95. Animal Taming

And oftentimes the animal soul has really good advice, like: "Hey, we should go to bed now; we're really tired." And the mind says, "Lalalalala, I don't hear you, I'm on Facebook."

And here's an example of the animal soul cooperating: this morning I got up at 5:30 to go out in the snow to yoga and then come home and spend time outdoors feeding the animals. Then I had a reprieve of an hour of the time when I had to leave the house again, and my body said, "Hey! This would be the perfect opportunity to enjoy a hot bath!" My mind said, "'Weeell, I don't know, there are things to be done in the house, but ... I do have interesting thoughts sometimes in the bathtub, so... ok."
And then, indeed, I was very thankful for the thoughts which came - thoughts about G-d, and tikkun olam and such. Then when all the thoughts that were going to come seemed to have arrived, my mind said, "Probably time to get going." My body said, "Whatever, I'm fine here." But it didn't object, so up we got.

For example - I've experienced my horse telling me to calm down and be serene. Similarly anyone who's done yoga has experienced their body instructing their mind how to be still.

While this is clearly true and there are impulses that we clearly must deny, how does this fit in with what also recently appeared in the "Daily Dose" (and what Tzvi Freeman has said elsewhere too) about working WITH and learning from the body as the Messianic era approaches? I think that what Smadar above says is apt also. And it also applies to external, other animals too, not just the animal within. Horses, for example, have a great desire to help and cooperate, so if the metaphor holds, then we might expect our animal soul to also cooperate in the venture of tikkun olam if we expect it.

A person is a person. Period. There is no animal within a person. Only pure, simple humanness.

Psychologists would label it "in denial" your refusal to acknowledge the beast within. G_d has imprinted the nature of self-love within our will to benefit ourself at any expense.
Our first step is to recognize this intention to receive for the self alone. Then we try to supress or fight it until we realize our despair as in "And the people of Israel sighed because of the labour ... and their cry rose." (Israel implies all those who attempt to work againt/fight the evil inclination).

The second step is the cry for help. G_d says about this, "My sons defeated me". He accepts that He gave us the will to receive for self alone, but now we request he transforms it with the desire to annul our self-love and become as one with others and Him.

G_d wanted us to consciously explore the depths of self-love, until we harness it's energy to reach holiness - the same qualitiy of bringing contentment to the Creator as he desires to give us.

Great saying, simple and to the point. I think we all know what you are talking about when it comes to controlling our Yetzer Harah (evil inclination).

This article is illuminating,and just what I needed Rabbi Tzvi!! Thank you so very much.

Simply enlightening!

I really don't know what is burning hotter in my heart than the fire of the animal within. To bear that painful heat you need self-discipline. But often I can't find it in my mind, because it is burning so hard. How do you bear it Rabbi? Please give me a piece of advice. Schalom

If you try to be master over your animal you must be forever on guard and wielding a whip. Sometimes you will maintain complete control. Other times you may find yourself scratched or bitten. There will always be the possibility that the animal will escape and overwhelm you ... possibly even destroy you. At all times, it will require huge amounts of your energy to keep your animal in check.

If you accept the animal within ... understand it, rather than trying to control it; realize that it is just as much a part of you as any other part; love it as you do any other part ... then you will have peace - and you will have harnessed a tremendous source of energy.

Then I imagine, this love and acceptance that you show yourself will be reflected outward towards the people in your life.