Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: You know, diving into deep subjects, especially those wrapped in layers of history and profound thought, it can really feel like wading into a vast ocean.
[00:00:10] Speaker B: Oh, absolutely.
[00:00:11] Speaker A: There's just so much beneath the surface. Right. So much to explore. But trying to find the right entry point or, you know, identifying what's truly essential, well, that's a challenge.
[00:00:21] Speaker B: It really is. It's easy to get overwhelmed.
[00:00:23] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:00:24] Speaker B: We're surrounded by these incredible wisdom traditions, by texts people have studied for generations, and they hold this promise of, you know, deeper understanding or personal transformation.
[00:00:35] Speaker A: Totally.
[00:00:35] Speaker B: But without a clear guide, maybe without knowing what questions the text is actually trying to answer, or even why it was written in the first place, it can just feel, well, inaccessible.
[00:00:45] Speaker A: Exactly. It's like having a map to hidden treasure, but the maps in a language you only sort of understand. And there are like a million footnotes.
[00:00:52] Speaker B: Right.
[00:00:52] Speaker A: And that's really why we do these deep dives. We take the source material, you know, the introductions, the historical context, all the explanations around essential texts, and we try to pull out the key insights for you.
[00:01:03] Speaker B: Kind of like finding the map's key or maybe the most important landmarks.
[00:01:06] Speaker A: Yeah, that's a good way to put it. Finding the key and the landmarks.
[00:01:10] Speaker B: And our mission today is to apply that exact approach to a truly significant spiritual guide.
It's a book that people often call by its first word, but it's formerly known as the Book of the Intermediates.
[00:01:23] Speaker A: The Book of the Intermediates. Okay.
[00:01:25] Speaker B: It's this work that was compiled specifically to make really deep spiritual wisdom understandable and importantly applicable to pretty much everyone.
[00:01:34] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:01:34] Speaker B: And we're focusing specifically today on the material around the book itself.
So the four words, the approvals it got from contemporaries, the historical notes, all to understand its core message. It's its unique purpose, and also the pretty compelling story of why it was considered so vital.
[00:01:51] Speaker A: Vital enough that people went to, like, extraordinary lengths to make sure it was printed accurately and protected.
[00:01:57] Speaker B: Exactly that. The story behind its publication is fascinating in itself.
[00:02:01] Speaker A: Well, get ready, because based on these sources, the story and the insights are.
They're pretty amazing. We're going to uncover details about how the author apparently labored over this text for 20 years.
20 years, revising every single letter.
[00:02:18] Speaker B: Incredible dedication.
[00:02:19] Speaker A: Totally. And we'll hear about these almost unbelievable predictions that other great minds of the time made about its power and influence.
[00:02:27] Speaker B: Like what it could achieve.
[00:02:28] Speaker A: Yeah. And maybe most surprising, we'll explore this really interesting idea presented right in the foreword, a deep dive into why, in certain situations, a written book might actually be more effective. Than getting personal, face to face guidings from a teacher.
[00:02:43] Speaker B: Huh, that seems counterintuitive.
[00:02:45] Speaker A: Right? It really caught my eye.
[00:02:47] Speaker B: So it sounds like a deep dive into what makes spiritual wisdom not just profound, but genuinely accessible and maybe even transformative.
[00:02:55] Speaker A: That's the goal. All right, let's start at the beginning then. What is the book of the intermediates? What's its fundamental basis according to these sources we're looking at?
[00:03:02] Speaker B: Okay, so the sources are very clear on this.
[00:03:05] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:03:06] Speaker B: The entire foundation of this book, its whole starting point, rests upon a single verse from ancient scripture. It's this powerful statement that serves as its bedrock. Just one verse, one core verse. And that verse declares, for this thing is very near to you in your mouth and in your heart, that you.
[00:03:23] Speaker A: May do it, for this thing is very near to you.
[00:03:25] Speaker B: Yeah. That statement is the jumping off point for literally everything the book sets out to explain.
[00:03:31] Speaker A: Okay, this thing, what is this thing that's supposedly so near to us and how is it near?
[00:03:36] Speaker B: Right, good question. The introductions and forwards we're looking at explain that this thing refers to the fundamental obligation to fulfill Jesus commandments.
[00:03:47] Speaker A: So following the divine will.
[00:03:48] Speaker B: Essentially, yes. But it's framed not just as following rules, but as the way to connect with the divine will through our actions. And the verse declares that this task fulfilling these commandments is very near, meaning accessible. Accessible attainable, genuinely within reach of every single person of that nation. That's a key point, the sources emphasize. It's not something reserved for, you know, spiritual giants or saints or ascetics. It's presented as something achievable for everyone.
[00:04:15] Speaker A: Okay. And the verse seems to break down how it's near. It mentioned in your mouth and in your heart that you may do it.
[00:04:21] Speaker B: Exactly. And the source material really unpacks this. It explains that these refer to the three main channels, you could say, or dimensions through which this accessibility manifests in a person's life.
[00:04:32] Speaker A: Three channels?
[00:04:33] Speaker B: Yeah.
In your mouth points to speech, obviously. In your heart refers to the whole inner realm of thought and emotion.
And that you may do it refers to action, to deeds, mind, speech.
[00:04:47] Speaker A: Action makes sense, but it goes deeper.
[00:04:50] Speaker B: These aren't just abstract parts of a person. They are described quite profoundly, actually, as the functional organs of the soul itself.
[00:04:57] Speaker A: The organs of the soul.
[00:04:58] Speaker B: That's the language used. The idea is that the soul, our deepest essence, uses these aspects of our being, our thoughts, our words, our actions, as the tools, the instruments to express its inner will and to forge its connection with the divine.
[00:05:12] Speaker A: Wow. So the soul has a will A desire for connection. And it manifests that will through what we think, say and do. That's. That's a powerful idea right there.
[00:05:22] Speaker B: It really is.
[00:05:23] Speaker A: But the sources you mention seem to put a special focus on the heart aspect, linking it specifically to emotions.
[00:05:30] Speaker B: They do? Yeah. While thought, speech and action are all crucial channels, the Source delves deeper into the meaning of. In your heart?
[00:05:37] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:05:38] Speaker B: In a more internalized sort of motivational sense. It specifically points to the emotions of love of jaide and awe. Of jaide.
