Chapter 16 Loss of Innocence and Sophisticated Intentions

But the question of the Rivash [quoting R. Shimshon DeKinon "I pray with the mindset of a small child"] why it's necessary to do all this [to direct G-d's blessing to a particular Sephira] - this is a serious query. And in order to address this question we must understand the idea of Hallel, praise and thanksgiving, that draws down G-d's attributes into active revelation...

I learn in these texts that G-d is completely simple and singular beyond all relation to the detailed world we live in. One of the advantages of a child's mindset is that it is completely simplistic and lacks knowledge, and contains very childish ideas about G-d so when they pray, it's with a whole heart. And they are not disturbed by any philosphical or theological issues.

I recently attended at our school a celebration for boys as well as girls on receiving their first prayerbook. And each child turned in a note with a personal prayer and what they're thankful for. Some prayed for the Temple to be rebuilt, and some for our soldiers to win against the enemy. Someone said thanks for a new baby brother, one thanked Hashem that she's a blonde... One asked that her great-grandmother live forever- this is all right for the child's prayer. 

An adult asks for different things and gives thanks for different things. But more importantly, an adult loses the ability to be so innocent. Particularly from the standpoint of knowledge. It's much easier to pray to G-d when I have a more materialistic picture in my mind. But the more I learn about how far I am from conceiving His essence, the harder it becomes.

R. Shimshon deKinon and the Ba'alei Tosfos lived in 12th and 13th century France, and on the one hand were able to analyze a verse or a gemara in 85 different ways, but their world was of the utmost simplicity... But the Rivash knew Greek philosophy and Arab philosophy which makes it much more difficult to revert to childish innocence.

When we pray, we have to feel that what we are doing makes sense. For a child, they are not so troubled by issues of reward and punishment and the likelihood of their prayer being answered. They simply ask without making an accounting. An adult, on the other hand, for emotional reasons, primarily, must feel that it makes sense for them to stand before G-d and ask for their every need to be fulfilled.

(The text in italics are the words of Derech Mitzvosecha by the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek. The bolded words are Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's commentary as heard on his shiurim on hashefa.co.il. The rest is my commentary. All rights reserved to Rabbi Steinsaltz)