וְאָמַר רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל: שֶׁכָּל כָּךְ נִכְנַס בְּהַקַּטְנוּת, וְנַעֲשָׂה רָגִיל בְּעִנְיְנֵי הַקַּטְנוּת כָּל־כָּךְ, עַד שֶׁאַחַר־כָּךְ כְּשֶׁבָּא לְאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְרָצָה לְהַשְׁלִיךְ זֹאת הָיָה מֻכְרָח לְהַכְרִיחַ עַצְמוֹ בְּכֹחוֹת לְשַׁבֵּר וּלְהַשְׁלִיךְ אֶת עִנְיְנֵי קַטְנוּת הַנַּ"ל, כִּי כְּבָר הָיָה קָשֶׁה עָלָיו לְהַשְׁלִיךְ זֹאת מֵחֲמַת גֹּדֶל הָרְגִילוּת. כָּל כָּךְ הָיָה נִכְנָס בְּהַקַּטְנוּת בִּתְחִלָּה. The Rebbe said, “At the time, I became so involved in childishness that I became totally accustomed to acting that way. Later, when I reached the Holy Land, it was difficult to act otherwise. I actually had to force myself to break these childish habits.” It had become such a habit that it was very difficult to break.
גַּם אַחַר־כָּךְ כְּשֶׁבָּא מֵאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיָה חִדּוּשׁ נִפְלָא בְּעִנְיָן זֶה. וְעֹצֶם הַפְלָגַת גְּדֻלַּת חָכְמָתוֹ בְּעִנְיָן זֶה, עָמֹק עָמֹק, לֹא נִשְׁמַע וְלֹא נִרְאָה כָּזֹאת. Later, when he returned from his pilgrimage, he was very unique in this respect, lowering himself in order to reach higher levels. In this respect, his wisdom was outstanding.
כִּי זֶה יָדוּעַ שֶׁקֹּדֶם שֶׁיּוֹצְאִין מִדַּרְגָּא לְדַרְגָּה צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה יְרִידָה קֹדֶם הָעֲלִיָּה וְכוּ', וְאָז צְרִיכִין לְעִנְיְנֵי קַטְנוּת לִהְיוֹת אִישׁ פָּשׁוּט לְגַמְרֵי וְכוּ'. It is a well-known fact that one must lower himself in order to proceed from one step to a higher one. At such a time, one must make use of childishness and absolute simplicity.29See Tzava'at HaBaal Shem Tov in Shevachey HaBaal Shem Tov, p. 224. Rebbe Nachman said that the Land of Israel is greatness of greatness, and therefore must be approached with smallness of smallness (Tzaddik #37).
וְהוּא ז"ל, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁכָּל יָמָיו לֹא הָיָה עוֹמֵד בְּשׁוּם פַּעַם עַל מַדְרֵגָה אַחַת, רַק בְּכָל פַּעַם בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל שָׁעָה הָיָה עוֹלֶה תָּמִיד מִדַּרְגָּה לְדַרְגָּה, עַל־כֵּן הָיְתָה חָכְמָתוֹ בְּעִנְיָנִים אֵלּוּ גָּבוֹהַּ וְעָמֹק מְאֹד "עָמֹק עָמֹק מִי יִמְצָאֶנּוּ". The Rebbe never remained on one level, but constantly raised himself step by step. His understanding of these concepts was therefore very profound – deep, deep, who can fathom it? (Ecclesiastes 7:24).