Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome to Lessons in Tanya, chapter 31. Okay, let's unpack this. You know how sometimes you're really diving deep into self reflection, maybe trying to grow, trying to fix things, and suddenly you just hit this wall of sadness.
Like the very act of examining your spiritual state. Or maybe your actions can actually lead to a kind of heavy heartedness. That's exactly what we're going to tackle in this deep dive.
[00:00:23] Speaker B: Indeed. It's a really common experience. I think this particular chapter from the Ultra Rebbe's foundational work, it's such an influential text in Hasidic thought. It addresses a very human and, yeah, Challenging problem that a lot of people run into on their spiritual journey.
[00:00:38] Speaker A: Right.
[00:00:39] Speaker B: In our previous discussions, thinking back to chapters 29 and 30, the focus was really on confronting what was called insensitivity of the heart. That feeling, you know, being spiritually dull, maybe unresponsive, or just kind of disconnected.
[00:00:51] Speaker A: Yeah, that numb feeling.
[00:00:52] Speaker B: Exactly. And the method suggested back then to overcome that spiritual apathy was, well, it was described as a kind of crushing of one's spirit, a deep, honest reckoning with your ego, the arrogance of what's called the animal soul.
[00:01:06] Speaker A: Sounds intense.
[00:01:07] Speaker B: It is. It involves really profound, sometimes quite uncomfortable reflection on your spiritual failings to the point where you might realize, wow, I might be on a lower spiritual level than even the most ordinary people.
[00:01:19] Speaker A: Hmm.
[00:01:19] Speaker B: It's about stripping away that self deception.
[00:01:22] Speaker A: Okay, but.
[00:01:23] Speaker B: And this is the key point leading into today, this intense self assessment. While it's incredibly effective in dispelling that insensitivity, waking up the heart, it comes with a pretty potent, often debilitating side effect.
Profound depression. Ah.
Yeah. It's a real challenge because while you're trying to grow, trying to elevate yourself, you might just find yourself weighed down, even paralyzed by this intense introspection.
[00:01:46] Speaker A: And that's the huge question this chapter takes on. Right. How do you get that necessary contrition, that broken heartedness, that honest look at yourself without sinking into this overwhelming sadness that just stops you cold.
[00:02:00] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:02:01] Speaker A: It's such a crucial distinction because real spiritual growth isn't about wallowing in despair, is it? It's gotta be about finding a way forward, evolving, connecting more deeply.
[00:02:10] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:02:11] Speaker A: So our mission today is to explore, explore that subtle but really profound difference between a productive, maybe even necessary spiritual bitterness and that debilitating kind of depression. And then importantly, to chart a course, a clear path towards authentic joy. A joy that's accessible, you know, no matter where you're at right now.
[00:02:31] Speaker B: That's the goal, finding that genuine gladness that isn't just about feeling good because things are going well, but something much deeper, much more rooted. One, the nuance of spiritual sadness. Depression versus bitterness.
[00:02:43] Speaker A: Okay, so let's dive right into this paradox then. We're talking about sadness, but a kind that might actually be beneficial, that feels so counterintuitive to everything we usually think about emotional well being.
[00:02:53] Speaker B: It absolutely is on the surface. And the Altar Rebbe opens this chapter acknowledging exactly that. He states quite directly, actually, that prolonged deep contemplation on. On your spiritual shortcomings, even just for an hour or two, can in fact lead to profound depression.
[00:03:11] Speaker A: Right.
[00:03:12] Speaker B: However, and this is the critical instruction right at the start. And he immediately says, don't be perturbed by this. Don't let it shape you.
[00:03:18] Speaker A: Okay, hold on. Why wouldn't you be perturbed by depression? Isn't sadness generally seen as something to avoid, especially when you're trying to connect spiritually? We're always hearing joy is key, right?
[00:03:29] Speaker B: Precisely. You're hitting on a really important distinction that the source material then clarifies the general spiritual understanding. The rule, if you like, is that depression, unlike holiness, unlike true spiritual connection, it comes from a spiritual realm that's referred to metaphorically as the shell of light.
[00:03:47] Speaker A: Shell of light? What does that mean, practically?
[00:03:49] Speaker B: Think of it like a husk, maybe, or a boundary. It's a spiritual layer that can contain both positive and negative energies. A place where the pure divine light is sort of obscured or maybe mixed. It's not the pure, unadulterated radiance of holiness itself, which is boundless, expansive.
[00:04:06] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:04:06] Speaker B: In contrast, the realm of holiness is characterized by strength and gladness, by openness, by boundless giving. It's a foundational teaching in these texts that God's presence, God's essential closeness, it really abides and reveals itself only in joy. But a specific kind of joy, unadulterated, coming from spiritual truth.