[00:05:45] Speaker A: Love and awe?
[00:05:46] Speaker B: Yes. And these are presented not just as feelings one might happen to have, but. But as the potential driving forces, the inner engines, if you like, that can power one's fulfillment of the commandments.
[00:05:55] Speaker A: Okay. How do love and awe actually function that way? How do they drive action?
[00:05:59] Speaker B: Well, the Source explains they play distinct, complementary roles.
Love of Vero is seen as the primary motivation for performing the positive commandments, the dues, the things you're supposed to do. Right. When a person acts out of a deep seated love for the divine, understanding that these actions are the way to connect with and express that love, that they perform these commandments with a natural inner vitality, with pleasure, even with genuine enthusiasm.
[00:06:25] Speaker A: Like doing something for a dear friend.
[00:06:27] Speaker B: That's exactly the analogy used in the Source. Like fulfilling the wishes of a dear friend, you do it eagerly, not just out of a sense of duty.
[00:06:34] Speaker A: Okay, so love drives the positive actions. And awe then is the counterpoint. What does it do?
[00:06:40] Speaker B: Yes. Awe of Gero serves a crucial protective function. It's the feeling that prevents a person from violating the prohibitive commandments, the do.
[00:06:49] Speaker A: Nots, the things you shouldn't do.
[00:06:50] Speaker B: Exactly. When you are filled with a profound sense of awe, a recognition of Ji's immense greatness and transcendence, you become incredibly vigilant, cautious, careful to avoid anything that would go against that divine will.
Awe acts as a powerful safeguard against, you know, straying from the path.
[00:07:10] Speaker A: Okay, got it. So the foundational verse says fulfilling commandments is very near. The sources explain this involves mind, speech and action. But the real engine in the heart is love and awe.
And the book's central declaration, the main point it sets out to prove and explain is that even acquiring these powerful emotions.
[00:07:27] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:07:28] Speaker A: Cultivating this love and awe to really drive your observance, that too is declared to be very near to you.
[00:07:34] Speaker B: That's it. That's the core idea, that statement, the idea that developing such deep, transformative spiritual emotions is genuinely within reach of everyone. That's both the central challenge and the central promise. That the book of the intermediates tackle.
[00:07:46] Speaker A: A challenge and a promise.
[00:07:48] Speaker B: Exactly. The book's entire purpose, according to these sources, is then to provide the explanation and crucially, the practical pathways for how this seemingly lofty goal is indeed very near.
[00:08:00] Speaker A: But you mentioned it's a challenge. And saying that developing profound love and awe is very near. I mean, that feels, well, ambitious, maybe even counterintuitive, right? Given our everyday experience.
[00:08:12] Speaker B: It absolutely is. You're right. And the source material we're looking at is very honest about this. It explicitly acknowledges the difficulty. It explains why this claim of love and awe being very near is, on the surface at least, quite surprising.
[00:08:26] Speaker A: Why is it surprising?
[00:08:27] Speaker B: The primary reason given is our fundamental human nature. By default, you know, our heart, our emotions, our desires, they tend to be drawn towards and preoccupied with material things, the physical world, our own needs, our comforts.
[00:08:39] Speaker A: That's where our attention naturally goes.
[00:08:41] Speaker B: It seems to be. Yes.
So shifting that fundamental pull towards jedliness, towards something intangible and transcendent, that's a significant reorientation of one's inner landscape. It takes real effort.
[00:08:52] Speaker A: It's not where our natural gravity seems to pull us, is it?
[00:08:55] Speaker B: Precisely. That's a good way to put it. And the sources even reinforce this difficulty by quoting a saying from ancient wise teachers. They recognized how challenging this is. They asked rhetorically, is awe of godlike such a small matter?
[00:09:08] Speaker A: Implying it's definitely not a small matter.
[00:09:11] Speaker B: Exactly. The very question implies the answer. No. It's generally considered a very difficult, hard won achievement.
So the apparent contradiction stands. If it's so difficult, how can the verse confidently declare, it's very near to you?
[00:09:25] Speaker A: And this is where the book comes in. This is where it offers its central explanation, providing not just one, but two distinct approaches, two pathways to bridge that gap, to make this seemingly difficult task genuinely accessible, truly very near.
[00:09:39] Speaker B: Yes. The book lays out these two methods for attaining the necessary love and awe to motivate observance. It explains how both make the goal achievable just in different ways. The first is described as the lengthy route.
[00:09:51] Speaker A: The lengthy route. Okay, what does that entail?
[00:09:53] Speaker B: The source explains that this path involves deep intellectual contemplation, thinking about it deeply, thinking about it, systematically pondering, meditating on, immersing one's mind in the greatness and the profound kindness of gd.
So by diligently contemplating, say, the vastness of creation, or the intricate details of divine providence guiding everything, or the immense goodness that underlies existence.
[00:10:18] Speaker A: Right.
[00:10:19] Speaker B: The idea is that this deep intellectual understanding, this sustained reflection Will gradually, over time, naturally generate feelings of love and awe within the person's heart.
[00:10:30] Speaker A: So intellectual effort leads to emotional transformation.
[00:10:33] Speaker B: That's the model for the lengthy route. Yes, yeah. Thinking deeply and consistently to build the emotion.
[00:10:37] Speaker A: Okay. And the other path, the shorter route?
[00:10:40] Speaker B: The shorter route, as presented in the source, focuses not on generating something new, but on revelation.
[00:10:45] Speaker A: Revelation? How so?
[00:10:47] Speaker B: This approach involves arousing, uncovering, bringing to the surface the love and awe of Jiyi that is described as already being hidden, inherent, and ingrained within the very essence of the soul of every person of that nation.
[00:10:59] Speaker A: So it's already there.
[00:11:00] Speaker B: It's already there. According to this path, it's short, not necessarily because it requires less effort, maybe it requires a different kind of effort, but because the fundamental seed of the feeling is already present. You are working to uncover and reveal it rather than build it from scratch through intellectual process.
[00:11:19] Speaker A: Interesting. So the book essentially provides blueprints for both methods. One focused on building from understanding, the other on uncovering what's already latent within the soul.
[00:11:28] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:11:28] Speaker A: And that's how it makes the seemingly difficult goal of attaining love and awe very nearby. Giving practical strategies.
