All of Jewish philosophy is but an attempt to fit inside the human mind that which is contained within the heart of a simple Jew.
It will never fit.
But you must learn, contemplate, and ponder with your mind, nevertheless. Perhaps, once aware of its inadequacy, your mind will awaken the heart from its slumber.
Good 🌻 Morning,
We act with our heart, and think with our mind. Our values and purpose comes from our heart, while our mind intelligently put things into action. When the heart and mind work in unison, there is balance. Therefore, there is a need to meditate to arrive at a comparable answer to daily optimal living. Trees meditate very well! While they don't have a brain, they have a network system that perceives their environment, its stresses, and they make adjustments. Methuselah is the oldest known living tree that is almost 3K y/o, and it is older than Abraham! Trees are unified, and nativigate their complex lives quietly via simple thoughts. Are our brains and life smarter than a no-brainer tree's simple thoughts? 🕊💜
Reply
I understand for this kind of discussion that the heart is taken as the center of our emotional feelings. However for such a center to be so wise that its wisdom is greater than what our more logical minds can conceive, is taking this analogy too far.
Wisdom comes both from good knowledge and experience and these aspects of our nature have only a mild connection with what we actually feel. The application of emotional as king of the wise community in ourselves is a mistaken approach, which can wrongly make any desired matter of greater importance to what is physically true and of the essence in our lives.
Reply
Perfect article! Reply
Finally! Thank you for elucidating...
Heart means soul. The heart is that generous warm place that can give the Soul a window through which to shine...and the mind must work really hard to discover and express what goes on so deep and true....isn't it all about the love for G-d that we inherited and need to unleash?
I also struggled so much with the mind that seemed to be so superior to the heart but we are confusing heart for selfish emotions and the love we feel for G-d where is it then felt and expressed but in the heart. One is on the left side and the other on the right of the heart...but it is the same organ!
Reply
Wisdom of a righteous heart is to hate all evil. And love others, as one loves, one self! This is not a simple task for those whos hears, are likened to stone. A simple righteous heart is abled, to forgive those who throw verbal stones at you!
Shalom Kefir
Reply
Simple Seed
Buried amongst all the feelings within us is one tiny sensation of G_dliness. This spark is awakened by the Light for each person at a specific time.
At that special time the person will be attracted to the proper place where that spark of spirituality can be developed into his soul, which can then form the corrected internal connections with all the other parts to form the Soul of Man, Adam HaRishon
In this soul, the understanding of G_d will be revealed gradually.
May G_d speedily awaken all the seeds and bring them to the good place where many sparks gather to draw His Light. Then this light will flow to all humanity to join their parts to build our Soul. The Kabbalists explained this good fortune as they experienced the development.
Reply
Thanks to HaShem... ...for the wisdom He granted the Rebbe, of righteous memory, to share with us. Reply
Correction
I meant that " it is the job of the mind to find the answer in the heart". Sorry for any confusion.
Shalom
Reply
:) you bless our eyes and warm our heart that we are maybe then, doing the best we can and encourage us to pray for continued faith to keep learning and unite each day... on behalf, not only of those who want to call themselves Jews, but on behalf of all our Global Family... of Man. blessings and love reflected. thank you for sharing this thought. amen Reply
Elucidation
Ahh, thanks for elaborating. I was stuck too. To my mind, you have now defined the best circumstance that finally makes a dent in my rebut that mind rules the heart. I never bought into it concerning circumstances of the heart. Now it is palatable. On complicated heart matters, the mind rules the heart so long as we understand that the answer is in the heart. Therein lies the job of the heart.
Granted, much of my comment is only a paraphrase. However, the subject has been grappling with me for a couple years. It never got the best of me, until now.
I would add three words to the last sentence of the this ' Simple Thought' , i.e. if you try.
You have given us another pearly wisdom.
Thank you.
Reply
Heart and Mind Isn't it possible that the heart has priority..:, insomuch as the disposition of the heart rules and directs its tool, the mind,.as the mind directs our actions? Reply
As we say everyday "isain bleibainei beina "Give in our heart understanding.
It has to start with your heart and feelings
Reply
RE: Heart, mind, what else? It's in the heart. But it's sleeping there. We need to wake it up. That is the mind's job--to shine enough light that it will wake up the heart. Reply
Heart, mind, what else?
You said,
All of Jewish philosophy is but an attempt to fit inside the human mind that which is contained within the heart of a simple Jew.
It will never fit. But perhaps it can help awaken the heart from slumber.
But you just said it's already within the heart. Maybe it's the mind that needs to awaken?
Or maybe it is not already within the heart?
Maybe it's within the soul?
And so it IS the heart that needs to waken?
Lots of possibilities. Think about it and decide what works.
Reply
This thought is so simple yet so truly profound. Reply
It was Jan 1967, age soon to be 19, and I was starting my training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina. I might as well have gone since we were all forced into the military service. “Blind faith is intellect’s most deadly foe” and the proof of that turns out to be deadly.
I guess that passes until one can get his/her mind quieted down. It will work until all the mind stops, and the Divine shows “Himself”.