[00:04:25] Speaker A: Right.
[00:04:25] Speaker B: So if depression, generally speaking, comes from the shell of light, a realm that isn't pure holiness, why would the text advise us not to be perturbed by it, even if it stems from spiritual reflect?
[00:04:36] Speaker A: Yeah, that seems like a contradiction. It's like a spiritually motivated sadness coming from maybe the good part of that shell, but it's still a shell, like a positive feeling with a slightly limited, maybe even tainted source.
[00:04:47] Speaker B: That's a very good way to put it. And understanding that is crucial. While general mundane depression, you know, the kind that comes from worrying about worldly things, feeling hopeless about everyday life, that stems from the purely negative aspects within this shell of light. Okay, but the depression that arises from truly contemplating your spiritual failings, from really feeling your distance from God, that actually stems from the good element within the same shell of light realm. It's reflecting a deeper awareness, but it's still a shell. It's still fundamentally a shell. Exactly. It's a limited container, not the pure, boundless light of holiness itself.
So, yeah, it sets up this critical paradox, a spiritually motivated sadness originating from a potentially negative or at least limited source. And just to emphasize how much joy is usually preferred, the text recalls a teaching from a great sage, the Arizal. He taught that worry over sins, it's only really appropriate during the specific time of confession, when you're actively accounting for your actions, seeking forgiveness.
[00:05:49] Speaker A: Right. Makes sense.
[00:05:50] Speaker B: But he stressed it's not appropriate during prayer or during the study of divine teaching. Those activities, he said, must be done with pure joy, a joy that comes straight from the realm of holiness, not just superficial happiness or certainly not this numbing sadness.
[00:06:06] Speaker A: So that really highlights that joy is the usual goal state.
[00:06:09] Speaker B: It does. It underlines that any other emotion, even a seemingly spiritual sadness, needs really careful handling. It's a tool, maybe, but definitely not the destination.
[00:06:20] Speaker A: Okay, so if depression is generally something to steer clear of, and pure joy is the ideal for connecting with God, why again, does the altar rebbe say not to be perturbed by this specific kind of sadness? This really makes me wonder. Is there a different kind of sadness happening here? A nuance we're missing in just using the word sadness?
[00:06:37] Speaker B: This is the absolute pivotal point of the chapter. And yes, it clarifies everything. The text explicitly states that true brokenheartedness and bitterness of soul, which is described as an active, vital remorse over your distance from God, feeling the soul's entanglement with negativity and materialism. These are not called depression in the specific way the altera means it here.
[00:06:59] Speaker A: Ah, okay. So different words, different feelings.
[00:07:02] Speaker B: Completely different feelings, different energies.
The distinction is profound. And honestly, it's vital for anyone serious about a spiritual path.
[00:07:10] Speaker A: So what's the practical difference then? How do you actually tell them apart inside yourself? If I'm feeling low, how do I know if it's this productive bitterness or just plain old debilitating depression?
[00:07:21] Speaker B: That's the million dollar question. Right? And the text gives us really clear tools for discernment. The word depression, as it's used here, implies a dullness, a constricted heart, almost like it's turned to stone. There's no vitality no real feeling, no movement. It's that numbing, paralyzing state where you feel utterly stuck, unable to act or even think clearly.
[00:07:41] Speaker A: Okay, I think I know that feeling.
[00:07:42] Speaker B: Yeah. In contrast, bitterness or contrition, this specific kind is the exact opposite. When you feel that, it actually shows vitality. It shows movement in the heart. You're able to feel deeply, to be aroused, to respond really acutely to your spiritual situation. This very ability to be embittered is itself a sign of life, a spiritual pulse.
[00:08:02] Speaker A: So. So it's sharp, not dull. Active, not passive.
[00:08:05] Speaker B: Exactly. It's a sharp, active pain, not that dull, heavy ache. And this vitality, the Source explains comes from what are called the holy attributes of severity. These are divine qualities. Think strictness, justice, constraint. They're the forces that create boundaries, structure, a sense of awe, as opposed to pure, expansive kindness.
[00:08:25] Speaker A: Severity. Sounds a bit harsh, but okay.
[00:08:27] Speaker B: Well, the teaching is that the heart contains both kindness and severity. They're essential parts of our emotional and spiritual makeup. So when disappointment with your spiritual state shows up as this act of bitterness, it actually stems from holiness, Specifically from these holy attributes of severity, which is completely unlike the numbing, stony depression that comes from that limited shell of light.