[00:11:35] Speaker B: That's the claim. It offers practical strategies for engaging with both the intellectual and the innate aspects of one's being to achieve that motivated connection.
[00:11:44] Speaker A: Okay, let's shift gears a bit and talk about the book itself and its author. The sources we're looking at, they paint a picture of a truly remarkable individual, Someone who approached this work with incredible humility and dedication.
[00:11:57] Speaker B: They certainly do. The author is referred to in these sources as the Altar Rebbe. And his humility is evident right from the start, even in the name he originally gave the book, which was Lijute Amarim.
It simply means a compilation of teachings.
[00:12:12] Speaker A: Just as a compilation.
[00:12:13] Speaker B: Yeah. He wasn't claiming, you know, to have invented entirely new concepts out of whole cloth. He saw himself as gathering and synthesizing existing wisdom.
[00:12:22] Speaker A: And where did he gather these teachings from? According to the sources?
[00:12:25] Speaker B: According to the tradition described in the source material, his compilation drew from two primary wellsprings of wisdom.
[00:12:32] Speaker A: First, from books, meaning earlier writings.
[00:12:35] Speaker B: Yes. The revered writings are earlier foundational figures. The sources specifically mention influential authors like the Maharal and the Shallow as examples of the kind of works he referenced.
[00:12:45] Speaker A: Okay. And the second source?
[00:12:47] Speaker B: Second, and this is critical from teachers. This refers to the prominent spiritual masters who preceded him or were his mentors. The sources explicitly name the baal, Shem Tov and the Magid of Mezrich as these key figures whose teachings he compiled and presented.
[00:13:02] Speaker A: So it's a real synthesis of important earlier written works and the profound oral traditions of his own spiritual lineage.
[00:13:10] Speaker B: Exactly. That makes sense for a text aiming to distill deep wisdom, doesn't it?
[00:13:15] Speaker A: It does. And the popular name, the one people usually use, Tanya, where does that come from?
[00:13:19] Speaker B: Ah, that's a simple but enduring detail the source mentions.
[00:13:23] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:13:24] Speaker B: The book became popularly known as Tanya simply because that's the very first word on the first page.
[00:13:30] Speaker A: Just the first word?
[00:13:31] Speaker B: Just the first word. It became its common designation, its nickname, if you will.
[00:13:35] Speaker A: And the sources also convey the almost unbelievable amount of personal effort the author invested in preparing this text. You mentioned this earlier.
[00:13:42] Speaker B: Yes. This detail is truly striking. It speaks volumes about the importance he placed on precision. The source states clearly that the author, the Alter Rebbe, worked on this book for a full 20 years.
[00:13:54] Speaker A: 20 years?
[00:13:55] Speaker B: 20 years. And during that time, he was constantly reviewing, revising, adding, removing material. He meticulously scrutinized every single word, every single letter, refining it until he felt it was absolutely perfect.
[00:14:08] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:14:08] Speaker B: And apparently, he would not allow any copies to be made until this lengthy, intensive process of refinement was finally complete.
[00:14:17] Speaker A: 20 years dedicated to perfecting every word and letter. That level of care is.
It's just astonishing. It really underscores how crucial he believed the exact phrasing of these teachings to be.
[00:14:30] Speaker B: Absolutely every nuance mattered.
[00:14:32] Speaker A: But despite that immense personal care, a significant problem arose once the book started to circulate in manuscript form.
[00:14:39] Speaker B: It did? Yeah. The sources described this unfortunate situation that developed once the author finally permitted the manuscript to be copied by hand, as different people began transcribing the text. And there were apparently many copyists. The sources note that inevitably, a great many errors found their way into the widespread handwritten copies.
[00:14:57] Speaker A: Just simple human mistakes in copying?
[00:15:00] Speaker B: It seems partly that, yes. Simple transcription errors accumulating over time as copies were made from copies.
[00:15:05] Speaker A: That seems like a natural consequence of manual copying back then. But the sources mention something far more serious than just simple errors, right?
[00:15:13] Speaker B: Yes. And this is a really troubling but critical detail revealed in these sources. It's explicitly stated that beyond mere mistakes, there were individuals who intentionally corrupted the text.
[00:15:25] Speaker A: Intentionally? Why?
[00:15:26] Speaker B: Their motivation was described as malicious. They sought to deliberately alter the words to falsely attribute heretical views to the author.
[00:15:34] Speaker A: To make him look bad.
[00:15:36] Speaker B: Exactly. Their goal was to undermine him and his teachings by making it appear as though he held positions contrary to accepted belief so they could attack him.
[00:15:45] Speaker A: Wow. So it wasn't just accidental slips. It was deliberate sabotage aimed at discrediting him and his work, that's. That's a serious threat to the integrity of the whole thing.
[00:15:54] Speaker B: Absolutely. This combination of widespread accidental errors and intentional textual corruption created a real crisis. Anyone trying to study the book was faced with potentially unreliable, even deliberately misleading versions.
[00:16:07] Speaker A: So what was done to address this? How did they ensure the accurate teachings could be accessed?
[00:16:11] Speaker B: Well, the sources explained that because of this critical situation, the author felt compelled. That's the word used, to take a drastic step to bring the book to the printing press.
[00:16:22] Speaker A: Printing. That was the solution?
[00:16:23] Speaker B: It was seen as the necessary solution.
This was a major undertaking at the time, obviously, but it was considered essential to create a standardized, accurate version that wouldn't be subject to further corruption through endless cycles of hand copying.
[00:16:40] Speaker A: And he didn't just send it off to a printer. He involved other leading figures of the time.
[00:16:44] Speaker B: That's right. Was very careful about the process. The sources describe how he sent messengers to his esteemed colleagues, other prominent spiritual leaders in the region, to consult with them about the plan for printing, and importantly, to request their formal endorsements and approvals, their approbations.
[00:17:01] Speaker A: Why was that important?
[00:17:02] Speaker B: It was a way of demonstrating the importance and authenticity of the work, lending it authority and gaining broad support for the printing endeavor itself.
Sort of like peer review, but with spiritual weight.
[00:17:14] Speaker A: Okay, and the sources mention the individuals who actually took on the physical task of printing?
