Two's Better Than One
Day by Day
Having two souls may make life more interesting but it’s not pleasant. There are moments when we lose ourselves in an experience as though we lose one of our souls and for the moment we are one – inner peace. This phenomenon can be negative, like “getting angry is like idolatry,” for in the moment of anger your G-dly soul is stirred into silence as if you have no G-d.
It can also be positive as when dancing on Simchas Torah as if no one were watching; holding your newborn for the first time; or as Tanya describes the davening of the “average Jew”, or Benoni, who is totally absorbed in thoughts of G-d’s greatness. At such a time he feels G-d’s closeness so intensely that the pleasure of the G-dly soul overflows the right side of the heart flooding the left side with G-dly pleasure, which carries the animal soul along for the moment and he feels like the Tzaddik, as if he had but one soul.
Another occasion would be ‘Yechidus,’ – a private audience with one’s Rebbe – when after months of intense preparation a chassid is alone, soul to soul, with his Rebbe. His mind and heart and even his senses are exquisitely focused on the desire for G-dly closeness and his other soul can only wish him success.
Now imagine a chassid who has studied that chapter of Tanya with the description of the Benoni’s prayers and is heartbroken over his own inability to prayer like that. He asks for an audience with his Rebbe and seeks advice on how to gain this feeling of inner peace, as if the G-dly soul was his only soul.
The Rebbe might say to him, “When two Jews speak of G-dliness and study together it is two G-dly souls against one animal soul.” This means that each of their animal souls remains alone, since there is no oneness in un-holiness. (My evil inclination has no interest in your sins.) But the G-dly souls unite in their desire to serve G-d.
Thus the animal soul is overwhelmed by the double G-dliness and can only be jealous and wish you success. These are very pleasant moments.
On that note, check out Hayom Yom of Teves 20 and Tanya for that same date.
Having two souls may make life more interesting but it’s not pleasant. There are moments when we lose ourselves in an experience as though we lose one of our souls and for the moment we are one – inner peace. This phenomenon can be negative, like “getting angry is like idolatry,” for in the moment of anger your G-dly soul is stirred into silence as if you have no G-d.
It can also be positive as when dancing on Simchas Torah as if no one were watching; holding your newborn for the first time; or as Tanya describes the davening of the “average Jew”, or Benoni, who is totally absorbed in thoughts of G-d’s greatness. At such a time he feels G-d’s closeness so intensely that the pleasure of the G-dly soul overflows the right side of the heart flooding the left side with G-dly pleasure, which carries the animal soul along for the moment and he feels like the Tzaddik, as if he had but one soul.
Another occasion would be ‘Yechidus,’ – a private audience with one’s Rebbe – when after months of intense preparation a chassid is alone, soul to soul, with his Rebbe. His mind and heart and even his senses are exquisitely focused on the desire for G-dly closeness and his other soul can only wish him success.
Now imagine a chassid who has studied that chapter of Tanya with the description of the Benoni’s prayers and is heartbroken over his own inability to prayer like that. He asks for an audience with his Rebbe and seeks advice on how to gain this feeling of inner peace, as if the G-dly soul was his only soul.
The Rebbe might say to him, “When two Jews speak of G-dliness and study together it is two G-dly souls against one animal soul.” This means that each of their animal souls remains alone, since there is no oneness in un-holiness. (My evil inclination has no interest in your sins.) But the G-dly souls unite in their desire to serve G-d.
Thus the animal soul is overwhelmed by the double G-dliness and can only be jealous and wish you success. These are very pleasant moments.
On that note, check out Hayom Yom of Teves 20 and Tanya for that same date.
posted by Scruz | 5:18 PM
2 Comments:
i have a question about a benoni... isnt it depressing that a benoni can never become a tzadik?
wats his goal? why would he want to be a benoni if he can never be a tzadik??
i love the following comment in your dinosaur article:
"the arrogant assumption that G-d is pleased with me."
it speaks volumes about the thinking of some dinasour Jews today.
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