We do a quick revision of the first few points in Chapter 4 before exploring the chapter in depth. Chapter four discusses the garments of the soul – thought, speech and action.
The Godly soul is confined into the physical body but it must be able to express itself in some way. It does this through the three garments thought, speech and action. One needs to immerse one’s mind (CHaBaD) in words of Torah.
One needs to speak words of Torah. One needs to act out in the physical world by putting into action the physical Mitzvot (wearing Tefillin, shaking the Lulav on Sukkot etc.) The 613 parts of the body (248 limbs and 365 veins and arteries etc.) correspond directly to the Mitzvot of the Torah and to the “limbs” of the King. When we engage ourselves using our bodies through the observance of Mitzvot, we attach ourselves to the “limbs” of the King.
Naturally God has no physical form whatsoever. We are merely discussing the spiritual concept of liking ourselves to God and attaching ourselves to God through the observance of the Mitzvot. Join us for an interactive lesson in Tanya where you have the opportunity to see the text for yourself and explore the amazing world of the teachings of the Alter Rebbe – Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. Perhaps in these teachings we can find the most powerful ideas of understanding life, ourselves and our purpose in the world.
We are using the “Lessons in Tanya” published by Kehot Publication Society and freely available on the chabad.org site.