[00:17:19] Speaker B: Yes. The source identifies two individuals, R. Shalom Shakna and R. Mordechai, as the ones who took responsibility for the physical printing process.
It notes their significant effort gathering the original materials, which were apparently circulating as separate pamphlets or booklets.
[00:17:35] Speaker A: Oh, so it wasn't even one manuscript?
[00:17:37] Speaker B: It seems it was in sections, these contrisims, and they transported these to the printing house in a place called Slavida.
The formal approvals from the author's colleagues actually specifically praise the good deed of these printers for undertaking this difficult and important task.
[00:17:54] Speaker A: So the printing was a necessary measure to combat corruption, a significant logistical effort, and it received the backing of respected leaders. Now, speaking of those leaders, their approval seemed to have been much more than just, you know, rubber stamps.
[00:18:07] Speaker B: Oh, far, far more. The formal approvals received from two of the author's highly respected colleagues mentioned in the sources, a Rabbi Yehuda Liv Hakohen and a Rabbi Zusia of Annipoli, contain not just praise, but truly remarkable, almost prophetic statements about the book's future impact.
[00:18:26] Speaker A: Prophetic statements? Like predictions? What kind of predictions did they make about this book?
[00:18:31] Speaker B: Well, Rabbi Yehuda Leva Cohen, for instance, referred to the book of the Intermediates. With incredible reverence, he this an incense to counter all the spiritual plagues besetting the generations just before the arrival of the righteous Mashiach, the Righteous Redeemer.
[00:18:47] Speaker A: An incense against spiritual plagues. Wow, that conveys such a strong sense of its perceived potency, doesn't it?
[00:18:53] Speaker B: It really does. It speaks to a belief that the book held a powerful spiritual antidote, Something to heal the spiritual illnesses of later generations, especially in times of great challenge.
[00:19:03] Speaker A: And what about the other one, Rabbi Zusia?
[00:19:05] Speaker B: Rabbi Zusia made an equally profound and perhaps even more direct prediction. He stated with a Tanya, referring to the book by its popular name, the Jewish people will go out to greet the righteous Mashiach, the Redeemer.
[00:19:19] Speaker A: So he linked studying this book directly to bringing about redemption.
[00:19:24] Speaker B: That's how it reads. A belief that engaging with its teachings is somehow instrumental in bringing about a better future, a collective redemption.
[00:19:32] Speaker A: These are incredibly high stakes predictions. They saw this book as like a tool for cosmic change. Did their approvals also describe the author himself? What did they think of him?
[00:19:41] Speaker B: Yes, they spoke of the author with deep respect. As you'd expect, they described him using terms like a jedly man, saintly and pure. And again, which means a distinguished scholar. Okay, but perhaps the most evocative description they used was that of a luminous lens.
[00:19:56] Speaker A: A luminous lens? What does that mean?
[00:19:58] Speaker B: It suggests they saw him as someone with an extraordinary capacity to take the deepest, most complex, or maybe seemingly opaque subjects and bring them into sharp, clear, and understandable focus for other people.
Like a lens clarifying a blurry image.
[00:20:12] Speaker A: A luminous lens. I like that. It captures the essence of making profound wisdom accessible.
Now, there's a really interesting historical detail the sources mention about the dates they chose for these approvals.
[00:20:25] Speaker B: Yes, this is fascinating. Both Rabbi Yehuda Lyb and Rabbi Zusia specifically dated their formal approvals during the week when the weekly biblical portion being read was known as Ki Tavo.
[00:20:38] Speaker A: Ki Tavo. And that name means something specific?
[00:20:41] Speaker B: It does. It translates literally to when you enter the land.
[00:20:44] Speaker A: When you enter the land. Okay, why that specific week? Was it just a coincidence, or was there some symbolic meaning attached to it?
[00:20:50] Speaker B: Well, according to the source, it was definitely not a coincidence.
One of the messengers who actually carried the pamphlets to these esteemed colleagues for their approval, a person named R. Mosha Velankar, he explained that there were two layers of symbolic meaning behind this deliberate choice of date.
[00:21:06] Speaker A: Two layers. Okay, what's the first one?
[00:21:08] Speaker B: The first reason connects directly to the name of the Portion when you enter the land. He explained that by studying this book thoroughly and internalizing its teachings, a person can spiritually enter the land. Spiritually enter the land? Yes. He apparently drew a connection between the word used for will or desire and the word for land, suggesting that delving into the book helps a person make the essential will of their soul manifest in their life. It helps bring that inner purpose into their personal land, their reality.
[00:21:40] Speaker A: Okay, so it helps you align with your soul's deepest purpose, bringing it to fruition in your own life. Like entering your true spiritual domain. That's quite poetic. What was the second reason?
[00:21:51] Speaker B: The second reason was related to the content of that particular biblical portion. The portion Kitavo includes a long, rather stark section enumerating various challenges, difficulties, even curses that can befall the people if they stray.
[00:22:04] Speaker A: Right. It's known for that section.
[00:22:06] Speaker B: Exactly. The messenger explained that the ways of serving Jedi and connecting with the divine that are taught in the Book of the intermediates are so powerful, so transformative, that they can actually transmute those very difficulties and curses mentioned in the portion of the into blessings.
[00:22:21] Speaker A: Wow. So the book offers a pathway to spiritual practice that can turn negative circumstances into positive outcomes.
[00:22:27] Speaker B: That was the claim.
[00:22:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:29] Speaker B: That the teachings held that kind of power.
So dating the approval in that week highlighted both the goal entering one's spiritual land and the means transforming challenges into blessings through these practices.
[00:22:42] Speaker A: That adds such a rich layer of meaning to the date alone. It wasn't just a calendar entry.
And the source even notes further allusions embedded within the specific way the dates were written down.
[00:22:52] Speaker B: It does. It gets even more layered. The messenger pointed out that in Rabbi Yehuda Lib's approval, the date, when expressed using certain symbolic letters, formed an acrostic.
[00:23:02] Speaker A: Like a hidden message.
[00:23:04] Speaker B: Exactly. And this acrosic, Red Tanya, is the incense for the spirit and soul. Which, of course, directly echoed his earlier comment about the book being an incense to counter spiritual plagues.
[00:23:14] Speaker A: Amazing.
And Rabbi Zusia's date?
