Chapter XVII

Behold all of the levels of love [of G-d] are very easily accessible for a person. For, in essence, he possesses them all inherently within his soul. All that is necessary is for him to bring them out into revelation within his heart. This is a possible task for each and every individual, each one according to his own potential, as explained in Tanya, ch. 44. To bring this hidden love from concealment into revelation in one’s heart and mind is not wondrous, nor distant. 1 On the contrary, “the matter is very near to you - in your mouth and in your heart - to perform it.” 2

With regard to material matters, we see that we have a natural attraction to good and exemplary things. And so, when a person sees something which is good and contemplates its goodness, he is aroused with love for that entity. Similar concepts apply with regard to a person of whom he has never heard before. When he becomes familiar with him and appreciates his positive qualities, he will love him and desire to come close and cling to him.

Similar concepts apply with regard to spiritual matters. When a person knows and appreciates the positive and exemplary dimensions of G-dliness - how [G-d] permeates all the worlds, transcends all the worlds, and how all existence is of no significance whatsoever before Him as stated in ch. 16, he will be aroused to a love and a desire to cling to Him. Knowing [G-d] refers to studying, learning about these matters, and afterwards meditating about the concepts and thinking about them in depth. When a person contemplates such matters and thinks about them in depth, he will be aroused to a genuine love and a great yearning. His soul will be drawn to Him, [desiring] to cling to Him through involvement in the Torah and its mitzvos. He will seek to separate himself from all matters that are not related to G-d and to His Torah, i.e., all material matters. His desire will be only to cling to Him.

There are several levels in the nature and the quality of the love and the yearning to cling to Him, and the distance [the person will feel] from material entities. [The level of the person’s love] will depend on the nature of his knowledge and his comprehension, and the manner in which he contemplates and thinks deeply. The more he knows and comprehends, and the more he contemplates and thinks deeply, the greater and more genuine will be the love which he attains.

Certainly, labor is necessary to know and comprehend these matters. And unquestionably, [the process of] contemplating and thinking deeply requires effort and time. As Tanya, ch. 42 states, one must labor with one’s soul so that he does not consider the effort burdensome, for [to attain this love,] he must exert himself, thinking deeply and contemplating the greatness of G-d consistently, for extended periods of time. For even with regard to material entities, unless a person binds his thought to an entity, he will not be aroused to love for it, as stated in Likkutei Torah, in the second explanation to [the maamar entitled] VeYadaata. Therefore, [when speaking of the love of G-d], certainly effort, and [sustained] deep thought and contemplation is necessary, but with effort, [this love] can be attained.

Synopsis: [This chapter] explains that through exerting oneself in the knowledge [of G-d], and in contemplation and thinking deeply about such matters, it is very easy to arouse the love [of G-d].