[00:08:47] Speaker A: Wow, that really reframes things. So it's not just about positive versus negative emotions. In a simple way, this bitterness, even though it feels bad, isn't spiritually detrimental.
[00:08:58] Speaker B: Not in the same way as depression, no. Yeah, it can actually be a sign of deeper spiritual life, a sign of connection rather than a symptom of decline.
It all comes down to how the feeling moves you.
Does it paralyze you, or does it energize you? Does it deaden your spirit? Or does it spark this urgent desire for change, this burning need to reconnect?
[00:09:20] Speaker A: Paralyze or energize? Yeah, that's a really powerful distinction for figuring things out internally.
[00:09:25] Speaker B: It really is. And this brings us right back to that initial instruction.
Don't be perturbed. Even if this process seems to lead to depression, because this bitter sadness isn't truly depression. Why the earlier instruction. It feels like a subtle but really important shift.
[00:09:39] Speaker A: Yes, exactly. That's what I was wondering. It feels like there must be a practical, maybe even strategic reason behind telling us not to worry about that initial dip. Like some kind of spiritual aikido or something?
[00:09:49] Speaker B: Precisely. Spiritual Jiu Jitsu. Aikido. Good analogies. It brings us to this fascinating, almost counterintuitive twist in how this whole process works.
Even if there is a momentary initial despondency that Feels like true depression. When you first really confront your failings, that initial shock, it's meant to be quickly followed by this productive bitterness we've defined.
[00:10:12] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:10:13] Speaker B: The Alter Rebbe advises not to be perturbed by that initial dip, precisely because that momentary, fleeting depression actually becomes a weapon, a weapon against the negative aspects of the soul.
[00:10:24] Speaker A: How does that work, using depression as a weapon?
[00:10:27] Speaker B: The text explains it using a powerful teaching.
The way to humble the negative side of the soul, what's sometimes called the other side, the animal soul's negative drives, is through something of its own, species and kind. Meaning you use the positive element within that shell of light, that transient, spiritually motivated sadness, as a weapon against the negative stuff coming from the same general source. It's a spiritual strategy. Remember the famous saying from the sages, from the forest itself comes the handle for the axe which fells the forest.
[00:10:54] Speaker A: Right? Right. Use the thing itself to overcome it.
[00:10:56] Speaker B: Exactly. The very material that forms the obstacle can also provide the means to overcome it. So that sadness that results from spiritual contemplation, if you channel it right, can be incredibly profitable.
The profit isn't the sadness itself, of course, but the joy that follows it.
[00:11:12] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:11:12] Speaker B: This temporary dip into a type of sadness is a necessary step. It's a spiritual tactic to then transcend it. It's a calculated move, recognizing that the initial shock might bring a moment of feeling low, but that moment is fleeting and serves a higher purpose.
It's the spark that ignites the productive bitterness, which then clears the path for real, authentic joy. It's a way through the darkness, not getting stuck in it.
2. Harnessing severity for spiritual growth.
[00:11:40] Speaker A: Okay, so this bitterness, maybe even a kind of anger at our own spiritual state, isn't necessarily bad. It's actually tied to these holy attributes of severity. Can you unpack that a bit more? How does severity, which sounds kind of strict, actually work for our growth?
[00:11:54] Speaker B: Certainly, understanding this is really key to using this tool effectively at certain times. The text explains, it's absolutely necessary to consciously arouse these holy attributes of severity within ourselves. The purpose? It's to temper or sweeten what are called stern judgments.
[00:12:11] Speaker A: Stern judgments? What are those?
[00:12:13] Speaker B: In this context here, stern judgments refer specifically to the animal soul and its negative inclinations, especially when they start to dominate a person.
Think of severity as a kind of spiritual force designed to bring a wild, untamed part of ourselves back into balance, back into alignment. It's not about self punishment, it's about necessary spiritual discipline.
[00:12:33] Speaker A: Okay, so it's like a corrective measure for the more self centered, maybe impulsive parts of our nature. But it's coming from a holy source. How does that correction actually happen?
[00:12:42] Speaker B: Yes, precisely. The text explains that all evil within this deep spiritual framework isn't seen as some independent force. It's understood as a degenerate form. Basically a corrupted or distorted version of the attribute of severity that actually originates from holiness itself.
[00:12:57] Speaker A: Wow, okay, so evil comes from distorted severity.
[00:13:01] Speaker B: That's the concept. Imagine a powerful, pure energy, severity, in its holy root, as it descends through various spiritual levels, undergoes contractions or limitations. It can become twisted, veiled, and manifest as what we experience as evil or a shell of impurity. This naturally includes the negative side of our animal soul, our evil impulse.
