From the Talmud (Masechet Berachot) we learn that the early Hasidim (more than a thousand years before the Baal Shem Tov, so don't get confused) would prepare an hour before they prayed, and an hour after they prayed. These saintly people, according to the Noam Elimelech (Parashath Korah) would ready themselves by binding themselves to HaShem so that He would bind Himself (figuratively) to them. Then they would pray, and finally in the hour of afterwards, from this place of utter oneness they would ready themselves to receive great pleasure from the pleasure this unity brings (again figuratively) to the Holy One blessed be He.
HaShem's pleasure is the actual blessing that the Tzaddikim bring down into the world. Like the Kohanim, the Tzaddikim have no direct lot amongst Bnei Yisrael, they don't pray for themselves, rather they pray for Bnei Yisrael and their lot is in the pleasure they derive from the pleasure they bring (yes, figuratively) HaShem. This is similar to the Kohanim who receive the lion's share of the blessing that HaShem showers down upon His chosen people, but don't have a particular inheritance in the land of Israel.
Comments
