Summary of Daily Tanya: # 5

 

In the last summary – of the beginning of chapter 3 – the Alter Rebbe began defining how a soul (a fundamental desire) will find expression in 3 intellectual and 7 emotional traits.

 

He continues to explain how this relates to the Divine soul – for when a person contemplates how every molecule is truly a Divine choice, and if God can choose a detail, certainly he has (like an artist’s paintbrush) an infinite capacity of creation! – furthermore, if he has an infinite capacity of creation (than like the paintbrush relative to the artist) the chosen creation bears no absolute permanence (it’s merely a choice, like an artist who makes a drawing on a computer.)

 

These ideas arouse a tremendous reverence hence fear (of being disloyal or shame from being disloyal) and subsequently a love towards God.

 

However (and here the Alter Rebbe speaks about Daas) – a good example is say, trying to kick-smoking or dieting – I may know how important this behavior change is, but until I truly integrate in a very emotional mechanism – which the Alter Rebbe says, is by constantly contemplating its importance, until it transfers from the intellectual to the emotional realm – only then do I make a behavior shift – so Daas (this transference from intellect to emotion) is primarily the foundation, basis and inner-being of the emotions (for without it, a person merely feels a temporary feeling.)

 

Summary of Daily Tanya: # 6

 

Chapter 4

 

Every soul also has three clothes – they are called clothing, because like clothes you can put them on or take them off (unlike your intellect and emotions that are constant – the very being of the soul.)

 

They are thoughts, speech and actions.

 

So for example, in the Divine soul, the performance of a Mitzvah, the speaking / studying Torah and the thoughts involved are the expression of the Divine soul in a manifest way (for as we know a desire can lie dormant).

Summary of Daily Tanya: # 7

Specifically, one mind’s thoughts are what study Torah, but one’s heart, namely, the emotions of fear or shame of disloyalty; and love – the desire to fulfil God’s will – are the root source of the subsequent speech, such as prayer and actions, such as putting on Teffilin (for if I am to act, this act will either be motivated due to a love or a fear, the genesis and forerunner of all thoughts, speech and actions.)

 

 

Summary of Daily Tanya: # 8

 

Now though the three clothes of the Divine soul are an expression of its desire (to fulfil God’s will) nonetheless they are far – infinitely! – beyond the soul itself.

 

The reason for this is, as Kabbalah teaches, God is one with his will and wisdom expressed in the Torah (so unlike a human whose wisdom and will may be different – in other words, there may be times that I was unware of this information and even after I am aware, I may change my mind – the Torah is God) hence the soul that thinks, speaks or fulfils Torah, elevates his soul (and as Tanya will go into great detail) unifying completely with God by wearing these clothes.

 

Summary of Daily Tanya: # 9

 

It is for this reason, Torah is compared to water, for just as rain is the very cloud condensed and presented to earth, the Torah actually contains God! – hence when I do a Mitzvah, Divine energy will pulsate into the part of me doing the Mitzvah! – say the arm putting on Teffilin! the heart feeling love! etc. etc.

 

Summary of Daily Tanya: # 10

 

It is for this reason that the Mishnah states “one hour of Teshuvah and good deeds in this world surpasses the entire delight of the reward of heaven” (or the world to come) for though one may delight in the intellectual appreciation of God’s greatness, nonetheless this will of-course be limited to how much a human can perceive, and visa-vie infinity, all of our perceptions are infinitely less than the truth (though based on our current understanding, they may seem as great truths…) however, the actual performance of God’s will in this world, as mentioned, creates a unique oneness with God.