[00:23:17] Speaker B: His was noted using a phrase that translates to the year of our redemption.
Again, perfectly aligning with his prediction that the book would be instrumental in greeting the redeemer.
[00:23:28] Speaker A: So these endorsements were incredibly deep, layered with symbolism, and powerfully affirming of the book's significance. It wasn't just casual praise.
[00:23:36] Speaker B: Not at all. They were weighty statements.
[00:23:39] Speaker A: Beyond the praise and prophecy, though, what was the practical function of these appeals approvals? Did they serve a purpose for the printing itself?
[00:23:45] Speaker B: Yes, they serve several very practical purposes. First, they formally validated the book's Holiness and the author's wisdom, lending it significant authority in the eyes of the community.
But crucially, because the printers Archalom Shakna and R. Mordechai had undertaken such a major effort, and presumably financial investment to produce an accurate printed version, they needed some protection. Exactly. The approvals included strong legal and spiritual protections for their work. They explicitly prohibited anyone else from reprinting the book for a period of five full years without the printer's express permission.
[00:24:20] Speaker A: Five years. That's quite specific. And they used strong language to back that up, didn't they?
[00:24:24] Speaker B: They certainly did. To underscore the seriousness of violating this protection, they explicitly cited a biblical verse stating something to the effect of cursed be he who encroaches on his fellow's border.
[00:24:36] Speaker A: Wow. Invoking a curse.
[00:24:38] Speaker B: Yes. It invoked a powerful spiritual warning against unauthorized reprinting. It was meant to reinforce the printer's rights and the value and protected status of the accurate authorized printed edition.
[00:24:50] Speaker A: That truly highlights the immense value contemporaries placed on this book, not just as a text, but as something sacred, vital, worth protecting, with the strongest possible warnings.
Okay, let's turn our attention now to the compiler's foreword. This is described as a letter addressed specifically to the author's close followers, the members of his fellowship in his region.
[00:25:09] Speaker B: Right, the Anash, as they're called in the Source.
[00:25:12] Speaker A: And this foreword delves into a really fundamental question about spiritual guidance itself.
[00:25:17] Speaker B: It does. It starts by introducing a common saying that was apparently well known among these followers at the time.
[00:25:23] Speaker A: What was the saying?
[00:25:25] Speaker B: The saying was basically that hearing words of moral guidance or spiritual counsel directly from a teacher, especially in a personal, face to face setting, is much more effective, much better than simply reading that same kind of guidance presented in books.
[00:25:40] Speaker A: That makes intuitive sense, doesn't it? I mean, a teacher can interact, clarify things, see your reaction, tailor the message.
[00:25:48] Speaker B: Exactly. It resonates with common experience.
[00:25:50] Speaker A: So why exactly would that be the case? According to this Forward, what are the limitations of books?
[00:25:55] Speaker B: Well, the forward explains two main disadvantages that books have compared to personal teaching, especially when it comes to applying spiritual wisdom. The first disadvantage is that when you read a book, you inevitably read it after his own manner and mind.
[00:26:09] Speaker A: Meaning, you filter it through your own perspective, your own biases, your own current understanding.
[00:26:14] Speaker B: Precisely.
The Source elaborates on this. It says that if the reader's intellect and mind are currently, say, confused, or perhaps wander about in darkness regarding matters.
[00:26:26] Speaker A: Of serving jd which happens to all.
[00:26:28] Speaker B: Of us sometimes, of course, then they will struggle, even if the beneficial light of the wisdom is present, and maybe Even pleasant within the book's words. They might not be able to see it clearly or grasp it correctly because their own internal state, their confusion, their darkness, is limiting or distorting their perception at that moment.
[00:26:47] Speaker A: So the book can't adapt. It just presents the information, but it can't dynamically adjust to the reader's specific state of confusion or lack of understanding.
[00:26:56] Speaker B: Exactly. Whereas a personal teacher ideally can observe the student, identify their specific blocks or misunderstandings, and tailor the explanation accordingly to ensure the message gets through accurately.
[00:27:07] Speaker A: Okay, so that's the first problem. The book can't adapt to the reader's current internal state. What's the second disadvantage mentioned?
[00:27:14] Speaker B: The second disadvantage highlighted is that books are fundamentally impersonal. They are typically written for a general audience and cannot possibly account for the vast majority of subjective differences that exist between different people.
[00:27:27] Speaker A: Differences in character, temperament.
[00:27:29] Speaker B: Exactly. Character, temperaments, backgrounds, minds.
What might deeply inspire, resonate with, and affect a profound change in one person might leave another completely untouched or unaffected. This is simply because, as the Source puts it very plainly, not all intellects and minds are alike. People are just fundamentally wired differently.
[00:27:49] Speaker A: That's a really key point about human diversity, isn't it? And the Source gives some illustrations of just how diverse human perspective and feeling are, right? To drive the point home.
[00:27:59] Speaker B: Yes, it does. It draws on examples from ancient wisdom to emphasize this point. For instance, it mentions a saying from ancient teachers about the reason for reciting a specific blessing when one sees a large multitude of people together.
[00:28:11] Speaker A: A blessing for seeing a crowd?
[00:28:13] Speaker B: Yes. And the reason given for this blessing is for their minds are all different from one another.
[00:28:18] Speaker A: Wow. So the diversity itself is something to acknowledge and bless.
[00:28:22] Speaker B: That's the idea. It highlights that the sheer variety in human thought and feeling is fundamental and something to be recognized.
The Source also refers to the description of a specific great leader from the past who was said to be able to meet the spirit of every man.
[00:28:38] Speaker A: Meaning he could connect individually.
[00:28:40] Speaker B: Yes. Implying a rare and extraordinary capacity to connect deeply and individually with each person on their own unique wavelength. A capacity that is generally beyond the reach of a written book, which speaks with one voice to all.
[00:28:53] Speaker A: Okay, so books are limited because they can't adjust to an individual's current state, and they can't account for the fundamental differences in people's inner makeup and how they receive information or inspiration. And the Source makes a very profound point here. It says this limitation applies even to very holy works, things based on ancient teachings, not just, you know, regular books.
[00:29:13] Speaker B: Yes. This is a deeper layer of the argument presented in the foreword. And it's quite striking.
