Chapter Nineteen: Soul's Unseen Fire

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome to Lessons in Tanya, chapter 19. If you've been with us on this incredible journey, you know, we're diving deep into some of the most profound and maybe surprising insights about the human soul and its fundamental connection to the divine. [00:00:14] Speaker B: Absolutely. We've been laying some really important groundwork. [00:00:17] Speaker A: Last time, we started to really unpack the concept of the hidden love of the divine, this intrinsic, powerful, almost instinctual affection that resides within every single individual, whether they're, you know, consciously aware of it or not. [00:00:31] Speaker B: Right. And we saw how deep it goes. [00:00:33] Speaker A: So deep we saw how this love is so fundamentally rooted, so incredibly basic, that it gives us the ultimate explanation for why someone might choose the most profound sacrifice imaginable. [00:00:44] Speaker B: Giving their very life. [00:00:45] Speaker A: Exactly. Giving their life rather than ever repudiate their faith in the divine. It's quite staggering when you think about it. [00:00:52] Speaker B: It really is. And we trace its origin, didn't we? [00:00:55] Speaker A: We? Good. We learned that this remarkable love originates in the very essence, the core of the divine soul's faculty of wisdom. [00:01:02] Speaker B: That quiet, profound place. [00:01:05] Speaker A: Yeah, that place where the boundless, infinite light of the divine itself resides. And in that previous deep dive, we tackled two crucial questions. We explored the deep root of this hidden love, finding its origins, and then. [00:01:17] Speaker B: We looked at how it became this kind of eternal inheritance, passed down through. [00:01:22] Speaker A: Generations, really solidified through the legacy, the patriarchs. It was quite a journey. [00:01:27] Speaker B: It was. And that profound groundwork, it really sets the stage perfectly for. Well, a fascinating puzzle we're going to try and unravel today in this deep dive into chapter 19. [00:01:37] Speaker A: Okay, so what's next? [00:01:38] Speaker B: Well, we have two equally profound remaining questions that the text addresses. And these questions, they really challenge our usual understanding of love and fear and ultimately, ourselves. [00:01:53] Speaker A: Okay, I'm intrigued. What are they? [00:01:54] Speaker B: First, what is the ultimate nature of this hidden love itself, beyond just affection? What does it truly aspire to? What's its deepest yearning? What does it fundamentally strive for? [00:02:04] Speaker A: So what's its ultimate goal? [00:02:05] Speaker B: Exactly. And then here's the. Well, the unexpected twist, perhaps. How is the equally essential fear of the divine not some separate, maybe even. [00:02:15] Speaker A: Negative emotion, which is how we often think of fear. [00:02:18] Speaker B: Right. But how is it actually intrinsically woven right into the very fabric of this hidden love? [00:02:24] Speaker A: Wow. Okay. Fear inside love. [00:02:27] Speaker B: Precisely. And these aren't just, you know, abstract philosophical debates for scholars. They're core questions that unlock a deeper, more nuanced understanding of our spiritual selves. They reveal these innate capacities we often just overlook. [00:02:40] Speaker A: You've really hit on something crucial there. What's so captivating as we journey through these ideas is that you'll discover how these concepts are. Well, as the text puts it, very near to each of us. [00:02:50] Speaker B: Accessible. [00:02:51] Speaker A: Right. This isn't some abstract theology stuck in ancient books. It's a living, breathing truth. It offers you, the listener, a kind of shortcut to profound self understanding. [00:03:01] Speaker B: A way to connect. [00:03:02] Speaker A: A way to connect with a powerful, innate, and often surprising part of who you fundamentally are. It's almost like discovering the spiritual blueprint of your own existence. [00:03:11] Speaker B: That's a great way to put it. [00:03:12] Speaker A: So are you ready? Let's. Let's begin to truly unpack this. [00:03:15] Speaker B: Unpacking the nature of hidden love. The soul is a candle flame. [00:03:19] Speaker A: All right. So to start understanding the very nature of this hidden love, this chapter gives us a central, incredibly powerful analogy. [00:03:28] Speaker B: A visual. [00:03:29] Speaker A: Yeah. One that might seem quite simple at first glance, but wow, it holds some profound implications. It comes from that ancient verse. The soul of man is a candle of divine. A classic, this image. The soul as a candle flame, you know, flickering alive. It's more than just nice poetry, isn't it? It's a real lens to view our deepest spiritual inclinations. [00:03:52] Speaker B: It absolutely is. And it's a perfect starting point. Now, when the text says man here in this context, it's not just a generic term for everyone. [00:04:00] Speaker A: Okay. [00:04:00] Speaker B: It's specifically referring to individuals who possess this divine soul, those who are truly meant to embody a spiritual essence. They're being likened to a flame that yearns upwards. [00:04:10] Speaker A: So the flame itself is key. [00:04:12] Speaker B: It is. Let's just think about a simple candle flame. You light it. What does it do? [00:04:15] Speaker A: It flickers upwards. [00:04:17] Speaker B: Right. It doesn't just burn passively. It naturally, intrinsically, without any conscious thought or effort, just flickers upward. [00:04:24] Speaker A: Like an instinct. [00:04:26] Speaker B: Exactly. It's not making a deliberate decision, oh, I should go up now. It's simply its inherent nature, its deepest inclination, its spontaneous desire. [00:04:35] Speaker A: Okay. [00:04:36] Speaker B: And this constant upward movement, it's a manifestation of the flame's most profound desire to detach. [00:04:44] Speaker A: Detach from what? [00:04:45] Speaker B: From the wick that grounds it, the thing holding it in place. [00:04:48] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:04:48] Speaker B: And to ascend, yearning to unite with its universal source. [00:04:52] Speaker A: Which is? [00:04:53] Speaker B: Which, in this cosmic understanding, is the element of fire itself. [00:04:56] Speaker A: So this isn't just like random dancing light. We see, the flame is actually striving for something higher, something it instinctively knows it belongs to. Even if. Well, even if it defies what we might think of as its self preservation. It's a very specific kind of longing. [00:05:10] Speaker B: Precisely. A deep, innate longing. And to really get the depth of this analogy, we need to understand the bigger picture, the broader cosmic context. The four basic elements as they're understood in these ancient teachings. Earth, water, air, and fire. [00:05:24] Speaker A: The