The Rebbe said, “The true tzaddik has such a degree of self-control that even marital relations are difficult for him. He is so far removed from these instincts that they cause him as much suffering as circumcision causes a child. The tzaddik has even more anguish, for an infant does not realize what is happening. But the tzaddik has full realization and therefore suffers even greater pain.
The Rebbe considered this a simple accomplishment. He said, “Every person can attain this level.” And from the way he said it, it was apparent that his own holiness was much greater.
גַּם אָמַר: שֶׁהַזִּוּוּג שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת, קָשָׁה עָלָיו עִנְיָן זֶה. וְלֹא דַּי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ שׁוּם תַּאֲוָה כְּלָל, כִּי אִם אַדְּרַבָּא יֵשׁ לוֹ יִסּוּרִין מִזֶּה מַמָּשׁ כְּמוֹ יִסּוּרֵי הַתִּינוֹק בִּשְׁעַת מִילָה. כִּי מַמָּשׁ יִסּוּרִין אֵלּוּ יֵשׁ לְהַצַּדִּיק בִּשְׁעַת זִוּוּג וְיוֹתֵר מִזֶּה. כִּי הַתִּינוֹק אֵין לוֹ דַּעַת, עַל־כֵּן אֵין הַיִּסּוּרִים שֶׁלּוֹ גְּדוֹלִים כָּל־כָּךְ, אֲבָל הַצַּדִּיק שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ דַּעַת יִסּוּרָיו גְּדוֹלִים מֵהַתִּינוֹק.
The Rebbe said, “The true tzaddik has such a degree of self-control that even marital relations are difficult for him. He is so far removed from these instincts that they cause him as much suffering as circumcision causes a child. The tzaddik has even more anguish, for an infant does not realize what is happening. But the tzaddik has full realization and therefore suffers even greater pain.
וְזֶה הָיָה אֶצְלוֹ דָּבָר פָּשׁוּט. וְאָמַר: שֶׁכָּל אָדָם יָכוֹל לִזְכּוֹת לָבוֹא לְמַדְרֵגָה זוֹ. וּכְפִי הַנִּרְאֶה מִדְּבָרָיו הָיָה שֶׁקְּדֻשָּׁתוֹ שֶׁל עַצְמוֹ גָּבֹהַּ עוֹד יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר.
The Rebbe considered this a simple accomplishment. He said, “Every person can attain this level.” And from the way he said it, it was apparent that his own holiness was much greater.