We do a brief recap from our last lesson concerning Timtum HaLeiv (a dullness of the heart) and as it will pertain to our current chapter – 30.
The Alter Rebbe’s focus on this chapter is to continue the theme concerning breaking the body – the animal soul – in order that the Godly soul will be able to express itself. It will be able to light up the “splinters” of the log. Though the log could not catch fire, once it is splinted off, the smaller parts catch alight. It is the same with ourselves. Once we are able to break down the imposing obstacles that block us from being and experiencing ourselves as our Godly souls, then the Godly soul can break through and cause everything else in its way to light up! Turning the darkness into light!
Another way of achieving this same goal is to make oneself to be Shafel Ruach – – of humble spirit in front of all other people. It is a way of being able to see the other for who they are. Without necessarily understanding at all why they behave as they do or reach extreme low levels, we do not make a judgment about them (not having being in their shoes) but rather we consider whether we ourselves have reached their level (relative to the level that we are on.) In other words, are we acting out as we should? — instead of constantly judging the other for his low level of behaviour and worship.
That person’s tests may be harder than our own. They may find themselves in life circumstances that don’t allow them the life of complete purity (as the goal that we set for ourselves in our own growth). But it is because of this that they end up falling as they do.
On the other hand, it may also be that they are “hot” by their nature – desiring all sorts of forbidden things, whereas we are not as “hot”. How can we therefore compare ourselves to them – or them to us when we are so different in our compositions?!
Our test is to check out where we are “holding” in terms of our growth, instead of focusing on the faults of others. We don’t understand why they have sunk to their level, but we at least have it in our own power to consider where we are at and how much effort we are putting in to improving ourselves.
We will see how the Alter Rebbe is directing his line of thought to this theme of “breaking” oneself (just like the example of the log above) so that if our goal is to get the Godly soul to shine out (doing away with that Timtum Haleiv etc.), we will have to look at others who are less great than we are. Then – as we do so, we begin to realise that perhaps they are far greater than us after all! Would we, in all honesty, do as well as they are doing given their circumstances in life?! As we consider this, we begin to realise how far gone we are ourselves are, and just how much effort we must put into our own improvement.
Then – suddenly we will see – just how the animal soul breaks down (even without having to be shouted at as discussed in our previous lessons) and the Godly soul is able to break through and bring us to much happiness.
