READING: BETWEEN AFTER MIDNINGHT AND DAWN FRIDAY

Baal HaSulam. Shamati, 145. What Is He Will Give Wisdom Specifically to the Wise

145. What Is He Will Give Wisdom Specifically to the Wise

I heard on Truma 5, February 11, 1943

“He will give wisdom to the wise.” He asked, “It should have said, ‘He will give wisdom to the fools.’”

And he said, “It is known that there is no coercion in spirituality.” Rather, everyone is given according to one’s wish. The reason is that spirituality is the source of life and pleasure. So how can there be coercion in a good thing? Hence, if we see that when we engage in Torah and Mitzvot coercively, meaning that we must overcome the body since it does not agree because it does not feel pleasure in this work, it must be because it does not feel the spirituality in them, as we have said that spirituality is the source of life and pleasure, as it is written in The Zohar, “Where there is labor, there is Sitra Achra [other side].”

This is the reason that only the wise can be given wisdom, since fools have no need for wisdom. Rather, only the wise can be given wisdom because of their nature. This means that one who is wise loves wisdom, and this is his only wish. And following the rule, “there are no preventions before a desire,” he makes every effort to obtain wisdom. Hence, at last he will be awarded wisdom. Therefore, one who loves wisdom can be called “wise,” after his end.

But it is written of fools, “A fool has no desire for understanding.” The verse, “He will give wisdom to the wise” comes to tell us that one who loves wisdom will not be impressed by not having obtained wisdom despite the great efforts he has made. Rather, he will continue with his work and will certainly achieve wisdom, since he loves wisdom. This is why they say, “Go by this path and you are certain to succeed.”

However, we must understand what one can do if by nature “A man is born a wild ass’s colt.” From where will he take the desire to crave wisdom?

For this, we are given the advice to work by way of “doers of His word,” and then, “to hear the voice of His word.” This means that one does things to obtain the thing he wants. Hence, here, when he has no desire for wisdom, it means that the thing he lacks is the desire for wisdom. For this reason, he begins to exert and take actions to obtain the desire for wisdom, as this is the only thing he needs.

The order is that one should exert in Torah and work although he has no desire for it. This is called “labor.” This means that he does things although he has no desire for the thing he does. It is as our sages said, “All that your hand and strength can do, do.” And by the virtue of exerting, a desire and craving for wisdom will form within him.

And then the verse, “He will give wisdom to the wise” will become true in him, and he will be rewarded with “hearing the voice of His word.” Thus, that which was previously by way of doing, an act without a will, he has been awarded a desire for it.

Therefore, if we want to know who loves wisdom, we should look at those who strain for wisdom, even though they have not yet been rewarded with being among those who love wisdom. The reason is, as we have said, that through the effort, they will be awarded being among those who love wisdom.

Afterward, when they have a desire for wisdom, they will be awarded wisdom. Thus, the desire for wisdom is the Kli [vessel], and the wisdom is the light. This is the meaning of “there is no coercion in spirituality.”

The light of wisdom means the light of life. We do not perceive wisdom as an intellectual concept, but as the actual life, the essence of life, to the extent that without it, one is considered dead. (Hence, we can say that for this reason wisdom is called Haya [alive].)