Torah is not simply a path by which you gradually arrive at truth.
When you are immersed in Torah, even while pondering the question, even while struggling to make sense of it all, you are at truth already.
Torah is about being truth. And then, the questions will have true answers, the struggle a true resolution. By being truth, your destiny is yet a higher truth.
Baruch Hashem Blessed be He for the Alter Rebbe zt"l , for the Tanya, and for all of the wisdom and knowledge shared by the Rebbes zt"l, rabbis including Tzvi Freeman, chabad.org, teachers, friends and others, with us. Reply
To see the Truth you must be as far removed from egoism as possible. This process is the essence of Torah, the correction of our qualities.
In the material world, we view everything through an egoistic lens. Our perception of the Truth is distorted to the extent we desire to receive self-benefit. Distorted media and information through egoistic bias, cast a light on our flawed nature.
Gradually we need to tune our lens to match the light, the Truth, the force of unconditional love.
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'Unconditional love' is s found nowhere in G-d's Torah. Quite the opposite.
Unconditional love is a secular yerm that was created a decade or two or so ago. It hS messed people up in so.mNyndustoryed ways its ridiculous. That, combined with everything being "love" has desensitized the world to actual love. People live their dog and love ice cream and love hockey and maybe love Torah and love their family, love people who they have never even met, etc., etc. Everything has to be expressed as that nth degree of emotion otherwise it's almost not accepted as valid or worthwhile. Sad. Even concerning. Other words or phrases such as "enjoy" or "appreciate" or "revel in" or "find pleasure doing" all are gone. Of the trllions or more words in existence people relegate themselves to the limited word "love". That creates a channel to limited thoughts. The word "like" is not good enough anymore. There is a lack of genuine feeling people look at you askance for saying it.
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“Being truth” obviously implies “Being the Actuality” of Everything.
Examples: what is actuality of Tree? Obviously the tree itself, but…this is merely according to our sensory picture. What is actuality of a tornado, a bear, a robot, anything? Same thing. So our bodies are sensory machines, with limited ability to sense its surroundings.
For actualities we can easily remember perceiving that which we name. What is the actuality of God? Umm, no response. The actuality of a person? Me? No, that is a concept. Of our ego? Me, right? We just have no ability to perceive actuality per se. So, if I say “I”, the actuality is unknown to us. But reversing this the Creator knows what “I” means, Himself. So the meaning of “I-I” is “conceptual me-actuality of Creator”. Realizing this will end the ego and submit to the only EGO, of the Creator. This is a lot faster than following a lifelong study of concepts. If you are ready to let go of "Me".
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Is 'faster' "better"? More thorough? Possibly missing out on the depth that the Aibishter has for us should we wish to pursue it? Would that preclude us from.the potential of getting closer to Him?
What are we doing for G-d with the time we gained going 'faster'?
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We are to constantly exist within the truth. As we learn we grow from faith to faith and we strengthen our beliefs in what we’ve already been shown through G_d’s word. We add to our faith by allowing the truth to dwell within us. As we do so we are shown even more truth; we relinquish lies in exchange for truth. To the one who is faithful in walking in truth, more is given. Reply
Grazie Rabbino Reply
Jacob to Israel Truly this is the struggle that turned Jacob into Israel. Reply
All unity of the One Hear O’Israel those words refined, For within the Torah our strengths multiplied. Reply
Being, Not Getting Only those who belief truly in the Almighty G-d will find truth in Torah. And Torah helps those who do not "belief" find Truth. Because G-d is One. And His Word is Truth. Truth is only in Him. He is ALL there is to be Truth. Reply
The Truth of the Torah - Connections
To reach the mind of G_d we need to read the INTERNALITY of the Torah - the secret meaning is revealed in the Kabbalistic texts (Zohar, Study of Ten Sefirot, The Tree of Life etc) .
They attained the inner meaning of the Torah as they discovered all the battles between the egoistic force that separates us from one another - They explain how to come close to G_d by repairing the connections between us - We need to correct our faulty egoistic connections (we think we are connected, but really the connection is based on benefits from the other). Alternatively we feel repulsion due to our different qualities.
We need to effort against this negative force He created in us, in order to learn mutual unconditional love of others. Then we have reached the same quality of G_d and then we are one healthy, perfect system.
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Thank you Rabbi for this Daily dose.
It was very relevant , as I have just started trying to read the Torah and learn the blessings in Hebrew , in my mid 40s.
I am of course going at a very slow pace, so the Daily dose made me feel better!
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For YR
This is really based on the fifth chapter of the Tanya, the foundation book of Chassidut Chabad. The Rebbe discussed the concept many times, and I present the idea through that lens. However, you would be best to study that chapter for yourself.
In a nutshell: G-d is infinite. All the study in the world cannot bring you any closer to infinite. G-d is beyond intellect. Intellect is just another character in His story. And yet, since G-d is also unbounded by any bounds, He is able to clothe His infiniteness within the finite bounds of the human mind, so that when a person studies Torah, his mind and G-d's mind become one. The thoughts you are thinking and the way you are thinking them is G-d's mind, so to speak.
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Being at truth?
How I understand, only G-d, Who is unique, who's "uniqueness is unlike any other uniqueness" can be the Truth.
How a person can be at Truth? The human truth always a comparison. We are trying to match our feeling, behavior, actions, and results with the specific matrix, which is constantly changing.
The human truth is always incomplete. This partiality is intrinsic as part of the created being.
That's why so many paths exist (see one of the recent Daly Doses). Each of them is (or at least can be) truthful.
Yes, for me the Torah is the eternal matrix. Study is the way of getting to the truth.
Please clarify "...you are at truth".
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For zvi in Sydney
Think of this: If Torah would be about "getting to the truth," then, as long as you are studying the questions and attempting to clarify matters, you don't yet have Torah.
But the truth is, as long as you are struggling with Torah, as long as you are asking the right questions, you have Torah already.
Because Torah is not about "getting to the truth." Torah is about being truth.
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Process of Knowledge Torah is about the knowledge of knowing and within the process we are seeking the truth, we are all knowledge of Torah Reply
Dear Zvi,
I don't understand this comment. Could you please explain it to me.
Thank you.
zvi
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For Alistaire Lighting Shabbat candles is about creating divine light. Truth creates divine light. Lighting Shabbat candles is about being Truth. Reply
truth Is lighting Shabbat candles about getting to truth? Reply
Emes - True! Torah study is not a means to an end. Torah study is an end unto Itself. Reply
Good teacher I overflow with joy, I completely agree. Reply
Truth is the essence to living a real honest inspiring life that protects you everyday from the falsehoods that float all around. To know truth is to be free and strong, able to climb higher an higher to reach places we never thought we could venture to. Taking us away
from negative thoughts, acts and words and moving us into a place where the TRUTH stands tall and bright and never loses sight of
G DS, LIGHT.