Everyone has to be a Teacher

Today I’d like to share a teaching of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov’s that truly speaks to me, especially since I do go out and teach. In fact, Rabbi Nachman’s wisdom, in this case, gave me permission to go out and teach what I knew. He taught me that everyone is a teacher, and we should teach even if we only know a little bit. You never know what little tidbit of wisdom you possess that might help someone else get to the next level.

According to Rebbe Nachman we all posses an inner light that represents that which we know. There also exists an outer light, which represents the knowledge we don’t yet possess.

In order to obtain the outer light, to let it in, we have to give over our truth, our wisdom. We have to, in a sense, empty out some of our inner light and make room for the outer light to come in. We do this by teaching others what we know. We do this by sharing our wisdom.

When we do this, when we allow that light to come in, we move from the level where we are now – developmentally or intellectually or emotionally —  to the next level.  Every person lives on a unique level. In fact, says Rebbe Nachman, no two people are on the exact same level at the same time when it comes to knowledge and wisdom and human development. Yet, as you move to the next level, you make room for someone else to move up to your level.

So, by offering a teaching, by sharing your wisdom, you not only give knowledge to someone but you allow someone to move to your level as you take in light and move to another level as well. Thus, by teaching, you are both giving and receiving at the same time.

We all have to give over our knowledge, so we can be filled with new light and move up, learn more, reach a higher place in terms of our human potential. By so doing, we allowing someone else to move up and grow in their knowledge and their human potential as well. We have to be a teacher and a student, a rebbe and a chassid.

How will you accomplish that today? What will you teach? What wisdom will you share?