How to Prepare a Mitzvah properly
By zevi770 · January 30, 2012
Once Chassidim were Farbreinging (gathering, and the Rebbe would say a Mammar, a mystical discourse) and the students there (of Tomchie Temmimim) were rushing through the preparatory song (sung as an introduction to the Mammer) so the Rebbe Rashab (the fifth Chabad Rebbe) stopped the rush and dedicated an entire talk that a pnimi (a congruent genuine soul based person) whatever he does, he does with full intent. In other words, even if something is just a preparation for another thing, nonetheless it is still an important principle that we should be fully engaged in the matter at hand.
As everything in Jewish mysticism has a source in Nigleh (the previously revealed part of Torah,) the source for this can be deduced from what the Rogetchaver Goan explains about the intent of Mitzvahs (that as they come from God they too are holy.)
Explaining why the preparation for a Mitzvah is itself vital and a Pnimy is fully preoccupied with it as well, the Rebbe Rashab (continued in that talk to) explain that firstly it is in the nature of a Pnimy to do things properly and secondly only through doing the preparation properly can one come to achieve the result in its completion.
Furthermore (adds the Rebbe) since G-d created the structure that things have preparations, hence through doing the preparations properly which in the terminology of Chassidus creates the keli – the container – for the light – hence it is an integral process leading up to the fulfillment of the objective.
This is seen in education that though it is education for the future of the child nonetheless in certain respects it is even more important than the future, similarly the preparation for a Mitzvah is a complete entity in its own right that needs to be accorded the attention it deserves.
Furthermore as Atzmus, God himself is the creator of every moment (for it is only in his ability to create matter out nothingness continually) hence this moment used properly – though only a preparation for something – is imbued with the infinity of God himself, transforming it into a Dirah Bitachtoinim a dwelling for God.
To further subdivide the matter, the thoughts and speech that precedes the action – and action is the ultimate – is similar to the higher worlds that precede our lower world, but receive an elevation when the lower world fulfils its mission.