Finding Joy

Rabbi Nachman taught that joy is a very valuable asset. When one is joyful, he naturally feels close to G-d. "Strength and Joy are in His place" (I Chronicles 16:27). One who is joyful naturally feels close to G-d. One who lacks joy inevitable will feel distant. He urged people to come to joy at all (permissible) costs, even joking and playing games. Once one is thus joyful, he can redirect that joy to joy in G-d, his Torah and Mitzvot. Although the Talmud urges us to be joyful by finding happiness in the Mitzvot (Simchah shel Mitzvah), he felt that nowadays few people are so spiritually attuned as to succeed in this, unless coming to the Mitzvot with an already joyous heart. He himself would sometimes go out into the street and play games with children in order to come to happiness.
A problem arises, however, if we seek joy through our accomplishments. Every human endeavor can be seen as lacking. Did I do it RIGHT? Was I perfectly sincere? Did I have ulterior motives? In one of his teachings, Rabbi Nachman urges giving ourselves the benefit of the doubt. This feeling of inadequacy is itself a trick of the Evil Inclination. if we give up on ourselves, we have lost the battle before we even started. In the final analysis, we did something good rather than something evil. We must rejoice in the spark of pure good in every action we have performed.
In another teaching, Rabbi Nachman grants that our actions are often not perfect. If one rejoices in one's accomplishments, one can always find something to be sad about. The remedy for this is to rejoice in what G-d has done! He made me who I am. He gave me life. He sustains me every moment. He brought me to a knowledge of Torah and the fulfillment of His holy commands that I might know Him.. In these things there can be no sadness. G-d's works are perfect! Happy are we that know of Him, when so many others are clueless! Be happy in our deeds? Yes, to the extent possible. But happiness in G-d's deeds is without blemish, readily available, and infinitely satisfying, meaningful, and joyful! Be happy!

Simple People

Rabbi Nachman told the story of King who went on a hunting trip together with his royal ministers. An unusually heavy rain began to fall, causing all the ministers to flee for their lives. The king was all alone in the forest. Finally, he found a clearing, in which was the home of a poor peasant. The peasant (unaware that this was the king), offered him some groats, lit a fire in the stove, and gave the king a simple pallet to sleep on. The king was comfortable and slept very well. In the morning, the ministers searched until they found the king. They wanted to bring him back to his palace. The king said "No. When the torrential rains came, you all abandoned me. This peasant took care of me, and gave me comfort. HE will bring me back to my palace, and HE will place me on my throne".
Rabbi Nachman said "A great flood is coming; not of water, but of atheism and heresy. It will cover the entire Earth, and even spill over into the Holy Land. Those who serve G-d because of subtle philosophical arguments will be overwhelmed by the new ideas. But simple Jews, who recite Psalms in complete sincerity and simplicity will remain unaffected. THEY will place G-d on his throne."

The Grease Merchant

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov was a fourth-generation Hasidic leader. By that time, much of the original enthusiasm of the movement had died down (with important exceptions!). People went to the Hasidic Rebbes not so much to learn closeness to G-d, but rather to receive their blessings for success in their mundane affairs.
Rabbi Nachman was one of the exceptions. He taught joy in Divine Service; connecting ourselves to G-d in all aspects of life. Once, a man came to him with a request for a blessing to become wealthy. Rabbi Nachman replied "I'm not a grease merchant!". As the man looked puzzled, Rabbi Nachman told the following parable:
A wholesaler in fine silks had just sold several thousand Rubles worth of silk to a retailer. He helped his customer load the silk onto his wagon. The customer said "Oh, I need some grease for the axles of my wagon!" The wholesaler said: "There's a bucket of grease. help yourself!" A passer-by saw this and approached the wholesaler. "I would also like to buy some grease!" The wholesaler said "I am not a grease merchant. I have conducted great business with this man. He needed a little grease, so I gave him some. But I am not a grease merchant!" Rabbi Nachman said "I teach my followers how to learn Torah, how to pray, how to find Eternity...how to find G-d! I conduct great "Business" with them. But they need to eat and run their households. So I pray for them and their needs are met. But I am not a grease merchant! If you have come in search of G-d, I will do "business" with you. Then I will also pray for your material well-being. But you come only for the money? I am not a grease merchant!"