classic four. [00:05:25] Speaker B: Right. Now imagine them layered, almost like a cosmic atmosphere. Each one encompasses the one below it, arranged in a natural hierarchy, like layers. [00:05:33] Speaker A: Of an onion, Sort of. [00:05:35] Speaker B: Yeah. Earth being the coarsest, the densest is physically the lowest. Then you have water, which would naturally sit above and surround the Earth. [00:05:44] Speaker A: Though we see land above water, usually. [00:05:46] Speaker B: Right. Then the text notes, that's due to the Divine's kindness for creation, making the Earth appear above the waters for life to exist. But elementally, water is above Earth. [00:05:56] Speaker A: Okay. [00:05:56] Speaker B: Above water is air, surrounding and permeating it. And finally, fire, the highest, the most ethereal of these elements. It encompasses the entire atmosphere. [00:06:06] Speaker A: Way up high. [00:06:07] Speaker B: Way up high, existing in a realm just beyond the Moon's orbit, sometimes called the sublunar sphere, the space just below the moon. [00:06:13] Speaker A: Okay, got it. So earth, water, air, fire. Going up. [00:06:17] Speaker B: Exactly. So when you see that candle flame constantly drawing upward, it's not just physics, you know, combustion and convection, though, that's happening too, Right? There's a deeper meaning from this perspective. Yes. It's a subtle, inherent yearning, a deep seated longing to merge back with its ultimate origin, that universal cosmic element of fire. [00:06:36] Speaker A: Like wanting to go home. [00:06:37] Speaker B: It's exactly like that. Like a drop of water wanting desperately to rejoin the vast ocean it came from. Except here, it's a spark of fire yearning to return to the boundless cosmic fire, its fundamental source. [00:06:52] Speaker A: Wow. [00:06:52] Speaker B: It's an inclination, a kind of spiritual magnetic pull that speaks to its very essence, a desire that existed even before it became a distinct flame. This isn't about logic or survival. It's about an innate homecoming. [00:07:05] Speaker A: Okay, now here's where it gets really fascinating for me and deeply paradoxical. Like where logic seems to just bend under the weight of this innate desire. If the flame actually achieved its deepest, most profound desire, if it somehow managed to detach from the wick and truly unite with its universal source, that cosmic fire, what happens then? Would the cease to exist? Right. As the distinct flame? [00:07:27] Speaker B: Precisely. It would be extinguished down here in our lower world. It wouldn't emit any light for us to see. [00:07:32] Speaker A: And even up there in its source. [00:07:34] Speaker B: Its individual identity, its distinct form, would be completely dissolved. It wouldn't be a luminary, a light source anymore. [00:07:41] Speaker A: It's like, imagine a tiny candle flame trying to shine in the middle of the sun at noon. Yeah. It's not just outshone it's basically gone, nullified. Its existence as a distinct, identifiable light just vanishes into the bigger thing. [00:07:55] Speaker B: That's it. And this presents us with a profound logical dilemma, doesn't it? [00:07:59] Speaker A: It really does. [00:08:00] Speaker B: We operate under this fundamental axiom, this basic assumption. Every existing being desires its continued existence. Self preservation. [00:08:09] Speaker A: Right. That seems pretty basic. [00:08:11] Speaker B: So from a purely rational self preservation viewpoint, the flame should not want this outcome. Why would anything, any distinct entity, actively seek its own annihilation? Even if it leads to what you might call a higher state? [00:08:25] Speaker A: Yeah, it seems completely backwards. [00:08:26] Speaker B: Yet despite this stark logical contradiction, this is precisely what the flame desires by nature. [00:08:31] Speaker A: By nature? [00:08:33] Speaker B: Meaning? It's not a calculated decision based on what's good for it in a conventional self serving way. It's spontaneous, intrinsic, a deep seated pole that utterly defies rational explanation. It points to a desire that goes beyond even the most basic instinct for survival. [00:08:51] Speaker A: That's powerful to think about. So to you, the listener, maybe pause and consider. What do you desire so deeply that it might, on a purely rational level, seem to defy your own logical understanding of self preservation? Maybe something you're drawn to, a calling or a profound connection, even if it means a massive personal change. Letting go of comfort habits, maybe even dissolving parts of your current identity. [00:09:15] Speaker B: Like a parent instinctively putting their child first above their own comfort, even safety. [00:09:20] Speaker A: Or an artist completely losing themselves in their work, where their eye just disappears for a while. [00:09:24] Speaker B: Or someone giving up a really secure, lucrative career to pursue something deeply meaningful, but you know, financially risky. [00:09:31] Speaker A: Right. These are glimpses maybe of a drive that goes beyond simple logic. [00:09:35] Speaker B: Those are excellent parallels. Now let's take this powerful candle analogy and apply it directly to the human soul. Because this is where the real insight for us lies. [00:09:45] Speaker A: Okay. [00:09:46] Speaker B: Just as the candle flame yearns for its source, so too does the soul of a person. [00:09:51] Speaker A: The entire soul. [00:09:52] Speaker B: Yes, the text clarifies. This isn't just about the highest, most refined part. It applies to all levels of the soul, including its spirit and life force levels too. It suggests a pervasive inherent drive running through our whole spiritual being. [00:10:06] Speaker A: So the soul's primal desire isn't just some abstract intellectual curiosity or like a preference, it's something far more fundamental, more compelling. [00:10:15] Speaker B: Oh, far deeper. Yes. The soul naturally desires and yearns by its very nature to separate itself and depart from the body. To leave the body, its deepest longing is to unite, to merge with its origin and source in the divine. The very fountainhead of all life, all existence. [00:10:30] Speaker A: That makes sense in a way. Life drawn to the source of life. [00:10:33] Speaker B: Exactly. The soul's very essence is life and vitality. So it is inherently, irresistibly drawn to the ultimate source of all life. And just like the candle flame, uh. [00:10:41] Speaker A: Oh, here comes the paradox again. [00:10:42] Speaker B: Here it comes. Even though this union would mean becoming utterly null and naught. [00:10:48] Speaker A: Meaning? [00:10:49] Speaker B: Meaning its individual identity would be completely dissolved in its source, nothing remaining of its original essence as it existed while clothed in the body. [00:10:59] Speaker A: Even though that's the outcome that remains. [00:11:00] Speaker B: