Master of the Universe, grant me the merit to come close to true tzaddikim and to hear words of Torah and inspiration from their mouths so that I will receive real spiritual arousal in the service of G-d with fear of Heaven. You know that I have already looked into a number of holy books of ethics but I still have not really been inspired by them. This is because books are on the level of ‘action’ and after the sin of the golden calf we lost the crown of ‘action’. So merit me to hear words of Torah and inspiration with my own ears from the mouth of the tzaddik for this is an aspect of ‘listening’ and ‘Comprehending’. If we hear directly from him this will have more power to arouse us to truly repent.
So merit me to yearn and long so much to serve You with great desire that in my book I learn from I will immediately find myself. In other words let me see my own worthlessness and lowly spiritual status. As a result may I get great spiritual arousal and inspiration to serve You from each and every holy book that I study. May I receive from them good advice, inspiration and tremendous encouragement in Your service. Fulfill in the verse that says: “Behold I have come to the scroll of the book that is written for me specifically”. May I consider everything I learn from a book to G-d written “for me” as if it is speaks to me personally, telling me to perform Your will.
Amen. So may it be Your will.
122.
The desire to be victorious doesn't suffer truth. Even if the truth becomes clear before a person's eyes, he will reject it because of the desire to win the debate. Therefore, someone who wants the absolute truth must first set aside the desire to be victorious; then he will be able to see the truth if he wants. But with the Holy One, even in the attribute of Victory, is all Truth. This is "And also, the Victory of Israel will not lie" (Shmuel I, 15:29).