Tanya In Simple English – Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Core Point – Torah and Mitzvos and the Sacred Hebrew Texts are the Clothing/Expressions of the G-dly Soul and far surpass her

Core Terminology:

“Machshava” – Thought 
“Dibbur” – Speech 
“Maaseh” – Action/s

The Clothing Of The G-dly Soul

In addition (to the G-dly souls intellect and emotions mentioned in the previous chapter) every G-dly soul has three “clothes.”

These are the thought, speech and action, of the 613 Mitzvos of the Torah.

Getting Dressed

In other words, when a person does any of the physical Mitzvos (such as putting on Teffilin, lighting Shabbos candles…) and with one’s speech, one studies the 613 commandments and their laws; and in one’s thoughts one comprehends whatever one is able to understand in one of the four levels of the Torah’s wisdom (the four levels are called PaRDeS…
Pshat (Basic Meaning)
Remez (Hints)
Drush (Lessons)
Sod (Kabbalah)) – then the 613 parts of one’s soul ( a soul is comprised of 613 parts…) are merged (within) the 613 Mitzvos of the Torah. 

More specifically, the Chabad of his soul is within the comprehension of the Torah that he is understanding (based on his intellectual capacity, and the source of his soul above – (for depending on a soul’s source will be which one of the four levels of Torah they have better receptivity towards.))

Now the G-dly soul’s emotions which are fear and love of G-d (and the offspring and derivate emotions from them) are within the performance of the practical (action based) Mitzvos and speech (Mitzvahs) which is the study of Torah – which is comparably as great as all the Mitzvos combined.

Love & Fear – The Basis

 
(The reason why love and fear cause one’s thoughts, speech and action to perform Torah and Mitzvos is because) love is the basis of doing the 248 positive / Do Mitzvos as without love for G-d, one’s Mitzvah performances will eventually fade… for one who truly does the Mitzvos (hence permanently – as mentioned, “truth means permanence”) is one who loves G-d’s name (the Shechina – G-d’s presence) and wishes to truly be attached to Him. 

Love of G-d = Mitzvos

Now it is impossible to truly be attached to G-d, unless one fulfils the 248 commandments, which are so to say, “The limbs of the king;” (His 248 specific desires) as stated elsewhere.

Fear of G-d = Not Transgressing

And fear of G-d is the source of the 365 prohibitions – as one is afraid to contravene the will of the King of Kings, G-d.

Fear – Shame – Humility

Now an even deeper fear is (not that one fears G-d…) rather one has a healthy sense of humility/shame (as one is constantly standing in the presence of the Omnipresent Omnipotent G-d) and as such will not disobey His sacred decrees and do evil in His eyes… namely, everything which to G-d is repulsive, which are the Kelipos and Sitra Achara (evil entities) whose life-source sucks energy from man below – which they receive if a person  transgresses any of the 365 prohibitions.

(In simple words if you love someone and respect them you will not do that which is repulsive to the person and to G-d the evil forces are repulsive, and “if I were to sin I would create/feed these forces” – like if I love my mother and my mother hates a mess, I won’t let the house be messy.)

The Greatness Of Torah and Mitzvos

Now these three clothings from the Torah and Mitzvos, though they are called clothing for the Nefesh, Ruach and Neshama – nevertheless they are infinitely greater than the level of the Nefesh, Ruach and Neshama itself – as it states in the Zohar, “G-d and the Torah are completely one.”

 
In other words, the Torah is the wisdom and will of G-d, and G-d in His honor and essence (meaning the Torah and G-d) are completely one; for He is the knower, the knowledge and the known etc. as we wrote before, quoting the Rambam.

(As such realizing that the Torah is G-d so when the G-dly soul studies Torah it is uniting with G-d.)

