the midnight intruder, even though the thief came to steal, Isaac only saw a human being in distress, and fed him. Not only did he refrain from punishing the poor man, he helped him make a new start. Isaac’s compassion literally saved a life.
I once asked a ninety-two year old Sage – a Level Ten – about his amazingly good health and longevity. He answered with a smile, “Simple – I never get angry and never harbor any negative feelings in my heart or brain. Therefore, my heart is sound, my digestive system is normal, and thank God, I don’t know what a headache is.” This particular individual had lived through poverty and several wars.
I pressed the point a little bit: “How can a person be as happy with the bad experiences in life as he can with the good?” Here’s the reply I received:
“Just remember three rules of thumb:
1. The Almighty runs the world;
2. The Almighty has infinite love for all of his creations;
3. The Almighty knows what’s best for each one of us.
When you combine these three rules, you’re left with no reason in the world to worry or to be angry.”
Worry and the above three rules of thumb simply don’t go together. Without worry, you too will be feeling healthy and happy at age ninety-two.
To be continued…
(The Trail to Tranquility is available in the Breslev Store.)
Tell us what you think!
Thank you for your comment!
It will be published after approval by the Editor.