Quotes from Tanya – Chapter 1
By zevi770 · November 6, 2017
CHAPTER 1
THE SOUL’S OATH
“Before a soul enters into this world, in Heaven they make him swear (which also means they give him the ability to fulfill this oath) “Be a Tzaddik (perfectly righteous) and don’t be a Rasha (evil,) and lest the entire world tells you that you are a Tzaddik, always consider yourself as if you are a Rasha.”
SELF-IMAGE
“One shouldn’t have negative opinion of oneself, for this leads to sadness and depression.”
AVODA / SERVING G-d – JOY
“One should serve (work for) G-d, with joy and enthusiasm.”
SELF-AWARENESS
“Though one shouldn’t be despondent, nonetheless, one should be aware of his or her spiritual standing (in order to constantly strive to do more.)”
TRUE TZADDIK
“The true level of a Tzaddik, is one who does not have a Yetzer Hara (the little devil in man) anymore.”
NON-TRUE TZADDIK
“Whoever still has a Yetzer Hara, though his good outweighs his evil, nonetheless he is not in the level of a Tzaddik.”
TRUE TZADDIKS
“God realizing that there would be few Tzaddikim, put them (scattered) in every generation.”
TRUE TZADDIK
“The Tzaddik is the foundation (Kabbalistickly, all the energy that flows from God to his generation flows through his soul first) of the world.”
SOULS
“Every Jew whether a Tzaddik or a Rasha, possesses two souls.”
THE ANIMAL SOUL
“The first soul, comes from the side of unholiness, possessing the qualities of earth – laziness and sadness; fire – haughtiness and anger; water – desire for instinctual pleasures; air – enjoyment of fun, blabbing, self-grand standing.
JEWISH ANIMAL
In addition, in a Jewish soul (as it comes from the source of “the tree of knowledge” containing both evil and good, hence) there are also the positive characteristics of goodness, compassion and kindness.”