The Tanya continues with the theme of Timtum HaLeiv – a dullness of the heart that prevents us from praying and serving God as we should.
Chapter 30 speaks about the need for us to be of humble spirit before all others as a way of crushing our animal souls so that the Godly light will finally be able to shine!
There are those who feel that others may be of lesser standing than themselves. They may feel far greater than others’ behaviour. While it may be true that there are those whose conduct seems to be of an unruly behaviour, still it is for us to be better. That is our duty. And while one may say that one never actually does the bad things that those of “lesser standing” do, the Alter Rebbe tells us that nevertheless we must take into account our own conduct in terms of the good things we do.
Have we really perfected ourselves in all our good activities? What about prayer? Do we pray with intention as we should? What about charity? Do we give as much as we should. Perhaps, if we look at ourselves realistically, we will realise we have a lot to work on even if we think we’ve overcome all the bad in ourselves.
In any case, do we really pay enough attention to the bad we do – without even realising just how problematic it is?! What about the many conversations we get into when we may discuss others? We cannot stop ourselves – or we even make up excuses as to why it is permitted… But in truth, if we take a realistic look at ourselves, we can see that there is much to work on.
Perhaps, after all, our behaviour is not that different from the lowest of the low person. Just that he/she is fighting their battles, and we are fighting ours.
With a new way of approaching matters, we can begin to see that after all, it is vital to humble oneself next to all others because even if we don’t behave as they do — still, there is so much we must work on in terms of our own conduct, whether in the realm of good or the opposite.
As we begin to think this way, we crush the animal spirit inside ourselves just as the analogy in the Zohar gives concerning the log of wood that cannot catch light because it is still too thick. Only after breaking it down can it catch light.
When we experience this dullness of the heart, it is because of the animal soul that prevents us from experience the Godly side of ourselves. Ironically, it is that same animal soul that tells us how much greater we are than everyone else. And it is this that keeps us away from realising the trickery of the animal soul. Once we can crush that animal soul – we will realise who we really are, and just how much we must improve ourselves — even before we consider how much greater we are than those who seem so much lower than ourselves.