Its deepest will and desire. By its very nature, it's a profound act of, well, spiritual self abnegation. [00:11:09] Speaker A: Letting go of the self, that's a really crucial nuance. And it's easy to misunderstand, I think, because it doesn't mean the soul just ceases to exist entirely, like blinking out of existence. It's not nihilistic. [00:11:20] Speaker B: Absolutely correct. That's a critical distinction. It signifies the cessation of the soul's existence as a distinct entity with individual intellectual and emotional powers as it operates and is proceed within a physical body. [00:11:32] Speaker A: So it stops being this specific soul in this specific body. [00:11:37] Speaker B: Right. It's not a desire for self elevation in the usual sense, where you'd strive to become a better, wiser, more powerful version of your original self. [00:11:44] Speaker A: Because that implies the original self sticks around, just improved. [00:11:47] Speaker B: Exactly. True self elevation, conventionally understood, implies the original self remaining. Here the desire is for a complete dissolution of the distinction, the limited self into its infinite source, a kind of transcendent unification. [00:12:02] Speaker A: And this desire, it has no rational explanation? [00:12:06] Speaker B: None whatsoever. From our limited perspective, it is solely a result of the soul's intrinsic nature, a drive that takes us beyond the very limits of logic and conventional understanding. [00:12:16] Speaker A: And when we talk about nature here, we need to be careful. Right. Because often nature is used to mean something irrational, something lacking reason. [00:12:24] Speaker B: Yes, like it's just human nature often implies something instinctive, maybe flawed on thinking, almost an impulse we can't control. [00:12:31] Speaker A: But that's not what's meant here. [00:12:32] Speaker B: No, not at all. In this specific context, nature is used in a profoundly complementary and elevated sense. It refers to a desire that lies entirely above the realm of reason and comprehension. [00:12:44] Speaker A: Super rational, not irrational. [00:12:46] Speaker B: Precisely. It's not irrational in a negative, chaotic way, but super rational. It transcends the boundaries of what our intellect can fully grasp. And this intrinsic nature is precisely the soul's faculty of wisdom, which we talked about last time. Exactly. As we discussed, wisdom is a faculty that inherently transcends ordinary comprehension. It's that spark of true insight that exists beyond just analytical thought and that's. [00:13:10] Speaker A: Where the divine light is. [00:13:11] Speaker B: It is within this faculty that the pure blessed light of the infinite Divine actually abides. And because this infinite light resides within wisdom, in this super rational faculty, the soul is drawn to its ultimate source with a longing that is truly beyond rational grasp or intellectual understanding. It's an inherent pull, a deep spiritual magnetism. You could almost call it a divine homesickness. It can only be understood through its manifestation, not by trying to break it down logically. [00:13:38] Speaker A: So this is profound, what we've just uncovered about the souls candlelike yearning. It fundamentally reshapes our understanding of this hidden love. It's not just affection, not just feeling warm towards the divine. It is the soul's superrational inherent yearning for complete unity with its divine source. [00:13:57] Speaker B: Even to the point of nullification, even. [00:13:59] Speaker A: To the point where its distinct embodied identity is transcended and effectively nullified. It's a powerful, almost paradoxical drive for connection, even at the cost of the self as we usually perceive it. [00:14:11] Speaker B: That's it. [00:14:12] Speaker A: So this really answers our first big question. The nature of this hidden love is a drive for ultimate self transcendence into. [00:14:20] Speaker B: The divine holiness opposition and the hidden aspect of love. [00:14:23] Speaker A: Right. And with that understanding of the hidden love, let's now explore a fundamental principle, something that applies across the entire realm of holiness itself. [00:14:32] Speaker B: Okay. [00:14:32] Speaker A: True holiness in its most pure and elevated form originates exclusively from wisdom, from. [00:14:38] Speaker B: Wisdom, not just related to it, but. [00:14:39] Speaker A: From it, exclusively from it. This is why wisdom itself is often termed supernal holiness, meaning holiness of the highest order. It indicates its elevated and utterly pure nature. It's not just a quality of holiness, it's the source. [00:14:52] Speaker B: So wisdom isn't just about gaining knowledge or intellectual understanding like we normally think. It's the very wellspring, the foundational principle of holiness itself. That's a really powerful connection. [00:15:04] Speaker A: It is. And the characteristic, the defining feature of wisdom is that its very existence is nullified. It becomes as not within the overwhelming light of the blessed infinite divine that is clothed within it. [00:15:18] Speaker B: So wisdom disappears in the divine light. [00:15:20] Speaker A: It doesn't assert itself. It doesn't exist as a separate entity, saying, look at me, I'm wise. Instead, it becomes one with completely absorbed by the divine light it contains. [00:15:30] Speaker B: Wow. [00:15:31] Speaker A: Therefore, this faculty of wisdom is intrinsically associated with what the text calls the power of humility and abnegation. [00:15:38] Speaker B: Abnegation? [00:15:39] Speaker A: That sounds serious. [00:15:40] Speaker B: It just means a complete absence of self assertion, a profound selflessness in the presence of the infinite. It's not about putting yourself down in a self deprecating way. [00:15:48] Speaker A: It's about recognizing the infinitude and overwhelming reality of the divine and allowing yourself to be completely absorbed within that reality, to become a pure channel rather than an independent blockage. [00:16:00] Speaker B: That's a beautiful way to put it. Humility, not as weakness, but as a gateway, a state where the ego just recedes. [00:16:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:16:08] Speaker B: Can we see hints of this? This self abnegation in our everyday lives, even in like a diluted form? [00:16:14] Speaker A: Absolutely. Think about those moments maybe when you're. [00:16:17] Speaker B: So completely absorbed in something creative, writing, painting, music, that for a time your usual ego boundaries, your sense of I just completely dissolve. [00:16:25] Speaker A: Yes, Flow states. [00:16:26] Speaker B: You become a pure conduit for the art. Or maybe when you're deeply empathetic with someone truly listening and your own concerns just fade away. [00:16:34] Speaker A: Or dedication to a cause. [00:16:35] Speaker B: