All the foregoing was an explanation of Chasidus in its role of discussing the esoteric aspects of the Revealed Law. The Revealed aspects of these laws are clearly understood in their detailed logic and manifold applications in practical law. Only, it is more difficult for a person to understand the hidden aspects of the laws with the same consummate clarity that is possible with their Revealed aspects. But this concerns only the first facet of Inner Torah—that which expounds and elucidates the inner meanings of Revealed Law (above ch. 11).
Though these concepts are spiritual and delicate to the extreme, the very fact that the Revealed aspects of the law are comprehensible assists in understanding the esoteric aspects. Despite the difficulties, we do have tangible points of reference in the Revealed Law, and by dint of effort we may arrive at thorough understanding.
The other facet of Chasidus discusses topics like creation ex nihilo; permeating and encompassing light; light, life, and power;1 power and ability. On cursory examination, it would seem that these subjects are devoid of concrete parallels. Let us take an example:
We have mentioned ayin and yesh, nothingness and existence. Regardless of mental endeavor, it remains difficult to conceive of nothing. Even the first state of existence called hkuhv hiyuli by Nachmanides2 has little meaning for the ordinary mind. So much more difficult is conceiving the existence of nothing, which is obviously the negation of existence, and that Creation derives from this non-existent. Understanding permeating and encompassing light, their differences and congruence, and understanding topics like the examples cited, which are the focus of the second facet of Chasidus, seems virtually impossible. Nonetheless, even this field of Chasidus can be fully grasped by the mind in a manner appropriate to the study.
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