So to elevate or sweeten this evil meaning, to return it to its holy source, bring it back into alignment with holiness.
In a sense, yes. But a refined fire, in terms of our divine service, this means crushing the evil impulse through that productive bitterness, that deep remorse we talked about. And crucially, this bitterness draws its vitality from the holy attribute of severity, which is paradoxically, the ultimate source of the evil impulse itself.
[00:13:52] Speaker A: That's a mind bender.
[00:13:54] Speaker B: It is. It's a sophisticated spiritual strategy. You're not ignoring or just suppressing negative impulses. You're confronting them with their own ultimate source. But in its holy, refined state, it's like using a targeted, purifying fire.
This is why the sages taught one should always incite the good inclination to anger against the evil inclination, always in sight to anger.
[00:14:19] Speaker A: That still sounds pretty intense. Does that mean we should be constantly angry at ourselves, always berating ourselves?
Because that sounds like a fast track back to that debilitating depression we're trying to get away from.
[00:14:29] Speaker B: That's a really important clarification. And the text anticipates that concern.
The word always here is understood in a qualified sense. Remember, joy, not severity or anger is usually the proper, the optimal state for spiritual service and connecting with God.
[00:14:43] Speaker A: Okay, good.
[00:14:45] Speaker B: So this inciting to anger, this arousal of severity, it's not meant to be a constant state. It's a specific tool for when it's necessary.
[00:14:52] Speaker A: Like when.
[00:14:53] Speaker B: What's an example, for instance, when you become aware that the arrogance of your animal soul is actually blocking the light of your divine soul from reaching your heart, when you feel that spiritual insensitivity we discussed earlier, that dullness, that lack of response, that's a moment when it's appropriate and effective to actively stir this holy anger, this severity.
[00:15:14] Speaker A: So it's a targeted intervention, a specific tool for A specific problem.
[00:15:18] Speaker B: Exactly. It's a precise instrument in the spiritual toolkit, not the default mode. It requires self awareness to know when this powerful tool is actually needed. Like a spiritual surgeon knowing precisely when to use a very sharp, specific instrument.
[00:15:32] Speaker A: Okay, that makes more sense. It's strategic, not constant. So given that when is the best time for this targeted anger or deep introspection, is there a particular moment when it's easier or more effective for most of us to do this?
[00:15:45] Speaker B: Yes. The Altar Rebbe identifies a particularly opportune and fitting time for most people. And it's quite pragmatic actually. It's when you find yourself already feeling depressed or down over mundane matters, or even just feeling generally low without a clear reason.
[00:15:59] Speaker A: Oh, wow. Okay. That's incredibly relatable. I think everyone knows those days, that general funk or worrying about work, money, relationships, just life stuff.
[00:16:09] Speaker B: Exactly those times when you're already feeling that weight.
[00:16:12] Speaker A: So instead of just letting that mundane sadness sit there and weigh you down, you can actually do something constructive with it. How do you make that shift? Is it like a mental trick or.
[00:16:22] Speaker B: It's less a trick and more conscious. Powerful redirection. Instead of just dwelling on the everyday sorrows, which is often unproductive, just draining, you can consciously channel that pre existing sadness towards spiritual self. Soul searching.
[00:16:37] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:16:37] Speaker B: That means engaging in that spiritual stock, taking that deep, honest self evaluation of your spiritual state, your failings, and then directing that anger, that holy severity against the evil inclination within you that's contributing to those shortcomings. It's about consciously reframing the feeling.
[00:16:54] Speaker A: So I feel bad because of X, but I use that bad feeling energy to look at my spiritual life.
[00:16:58] Speaker B: Precisely. You're already experiencing a feeling of lack of something being off.
Instead of letting your mind just spin on the external cause, the deadline, the bill, the argument, you pivot inward. You ask, is this feeling of emptiness, this struggle, actually reflecting something deeper? Am I feeling disconnected spiritually? Is there a place where my actions or thoughts aren't aligned with my higher purpose?
You use that existing emotional energy, which is already a form of severity, of constriction, and you direct it inward towards the spiritual impurity that really needs addressing.
The brilliance here is that this pre existing state of sadness, which might otherwise just be wasted energy or even debilitating, gets transformed into a potent catalyst for positive spiritual change.
[00:17:42] Speaker A: And it's easier because you're already feeling.
[00:17:43] Speaker B: Low in a way, yes, it simplifies the process. Because that naturally joyful frame of mind which might resist critical self evaluation is already Absent, you're already feeling down. So the initial barrier to confronting your spiritual state might be lower.
And here's the added benefit. By engaging in this spiritual accounting, by redirecting that sadness productively, you often find that you're then rid of the original mundane depression too.
