Summary The English Tanya Chapter 1

The English Tanya is a paraphrased translation of the most seminal book called the Bible of Jewish Mysticism.

 

 

Chapter 1

There are two souls / drives within man

The following five ideas are introduced / explained in this chapter:

1. There is an oath we all take prior to entering into this world.

Before we come into our bodies, our soul is in heaven and we swear that, “I will be good and not evil, and even if the entire world tells me I am holy, I will consider myself as if I am unholy.”

 

2. There are five spiritual categories of people.

 

1. A Good person (lit. Tzaddik) who is only good.
2. A Good person who has some bad in him.
3. A Bad person (lit Rasha) who has good in him.
4. A Bad person who is only bad.
5. And the Benoini.

 

3. There are two definitions of what a Tzaddik, Rashah and Benoini are.

 

There is the simple and absolute definition of good and bad.

 

In the simple definition good refers to being more good (let’s call it selfless) than bad (let’s call it selfish.)

 

However in the absolute definition, a Tzaddik (holy Jewish saint) refers to someone who either overcomes or completely transforms his bad – in other words, it’s not that he is sometimes (G-d-forbid bad) rather, though all of us are attacked by negative instincts, lusts, impulses, the Tzaddik has such a profound love for G-d and goodness, that either these impulses do not enter his or her consciousness, or in actual fact they have been washed away.

4. Every person has two souls.

It is very important to understand that each and every person has in actual fact two souls – the first soul is what is called an animal. The reason for this is that it is comprised of four desires – Fire: which is the desire for recognition, supremacy, and conversely anger (when demeaned.) Earth, the desire for indolence (laziness) and sadness (for ultimately sadness is selfish – it relates to not getting what I wanted.) Air – frivolity (comedy, entertainment etc.) Water – the desire for instinctual gratification.

 

5. The uniqueness of the Jewish Animal Soul

 

As Tanya is based on Kabbalah therefore from a Kabbalistic perspective, souls come from different sources – one of the characteristics in the Jewish people (though by no means exclusively Jewish, yet simultaneously characteristic in Jews) is compassion. Now compassion, though of-course being one of the highest ideals can also be selfish (for compassion is how “your” suffering makes ME feel.   True goodness is doing the will of G-d, for when one does charity in such a manner, it is not only based on if I am currently feeling compassionate – rather it is my constant duty! – “I must find those who are suffering and assist.”)