There is a sin whose punishment is constant debt (see Likutey Halakhot, Gevi'at Chov MeYetomim 2). One who is punished for such a sin is constantly in debt. All the merit in the world does not erase his punishment. He can do every possible good, but he must remain a debtor.
This sin can even cause others to fall into debt. This is why there are periods when there are many debtors — this sin has become prevalent, may God spare us.
The remedy for this is to repent in general for all your sins. Even though you do not know what sin is causing these debts, repent in general and ask God to save you from this particular sin also.
The time for such repentance is when you are in a state of expanded consciousness.186Mochin DeGadlut, a Kabbalistic term referring to the mature state of the transcendental mentalities. This is the time to regret such sins, praying to God in complete repentance.
Being in a state of constricted consciousness is like being in debt.187Mochin DeKatnut, a Kabbalistic term referring to the immature state of the transcendental mentalities. See “His Wisdom” #13; Likutey Halakhot, Halva'ah 4.
Sleep is a state of constricted consciousness.188Cf. Likutey Moharan I, 117; ibid., II, 5:9. It is written, “A borrower is a slave to the man who lends” (Proverbs 22:7). A debtor is therefore a slave. The nine measures of sleep taken by slaves are the measures of constricted consciousness of the debtor.
The sin that causes this must be repented when you are in a state of expanded consciousness. This then counteracts the punishment of being a debtor, the state of constricted consciousness.
אִיתָא: אִם הַתּוֹרָה הָיְתָה נִכְתֶּבֶת כְּסֵדֶר הָיוּ יוֹדְעִין כָּל עֹנֶשׁ וְשָׁכָר שֶׁל כָּל לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה וַעֲשֵׂה.
If the Torah were written in order, we would know the precise reward and punishment for each commandment.
הִנֵּה, יֵשׁ עֲבֵרָה שֶׁעָנְשָׁהּ שֶׁל עֲבֵרָה הַהִיא שֶׁיְּהֵא בַּעַל חוֹב תָּמִיד וַאֲפִלּוּ יַעֲשֶׂה כָּל טַצְדְּקִי דְּאֶפְשָׁר וְהִתְפַּעֲלוּת לֹא יוֹעִיל כְּלָל, וְיִהְיֶה בַּעַל־חוֹב תָּמִיד.
There is a sin whose punishment is constant debt (see Likutey Halakhot, Gevi'at Chov MeYetomim 2). One who is punished for such a sin is constantly in debt. All the merit in the world does not erase his punishment. He can do every possible good, but he must remain a debtor.
וְלִפְעָמִים גּוֹרֵם הָעֲבֵרָה שֶׁמַּפִּיל גַּם אֲחֵרִים לִהְיוֹתָם בַּעֲלֵי חוֹבוֹת. וְלָזֶה יֵשׁ עֵת שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ כַּמָּה בַּעֲלֵי חוֹבוֹת בָּעוֹלָם, זֶהוּ מֵחֲמַת הָעֲבֵרָה הַנַּ"ל שֶׁנִּתְגַּבְּרָה בָּעוֹלָם ח"ו.
This sin can even cause others to fall into debt. This is why there are periods when there are many debtors — this sin has become prevalent, may God spare us.
וְעֵצָה לָזֶה: לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה בִּכְלָלִיּוּת וּלְהִתְחַנֵּן לִפְנֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ לְהַצִּילוֹ מֵעֲבֵרָה זוֹ וּלְהִתְחָרֵט בִּכְלָלִיּוּת עַל עֲבֵרָה זוֹ.
The remedy for this is to repent in general for all your sins. Even though you do not know what sin is causing these debts, repent in general and ask God to save you from this particular sin also.
וְעֵת לָשׁוּב עַל זֶה הוּא כְּשֶׁהוּא בְּמֹחִין דְּגַדְלוּת, אֲזַי טוֹב לְהִתְחָרֵט וּלְבַקֵּשׁ מֵאֵת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ עַל זֶה וְלָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה.
The time for such repentance is when you are in a state of expanded consciousness.186Mochin DeGadlut, a Kabbalistic term referring to the mature state of the transcendental mentalities. This is the time to regret such sins, praying to God in complete repentance.
כִּי מֹחִין דְּקַטְנוּת הוּא בְּחִינַת "בַּעַל חוֹב".
Being in a state of constricted consciousness is like being in debt.187Mochin DeKatnut, a Kabbalistic term referring to the immature state of the transcendental mentalities. See “His Wisdom” #13; Likutey Halakhot, Halva'ah 4.
כִּי אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ ז"ל (קִדּוּשִׁין מט:): "עֲשָׂרָה קַבִּין שֵׁנָהּ יָרְדוּ לָעוֹלָם, תִּשְׁעָה נָטְלוּ עֲבָדִים".
The Talmud teaches, “Ten measures of sleep came down to the world. Nine were taken by slaves” (Kiddushin 49b).
שֵׁנָה הוּא בְּחִינַת מֹחִין דְּקַטְנוּת, עֲבָדִים בְּחִינַת (מִשְׁלֵי כב): "עֶבֶד לוֹוֶה לְאִישׁ מַלְוֶה".
Sleep is a state of constricted consciousness.188Cf. Likutey Moharan I, 117; ibid., II, 5:9. It is written, “A borrower is a slave to the man who lends” (Proverbs 22:7). A debtor is therefore a slave. The nine measures of sleep taken by slaves are the measures of constricted consciousness of the debtor.
וְלָזֶה כְּשֶׁהוּא בְּמֹחִין דְּגַדְלוּת, אֲזַי הָעֵת לָשׁוּב עַל זֶה וּלְבַטֵּל הָעֹנֶשׁ שֶׁל בַּעַל־חוֹב, בְּחִינַת מֹחִין דְּקַטְנוּת כַּנַּ"ל.
The sin that causes this must be repented when you are in a state of expanded consciousness. This then counteracts the punishment of being a debtor, the state of constricted consciousness.