kabbalah – Page 8 – Study Torah Online: Live and Interactive Torah Learning with Rabbi Eliyahu Shear

Lessons in Tanya – Lesson 15 – “Touching God” – Hugging the King – Chapter 4

The Torah is the manifestation of God into the physical realms. The Torah descends like water from a high place to a low place and so the revelation of God in the physical world is an exact likeness of God as He exists in the higher worlds of spirituality and even above this (so to speak.)

The Alter Rebbe teaches us that when we perform Mitzvot and study Torah, we are able to literally grab a hold of God. The physical Mitzvot and the letters of Torah are not something separate from God – but rather they are completely attached to God in a complete unity.

When we study Torah, we attach ourselves to God. When we perform Mitzvot, we hug God as He allows us to within the physical realm. This is even higher than the levels of sublime joy we encounter in the higher realms, because there, we find only a glimmer of God’s light. Here, in this physical world, we can “touch” God (so to speak) as we embrace the Torah and the Mitzvot – just like a person would hug the king – even if he had many garments on. What an inspiring teaching that will help us to feel excited about the Torah we study and the Mitzvot that we perform!

Lessons in Derech Hashem – The Way of God – The Limits of Evil – Lesson 14 of Section 3

We conclude our chapter discussing the limits of evil in the world. It is true that there is the aspect of evil. There are spiritual beings that have the power to infringe on activities in the physical world. But with all that, we must constantly be aware that nothing within the realm of evil has any power unless God Himself allows that power to express itself.

Lessons in Derech Hashem – The Way of God – The Purpose of Evil – Lesson 13 of Section 3

What exactly are black-magic and sorcery all about?! These are the other powers of the spiritual worlds that God has created.

Lessons in Tanya – Lesson 14 – Garments of the Soul – Chapter 4

We continue in Chapter 4 discussing the garments of the Godly soul and how we make use of them to connect with God. we must be aware that in the event that we transgress the Mitzvot that we literally give life to the forces of the Other Side (of holiness).

Lessons in Tanya – Lesson 13 – Garments of the Soul – Chapter 4

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.

Lessons in Derech Hashem – The Way of God – The Purpose of Evil – Lesson 12 of Section 3

We conclude the paragraph dealing with the use of God’s Names and making using of the Names of Angels to perform certain wonders.

Lessons in Derech Hashem – The Way of God – Using God’s Names (Part 3) – Lesson 11 of Section 3

Though there are means to making changes within the spiritual realms through the use of G-d’s Names and even interacting with angels, not everyone who uses the known methods will succeed. In addition, making use of the Names when not permitted is really forbidden and will ultimately cause problems at a later stage.

Lessons in Tanya – Lesson 12 – Daat – Attachment – Chap 3 Part 5 / Garments of the Soul – Chap 4

We conclude chapter 3 with the concept of Daat. Though translated as knowledge, in the mystical sense, Daat is really the concept of attachment. We process knowledge through a three stage process.

Derech Hashem – The Way of God – Using God’s Names (Part 3) – Lesson 10 of Section 3

The Ramchal teaches us that God wants us to connect with the spiritual worlds. We can do so by making use of His Names. The various Names produce a certain energy which draws down blessing into the world – and also allows us to connect with the spiritual worlds and spiritual beings literally. These are the concepts of Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration) and Nevuah (prophecy.)

Tanya – Lesson 11 – Bringing Intellect into the Fear and Love of God – Chapter 3 Part 4

Continuing with the theme of the ten soul powers, we learn about the importance of bringing Chochmah (wisdom) and Binah (understanding) into one’s being in order to arouse a fear – and then a love – of God.