The Rebbe used to make frequent use of vows. He would plan out an order of devotion for each day and often at the beginning of the day, make a vow to fulfill it. Then, because of the vow, he would be obliged to complete his plan regardless of how difficult it was. This was a frequent practice.22See Avenehah Barzel, p. 25, #15. When Reb Noson heard this, he questioned it on the basis of the Talmudic dictum that one should not engage in vows frequently (Nedarim 20a; Yoreh Dei'ah 203:1). Rebbe Nachman responded that this only applies to a schlim mazelnik, a hapless individual (cf. Yoreh Dei'ah 203:7).
The Rebbe made use of all sorts of safeguards to keep him from particular temptations or bad traits. Among his many devices was his use of vows. Often he would make an inviolable oath, holding a sacred object in his hand,23Shavuot 38b. This refers to grasping a Torah or tefilin. Cf. Yad Chazakah, Shavuot 11:7, 12; Choshen Mishpat 87:13, 15. just to strengthen his resolve and keep him from something he wished to avoid.
וְהָיָה רָגִיל בִּנְדָרִים מְאֹד מְאֹד, שֶׁכַּמָּה פְּעָמִים כְּשֶׁבָּא הַיּוֹם, קִבֵּל עָלָיו בְּנֵדֶר כָּל סֵדֶר הָעֲבוֹדָה שֶׁהָיָה רוֹצֶה לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, וְאַחַר־כָּךְ אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁהָיָה קָשֶׁה עָלָיו מְאֹד, הָיָה מֻכְרָח לַעֲשׂוֹת מֵחֲמַת הַנֵּדֶר. וְכֵן עָשָׂה כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים.
The Rebbe used to make frequent use of vows. He would plan out an order of devotion for each day and often at the beginning of the day, make a vow to fulfill it. Then, because of the vow, he would be obliged to complete his plan regardless of how difficult it was. This was a frequent practice.22See Avenehah Barzel, p. 25, #15. When Reb Noson heard this, he questioned it on the basis of the Talmudic dictum that one should not engage in vows frequently (Nedarim 20a; Yoreh Dei'ah 203:1). Rebbe Nachman responded that this only applies to a schlim mazelnik, a hapless individual (cf. Yoreh Dei'ah 203:7).
וְכֵן בְּכָל מִינֵי גְּדָרִים וּסְיָגִים שֶׁל פְּרִישׁוּת מֵאֵיזֶה תַּאֲוָה וּמֵאֵיזֶה מִדָּה הָיָה רָגִיל הַרְבֵּה בִּנְדָרִים כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים. וְכַמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים נִשְׁבַּע עַל אֵיזֶה דְּבָרִים בִּ"נְקִיטַת חֵפֶץ" כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה חָזָק לִפְרֹשׁ מֵאוֹתוֹ הַדָּבָר שֶׁהָיָה רוֹצֶה לִפְרֹשׁ עַצְמוֹ.
The Rebbe made use of all sorts of safeguards to keep him from particular temptations or bad traits. Among his many devices was his use of vows. Often he would make an inviolable oath, holding a sacred object in his hand,23Shavuot 38b. This refers to grasping a Torah or tefilin. Cf. Yad Chazakah, Shavuot 11:7, 12; Choshen Mishpat 87:13, 15. just to strengthen his resolve and keep him from something he wished to avoid.