The Sefer Tanya greatly discourages but does not completely eliminate fasting as a spiritual practice. Beis Aharon of Karlin eliminated fasting as a practice. Importance of the Rebbe is not to just listen to his Torah discourses. Simple presence of chassid in presence of the tzaddik emphasized. Learning kabbalah was private, personal and hidden before chassidus. The bond of the chassid and Rebbe works in both directions. The chassidim need the Rebbe and the Rebbe needs the chassidim.