[00:18:08] Speaker A: That's amazing. So you transform a negative state into a powerful spiritual moment. And it helps clear the original problem too.
[00:18:14] Speaker B: Exactly. It's incredibly pragmatic. It's about meeting yourself where you are and turning what seems like a disadvantage into a significant spiritual advantage.
3.
The path to authentic joy. The divine soul's liberation.
[00:18:28] Speaker A: Okay, this is fascinating, using that specific bitterness as a springboard. But we've talked a lot about how to use these tougher feelings. Ultimately, the goal is joy, right? So how do we move from that intense spiritual stock, taking that initial bitterness, to real, lasting, authentic joy? The kind that isn't just dependent on circumstances.
[00:18:46] Speaker B: Right. This is where the really profound shift in perspective happens.
A radical reframing of how you see yourself. After you've done that deep contemplation of your shortcomings, felt that productive bitter remorse, channeled it effectively. The next step is crucial.
You need to actively offer comfort to your heart.
[00:19:05] Speaker A: Comfort after beating yourself up?
[00:19:06] Speaker B: Basically, after honestly assessing yourself. It's not about staying in self condemnation or wallowing endlessly in guilt. The teaching instructs you to acknowledge the full truth of your perceived lowliness.
Yes, without a doubt, I am far removed from God. Despicable, contemptible. You own the assessment of your lower self, your physical being. It strives, but then immediately you have to add this critical qualifier, this powerful distinction. All this is true only of me, my body, and the animating soul within it.
[00:19:36] Speaker A: That's a huge separation. So the negative assessment is valid for the physical side, the lower soul, but it doesn't define your entire being. It's like saying the container is flawed, but not the essence inside. That feels really liberating.
[00:19:48] Speaker B: Exactly. That's the word liberating. It creates this crucial separation in your self perception. Because the teaching is that within every single person, even as the text puts it, the most worthless among us, there is a veritable part of God.
This is the divine soul, a direct spark of divinity animating you.
[00:20:06] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:20:06] Speaker B: It's an inherent, inviolable spark of goodness. A pure essence that remains untouched, unblemished, regardless of your perceived flaws, your failures, your current state.
And that's a powerful truth for you listening right now. There is an inherent, untarnished spiritual core within you. A direct connection to the Infinite. No matter what, your deepest essence is divine.
[00:20:28] Speaker A: So there's this pure divine part of me. Even when my body and my animating soul feel so low, so messy, so far away, what does knowing that do for my spiritual work? How does it change the approach?
[00:20:38] Speaker B: It changes everything. It means that when your body and animating soul are in that lowly, unrefined state, your divine soul, that spirit spark of God, is effectively in a state of exile within them, like a precious jewel buried under mud and grime. And here's the powerful motivating, the more lowly and despicable you feel your physical self to be, the deeper the exile of your divine soul, and therefore, paradoxically, the greater the pity and the urgency you should feel to liberate it.
[00:21:04] Speaker A: So feeling bad about myself becomes motivation to free the divine part.
[00:21:08] Speaker B: Exactly. It transforms self condemnation from a paralyzing force into this powerful source of motivation. Instead of being stuck in guilt, despair over your flaws, you become energized by compassion for your own divine soul. You desire its liberation from its current limitations.
The mission shifts entirely. It's not just about fixing a flawed self. It's about the profound liberation and elevation of a divine spark that's trapped, that.
[00:21:33] Speaker A: Reframes the whole struggle. So instead of just focusing on what's wrong with me, I'm focusing on liberating something incredibly precious within me, something that longs for its source. What does that liberation actually look like day to day? How do I work towards this return?
[00:21:46] Speaker B: The text explains that your entire aim, your whole desire, should then become focused on extricating this divine soul from its exile, on returning her to her father's house, as in her youth, which is a metaphor for restoring it to its original state of complete absorption and unity with God, how it was before it ever descended into a physical body and got veiled by the world.
[00:22:08] Speaker A: Okay, and practically.
[00:22:09] Speaker B: Practically, this means concentrating all your aspirations on divine teaching and divine commandments, applying your mind, your mental faculties to deep, thoughtful study of God's wisdom, and applying your heart, your emotive faculties to diligent, heartfelt performance of the commandments, all driven by a profound love and reverence for God.
[00:22:28] Speaker A: So, study and action.
[00:22:30] Speaker B: Yes, and especially through the divine commandment of prayer. Prayer becomes a way to cry out to God because of the distress of the soul's exile, asking God to release the soul from its captivity in the body and bind it, reconnect it to God himself. This whole service, this mission, becomes the driving force, fueled by compassion for the soul, recognizing its inherent, infinite value.
