93. Not the Body - Struggle

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Bringing Heaven Down to Earth

Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

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Remember you are not the body. Neither are you the animal that pounds within the body, demanding its way in every thing. You are a G-dly soul.

Do not confuse the pain and struggle of the body with the joy and purity of the G-dly soul.

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	Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson More articles... \|
	From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:

Posted: Feb 19, 2008

Q&A

Question:
In Tanya, chapter 29, it says clearly that a person is not the G-dly soul, rather the "vitalizing soul". Only the Tzadikim are the G_dly soul. May i please get an explanation.

Answer:

Glad to see someone's on the ball.

If you think into it a little more, you'll see that the Alter Rebbe appears to contradict himself with this statement. After all, in chapter 18 he explained that even the simplest Jew is ready to give up his or her life, G_d forbid, not to be separated from the G_d of Israel.

Later, in chapter 32, he explains how true love can only be found among those who focus on the nefesh and not the body--so if that's the animal soul, what sort of unity and love is going to ensue? And why love someone s/he's just an animal (or vitalizing) soul?

Quite simply, it depends on whether we are talking about the Jew from the outside-in or from the inside-out. From the outside-in, his thoughts, his personality, his ego may all be under the domain of an animal soul. From the inside-out, however, every breath and every heartbeat is powered by the G_dly soul.

This becomes clear in Iggeres HaTeshuva, chapter six, where the Alter Rebbe describes how when a Jew sins, chas v'sholom, he is choosing to draw his vitality from the chambers of tuma. If so, you would think that's the end of his connection to G_dliness. But no. By doing so, the Alter Rebbe continues, the Jew is drawing his G_dly soul--and even the latter hey of G_d's name--into exile.

Why? Because no matter what, that's the source of every ounce of his being. It's only that he is forcing that Divine current to pass through the sewers of tuma--and feed them along the way--in order to get to him. Sort of like living it wild on your dad's credit card--and then calling him to get you out of trouble.

This is the gist of the Rebbe's footnote to Likutei Sichos vol. 11, page 71, footnote 51.

Posted By Tzvi Freeman (author)

Struggle


	Jealous Angels


	Cleaning Up


	Congratulations


	Consent


	Mockery


	Hope


	With the Body


	Not the Body


	Advice on Anger


	Animal Taming


	Be A Rock


	Challenge


	The Choice


	Between Hope & Trust


	Celebrate

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