Right. When you're utterly dedicated to a cause greater than yourself, and your personal desires or comforts seem totally insignificant in comparison. These moments, however fleeting they are, could be echoes of this deeper principle. [00:16:47] Speaker A: Glimpses of wisdom at play, where you. [00:16:49] Speaker B: Are not the focus, but just a part of something much, much larger. [00:16:52] Speaker A: Those are perfect examples. So ultimately, holiness refers to anything that, like wisdom, draws directly from the divine and profoundly nullifies itself before it becoming that pure conduit. Okay, now this profound understanding of holiness centered on self nullification and unity stands in direct contrast to another realm, the opposite. Exactly what the teachings refer to as the opposite realm, or the side of separation. [00:17:18] Speaker B: Separation from what? [00:17:19] Speaker A: Separation from the divine, from that unity. Now, this side of separation is described as the spiritual source from which, for instance, the text says the souls of other nations are derived. [00:17:29] Speaker B: Okay, hang on, that sounds potentially problematic. [00:17:32] Speaker A: It's crucial to understand this within the specific framework of the Tanya's cosmology. It posits different spiritual root sources or archetypes for various inclinations and characteristics found in creation. [00:17:45] Speaker B: So it's not about judging people or nationalities as we understand them? [00:17:48] Speaker A: No, absolutely not. It's describing a conceptual, spiritual dynamic, different root inclinations. This realm operates on a fundamentally different principle than holiness. It's characterized not by self nullification and unity, but by a drive towards independence, self assertion, and a sense of distinctness. [00:18:07] Speaker B: So the opposite of being absorbed, it's about standing out. [00:18:09] Speaker A: Precisely. Unlike holiness, which is about connection and self effacement, entities from this side of separation are fundamentally driven by an urge to act only for themselves. [00:18:21] Speaker B: Self interest? [00:18:21] Speaker A: Yes. They are characterized by a relentless, insatiable demand for self gratification. The text uses phrases like give, give, or like the Book of Proverbs, Says feed me. It's a constant taking, a constant demand. [00:18:34] Speaker B: Okay. [00:18:35] Speaker A: Their fundamental drive is to be independent beings and entities distinctly separated from the divine. While holiness strives for nullification and unity with its source, this realm is all about asserting one's own existence, one's own desires, and creating a distinct identity apart from the divine. [00:18:51] Speaker B: It's the drive for absolute autonomy, being a law unto oneself. [00:18:55] Speaker A: That's a good way to put it. And as a direct result, this opposite realm is inherently distinct and far removed from the divine. It directly opposes the humility and self nullification that characterize wisdom. [00:19:06] Speaker B: Okay, so complete opposites. [00:19:07] Speaker A: And because wisdom gives life meaning, true spiritual vitality and connection comes from that source of wisdom. Those connected to this opposite realm are metaphorically described as dead. [00:19:20] Speaker B: Dead. Even if they're walking around spiritually dead? [00:19:23] Speaker A: Yes, because they die without wisdom. Their spiritual vitality, their true connection to the source of all life, is profoundly lacking, even if they are physically alive and outwardly thriving. [00:19:35] Speaker B: It's like that complex machine we talked about. Looks impressive, maybe shiny, but it's not plugged into its power source. So it's ultimately inertia, lifeless, no matter how good it looks. [00:19:44] Speaker A: Exactly. And what's interesting, or perhaps stark, is that this application of spiritual death isn't limited to what one might initially assume. The text notes it applies even to individuals among those with a divine soul. [00:19:57] Speaker B: Really? [00:19:57] Speaker A: Yes, those who are wicked or transgressors, they are considered dead in the spiritual sense. But, and this is crucial, this applies only before they are presented with an ultimate test. [00:20:07] Speaker B: A test involving what? [00:20:08] Speaker A: Involving the sanctification of the divine name. It's a state they are in a kind of spiritual dormancy until that moment of ultimate challenge, when a deeper truth can be revealed. [00:20:18] Speaker B: Okay, it's a state, not a final judgment. [00:20:21] Speaker A: Correct. Think about spiritual death in modern terms. It could describe that state of feeling utterly disconnected, maybe purposeless, entirely self focused. Even if you have immense material wealth and success, right. [00:20:34] Speaker B: Having everything but feeling empty inside, you. [00:20:36] Speaker A: Might have every comfort, every possession, high social standing, and still feel a profound emptiness, a pervasive lack of true vitality or meaning. That in contemporary terms could be an echo of this concept. A life lived entirely for the self, chasing gratification, ultimately separated from its true, deeper source of spiritual life. [00:20:57] Speaker B: Which brings us back to a critical question. If this hidden love is so intrinsic, so foundational to the divine soul, why is it described as hidden in some people, especially in transgressors? If it's always there, always present, what makes it hidden? Why don't they feel it or act on it? [00:21:12] Speaker A: That's the key question. It's explained through the concept of exile. [00:21:15] Speaker B: Exile? [00:21:16] Speaker A: Yes. The faculty of wisdom within the divine soul, the part containing that spark of the infinite divine light, is in a state of exile within the physical body of a transgressor. [00:21:27] Speaker B: So wisdom is like imprisoned, not destroyed. [00:21:31] Speaker A: But suppressed, veiled, unable to fully express itself. This wisdom is veiled and obscured by the animal soul. The animal soul, which originates from this opposite realm, this side of separation we just discussed. This animal soul resides primarily in the left side of the heart, representing the seat of physical desires and self focus. [00:21:50] Speaker B: And it takes over. [00:21:51] Speaker A: It effectively dominates the body and its actions, creating a formidable barrier, like a heavy curtain blocking the light of wisdom. [00:21:58] Speaker B: Okay. [00:21:59] Speaker A: And this exile of wisdom within the individual body is said to echo a larger, more profound esoteric doctrine, the exile of the divine presence in the world itself, where the Divine's full revelation is obscured. [00:22:11] Speaker B: So our inner struggle reflects a cosmic one. [00:22:13] Speaker A: It's a microcosm of a larger spiritual dynamic playing