297 —הליכה אחרי הדרכת הרבי והתמקדות בשליחותו של אדם

B"H, 7th of the Ten Days of Repentance, 5708.

To the esteemed vavac"h iy"a nu"m hatamim etc... may he live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In these days I wish to express my blessings for a good inscription and sealing in the Book of Life, to him and all his household.

Regarding what you wrote in your letter about Pnimiyut Abba and Pnimiyut Atik: when you study the places in Hemshech Resav (as indicated in my note in Kuntres Limud HaChassidus p. 6), you will see that the goal is to reach the essence of simple delight, which is higher than Pnimiyut Atik, which itself is Pnimiyut Abba. This is attained through performing mitzvos (or through precision in matters of wisdom).

As for knowing which mitzvah one should be especially careful with—this is not something that can be grasped intellectually (see Iggeres HaKodesh sec. 67), and therefore it is easy to err due to the enticements of the yetzer hara, who obviously tries harder to mislead a person here. One of the best pieces of advice is when one's Rebbe points out with his finger his path and service. Then one should not come with arguments or requests that perhaps the Rebbe will change his decision; all the more so one should not look right or left for another matter to occupy himself with.

For example: My revered father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, assigned him—if I recall correctly—the work of Melach and Machaneh in his city (and perhaps also his state). Therefore it is clear that he should not search or involve himself in investigating what others' missions are, nor should he pursue for himself matters whose relevance to him he does not know—at least until he fully completes his own assigned task, which was pointed out to him with a finger saying: This is your path leading to Beis El, and through this you will succeed.

After some years in this matter, one cannot deceive others or even oneself; actions will testify to one's true state: such-and-such a number of boys and girls I brought close to proper education; so-and-so began putting on tefillin through my efforts; in such-and-such a number of homes they began studying and reading kosher books instead of non-kosher ones; so-and-so began learning Chassidus; such-and-such a number of kosher books—especially Chassidic works—I distributed, etc., etc.

If something is lacking in this accounting—even though there are certainly reasons for it, especially fear of Jewish court (since man has free choice and thus is righteous and meritorious)—still, the light is missing. But if one remains undeterred and does his part and the accounting matches up, then through this gate all his Torah and mitzvos ascend—as explained there in Iggeres HaKodesh.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that true fulfillment comes from focusing on one's unique mission as directed by one's Rebbe. Success is measured by tangible results in one's assigned area rather than by comparison or distraction with others' roles.