Likutei Moharan 6:12/ליקוטי מוהר"ן ו׳:י״ב

112. Based on Kabbalistic teaching we know that concealed in this is the hidden meaning of the kavanot of Elul. For baky is the aspect of the above mentioned Holy Name YaBoK, which has the same letters as BaKY. When a person attains the two types of expertise mentioned earlier, which is twice baky —i.e., baky b’ratzo (running) and baky b’shov (returning)—he also attains the derekh (way) of repentance. This is because twice baky, which is the aspect of twice the Holy Name Yabok, is equal to the numerical value of derekh. For by following the method of the kavanot, this derekh is made from the segol of KaSA and the chirik of SaG, which [also] have the numerical value of twice Yabok.

2This in itself is the deeper meaning of the two types of expertise. The baky of running, which corresponds to “esak shamayim (I ascend to heaven),” is related to the segol of KaSA —because eSAK and KaSA have the same letters.

3The baky of returning, which corresponds to “and if I make my bed in Hell,” is related to the chirik of SaG, as in (Proverbs 22:28), “Do not taSeG (moves back) the ancient boundary stone.” This is when a person retreats from his limit and turns back, <resembling “naSoGu backwards” (Isaiah 42:17)>. It is a spiritual fall; a person falls from his original level and turns back, God forbid. Nevertheless, [a person who is baky] will strengthen himself and never give himself over to despair. For even in such a place God can be found, corresponding to “and if I make my bed in Hell, here You are.” This is an aspect of the name SaG.

4For “segol is the sun,” the upper point of the aleph, which is divided into three dots. It corresponds to “If I ascend to heaven,” an aspect of the segol of KaSA, which has the same letters as eSAK (ascend). And chirik is the lower point of the aleph, corresponding to “and if I make my bed in Hell,” which is an aspect of the chirik of SaG.

5This is the meaning of what was said above in the lesson: When a person possesses these two types of expertise (baky) , then he is walking the pathways (derekh) of repentance. For from twice baky —which are the aspects of KaSA and SaG, “ascend to heaven” and “make my bed in Hell”—the aspect of derekh —which has a numerical value of twice baky, corresponding to KaSA and SaG —is made.

6For the essence of the pathways of repentance is reached through these two types of expertise. And then, the yemin of God is peshutah (outstreched) to accept his repentance. This is because yemin has the same numerical value as derekh, which is twice baky ; and peshutah has the same numerical value as the segol of KaSA and the chirik of SaG, as explained above.

7[Furthermore, the segol and the chirik] are themselves the aspects of the upper point and the lower point. They represent the need to constantly search for God, whether it be above or below. These are the two types of expertise: “If I ascend to heaven, You are there; and if I make my bed in Hell, here You are.” Therefore, when a person possesses these two types of expertise, he is walking the pathways of repentance. And then, the right hand of God is outstretched to accept his repentance. Understand this well, for the matters discussed here are very deep.