out on a cosmic scale. [00:22:18] Speaker B: And this veiling, this exile, is what makes the love hidden. [00:22:21] Speaker A: Precisely. This is the reason why the hidden love, despite its inherent yearning for union with the divine, is termed hidden love. It's hidden and veiled by what's metaphorically called the sackcloth of the opposite realm in those who transgress. [00:22:36] Speaker B: Sackcloth like rough, dark fabric. [00:22:39] Speaker A: Exactly. Imagine a beautiful radiant light burning brightly, but it's draped in coarse dark fabric like a heavy cloak. The light is still there, its potential undiminished, but its brilliance is concealed, its warmth unable to fully emanate. Thus, it's hidden. [00:22:54] Speaker B: Okay. [00:22:55] Speaker A: And the text explains that from this opposite realm, a spirit of folly enters individuals leading them into sin. [00:23:02] Speaker B: Folly like foolishness? [00:23:03] Speaker A: Yes. The ancient sages remarked, a person does not sin unless a spirit of folly enters into him. [00:23:09] Speaker B: A spirit of folly. That's a really vivid image. So it's not necessarily malicious intent or a conscious desire to defy the divine. It's more like a kind of spiritual blindness. A profound self delusion. [00:23:19] Speaker A: Exactly right. This foolishness is a profound self delusion, where a person actually believes they remain good despite their sins. They compartmentalize. [00:23:27] Speaker B: How does that work? [00:23:28] Speaker A: It manifests as an insensitivity, a kind of numbness to the serious breach their sins create between themselves and the divine. [00:23:36] Speaker B: Like they just don't feel it? [00:23:37] Speaker A: Exactly. Think about contemporary examples of this folly. We might tell ourselves that one more indulgent purchase way beyond our means won't really hurt or That a small ethical compromise at work doesn't really matter, it's just business. [00:23:53] Speaker B: Even when deep down, maybe we know it goes against our values. [00:23:56] Speaker A: Right. We know it creates a disconnect. We minimize the impact, we rationalize. Or we simply don't feel the negative consequences acutely, we become numb to it. The text says if they genuinely felt the painful separation caused by each sin, if they truly understood the spiritual wrench it creates between them and their divine source, they would never commit it. [00:24:16] Speaker B: Why not? [00:24:17] Speaker A: Because of that inherent readiness to sacrifice their life for the divine, which is always present, hidden within them. [00:24:23] Speaker B: Ah, it connects back to that ultimate sacrifice potential. [00:24:26] Speaker A: Yes. It's the spirit of folly that dulls their senses, preventing them from feeling that painful, life draining separation. It allows them to remain in a kind of spiritual slumber even as they transgress. It's a fundamental disconnect from their own. [00:24:41] Speaker B: Deepest truth, the dormancy and awakening of wisdom. [00:24:45] Speaker A: So, okay, even with this spirit of folly seemingly dominating and the sackcloth of the opposite realm veiling the wisdom, there's a crucial limit. [00:24:55] Speaker B: A limit to how much it can be blocked. [00:24:57] Speaker A: Yes. The exile of wisdom isn't absolute destruction or eradication. It's not wiped out. The opposite realm can only obstruct the diffused aspect of wisdom. [00:25:05] Speaker B: The diffused aspect, meaning that part which. [00:25:08] Speaker A: Naturally spreads out, you know, throughout the lower levels of the soul and to animate it, to provide daily guidance and inspiration for ethical behavior, for feeling connection. [00:25:17] Speaker B: So it's like the everyday active influence of wisdom gets blocked, but not its fundamental essential core. Like the branches are withered, but the root is still intact. [00:25:26] Speaker A: That's a perfect analogy. Precisely because this diffused wisdom is obstructed, it can't fully pervade the entire soul and body with its characteristic feeling of self nullification before the divine, that deep. [00:25:38] Speaker B: Sense of awe and selflessness. [00:25:39] Speaker A: Right. And that's why it often fails to prevent a person from sinning in daily life. It's present, but its influence is just too weak to override the animal soul's desires. Consistently. [00:25:50] Speaker B: Good bit. [00:25:51] Speaker A: But, and this is a tremendously hopeful and crucial point, the fundamental root and core of the faculty of wisdom within the divine soul remains unaffected in its essence, it's untouched. In its core essence, yes, it resides in the brain, symbolically speaking, a higher, more abstract faculty. And it doesn't truly clothe itself in that sackcloth of the opposite realm that's in the heart, not to the point of being utterly powerless. [00:26:15] Speaker B: So it's safe in a way. [00:26:17] Speaker A: Instead, in the case of even the most seemingly wicked or habitual transgressors. This core wisdom is merely in a state of sleep. Dormancy. Yes. It doesn't actively exert its influence or guide conscious choices as long as their higher faculties, like knowledge and understanding, are preoccupied with other things. [00:26:38] Speaker B: Like the allure of mundane pleasures, worldly pursuits, self gratification. [00:26:43] Speaker A: Exactly. As long as those things capture the attention, the core wisdom remains dormant. It's like a powerful engine that's been switched off. Or a brilliant musician whose instrument is just put away in its case. [00:26:55] Speaker B: So it's not dead, just offline. Yeah, like that powerful supercomputer that's unplugged. Or the genius composer who stopped writing for a while. Their talent is still there, just not being expressed. [00:27:06] Speaker A: Can we think of another strong analogy for that dormancy? [00:27:08] Speaker B: How about this? Think of a majestic ancient oak tree, seemingly dormant in the harsh grip of winter. Looks dead. [00:27:15] Speaker A: Right. Its leaves are gone. Its branches look barren and lifeless against the gray sky. To an observer, it might look like it's dying or even dead. But beneath the frozen ground, deep within its roots, the immense vitality and life force of that tree remain completely undiminished. It hasn't lost any of its inherent potency to produce leaves, flowers, fruit later on. [00:27:37] Speaker B: It's just waiting. [00:27:38] Speaker A: It's simply in a state of suspended animation, waiting for the conditions to change, for spring to arrive. Or think of a highly skilled martial artist, a true master who has retired, moving quietly. Exactly. They might live a quiet, unassuming life, their extraordinary abilities seemingly hidden away. But those abilities, that strength, that precision, are still there, latent within them, ready to be called upon if the moment demands it. [00:28:04] Speaker