[00:22:51] Speaker A: Return to her father's house. That's such a powerful image for the journer. How does this connect to what we might normally think of as repentance or just doing good deeds? Are they the same thing here or linked somehow?
[00:23:04] Speaker B: That's a great question. This profound service of God, this seeking to restore the soul to its source, is actually referred to in the text as return with good deeds. Now, that phrase can be misunderstood. Usually we think of return or repentance as atonement for past mistakes, maybe a one time thing. And good deeds seem like present actions, maybe unrelated to the past.
[00:23:26] Speaker A: Right.
[00:23:26] Speaker B: But the altar rebbe explains the deep connection. He clarifies that the good deeds themselves constitute this return. Why? Because they are done with the explicit intention of returning the soul, which. Which is a literal part of God, back to its divine source, the root of all worlds. It's not just about fixing past errors. It's about a continuous active process of elevation and reconnection through positive action. Now, wow.
[00:23:49] Speaker A: So every good deed, every mitzvah, every moment of study is an act of return?
[00:23:53] Speaker B: When done with that intention, yes. It reframes spiritual practice completely.
Every single act of studying, divine teaching, every performance of a divine commandment, when done with, this conscious intention of reunifying the soul with its divine source becomes an act of return.
[00:24:10] Speaker A: That's why the sages say you should be in a state of return your whole life.
[00:24:13] Speaker B: Exactly. It's not just a one time event after messing up. It's a continuous lifelong process of elevating, refining, and reconnecting the soul through every single positive action. It implies that every positive act, no matter how small it seems an act of kindness, a moment of focused study. A simple prayer said with intention, have this cosmic impact.
It elevates your soul, reconnects it. It imbues everyday life with incredible meaning and purpose.
[00:24:39] Speaker A: Okay, that sounds genuinely joyful. If this is the goal, this constant return through our actions, can you give us a clearer picture of what that liberation actually feels like? What's the quality of that ultimate joy?
[00:24:50] Speaker B: The text uses a really powerful, deeply evocative analogy to help us grasp the sheer magnitude of this joy. It says there is no joy as great as that of being released from exile and captivity. Okay. And it compares it to the immense, overwhelming joy of a prince.
Imagine a prince taken captive, forced into hard labor, maybe turning a millstone in some dark, grimy prison, covered in filth, utterly degraded.
[00:25:16] Speaker A: Right. A terrible state.
[00:25:18] Speaker B: And then suddenly, completely unexpectedly, he's released. He goes free to the house of his Father, the king.
Can you imagine the sheer ecstasy of that moment? The shock, the relief, the overwhelming sense of belonging, freedom, reclaiming who he truly is.
[00:25:34] Speaker A: That's incredibly powerful. The prince, covered in filth, suddenly free and back to royalty. So the prince is the divine soul.
[00:25:41] Speaker B: Exactly. This prince, descended from the supreme King, represents the soul, your divine soul, caught in the limitations and grime of the physical world, the animal soul's inclinations. And through divine teaching and divine commandments, this soul is redeemed from that captivity, that degradation imposed on it by the body. This clarifies why the joy is so profound.
It's not just the absence of sadness or some fleeting happiness. It's the ecstatic realization of returning to your true, exalted origin, of reclaiming your inherent spiritual royalty, your clarity, your connection. And even though the body might remain in its physical state, the Zohar calls it a serpent skin because its fundamental nature hasn't been totally transformed yet.
[00:26:20] Speaker A: Serpent skin, wow, that's blunt.
[00:26:23] Speaker B: It is blunt. These are strong metaphors used to highlight the contrast. The temporary material nature of the body and its potential to obscure the soul's purity. The body, with its drives and limitations, might still be there, but the soul is soaring free. The lesson is crucial.
Let the divine soul's joy be more precious to you than the lowly state of the body.
Don't let the sadness or perceived imperfection of the body interfere with or disturb the profound joy of the soul's liberation.
It's a conscious choice of focus, a prioritization of your inner world. You choose to celebrate the inner triumph of the soul, even while navigating the limitations of the physical. Don't let the temporary discomfort of the skin distract from the eternal ecstasy of the liberated prince within.
4. The deeper purpose and untarnished joy.
[00:27:10] Speaker A: That image of escape, of liberation is incredibly compelling. And the text links it to something really well. The exodus from Egypt. How does that huge historical event shed light on our personal spiritual journey? This idea of the soul getting free.
[00:27:25] Speaker B: It'S a direct analogy. This concept of the divine soul breaking free from the body's limitations while the body itself kind of remains in its more limited state is seen as parallel to the exodus from Egypt. The scripture says the people escaped.