It explains that this issue of subjective interpretation and reception applies not just to works based purely on human intellect, but even to deeply sacred texts founded on profound ancient teachings.
[00:29:30] Speaker A: But wouldn't you expect divine wisdom to impact everyone uniformly? How could that be?
[00:29:36] Speaker B: It's a paradox, isn't it? The Source suggests is not the case precisely because of these inherent subjective differences among people.
[00:29:44] Speaker A: How does it explain that?
[00:29:45] Speaker B: It gives a fascinating example from the realm of legal rulings, specifically rulings dealing with matters of what is permitted and what is forbidden in religious practice. These are topics that are meant to be objective, based on established principles and texts, right?
[00:29:59] Speaker A: You'd expect clear answers.
[00:30:01] Speaker B: You would. Yet the Source notes that even in this area, you find instances of extreme arguments and disagreements between ancient revered scholars.
Situations where one great scholar declares something perfectly permissible, while another equally respected scholar rules it absolutely forbidden.
[00:30:18] Speaker A: So even in seemingly black and white areas of law, these great minds had radically opposing views.
[00:30:25] Speaker B: Exactly. Complete opposites. And then the Source introduces a deeply significant, almost mystical concept to explain how this can be.
It states that even though these completely opposing legal opinions seem utterly contradictory, they are nonetheless referred to collectively as words of the living gd.
[00:30:44] Speaker A: Words of the Living gd. How can two diametrically opposed rulings both be considered divine truth? That sounds impossible.
[00:30:51] Speaker B: This is where the Source connects it to a mystical understanding of the spiritual source of souls.
It explains that this diversity in approach, even in something as seemingly objective as law, stems from the very source of life, the spiritual root of the souls of that nation.
[00:31:05] Speaker A: The source of souls?
[00:31:07] Speaker B: Yes. The understanding presented is that these souls and their spiritual origin before coming into the world are divided into general categories or root inclinations. The Source mentions attributes like kindness, severity, and beauty as examples of these root categories.
[00:31:20] Speaker A: So souls have different fundamental tendencies.
[00:31:23] Speaker B: That's the idea. And these fundamental spiritual tendencies ingrained in the soul can influence how individuals, even great scholars, approach, interpret, and apply even objective legal principles. For instance, someone whose soul is primarily rooted in the spiritual attribute of kindness might naturally gravitate towards interpretations that emphasize leniency, compassion, finding ways to permit things.
[00:31:48] Speaker A: While someone rooted in severity might lean the other way.
[00:31:51] Speaker B: Exactly. They might lean towards stricter applications of the law, emphasizing boundaries and prohibitions. Both approaches stemming from these different valid spiritual roots are considered words of the living jeer, even though they lead to opposite practical conclusions.
[00:32:07] Speaker A: So the very spiritual makeup of a person can influence how they understand and apply even objective matters. That's. That's a really deep idea.
[00:32:15] Speaker B: It is it suggests diversity of interpretation, isn't necessarily error, but can reflect different facets of a higher truth. And the conclusion the Source draws from this is absolutely crucial for understanding the purpose of the Book of the Intermediates.
[00:32:27] Speaker A: How? So?
[00:32:28] Speaker B: The argument goes, if these individual spiritual tendencies and subjective differences play such a significant role in interpreting even relatively objective legal matters, how much more will they influence the understanding and experience of matters hidden to gad?
[00:32:43] Speaker A: Matters hidden to Gad? What does that refer to?
[00:32:46] Speaker B: Yes, the Source specifically identifies these inherently subjective matters hidden to GD as the development and experience of awe and love of gd.
[00:32:55] Speaker A: The core emotions we were talking about earlier.
[00:32:57] Speaker B: Exactly. These emotions are inherently personal, inherently subjective. They are felt and expressed, as the Source says, in the mind and heart of each person according to his own measure.
It's not a one size fits all experience. The Source even links this idea to ancient mystical interpretations of a verse referring to being known by the Gates, suggesting that our capacity to experience and express connection to the divine is influenced by the specific gate or dimension within our own unique souls and hearts that we open or connect with.
[00:33:27] Speaker A: So, because awe and love are so deeply personal, so subjective, so tied to a person's unique inner makeup and spiritual root, a general impersonal book would seem particularly ill equipped to guide everyone effectively in developing them. Is that the conclusion?
[00:33:43] Speaker B: That's precisely the dilemma set up by the Foreword. Given these powerful arguments about the inherent limitations of books compared to personalized guidance, the inability to adjust to a reader's state of mind, and the inability to account for fundamental subjective differences, the central question how can the Book of the Intermediates, which is, after all, a written book, possibly overcome these limitations? How can it effectively serve as a substitute for personal guidance for the author's followers?
[00:34:11] Speaker A: That really is the core question it raises about itself. It acknowledges the problem head on. So how does the book itself provide the solution? What's the author's answer in the Foreword?
[00:34:19] Speaker B: And this is where the author presents his unique approach, the key to understanding the book's intended function.
He explains very clearly in the Foreword that he is not writing a general book intended for the entire world or for just anyone who happens to pick it up off a shelf. He is specifically writing this book to those who know me well.
[00:34:39] Speaker A: His specific community, yes, the members of.
[00:34:41] Speaker B: His specific fellowship, the Nash, in his particular region.
[00:34:44] Speaker A: Okay, but how does addressing it to a specific group overcome the problem of impersonality? It's still a book, right?
[00:34:52] Speaker B: It makes all the difference, according to the Source, because these were individuals with whom he had a Long standing relationship. And crucially, they had often met with him privately, in private audience, one on one meetings. Yes. And in these personal conversations they had, as the Source puts it, revealed to me all the hidden recesses of their heart and mind concerning their specific struggles, their doubts, their questions, their difficulties, and their spiritual work, which the Source notes is fundamentally dependent on the state of the heart.
[00:35:21] Speaker A: Ah, I see. So he knew their individual spiritual landscape intimately. He wasn't guessing. He knew the specific issues they were facing, the specific questions they are constantly asking him.
[00:35:33] Speaker B: Exactly right. That's the key insight here. Because he knew their issues so well from these deep personal interactions. The words he put into the book are not just general platitudes or abstract theories. They are specifically crafted and tailored to address the precise problems and questions he knew they, his specific followers encountered in their service of geneity.
