323. Cold Intellect
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There is a cold, harsh land where G‑dliness is not allowed to come, and it is called Intellect. As the Zohar says, “Intellect cannot grasp Him at all.”
Yet, ultimately, G‑dliness must come to dwell even in that place which by definition cannot contain Him. Your mind must struggle to understand all that it can, and then even harder to sense that which cannot be known.
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Latest Comments:
yes it IS paradoxical and that is the beauty of this gem that seems locked away, but the secret is the paradox which cannot be grasped intellectually is understood and recognized by the soul while doing mitzvahs and learning. So it maybe easy for some to dismiss the idea of chochma binah das/CHABAD (wisdom, knowledge and understanding), but the paradox again is, once you start down this road...giving tzedakah (charity), lighting shabbos candles to name only the most basic acts, intellect becomes the follower, not the leader, having faith means being able to submit on many levels and this is probably the most difficult act for a human being. Rabbi Freeman you've given us a little gift to chew on once again.
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Is the habit of conceiving of the intellect as separate from a wholistic view of nature a sad outcome of post-modernist thought?
If Sir Francis Bacon and Sir Thomas More could speak 'from the grave' would they not be truly appalled at modern science's fatefully cruel attempt to oust Godliness as a steadfast truth in our world in favor of ... "hard science"?
What is "hard science" apart from years of zenophobic idol-worship; oft times blamed on technology, etc. to an abject negation and neglect of the ancient teachings of mindfulness?
Did G-d give technology the 'power of speech'?
How are we responsible for ousting ourselves, as HIS children; as his chosen stewards to direct our environment?
Indeed, we are all 'paying' each moment we remember the sins of our brothers and turn away with our self-begotten "cold intellects".
How do WE have to embody the values of compassion & love ... to quicken the coming of Moshiach?
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Last week a Rabbi had a large group of us study with another person to find the rules for the Passover Seder in the Mishna. My partner underlined everything immediately as she knew the Passover Seder. I learned. Then she told me about a personal problem she was having with an insurance company claim on her bank account. I listened to her total story asking questions, trying to understand her worries, logical and illogical and all the facets. Those facets included learning that her family members misunderstand and deny her to talk due to her illogical reasons. The illogic came from fear of losing her life savings which was their inheritance. Why didn't they understand that was one block to her finding her own solution. Listen, ask questions about her story released the block only momentarily. To agree to the fear, let it sit, Let her find her way out of what if I became homeless.She did not understand the law of medicare. She could not fight the govement. They were in Oklahoma,
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What you are really describing, Rabbi, is a mistake that many people concerning the intellect and G-d:
Many people presume that the mind is a 'cold-harsh' place because the consciousness that precludes the intellect allows us to feel the coldness and harshness (the pain) of this broken world of ours.
Many people tend to only want the comforter ('Menachem') side of G-d: They call on G-d when they are in distress, pain, and need; very few other times.
They turn their minds off concerning Him, and they follow any teacher who will tell them that that is a virtue before Him; and they put their hearts way ahead of their minds on the matter, and thus many find themselves deceived and disillusioned concerning Him.
Rabbi Freeman, in one of your articles you describe the intellect as being necessary in order to oftentimes discern the yetzer hatov from the yetzer hara.
That is right, sir; and I would venture to you that that is the truest thing you've said on the subject here.
You can be mindful without being cold and harsh!
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How is the Rebbe refuting intellect? On the contrary, the point here is that even though it is cold and even though the Zohar says it cannot grasp G_dliness, nevertheless, ultimately G_dliness must enter within intellect as well. This is, after all, Chabad--meaning "Wisdom, Understanding & Knowing."
This sounds very paradoxical--because it is. That is generally the difficulty in understanding the Rebbe: His ideas are full of paradox. He tells you that something is impossible and then says that this impossibility is precisely what G_dliness/Torah/Moshiach is all about.
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I have always felt they are like a horse and carriage...one drives the other. I'm sorry to say this but to refute intellect is so very goyishe. Thank G-d my Rabbi embraces both.
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I have always felt that the words of the Rebbe never fail to touch my heart, but the last few days with the Holocaust Remembrance day and today, I find that the message is not only cold, but harsh and distancing as well. I wonder if this is what the Rebbe really meant or if it is another person's interpretation. If someone speaks for another one should be sure to convey the sentiment as well as the words because words without feeling are meaningless and subject to bad interpretation.
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I'm pretty positive that without some degree of intellect, I would never be able to keep track of all of the threads of argument in the daily daf. How else do I grasp that R. Akiva poskins one way for reason xyz whereas the Chachamim poskin another way for reason zyx, and the halacha is actually abc for reason 123. Etc.
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Is there not a place for G-dliness and faith that allows me to use the intellect that is G-d's gift to us ?
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