B: Okay, that makes sense. [00:28:05] Speaker A: Just as a sleeping person retains full possession of their faculties, their strength, intelligence, memories. Even though they can't actively use them while asleep. [00:28:13] Speaker B: Right. [00:28:13] Speaker A: So too, dormant wisdom has lost none of its inherent potency. It has simply lost its ability to exercise it, to actively influence the individual's conscious actions and daily choices while it remains dormant. [00:28:25] Speaker B: That's a powerful distinction. Potency remains. Action is suspended. So what happens when this dormant wisdom is suddenly roused? What's the pivotal moment? What wakes it up? [00:28:37] Speaker A: The pivotal moment occurs when individuals, even the most entrenched sinners, are confronted with a direct test of faith. [00:28:45] Speaker B: Not just any challenge. [00:28:46] Speaker A: No, this isn't a mere intellectual query or a moral dilemma you can reason your way through. It's a challenge that transcends ordinary knowledge and touches the very core of the soul. [00:28:57] Speaker B: We're wisd. [00:28:57] Speaker A: Wisdom resides, specifically its Faculty of wisdom, which as we've established, is the ultimate source of faith and connection. When faced with such a profound challenge, something that demands absolute commitment, then this dormant wisdom arises from its sleep. He wakes up instantly. It immediately exerts its influence with the immense divine force clothed within it, which is the infinite light itself. And the effect this influence instantly creates an overwhelming, irresistible spirit of self sacrifice for the divine. [00:29:25] Speaker B: Wow. It's like that hidden strength suddenly manifesting precisely when it's needed most. Almost like a divine reflex kicking in. [00:29:32] Speaker A: Indeed, it's like that verse from the Psalms. Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, referring to a powerful sudden revelation. This powerful revelation of wisdom and the infinite light within it, previously dormant, now asserts itself with full force when faced with such a profound challenge. [00:29:50] Speaker B: And this allows even the sinner to. [00:29:52] Speaker A: To withstand stand the test of faith in the Divine. The revelation of this core wisdom enables even the most entrenched sinner, someone who might have lived a life completely immersed in self gratification, to stand firm. [00:30:05] Speaker B: And they do this without rational reasoning? [00:30:07] Speaker A: Correct. They do so without any rational reasoning or comprehensible knowledge motivating them to sacrifice their life. It's not a logical calculation of benefit versus loss. It's a super rational leap driven by that inherent undeniable connection to their source. [00:30:22] Speaker B: Amazing. What else happens in that moment? [00:30:24] Speaker A: What's truly remarkable is that in this moment of awakening, they gain the power to not only overcome the side of separation, those forces of self gratification and worldly desires that held them captive, they break free. Yes. And they overcome their long held desires for worldly matters, both the permitted things and the forbidden things which they were accustomed to indulging throughout their lives. But even more profoundly, they actually come to despise these former objects of desire. [00:30:53] Speaker B: Despise them? Not just resist them, despise them. [00:30:56] Speaker A: They see them for what they truly are. Hindrances to true connection. Distractions that obscured their deepest truth. [00:31:03] Speaker B: That's a total shift in perspective. [00:31:05] Speaker A: It is in this heightened state, this moment of profound clarity, they consciously choose the Divine as their portion, representing their internal faculties, intellect, emotion, aligning their thoughts and feelings. And they choose the Divine as their lot. Representing their higher transcendent faculties of will and pleasure, dedicating their ultimate desires, they become fully prepared, fully aligned to offer their very soul an ultimate sacrifice for the sanctification of the Divine name. Their entire being aligns with their inherent truth. [00:31:35] Speaker B: That's an astonishing transformation. It suggests that even if someone has been seemingly completely overcome by their animal soul for Their entire life. That core of wisdom can, in a flash, just override everything else. It's like discovering you had this hidden superpower inside you all along. Dormant, but always present, always powerful. [00:31:57] Speaker A: Absolutely. The power of this awakening is truly astounding. Even though the sight of separation might have prevailed over the sinner for their entire life, making them feel utterly powerless against its temptations, when they face a test challenging their fundamental faith, a faith which rests on what the text calls the heights of holiness, the faculty of wisdom, where the infinite light is clothed. [00:32:20] Speaker B: Then what? [00:32:21] Speaker A: All those side of separation entities, all those self serving desires and drives, are completely nullified. They vanish as if they had never existed in the overwhelming presence of the divine light. [00:32:31] Speaker B: Gone. Just like that. [00:32:32] Speaker A: Gone. It's as if their entire structure of self serving desires simply dissolves, like a shadow disappearing when you switch on a bright light. The text provides really powerful verses to drive this point home. All the nations which includes the side of separation are as nothing before him or for all your enemies, O Lord. Referring also to the side of separation, which are the enemies of divine all your enemies will perish. They will be scattered. And then these vivid as wax melts before fire, so shall the wicked perish. And the hills, referring to the site of separation, which are compared to hills because of their hauteur or their spiritual arrogance. [00:33:10] Speaker B: What about hills? [00:33:11] Speaker A: They melted like wax. These images illustrate the utter disappearance, the melting away of these opposing forces in the face of the divine light's revealed truth. [00:33:21] Speaker B: So this isn't just about those extreme acts of faith like martyrdom, which are clearly depicted here. It's really about recognizing that every single individual possesses this inherent, incredible ability to overcome temptation. Yes, precisely because of their soul's hidden love of the Divine originating in wisdom. That power is always there, waiting. It just needs to be aroused. But how do you arouse this wisdom in daily life? [00:33:47] Speaker A: Ah, the practical question. [00:33:48] Speaker B: Yeah, beyond those dramatic examples of ultimate sacrifice, for most of us, thankfully such tests aren't daily occurrences. So how do we wake it up day to day? [00:33:57] Speaker A: That is the