Chapter 17: Force, Light, Vitality

Each of the three schools of thought has its specific axis, the pivot around which it revolves. These are described in Chasidus respectively as force, light, and vitality.

The fundamental principle of Musar, its nucleus and pivotal premise, is force-the decisive repudiation and abhorrence of the undesirable physical attributes of matter, stressing the unreality of the material.

The foundation of Chakira is the illuminating light-extolling intellectual activity, and recognizing the spiritual intellect alone as the basis of everything.

The basis of Chasidus, its nucleus and pivot, is the vitality that vivifies even the lowest material being. It demonstrates the ultimate reason for the creation of gross matter, namely, that it be transformed into form. Chasidus endows even gross matter with spiritual life.