Working With the Body - Daily Dose of Wisdom

It used to be that the soul fought with the body, until one conquered the other with force. Then the Baal Shem Tov came and taught a new path: The body, too, could come to appreciate those things the soul desires.

In the place of self-torture and fasting, the Baal Shem Tov showed his students the way of meditation and joy. Every need of the body, he taught, could provide a channel to carry the soul.

Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

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.

More articles by Tzvi Freeman | RSS

The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.

E-mail

Sort By:

NewestOldest

August 7, 2011

Re: Fast

If, by that time, the moshiach has not come and rebuilt the Temple, we're still going to have to fast on Tisha B'Av. But on days of the year when we are not obligated to fast, we can accomplish the same by putting the body's energy into good things, steering it away from doing, saying or thinking the wrong things, or unnecessary things.

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

August 5, 2011

The body is in need of love

I know that every cell in my body is infused with a spark of Hashem and I thank them daily for generations of service to Hashem for keeping the temple (the body intact). Recently, someone told me: "Why do you thank the servants?" -- meaning the cells. Is it wrong to thank Hashem's small but intelligent servants.

Tuviah
NYC, NY

August 5, 2011

Fast

As we approach Tisha B'Av I have the feeling this article is about the subject of fasting. But I can not figure out at all. Just know I am supposed to bring my body under subjection somehow but no idea what it means in relating to the soul. May HaShem help me.

Anonymous
Forest Hills, NY/USA

February 21, 2011

Working With the Body comment by Please tell me wh

" Please tell me what the baal shem tov taught about how "The body, too, could come to appreciate those things the soul desires." ? The answer is : positive. thinking..

Irina Brenner
Berlin, Germany

September 29, 2009