“No Personal Satisfaction” p: 161

AyinBase with R' Paltiel Tuesday 23 Iyar 5772 

Page 161 – at about just above middle of the page (line starts, 'shabbat shabbaton...') For text, see link top right of the blog. Or for text right click here.

We are talking about the element of bitul/humility that exists in the soul, such that he is one with Elokus/G-dliness and personal presence is set aside.

This is what surfaces in the soul's willingness to come down into the body even in a moment when it is imbued with great ecstasy! He distracts himself from that pleasure to follow the essential intent! This has nothing at all to do with his personal experience. There is no personal satisfaction or engaging of his faculties. 

This is called kabalot ol malchut shamayim – taking on the yoke of the kingdom of heaven. This is putting himself aside. He lets go of his personal wishes and nullifies himself to the true will of Him.

We explained earlier, that this is from the essence root of the souls of Israel. The soul is not involved in 'what it is' but is showing how it is one with Him (Atzmus Ein Sof).

What is the point? Anything a person does has 2 elements – what he does and who he is. Take the example of one understanding something – there is the material that is understood and there is the I, that has the understanding.

In every thought or action there has to be something that unites it and gives it meaning – this is the person himself. So the real basis of each step of man is the intent behind it. That is true when we view the person as separate, but there is a deeper level, where taking a step is not based on the existence of the individual, but on the Maker. The function of the soul now is not from its own orientation, but due to the overall G-dly reality. This is kabalot ol malchut shamayim.

This is beyond personal perspective. He is not relating to his experience, but to where he is sourced. He puts aside his will. This is how the soul stays connected to the body, since he says this is the higher intent. This is beyond sechel/mind.

This is 'ach be tzelem huluch ish' – 'only in his form does man walk'. Walking is a developing of qualities – a process. The soul/neshamah is kept in the body. And the body, though physical, can have sensitivities like a soul and a living entity. It becomes a full vessel for the soul. So that the soul should settle in and be comfortable (in contrast to if a soul was re-incarnated into the body of an animal, where there would be no union and settling down).

The body gives up its own natural tendencies and becomes sensitive to something beyond it! The body senses the life of the soul. How? The body nullifies itself to the tzurah/form of the soul.

Light comes where there is no obstruction. Light does not fight its way through obstructions. If the body puts itself aside then the light of the soul can be revealed.