practical question, isn't it? And while the text focuses on these dramatic life and death tests as the ultimate proof, the principle absolutely applies to subtle everyday acts as well. Okay, arousing this dormant wisdom in daily life isn't necessarily about grand heroic gestures. It can mean simply pausing. Pausing before making a choice that you know goes against your deepest values. Even if it's convenient or pleasurable or tempting in the moment. [00:34:25] Speaker B: Taking a breath. [00:34:26] Speaker A: Exactly. It could be consciously choosing to act with integrity, kindness, compassion, or truth. Even when it's difficult or unpopular, even when your animal soul is screaming for the opposite. [00:34:36] Speaker B: Resisting the easy path. [00:34:37] Speaker A: Resisting the easy path. Think about it. Arousing wisdom means cultivating a moment of mindfulness, a subtle internal check in. Before reacting impulsively, you might pause and ask yourself, okay, is this action really aligned with my highest self, with that deeper connection I actually yearn for? Or is it just a fleeting desire of my physical nature? [00:35:00] Speaker B: Listening to that quieter voice. [00:35:02] Speaker A: Yes, it's about listening to that quiet inner voice of wisdom over the louder clamor of immediate gratification. For instance, in a heated argument, instead of just lashing out with anger, which is easy to do, very easy, you might tap into that wisdom to choose a kinder, more understanding response, even if it feels unnatural at first. When faced with a task you find tedious or boring, you might try to connect to the inherent purpose or potential for growth within it, rather than just giving in to procrastination or complaint. [00:35:31] Speaker B: Finding the deeper meaning. [00:35:32] Speaker A: Finding the deeper meaning. Each time you choose connection over separation, each time you prioritize long term spiritual alignment over short term gratification, you're consciously fanning that dormant flame, slowly waking it up. It's a process of gradually diminishing that sackcloth, that veil through consistent conscious choices. It's about letting the light from that hidden core slowly, gradually permeate your everyday thoughts, speech and actions so it is accessible. It is. It's about realizing that every act of self transcendence, no matter how small it seems, is an awakening of that core wisdom and a step towards deeper unity. [00:36:10] Speaker B: Fear incorporated in love. The deeper connection. [00:36:13] Speaker A: Okay, that leads us perfectly into our second core question for this deep dive, and this one, at first glance, seems really counterintuitive. How is the equally essential fear of the divine not a separate potentially negative emotion, but truly part of this hidden love? [00:36:28] Speaker B: Right. [00:36:28] Speaker A: We usually think of love drawing us near and fear pushing us away. This seems to flip that completely. [00:36:34] Speaker B: It does. And that's where the profound subtlety of the text really shines. Let's break it down. The intense force of the divine light clothed in the soul's faculty of wisdom. [00:36:43] Speaker A: The light we just talked about awakening. [00:36:45] Speaker B: Exactly. That light is so immense, so powerful, that it actively banishes and repels the side of separation and the opposite realm. [00:36:54] Speaker A: It pushes them away. [00:36:55] Speaker B: Yes. This power isn't just about internal states of feeling. It has a crucial protective function. It safeguards the soul. It ensures that these opposing forces, these influences towards self centeredness and disconnect, cannot even Touch the soul's garments. [00:37:12] Speaker A: Garments? [00:37:13] Speaker B: Like clothes, metaphorical garments, they're defined here as one's thoughts, speech and action. The ways we express our faith in the unity of the Divine. Think of them as the external expressions, the interfaces of your inner being. [00:37:26] Speaker A: Okay, so thought, speech, action are the soul's garments. And this light protects them? [00:37:31] Speaker B: Yes, it protects them from being infiltrated or tainted by the side of separation. [00:37:35] Speaker A: So it's not just about what you believe deep down in your heart, your internal conviction. [00:37:39] Speaker B: No, it goes beyond that. [00:37:40] Speaker A: It's about how that belief manifests. Or maybe more importantly, how it doesn't manifest externally in your concrete actions and words. [00:37:47] Speaker B: That's exactly right. This means that the divine light vested in wisdom enables an individual to withstand even a test of self sacrifice that goes beyond just internal belief. [00:37:57] Speaker A: How so? [00:37:58] Speaker B: It allows them to refuse to perform even a mere external, seemingly empty act that contradicts their belief in the One Divine. [00:38:07] Speaker A: Even if they don't believe the act itself. [00:38:09] Speaker B: Even if they don't believe in it at all. For instance, imagine that scenario where someone is forced to bow down before an idol. [00:38:15] Speaker A: Okay. [00:38:15] Speaker B: Internally, in their heart, they might not believe in it one bit. They know it's meaningless wood or stone. They might think it's just an empty gesture, it's just a performance to save my skin. It means nothing to me. Internally, my true belief isn't affected. [00:38:28] Speaker A: That seems logical, maybe pragmatic. [00:38:30] Speaker B: It might seem so. Yet the power of this hidden love and the fear contained within it makes them recoil from even that outward act. They would choose self sacrifice rather than. [00:38:40] Speaker A: Perform it even for an empty gesture? [00:38:42] Speaker B: Even for an empty gesture. Similarly, consider someone compelled to speak falsely concerning the unity of the Divine, maybe to deny it publicly. [00:38:50] Speaker A: Again, just words maybe. [00:38:52] Speaker B: They might think that even if their words do not reflect their true perfect belief in their heart, even if their mouth and heart are totally out of sync in that moment, and they maintain their inner conviction, their inner self, that core of wisdom, recoils from the external false expression. [00:39:09] Speaker A: Why, if the heart is still true? [00:39:11] Speaker B: Because they dread that even the slightest external action or word, however empty it seems, could create a rift, a separation, a stain on their connection. [00:39:20] Speaker A: Okay, so this readiness for self sacrifice in these scenarios where it's just an outward act, not a real change of internal belief, this isn't a direct expression of the hidden love itself. [00:39:30] Speaker B: That's the crucial point. [00:39:31] Speaker A: Because love in its purest form isn't directly affected by empty actions or words. It's not like a feeling of devotion is being directly expressed