166. Four Realms - Breaking Free

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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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The ancient philosophers divided the world into four realms, each realm transcendental in a way beyond those that precede it:

The “silent” realm—earth, rocks, water, air, etc., do not transcend their bounds in any way.

Plants transcend their bounds by growing.

Animals transcend their bounds by traversing space.

And Man, how does he transcend his bounds?
Man reaches outside of himself with words. With dialogue.

Man alone is capable of hearing his own self through the ears of another. Man alone is capable of transcending the very bounds of self.

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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: Jan 5, 2011

Four Realms

This is very beautiful...you are talking in terms of Ancient times and I yearn this to be now but in all dimensions it is not-in all realms it is not-let me create a challenge if I may. You mention Earth, Rocks. Water, do not transcend-then...Plants transcend by growing-however when you get to man-you mention that one cannot live by computer alone-that technology has played a trick on us all because to "hear" each other and to be close to each other so that we can hear each other is priceless-I feel that is the warning of the Ancient philosopher..

Posted By Judith L. Witten, Brockton, MA/USA

Posted: Jan 4, 2011

To Ari Edson

I took it mean as follows:

Of all our faculties (Pleasure, Will-Power, Intellect, Emotions and Speech) speech is the only one that is strictly for the outside world.

One doesn’t need speech if she/he is alone.

In other words, speech is the faculty within us that helps us transcend ourselves. Through speech we are able to connect to others and their plight.

Note speech is a faculty; i.e. one can transcend oneself even without physically speaking. When one connects with another’s plight intellectually or emotionally – she/he is intellectually or emotionally “speaking”.

In other words, a mute is just as able to transcend oneself.

Posted By ily, hj

Posted: Jan 3, 2011

one trascend through hearing

I dont know if this exactly what the article is trying to say, but i once heard that because the ability of the person of talking, he has been able to grow each generation higher then the one before.
And basically that is because they are able to comunicate what each generation has done during their life. While and animal does somenthing and learn a way of living, by the time he dies he is not able to comunicate the discoverys that he did in his lifetime, or, he is not able to transmit something that he thinks and share he's idea.
But the person does, and thats why each generation grow higher than the one before because they carry the lessons that others inherit them.

Posted By Anonymous, Caracas, Venezuela

Posted: Jan 3, 2011

two ears, one mouth

not only by speaking, but by listening.

Posted By Anonymous, portsmouth, oh

Posted: Jan 3, 2011

hi, they were stupid...

They never did seek after God or they would have said; man can not transcend, man can only seek God to be added to by God.

Posted By Nick(silly nick), Auckland, New Zealand

Posted: Dec 21, 2010

bravo!

this is amazing and so profound

thank you for sharing this wisdom

shalom

Posted By Michelle

Posted: Nov 13, 2007

In what way does one transcend their self through speaking to a differant person in a differant (inner) world? I dont understand what it is about speech that consists of "transcending the very bounds of self". Perhaps you can elaborate?

Posted By Ari Edson, thornhill, ontario

Posted: Nov 13, 2007

Absolutely!

Posted By Eric S. Kingston, West Bloomfield, MI

Breaking Free


	The Needle


	Not Feeling Joy


	The Highest


	The Gateway


	Ego


	Beyond I


	Leaving Egypt


	Four Realms


	Escape


	Fur Coats & Furnaces


	Noah and Abraham


	. . . and Moses


	The Ultimate Sacrifice


	Ego Dieting


	Beyond Limitations

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