[00:35:53] Speaker A: So the writing itself is infused with that personal knowledge.
[00:35:57] Speaker B: That's the idea.
His intention was, as the Source quotes him, that his tongue shall take the form of a scribe's pen. His words, despite being written down, would effectively seep through to them, penetrating their particular difficulties, because he was addressing the very things he knew from personal experience with them that they were struggling with.
[00:36:15] Speaker A: It's almost like the book is a distillation, a written record of countless personal consultations he'd already had.
[00:36:22] Speaker B: That's a very good way to put it. That's the powerful idea. And this concept is reinforced by. By a perspective that developed in later tradition, which is mentioned in a footnote to the source material we have.
[00:36:33] Speaker A: What's that perspective?
[00:36:34] Speaker B: The understanding that emerged is that studying this book is in a very real sense like having a personal conversation with the author himself.
The belief is that he wrote it in such a profound way, drawing on his deep understanding of souls, that he actually addressed the spiritual needs and potential questions of every single soul who would ever study the book in the future.
Just as if they were sitting before him in a private audience, revealing the recesses of their heart.
[00:37:01] Speaker A: Wow. That truly transforms the act of reading into something akin to a personal encounter across time.
[00:37:07] Speaker B: It's a powerful claim about the nature of the text.
[00:37:10] Speaker A: Beyond this unique tailoring based on his relationship with his followers, were there also just practical reasons the author gives in the foreword for compiling these teachings in writing instead of relying solely on in person guidance?
[00:37:22] Speaker B: Yes. He also provides very down to earth practical reasons.
He notes that the limitations of time, his own time, meant he simply could no longer possibly meet with everyone individually to address their specific queries on a personal level. As often as might be needed.
The demand had outstripped his capacity for personal meetings.
[00:37:42] Speaker A: That makes sense. He couldn't be everywhere for everyone, right?
[00:37:45] Speaker B: And additionally, he points out a very human reality that forgetfulness is common. People would hear advice during a meeting, perhaps be inspired or clarified, but over time, they might forget the details or the nuances or the exact application of what he had told them.
[00:38:01] Speaker A: Happens all the time. You walk out of a meeting and half of it's gone an hour later.
[00:38:04] Speaker B: Exactly. So writing it down solved the twin problems of limited access to the teacher and the fallibility of human memory.
[00:38:11] Speaker A: Makes perfect sense. And the intended outcome, then the benefit for the reader is stated clearly.
[00:38:17] Speaker B: Very clearly. The foreword states that the book is designed to serve as a comprehensive collection of replies to the many questions that his followers were constantly asking him.
By having these answers preserved in writing, they serve as a lasting sign and reminder for everyone.
[00:38:34] Speaker A: Like a reference guide for their spiritual lives.
[00:38:36] Speaker B: Precisely. And the promise is that any reader who turns to the book with a genuine spiritual difficulty seeking guidance will find tranquility for his soul and true counsel for their problem. Within its pages.
[00:38:49] Speaker A: It became a readily available reservoir of tailored wisdom, addressing the known challenges of his community whenever they needed guidance. That's quite ingenious, really. Now, source material, particularly the approval that came later from the author's sons, also mentions other important writings by the author and how they connect to this book.
[00:39:06] Speaker B: Yes. The approval from his sons, which appears in later editions, refers to other significant works their father composed. They specifically mention two, one called the Holy Epistle and another called the Epistle of Repentance.
[00:39:18] Speaker A: And they explain a close relationship between the Holy Epistle in particular and the Book of the Intermediates.
[00:39:24] Speaker B: They do. The sons highlight that their father himself, the author, actually referenced the Book of the Intermediates in many places throughout the Holy Epistle.
[00:39:33] Speaker A: So he pointed back to it.
[00:39:34] Speaker B: Yes.
They draw upon a saying, an idea from ancient learning, that teachings are sometimes scanty in one place and ample in another.
Meaning that an idea might be briefly introduced or mentioned in one work, but then significantly expanded upon, clarified, or cross referenced in another related work, creating a richer and more complete understanding when you study them together.
[00:39:57] Speaker A: So the different books complement and build upon each other. They're not totally separate units.
[00:40:02] Speaker B: Exactly. They're interconnected.
[00:40:03] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:40:04] Speaker B: And the sons specifically draw attention to a section called the Later Booklet, which is included within the Holy Epistle.
[00:40:10] Speaker A: A booklet within the Epistle?
[00:40:11] Speaker B: Yes. And the sons describe the purpose of this Later Booklet. They say it contains deep discussions and profound insights that resolve apparent Contradictions or difficulties found in older, complex mystical works. And crucially, they note that the author achieves this resolution by linking those older concepts back to the fundamental principles and explanations that he laid out so clearly in the Book of the Intermediates.
[00:40:36] Speaker A: Ah, so the Book of the Intermediates wasn't just a guide for, say, beginners or intermediates. It actually provided the foundational framework for understanding even the most advanced mystical concepts discussed elsewhere.
[00:40:49] Speaker B: That's precisely the connection they emphasize. It serves as the bedrock. And this close relationship, the fact that the Holy Epistle relied on and elaborated upon the ideas in the Book of the Intermediates led the sons to decide that it was proper and beneficial to print the Holy Epistle, including that important later booklet and the Epistle of Repentance together with the Book of the Intermediates in subsequent editions. They saw them as an integrated body of work, essential for a complete understanding.
[00:41:15] Speaker A: Okay, now going back for a moment to the topic of printing and copies.
The problem of errors that necessitated printing the Book of the Intermediates in the first place. That comes up again in the Sun's approval, doesn't it? They confirmed this was a real issue.
[00:41:30] Speaker B: It does, yes. The Sons explicitly confirmed the pervasive issue of errors that had regrettably crept into the various handwritten copies circulating among the disciples before the authorized printing took place.
[00:41:43] Speaker A: And they share a truly unfortunate detail about the original manuscripts themselves. Something quite sad.
[00:41:48] Speaker B: Yes, it's a sad fact. Regarding the history of this book confirmed by the sons, they state that due to various difficult circumstances and tumultuous events that occurred during their father's life and after.
[00:41:58] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:41:59] Speaker B: The original manuscripts that their father had.
