Chapter IV

Though the G-dly life-force permeating the world is very real, it is so completely concealed that created beings cannot fathom its existence. The life-force is all-inclusive, and encompasses all four levels of existence, from the inanimate through the vegetative and animal, to the highest level, the level of man. To affect all these levels [equally and simultaneously] requires that the activating force be of so general a nature as to be incomprehensible. That which cannot be understood we call "nature," a term used to describe all matters that defy comprehension. It is as the Alter Rebbe o.b.m. writes in the 19th chapter of Tanya:1 "The term 'nature' is a borrowed name for all matters that are not within the realm of logic."

This state of concealment exists only with regard to the life-force which animates this physical world and its creatures. However, in Gan Eden the divine life-force is revealed. This is alluded to in the well-known statement:2 "In the World to Come there is no eating and no drinking. Rather, the righteous sit with their crowns upon their heads and derive pleasure from the radiance of G-d's presence." The crowns referred to are earned by the righteous through their study of Torah in this world, as our sages say:3 "Fortunate is the individual who comes here to Gan Eden with his Torah knowledge in hand."

While Torah study earns the soul its crown, the mitzvos performed in this world become the soul's garments in Gan Eden.4 To quote a well-known saying:5 "The upper world the World to Come is similar to the lower world." He that learns Torah and performs mitzvos in this world merits Gan Eden and the World to Come, and in Gan Eden the essence of the divine life-force is revealed.

The statement:6 "Seven matters preceded the world," one of which was Gan Eden, thus means to say that the quality of the divine revelation in Gan Eden is spiritually superior to the revelation in this world. However, this superiority is maintained only while the life-force of this world is concealed. Ultimately, the divine life-force of this world will also be revealed, as it says:7 "The glory of G-d shall be revealed, and all flesh together will see that G-d's mouth has spoken." The divine life-force and utterances which created the world the complete and quintessential divine light that is the world's life-force will be revealed in their entirety.

The essential divine life-force (or atzmi), is spiritually superior to the revelation in Gan Eden. But the divine light that permeates Gan Eden will only serve as a reward for Torah study and the performance of mitzvos until the coming of Moshiach (may it be speedily and in our days). Once Moshiach comes, the spiritually superior or atzmi of the divine life-force which animates the world and all its creatures will be revealed. It is for this reason that repentance and good deeds in this world are better than life in Gan Eden, for though the illumination of Gan Eden is the essence of divine illumination, it is not the quintessential level of the or atzmi.

Herein lies the special merit of repentance, or teshuvah. Repentance is a valid mode of spiritual service, for teshuvah is not, as many think, only for past misdeeds. Rather, the word teshuvah means "return."8 The spiritual service of teshuvah implies that the soul, notwithstanding its descent into a physical body, reverts to the lofty state it enjoyed prior to its descent.

When the physically encumbered soul immerses itself in the study of Torah and divine service with mesirus nefesh, total self-sacrifice, it will rise to the greatest heights. This spiritual progression must, however, be in an orderly fashion. The first step in one's spiritual service is to train oneself to recognize that Divine Providence is all-pervasive, i.e., that everything has a divine purpose.

"Though my skin has been torn from my body" due to the tribulations of the "birthpangs [preceding the coming] of Moshiach," still [one should realize that this emanates from the fact that] "my Redeemer lives," [i.e. the difficulties are all Providential]. All that is necessary [for this realization to be achieved] is to understand that "from my flesh I perceive G-d," i.e., within everything [and within all events] one should perceive G-dliness.

We must immerse ourselves in Torah, teshuvah and good deeds, and we will then speedily merit to greet our righteous Moshiach.

In summary: The divine life-force found in this world and in all its creatures is so concealed that though we know it exists, we are unable to fathom its existence. However, in Gan Eden the essence of G-dliness is revealed. Teshuvah is a means of striving to attain greater spiritual heights. Torah, mitzvos and teshuvah are illuminated by the quintessential illumination of G-dliness. This will be revealed when Moshiach comes.