[00:27:37] Speaker A: Escaped? Yeah, that word always struck me as a bit odd. Why escape? Couldn't God have just made Pharaoh let them go properly after all those plagues?
[00:27:43] Speaker B: Good question. The explanation lies in the spiritual reality behind the physical event.
Just like major events in spiritual history mirror processes within each person. The physical slavery in Egypt reflected a Deeper spiritual enslavement. Their souls were trapped by what's called the impurity of Egypt, a profound spiritual contamination.
[00:28:04] Speaker A: Ah, okay.
[00:28:05] Speaker B: So their physical exodus wasn't just a physical move. It represented a spiritual liberation from this deep impurity. But, and this is key, the text reveals the escape was necessary because the evil within the people's animal souls was still strong.
Their inner impurity didn't fully cease until the giving of the divine teaching at Mount Sinai, which happened later.
[00:28:24] Speaker A: So they weren't fully purified yet?
[00:28:26] Speaker B: Not yet. But their aim, their deep desire, was for the divine soul to leave that exile of impurity and cling to God. So the spiritual exodus was truly an escape, the soul breaking away from an overpowering impurity. And this inner reality was reflected in the physical flight.
That's why you see verses describing God as a refuge, like God is my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of affliction, or he's my escape. God is the ultimate refuge for the soul fleeing spiritual constriction.
[00:28:57] Speaker A: So the escape was necessary back then because the inner struggle wasn't finished. Does that imply a different kind of redemption is possible in the future? Maybe a more complete one, when that inner struggle is finally resolved universally?
[00:29:07] Speaker B: Exactly right. The text explicitly contrasts the exodus from Egypt with the future ultimate redemption about the future. The prophets will not go out in haste nor go in flight, for God will go before you.
[00:29:19] Speaker A: That sounds completely different.
[00:29:21] Speaker B: Calm, deliberate, totally different imagery. It signifies a calm, assured departure, not a desperate escape. The text explains that in the time to come, God will completely remove the spirit of impurity from the earth. There will be no internal or external evil necessitating spiritual escape.
[00:29:39] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:29:39] Speaker B: The exodus from Egypt, however, happened as a flight because the evil was still powerful in the people's animal souls, requiring that urgent breaking away of the divine part.
So whenever we today disregard the lowliness of our body and animal soul and immerse ourselves in divine teaching and commandments, specifically to free our divine soul from its physical exile, we're essentially performing a spiritual equivalent of the exodus from Egypt right now.
[00:30:03] Speaker A: So our daily practice is like a mini exodus?
[00:30:06] Speaker B: In a sense, yes. It acknowledges the reality of the ongoing inner battle until that future, more complete transformation happens for everyone.
And this understanding actually leads to a final, really profound comfort, one that deepens the joy even further by getting to the root cause of why the soul is even here.
[00:30:22] Speaker A: Okay, I'm intrigued.
This whole journey of the soul, the descent, the exile, the escape, the future redemption, it feels so purposeful.
What is the ultimate reason behind this incredibly complex process, why did the divine soul have to come down into this physical world, into a body sometimes described so harshly, only to struggle so much to get back?
[00:30:43] Speaker B: Right. To give even greater strength and light to the joy of the soul's eventual return, the text says you should comfort your heart with this powerful, almost radical, I did not create myself this way.
[00:30:54] Speaker A: Meaning?
[00:30:55] Speaker B: Meaning it was God who created you precisely like this, with a divine soul, a literal part of his infinite light that descends and gets clothed in this physical body, the one described with those stark terms like serpent skin or fetid drop. Precisely to highlight the immense contrasts with the soul's purity.
[00:31:12] Speaker A: Okay, so it's not my fault I'm like this.
[00:31:14] Speaker B: Exactly. This idea radically shifts responsibility away from self blame towards understanding God's deliberate, purposeful design.
The soul's descent into the body isn't a punishment, it's not an accident. It's a preordained step for a much higher purpose, as the text puts it. Surely this descent must be for the sake of a subsequent ascent.
[00:31:35] Speaker A: That is incredibly liberating. It changes the whole perspective on being human, doesn't it? Our challenges, our physical limits, even the pull of the animal soul, they aren't flaws in the system. They're essential parts of a grand design aimed at elevation. So what does that ascent involve? Is it just the divine soul going up, leaving the rest behind?
[00:31:55] Speaker B: This is where the joy becomes truly untarnished, as the text says. Complete, unblemished. The ascent isn't just about the divine soul escaping. It's about elevating the entire being that includes the animating animal soul, the one that comes from that shell of light realm with all its limitations and desires and all its garments. Garments?
