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Rabbi Shlomo Chein: Welcome. I'll be with you in a moment...what's on your mind?
PloniAlmoni: hi, sorry I was speaking to another rabbi and got disconnected
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: sorry... he is not on any longer, would you like to chat with me?
PloniAlmoni: basically we had a conversation about masturbation on my part and about how to stop that
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: the Kotzker Rebbe once told his students: "I don't expect you not to sin because you don't want to; I expect you not to sin because you don't have time to"
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: keep your mind busy with holy thoughts so that you don't have time to think of anything unholy.
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: Don't read magazines, newspapers, watch movies etc that have images of immodest things which will get your mind working in the wrong direction. Rather read holy books, and go to sleep reading such books
PloniAlmoni: I try not do do the untzniut [Ed. note: immodest] things (i.e. movies, newspapers - other than news, magazines, etc.)
PloniAlmoni: I don't watch TV - it's bitul zman [waste of time] by my standards
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: well even news magazines can have stories, and worse yet images, that can lead the mind to think imodestly
PloniAlmoni: I see what you're saying, though I'm on that path already. Helps, but not always. There are lapses.
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: there are no gaurantees in life - as long as we live there will constantly be a challenge and we must remian strong and be on guard
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: and if you still have time for these thoughts or deeds, get busier with holy stuff so you won't have time
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: Involve yourself in intense projects that will tire you physically, and keep your mind busy constantly.
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: When you are heavily involved in a hobby, a sport, an academic or hands-on project, your mind will constantly be busy with the subject at hand, and it won't have time to think about "foreign" immodest thoughts. And if that project is Torah related your mind will be busy and sanctified at the same time, all the more removing it from impure thoughts.
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: Another quick practical solution is to sleep with your door open.
PloniAlmoni: will try to...
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: ok
PloniAlmoni: thanks, have a nice day.
Rabbi Shlomo Chein: all the best - stay strong, G-d is there to help
[Ed. note: Also read "Where does the Torah say masturbation is a sin?"]
ADD A COMMENT
Hashem created the yetzer harah, and he would not have presented you with this challenge if He knew in His infinate wisdom that you couldn't overcome it.
The fact that you have this test prooves that you can overcome it.
With the certainty in mind that you can overcome it, you will eventually (despite possible serveral falls in the process) overcome it.
And so it was with me...