Now though G-d is called infinite, and His greatness is impossible to comprehend, and no thought can grasp Him at all, as it says, “If you seek G-d will you discover…?” and it states, “My thoughts are not your style of thinking” (so how on earth can we say that a specific graspable Mitzvah, say putting on Teffiin that the human mind can study and the body can perform, is G-dly?  It would seem the infinite and the finite are inherently opposites…)

G-d Condensed 

This is why our sages taught, “Wherever you find the greatness (infinity) of G-d, you also find his humility” (in that) He condensed His will and wisdom in the 613 Mitzvos of the Torah, and their laws – and in the combinations of the letters of the Tana”ch (Torah, Neviem (prophets) Kesuvim (writing). And as such even just reading their Holy Letters and Words connects one to G-d.)) And in the teaching of our sages in the Aggadah and Medrash.  This is in order that every Neshama or Ruach or Nefesh within the body of man can perceive them in their mind, and fulfil whatever they can in action, speech, and thought of them.

Connecting Through Torah and Mitzvos

Through this, one places all their ten soul levels (intellect and emotions) in these three Torah clothings.

This is why Torah is compared to water – for just as water descends from a high to a low location (and it is literally the same water – so the clouds mist is the raindrop…) similarly the Torah descended from her honorable standing which is the will and wisdom of G-d, and the Torah and G-d are completely one entity, and no human mind can understand G-d at all…

From there it descended, level after level in secret heavenly realms, through the chainlike descent of the spiritual universes, until it manifests within physical objects (such as a Sefer Torah, Teffilin etc.) and matters of this world (Intimacy, Money, Relationships etc.) which is what nearly all the Torah laws and their details (Halachos) deal with.

(Imagine a light – it may begin say as a light but as we know “energy = matter” so it could descend and become literally a physical object, so though the Torah in essence is one with G-d, it descends into a physical item.) And the (Torah descended into) the combination of the physical letters and words – written with ink in a book – namely the 24 books of Torah, Neveim, and Kusivim. 

The reason for this descent was in order that every mind should be able to comprehend it, and even one’s speech and action – which are lower spiritual qualities (then thinking…) can both grasp the Torah/Mitzvah, and be within them (when we say and do the words of Torah.)

Enwrapped

Now once the Torah and Mitzvos enwrap the 10 soul levels, and all the 613 “limbs of the soul,” from head to foot, now the soul is completely bound up with the source of life, G-d-Himself. And the light of G-d completely encircles her and covers her from her head to her foot, as it is written “My rock that I am covered (or sheltered) within.”

And it is written “His will enwraps (me”) This refers to the will and wisdom of G-d, which is in the Torah and Mitzvos.

Just Do It

It is for this reason our sages taught, “Far better a single hour of Teshuva (positive Divine attachment and growth) and good deeds done in this world, then all of the bliss in the world to come.” 

For the experience in the world-to-come (heaven) is where a soul enjoys a Divine ray (a ray of the Shechina) which is the pleasure of comprehending (some of G-dliness) but it is impossible for any created Being (hence limited mind) to understand but a minor ray of G-d’s luminescence (which is why the reward is called “a Ray of the Shechina.”)

But G-d-Himself, in His honor and essence, no thought can comprehend Him at all! unless as He is clothed in Torah and Mitzvos.

(Now one can query how can you grasp an infinite and awesome God through physical Torah / Mitzvos?) Though Torah descended into mundane physicality – nevertheless, this like hugging a king – there is no actual difference (in terms of one’s nearness / closeness to the king) whether he is hugging him while he wears one garment or many, for it is the body (soul) of the king, that is within the clothing that you are hugging.   (Similarly when you are hugging G-d within His Mitzvos – you are actually hugging Him! as well as when you say the Holy words of Torah and the Prayers etc.)

Similarly if the king hugs one with his arm while wearing a shirt (this is still the king’s hug as it is the love / essence within which is manifesting.)

As it states, “His right hand will hug me…” this refers to the Torah which was given from God’s right “Hand” which is the level of kindness and water.

In Summary:

A. The G-dly Soul Has Three Clothings – Thought, Speech, and Action of Torah and Mitvos.

B. As G-d is One With His Torah – These Actions, Speech, and Thoughts Elevate The Soul Into G-d.

C. Wonder not “how can the awesome G-d be within a physical Mitvah?” for it is like hugging a king – the clothing doesn’t separate the heart.