Question:
1) The Rav mentioned in a derashah (“Living A Life of Neshamah”) that the level called p’shitus is higher than temimus. What is the difference between these two levels of simple faith in Hashem? Is temimus a level where one’s “I” walks earnestly and simply with Hashem, where one is aware that “I don’t want to sin because that is not my true will”, and “I don’t ask questions on Hashem’s conduct” – it is self-nullification to Hashem but it involves our “I” – whereas p’shitus is when a person is divested of the “I” altogether, the place in the soul (or perhaps above the soul) where there is no “I” at all?
Answer:
P’shitus is the level of hiskalelus, being integrated with Hashem, in which one becomes “included” in the Creator, as it were. In contrast, temimus is to “Be wholesome with Hashem”, it is when one’s “I” walks with Hashem (so you were right in your assumption of what “temimus” is), it is to move after one’s root.
Question:
2) Is p’shitus the same thing as bittul, nullifying the “I”? Or is it even higher than bittul?
Answer:
When one moves towards bittul, he is moving towards p’shitus. When one reaches bittul, that is p’shitus. Understand that there is a difference between bittul, nullifying oneself, with one who is already batel, already nullified.
Question:
Which sefarim discuss p’shitus? Can a person work on the level of p’shitus at whatever level he is at, or is this a high level which most people cannot reach?
Answer:
I don’t know of a sefer that discusses it openly. It is a matter which ‘sparks forth’ from the words of Raboteinu (lit. “our rabbis”, meaning the Sages and the holy books), it is like a spark, like the rays of the sun, and when Mashiach comes, this spark will shine the afternoon sun.
Some people are already born with this “spark”, and it is upon them to expand it further. But for most people, this power is hidden from them, and they can reach it either through ascending to higher levels until they can touch upon this “spark”, p’shitus, or, they can reach it through mesirus nefesh (giving up their will for Hashem).
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