“Whatever you think of yourself, the Holy One, Blessed be He, thinks of you exactly the opposite.”
In this profound and soul-stirring teaching, Rabbi Moshe Yoel Pinto Shlita explores a radical paradox of the human spirit. Drawing from the deep wells of the Baal Shem Tov and the Toldot Yaakov Yosef, the Rabbi reveals why our own self-perception is often the greatest barrier to true spiritual growth.
Why is it that the more righteous we feel, the further we may be from Heaven? And why is the person who feels broken and unworthy often the one God holds closest?
In this video, Rabbi Pinto discusses:
The Great Inversion: Why feeling like a “Tzaddik” (righteous person) can be a spiritual trap.
Divine vs. Human Thought: Deconstructing the verse, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts.”
The 5 Stages of Ego: A warning from the Baal Shem Tov about the five “tribes” of ego that spiritual seekers and leaders face in the final generation:
Reuven: The hunger to be seen.
Shimon: The pursuit of reputation.
Levi: The desire for a large following.
Yehudah: The craving for praise and acknowledgment.
Issachar & Zevulun: Turning spirituality into a business.
This shiur is a call to internal honesty and a guide for anyone looking to strip away the “imagination” of the ego to find a true, humble connection with the Creator.
Timestamps:
0:00 – The Paradox: How God views your self-perception.
0:25 – Understanding the “Imagination” of the mind.
0:45 – The danger of seeking public honor.
1:32 – The Baal Shem Tov’s prophecy for the final generation.
2:11 – Stage 1: Reuven (The desire for recognition).
2:21 – Stage 2: Shimon (The pursuit of fame).
2:27 – Stage 3: Levi (The need for power and influence).
2:34 – Stage 4: Yehudah (Seeking constant gratitude).
2:42 – Stage 5: Issachar & Zevulun (Materializing the spiritual).
3:35 – Conclusion: The path of the broken heart.
Follow Rabbi Moshe Yoel Pinto Shlita:
🌐 Website: [Link to Rabbi’s Website]
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Facebook: [Link]
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