Q:
The Rav said that we should get into the habit of always thinking about Olam Habo. Can the Rav maybe describe what Olam Habo will be like? How should we try to imagine it in our minds?
A:
Look, we do not really know in what way we are going to enjoy Olam Habo. We can’t know. It’s like a blind man – a man who was born blind – and we try to explain to him how beautiful the red rose is. He doesn’t know what red means. So how could he understand? So, we have no way of knowing. I wasn’t there yet, so I can’t tell you.
But this we do know — we know that there is no pleasure on this earth that can even faintly compare to the happiness of Olam Habo. That at least, I can tell you. And the happiness becomes greater and greater the longer you are there. The longer you are there, the more the happiness increases. That’s an important principle.
And therefore, we have to always know, always remember, that we are in this world only for the purpose of preparing for Olam Habo. Everything you do has to be directed at Olam Habo. Everything!
I know that you’re not going to listen to me, but you have to know that this is your only purpose in this world. It’s something that you have to work on. You’re not going to become an Olam Habo person unless you put effort into becoming an Olam Habo person. And that means putting all your thoughts into Olam Habo. And you have to start somewhere. So start by thinking about Olam Habo for a few minutes every day. You want to make something out of yourself, don’t you?!
If you sing to Hashem in this world, then you’ll be able to sing to Him even more in the World to Come. So learn how to sing while you’re here. למה ניגע לריק – Why should you spend so much time and effort in this world for nothing? So practice up here, in order that you should be able to sing in the World to Come.
TAPE # E-170