[00:32:11] Speaker A: You mean thoughts, speech and action?
[00:32:13] Speaker B: Exactly. Our capacities for thought, speech and action.
This comprehensive elevation happens by consciously clothing these aspects, our thoughts, our words, our deeds, in the action, speech and thought of divine teaching and divine commandments.
[00:32:29] Speaker A: So by doing mitzvah, learning Torah.
[00:32:31] Speaker B: Yes, by diligently performing the divine commandments, by speaking words of divine teaching, by consciously thinking thoughts aligned with divine wisdom. Through these actions, the animal soul itself and its ways of expressing itself, thought, speech, action, are actively elevated towards divinity, pulled upwards, refined. The text even notes that this elevation is in fact the ultimate purpose for which the entire world was created.
[00:32:55] Speaker A: Okay, that is a huge revelation. It means my actions, my words, my thoughts, if they're aligned with divine teaching, they don't just affect my divine soul. They actively refine and elevate my entire being, including the parts that seem lower, more mundane, even problematic. It turns daily life from a struggle into, well, a cosmic mission.
[00:33:13] Speaker B: Absolutely, it's transformative. This is why divine teaching is described as that which restores the soul, returning it not just to its source, but elevating it even higher than where it started and why it stated that God's commandments are just. They gladden the heart, right? So when you really internalize this, that your study, your observance, your good deeds elevate not only your divine soul, but also your animal soul, refining even the seemingly mundane parts of you, then your whole process of return gains incredible depth and meaning. And critically, the joy of your soul gains immense intensity and light.
[00:33:50] Speaker A: Because nothing is left behind.
[00:33:51] Speaker B: Exactly.
The earlier escape of the soul, while joyous, might have been slightly tempered by a lingering sadness over the body's lowly state, a feeling that part of you was still imperfect, still stuck. But when you realize the divine teaching and commandments elevate the body and animal soul as well, this makes the joy completely untarnished. True, complete joy comes from understanding that the spiritual work isn't just about rescuing one part of you while leaving the rest in the mud. It's about uplifting every single part of your being, integrating it all into holiness. It removes that lingering shadow of imperfection and allows for this profound, unmixed gladness that can permeate your entire existence.
For you listening now, this offers a pathway to a joy that isn't just fleeting happiness. It's a deep, lasting inner gladness that comes from grasping the full scope of your spiritual journey and its incredible transformative power over your entire being outro.
[00:34:46] Speaker A: So wrapping this up, what does this all mean for you? Listening. We started this deep dive, facing that very real potential for spiritual sadness, that necessary self reflection, to tip over into debilitating depression. But we've seen how the alterabe offers this incredibly nuanced, really practical path. First, distinguishing between that productive, vital bitterness, the kind that can actually serve as an axe handle against our negative side, and that other kind, the debilitating, numbing depression we need to steer clear of.
[00:35:12] Speaker B: And crucially, we learned that this initial bitterness, if we channel it correctly, especially pragmatically, when we're already feeling low about everyday stuff, can be an incredibly powerful catalyst. It lets us shift our focus away from just beating ourselves up about personal failings and towards the profound truth of our divine soul, that inherent, inviolable spark of God that's currently in exile within us, just waiting, yearning to be liberated and reconnected.
[00:35:39] Speaker A: Right? And the journey then becomes one of liberation, this continuous return where every single act of engaging with divine teaching, every divine commandment performed with intention, is an act of reuniting that divine spark with its ultimate source and the ultimate joy. That really deep, untarnished joy comes when we realize this process isn't just about the divine soul escaping a flawed body. It's about our entire being, body animating soul and divine soul being elevated, transformed, integrated into holiness together.
[00:36:06] Speaker B: It's a powerful reminder that our challenges, our physical existence, even the parts of ourselves that seem lowly or difficult, they aren't just obstacles to somehow overcome or ignore. They're actually integral parts of a much larger divine plan, a plan designed specifically for a profound ascent, for an ultimate reunification far greater than the original state.
[00:36:27] Speaker A: So here's a final thought for you to carry with you from this chapter.
If the ultimate purpose of your spiritual practice isn't just about trying to be good in a limited sense, but about actively elevating every single aspect aspect of your being, your thoughts, your words, your actions, even the parts that feel mundane or difficult, back towards their divine source, how might that understanding change the way you approach your daily life? How might it change how you view your struggles, maybe even your moments of sadness? How might recognizing the inherent divine purpose woven into your very existence transform your journey from feeling like a constant struggle to embracing it as a joyful, purposeful mission?
