Quotes from the Tanya – chapter 34
By zevi770 · February 26, 2012
CHAPTER 34
“This meditation (of chapter 33 of God’s unity) was always born in mind by the forefathers which made them a Merkavah – a chariot to God’s will – and this level (of Merkavah) was consummated in Mosses whose very mouth was the speech of God coming through him.
To a certain extent the Jews at Mount Sinai received this revelation but as it was too lofty for them, it ceased and God commanded Mosses and them to build a Mishkan (tabernacle) and there this unity (in the holy of holies) presided.
So a Jew must say “As my mind does not have the great capacity as the forefathers, and Mosses, to hold this unity constantly, nonetheless I shall host God as our sages state “from the destruction of the Temple, God resides in the space of Torah study,” so when I study Torah morning and evening and increasing when I have a chance, it is then that I shall play host to God (for as mentioned, chapter 4, at this moment ones mind unifies with God).
Additionally, if a person finds his income increases, he should add in his charity and though he gives merely a fifth of his charity, this fifth unifies God in all of his efforts to make the money, as the single (or few) animals offered in the holy temple elevated all the animals in the world and the bit of flour offered (mixed with a log of olive oil) elevated all the flour (hence we see a bit of effort has the ability to unify God within all the effort, for one comes from the other and as it has some of the other, can in turn elevate its source.)
Additionally when one prays using the energy of the time and money spent on gaining the food to eat, to give the strength for prayer and study then this too elevates (for as mentioned, the cause is elevated by the Godly outcomes.)
At the same time, all of this joy in uniting with and hosting God need not take away from a concurrent feeling of debasement, for the debasement is over the body’s lowliness, while the joy is over the soul’s unity and happiness in its merging with God and both are true.
This is the meaning of the statement of the Zohar, suffering and sorrow are lodged in one side of the heart while joy and rejoicing in the other.”