by Refusing to bow. [00:39:40] Speaker B: Correct. It's not primarily about expressing devotion in that moment. Instead, it expresses the fear that is profoundly contained within the hidden love. [00:39:47] Speaker A: The fear within the love? [00:39:49] Speaker B: Yes, specifically the deep seated, instinctive fear of being torn away or separated from the Divine, even by the most superficial action. This is precisely what is called the fear contained in love. It is the natural love residing in the divine soul of all individuals. And that love's intrinsic desire and will is to be attached, to be utterly united with its ultimate origin and source, the light of the blessed Infinite Divine. [00:40:16] Speaker A: So because it loves that connection so. [00:40:18] Speaker B: Much, exactly because of this powerful inherent love and this intrinsic desire for connection, the soul instinctively recoils in fear and dreadful from touching even the slightest impurity of idolatry or anything that denies faith in the Divine's unity. [00:40:34] Speaker A: It flinches away. [00:40:34] Speaker B: It flinches away. [00:40:35] Speaker A: It's a profound aversion that's a fascinating reframing of fear. It's not a negative, debilitating fear, like being scared of punishment or scared of a monster, which might drive you away. [00:40:45] Speaker B: But it's not that kind of fear. [00:40:46] Speaker A: It's a protective, almost instinctive recoil, like a child instinctively pulling back from something that could harm their parent, not out of terror for themselves, but out of a deep seated protective bond and a dread of separation from that beloved connection. [00:41:00] Speaker B: That's a beautiful analogy. [00:41:02] Speaker A: It's like fear acting as a guardian of the relationship, not as a sign of distance or alienation. [00:41:07] Speaker B: Absolutely. This fear isn't about personal vulnerability in the usual sense. Even if such contact only involves those external garments like speech or action, without any internal belief being compromised in the heart, the soul dreads. [00:41:21] Speaker A: It dreads even the appearance of separation. [00:41:24] Speaker B: Yes, with a profound, almost unconscious revulsion. This deep natural dread is the profound fear contained in the hidden love. It's an unconscious safeguard, a powerful innate guardian for the soul's connection to its source, protecting the bond, ensuring that nothing, not even the most superficial act, can jeopardize that deepest, most essential bond. It's a fear born from love, a natural consequence of valuing that connection above all else. [00:41:51] Speaker A: Outro. [00:41:52] Speaker B: Wow. We've really covered some profound and genuinely transformative ground in this deep dive. It feels like we've peeled back some significant layers. [00:42:00] Speaker A: It's deep material for sure. [00:42:02] Speaker B: We've clarified the core nature of this hidden love within each of us. Not just affection, but a super rational inherent yearning for complete unity with the Divine, even to the point of self nullification. [00:42:13] Speaker A: Right. Even transcending one's distinct embodied identity and perhaps Even more surprisingly, we've unraveled how an equally essential protective fear is intrinsically contained within this hidden love. [00:42:26] Speaker B: Not separate, but part of it, serving. [00:42:28] Speaker A: Not as a negative force, but as an instinctive recoil from anything that might cause even the slightest separation from the Divine. It's a profound testament to the soul's deepest longing for connection in this understanding. [00:42:40] Speaker B: It really has brought profound practical application for you, the listener, whether you consciously realize it yet or not. [00:42:47] Speaker A: How so? How does knowing this help day to day? [00:42:50] Speaker B: Well, by recognizing this inherent, deep seated love for the Divine within yourself and the protective fear that accompanies it, that powerful desire for unity and the dread of separation, you gain a truly powerful motivation for your daily life. [00:43:03] Speaker A: Okay? [00:43:04] Speaker B: If you realize, as the text so vividly describes, that deep down you would willingly give up your life rather than be fundamentally separated from the Divine, that. [00:43:12] Speaker A: Ultimate potential we all have, right? [00:43:14] Speaker B: If that potential exists, then this understanding should logically guide you in your everyday choices. It means you should certainly want to refrain from any sin, any action that goes against divine will. [00:43:26] Speaker A: Why? [00:43:27] Speaker B: Knowing that every sin in its own way creates a degree of separation, a subtle veil between yourself and the Divine, it dims that connection. [00:43:36] Speaker A: Okay. [00:43:36] Speaker B: And conversely, it motivates you to diligently strive to fulfill all commandments, all those positive opportunities for connection, because those are. [00:43:44] Speaker A: The way to connect. [00:43:45] Speaker B: Exactly. They are the direct means through which you can actively achieve the ultimate objective of your hidden love, which is true and profound unity with the Divine. It's about bringing that hidden reality into active, conscious expression. [00:43:58] Speaker A: So this isn't just interesting theory, it's actually an empowering insight. This deep dive really aims to empower you, the listener, to tap into your own hidden love and that protective fear contained within it, and transform them from just latent capacities into a living, breathing motivation for a more connected, more purposeful, and ultimately more fulfilling life. It's about activating your own, you know, spiritual superpower. [00:44:23] Speaker B: Indeed, it's about bringing that profound, innate spiritual reality into conscious awareness and into active practice, allowing your deepest self, that core of wisdom, to guide your daily existence. More and more. [00:44:37] Speaker A: So, as we wrap up this deep dive, here's a final provocative thought for you to ponder, something to mull over. [00:44:42] Speaker B: Okay? [00:44:43] Speaker A: If the soul's deepest longing is for complete unity, even to the point of transcending its individual form, what everyday wicks, you know, those comfortable habits, those limiting beliefs we hold onto, or even those cherished aspects of our perceived identity, what things might we be unknowingly clinging to? [00:45:01] Speaker B: Things that seem to sustain us. [00:45:02] Speaker A: Exactly. Things that appear to sustain us, like the Wick sustains the Flame, but might actually be preventing us from connecting more fully, more deeply with our essential universal source. What's holding us back from that deeper unity? [00:45:14] Speaker B: Something to think about. [00:45:15] Speaker A: Definitely something to think about.