“Everything Illuminated” p: 164

Sunday, June 10, 2012

“Everything Illuminated” p: 164

AyinBase with R' Paltiel Sunday 20 Sivan 5772

Page 164 – about a third from the top of the page (line starts, 'ohr lehu-ir...') For text, see link top right of the blog. Or for text right click here.

We have been looking at how light comes from essence, and we have been looking at related cases.

But the examples of the sun and the soul are cases where they each have a definitive presence. The essence of the soul is not dressed in the body – it would be too much for it – it would cease to be a body. Actually, there is a constant sense in the body, that there is an enlivening force, the soul, and the body remains essentially lifeless.

Essence is not a worldly phenomenon. He made it. We don't understand it, but we recognize it.

Nevertheless, the soul does have a definition. It is life and we can see how life come from it...

The reflection of the soul comes automatically from it, to enliven the body. This functional element expresses itself in a way that the body can be affected.

Inside the text: a question is addressed. If this is essence, there is no parallel between it and the ha-arah /reflection. You can even have a reflection of the soul that devolves till it is not a true reflection.

When light comes it does not have to struggle with darkness. There is 100% efficiency. Nothing is lost. For the light darkness does not exist. There is no resistence.

The sun rules the day. The light creates day. It overcomes the darkness. The reflection / functional light of the sun has the feature of the essence in this regard. This is to point out the the metaphor of the sun or soul that we have been using, because above, the matter is not like this at all. There is no applications of, 'the reflection comes out in a certain way', to the Essence above.

The essence is separate and remote from everything that comes out in revelation, and there is no relevance to adjectives like 'essence of life' and 'illuminator'. There is no subject.

The fact that we say about Him, 'He lives, but not with the force of life' etc is not referring to Him – atzmus, but rather to the surrounding light which is an element of revelation...

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The power of the name...

In everything there is how this thing pertains to itself and how it represents itself. This representation is really a secondary element in this presence – that it can be viewed from outside and that it represents itself. There is a deep element - you would think that we can represent ourselves any way we want – this is politics, but this is a perversion. Really there is an essential element in a person to represent himself. This is the power of a name – it is an external thing, but at the same time it touches his essence. A person has a body and soul – the purpose of the soul in the body is not for itself, but to express itself outside...! ~ Shiur Sunday 8.22.2010

Light Power

All that came into being...

...all the created worlds and all the ethereal entities that live in them, even the worlds that are mere emanations without tangible substance, even the worlds of thought and beyond to the realms of infinite light that preceded Creation...

--all this came to be only as a result of the thought of you, the earthly being, struggling in a world that only a infinitesimal glimmer of G-dliness has reached in its purity, bringing light where light could not be.

And so it follows, that with one simple act of beauty, all those worlds and realms of light find their purpose fulfilled, and so shine yet brighter--and reciprocate with a burst of illumination into our lowly world.

That is why the entire creation can be transformed with one simple, sincere deed.

Never underestimate the power of light.

From the wisdom of the Rebbe. Words by Tzvi Freeman

Tools of the trade (Glossary)

(… to be continued and developed…)

· Bechinat – aspect

· Keili – vessel/container

· Ohr – light (pl: Ohrot or Orot)

· Hitlabshut – enclothement

· Kodesh – holy (lit: removed)

· Shaichus - connection

· Madrega – level

· Etzem – essence

· Muvdal – removed/separated

· Koach – power (as in koach reiya – the power of sight. Pl: kochot)

· Dibur – speech

· Machshavah – thought

· Myseh – action

· Malchus – kingship

· Kesser – crown, encompassing level

· Etzem – essence

· Mekabel – recipient

· Mashpia – giver / mentor

· Misromem – exalted

· Oh ein sof – infinite light

· Melech – king

· Meturgeman – translator / intermediary

· Tammuz – a Hebrew month

· Rav – teacher

· Sechel – mind

In the world - Beyond the world - Exodus - Shattering and Refinement

Hayom Yom (25 Tevet):

"From my father's discourses we see that Exodus from Egypt means leaving limitations and bounds, and Chassidus is to enable man to leave the restrictions of the material world.

There is a difference: The Egyptian Exodus means shattering and then departure. We went away from Egypt.

The Chassidic Exodus means purification and correction, stepping out of worldly limitations and bounds while remaining in the the world.

This means, that while functioning within the world we must transcend its limitations. We are to remove the limitations and bounds, and perceive the truth - that the world per se is truly good, since, after all, the natural world is what G-d intended.

This is attained through the Avoda (work) of Chassidus."

Notes: When society and environment ("world" in chassidic usage) conflict with Torah, there may be a reaction of withdrawal from "world" and its affairs. Extreme monastic withdrawal is rejected by Torah.
Chassidus advocates being "within world," involvement in the normal routines of family and occupation for example, but refusing subservience to the values and principles of "world."

The Jew's values are to be Torah's while he functions in the marketplace or laboratory. He utilizes the opportunities and challenges of "world" to subordinate and use worldly affairs for Torah ideals, values and goals.

He will do this intellectually when confronting concepts that appear not to be consonant with Torah, and also by observing Mitzvot in inhospitable circumstances.

While functioning in this environment he is apart from it, refusing to be dominated or intimidated by it.

Stand, Walk and Jump - Daily Chassidus

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Sunday, June 10, 2012

“Everything Illuminated” p: 164

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