"Rabbi Akiva's Enlightenment " \ Day 23 \ 30 Days to Teshuvah
"Our Sages state that 'Rabbi Akiva returned to his Torah study.' This implies that Rabbi Akiva had stopped learning Torah because of a problem he experienced in his studies. His difficulty was that he assumed his Torah study made no impression on his soul and he did not see himself growing spiritually. At that point, he as convinced that it was hopeless for him to continue.
However, the paradigm of the water that had carved deep into the stone enlightened him and dispelled his despair. He then returned to his Torah studies. The actual process of the altering of the stone is not discernable to our senses. The scientists explain the flow of water makes an imperceptible impression that washes away a microscopic bit of stone."
(Ohr Yisrael, Letter Ten).
What inspired Rabbi Akiva upon realizing the effect of the water flowing over the stone?
When Rabbi Akiva began to study Torah he expected to experience rapid change within himself. However, after a short period of study he realized he had not changed his character traits, nor did he increase his awareness of HaShem. He assumed that his situation was hopeless and that he had begun too late in life to be affected by Torah.
However, when he saw the groove that the water had carved into the rock, he had a life-altering insight: Every word of Torah makes an imperceptible subconscious impression! Continuous study over time will render a deep healing of the soul!
Let us be inspired that there is an "easy" treatment that we can apply on regular basis that produces dramatic spiritual development!
Tip -- Just as the water carving into the rock inspired Rabbi Akiva to attain the ultimate levels of spirituality, may you also be inspired to great spiritual growth.
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