אות - קעד

This same R' Shimon also told me that shortly before the Rebbe moved from Breslov towards the end of the Rebbe’s life, he told him, “Look at me today. You know how much I struggled and toiled to achieve what I did until now. I can now accomplish this much in a single day.”

At a later time, the Rebbe told him that he could accomplish that much in a single hour. Still later, he said that he could do it all in a single moment.

Understand well how far this brings us. When the Rebbe said this to R' Shimon, he was already worthy of his great attainment. He had already said that his previous level of perception and devotion was nothing compared to what he later attained. And even this previous level was very great and deep.

This occurred many times. The Rebbe had already attained an immeasurable level before going to the Holy Land. After his return, he was literally ashamed of his previous attainments, saying that they were absolutely nothing. After that, he continuously elevated himself from one level to the next. From our earlier accounts it can be understood that he reached a immeasurable heights, so lofty that it cannot be expressed in words or thought …. After all this, one is able to comprehend a little of this awesome greatness.

I also heard that the Rebbe once said, “When you are worthy of complete knowledge, you can accomplish in a quarter-hour of devotion what another person can attain only after seventy years of struggle and toil.”