“Essence, Delight and Function” p: 32

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

“Essence, Delight and Function” p: 32

AyinBase / Ayin Beis with R' Paltiel Tuesday 7 Elul 5773

Page 32 (לב). At about a third into the page – (line begins: 'kuli...') For text, click: Here.

'Delight' is synonymous with life. There is no 'life' inherent in world. Life can only come from the living God. The world strives to identify all in relation to the functional world. They will even say 'a human being is the result of trying to save himself from the lion'. This is perverse. There is a central reality.

The soul delights in 'being what it is'. It is not filling any lack. And the happiness in 'being what it is' is because this joins it to the 'First Being'. Godly presence has no beginning and no functionality. It is way beyond the 'truth of existence...'

Delight is a 'surrounding light' (ohr makif) and essence is the source of that light. Oneg/delight, is making a statement, but there is no 'what' it is talking about. How can that be? How can something be without a 'what'? From our perspective everything needs a foundation. Oneg/delight has no basis. It does not need an explanation. So where does it come from and what is it based on? It is based on and sourced in the essential element of the soul. And essence cannot be defined. It is by definition 'not world'. It is Godly. Worldly means 'it has a source'. Godly means 'without a source'.

And this tells us the uniqueness of chochmah. Though it is a conscious faculty, it is satisfied being aware of 'essence', for which it has no definition nor handle. This is like the sage saying, 'I choose the king'.

And the chochmah is like sight. You and the chochmah are united. You see with your eyes not with your hands. The animal sees the tangible, not the visible. The human being sees the visible – the concept...

So oneg/delight/ענוג is a surrounding element that represents essence. Chochmah/wisdom is the conscious faculty that can bring these surrounding lights into the vessels of consciousness.

Chochmah/wisdom brings the soul into the world... and everything that is brought is a small reflection of an infinite resource.

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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

Pages

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

“Essence, Delight and Function” p: 32

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