[00:42:00] Speaker A: Written personally, the ones he spent 20 years on.
[00:42:03] Speaker B: Exactly. Those documents he had labored over with such incredible precision, ensuring, as they say, not a superfluous or deficient letter, those irreplaceable originals were tragically lost. They had, as the source puts it, starkly become extinct.
[00:42:17] Speaker A: Oh, that's heartbreaking. Knowing the immense care he put into crafting them. And then they're just gone.
[00:42:25] Speaker B: It really is. And the consequence of that loss was significant for the printing process.
When the sons undertook the task of printing or overseeing later printings, they didn't have the perfect, authoritative original manuscripts to work from. So what did they use instead? The printed version had to be meticulously compiled from the relatively small number of writings that could be collected one by one, from the copy spread among the disciples.
[00:42:49] Speaker A: Wait.
So the printed version, the one meant to correct the errors, had to be assembled from the very copies that were known to contain those errors, that seems like a major challenge. How could they be sure it was accurate?
[00:43:00] Speaker B: It was undoubtedly a challenge, and the sons acknowledged this reality and the potential for lingering imperfection in their approval. They state frankly that because they were working from these collected copies, it was indeed possible that errors might still be found, even in the printed edition they supervised.
[00:43:17] Speaker A: So they admit it might not be perfect.
[00:43:19] Speaker B: They do. However, they offered reassurance to the reader. Their assessment was that if an error were found, it would likely be identifiable as a clear scribal slip, an obvious mistake in transcription, like a typo. And crucially, they believed the author's intended meaning would still remain clear and discernible, despite the occasional error.
[00:43:39] Speaker A: So even working from imperfect sources, they had confidence that the core wisdom and the author's true message were powerful enough, clear enough to shine through any minor textual flaws.
[00:43:50] Speaker B: That was their confidence and their hope for the accuracy and integrity of the printed edition they produced.
[00:43:56] Speaker A: Okay, now, the foreword also provides some very practical guidance for the reader. What if someone picks up this book, reads the advice, but finds it challenging to understand how to actually apply it to their own specific situation?
[00:44:09] Speaker B: Yes, the author anticipated this. He knew not everyone would immediately grasp the intricacies of his teachings and or how to integrate them effectively into their lives.
So he gives a very practical instruction. Right.
[00:44:20] Speaker A: In the foreword, what should they do?
[00:44:21] Speaker B: He says that anyone who finds it difficult to understand the book's counsel or how to apply it to their own specific spiritual problems should not just remain stuck or give up. They should go and discuss their difficulties with the leading scholars in their town.
[00:44:36] Speaker A: Seek clarification from local experts.
[00:44:39] Speaker B: Exactly. Consult with those recognized for their learning and understanding in the community.
[00:44:44] Speaker A: And he gives a very strong message to those scholars, doesn't he? It's not just advice for the struggling reader.
[00:44:48] Speaker B: He does. It's quite striking. It's a powerful plea, almost a directive, aimed squarely at those scholars. He urges them not to refuse to help and specifically not to remain silent or hold back their knowledge out of what he calls false modesty.
[00:45:03] Speaker A: False modesty?
[00:45:04] Speaker B: Yes. He uses very direct language, stating explicitly that misplaced modesty is falsehood.
[00:45:10] Speaker A: Misplaced modesty is falsehood. That's a provocative phrase. Why such strong language? What's the reasoning behind that?
[00:45:16] Speaker B: The Source explains the spiritual imperative behind this strong statement.
Withholding needed knowledge, especially spiritual guidance that can help someone connect with the divine, overcome a struggle and grow.
That's seen as actively harmful. It's likened in the Source to someone who withholds food from a person who is hungry.
[00:45:36] Speaker A: So withholding spiritual sustenance is like withholding physical sustenance.
[00:45:41] Speaker B: That's the analogy. Just as withholding physical food is detrimental, withholding spiritual sustenance when you have it to give, is also seen as damaging.
Conversely, providing that knowledge, sharing one's understanding when asked, brings significant spiritual reward.
[00:45:56] Speaker A: And the Source illustrates this reward, this benefit of teaching, with a specific saying from ancient teachers.
[00:46:02] Speaker B: Yes. It quotes a beautiful ancient saying to capture the transformative power that occurs in the interaction of teaching and learning. The saying is, the pauper and the wealthy man meet. Ganden lightens the eyes of them both.
[00:46:14] Speaker A: Ganden lightens the eyes of them both. How is that explained?
[00:46:17] Speaker B: The Source explains this in the context of spiritual knowledge. When someone who is wealthy in understanding meets and teaches someone who feels like a pauper, seeking that knowledge, something profound happens.
GD provides a transcendent light of understanding, a higher insight that elevates and enlightens the eyes, the perception of both the teacher and the student.
[00:46:39] Speaker A: So sharing knowledge isn't a one way street. It brings a higher level of insight to everyone involved, teacher included.
[00:46:45] Speaker B: Exactly. It's presented as a process of mutual elevation through the act of seeking and sharing wisdom.
[00:46:51] Speaker A: That's a beautiful image.
Okay. Finally, the foreword concludes by looking beyond the present need for this kind of guidance, presenting a vision for a future time.
[00:47:01] Speaker B: Yes. It ends on a distinctly hopeful, even prophetic note. It looks forward to an era when perhaps this kind of intermediary guidance, whether it's through a book like this one or through a human teacher, will be less critically necessary, because direct knowledge will.
[00:47:14] Speaker A: Be so widespread, a time when everyone just knows. What is that vision of the future described?
[00:47:20] Speaker B: It quotes two related prophecies from the ancient texts to paint this picture. The first says that in a future time, no longer will one man teach another, for they will all know me, implying a direct, unmediated connection and understanding for everyone.
[00:47:37] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:47:37] Speaker B: And this is tied to the second prophecy quoted for the knowledge of Judd will fill the earth as the waters fill the sea.
[00:47:44] Speaker A: Like a total saturation of divine awareness.
[00:47:47] Speaker B: Exactly. It paints this incredible picture of a future state of universal, direct and revealed understanding of the divine.
A time when knowledge isn't something you have to laboriously acquire from external sources or need another person to explain, because it will be pervasive, inherent, and accessible to all, like the water covering the seabed.
[00:48:07] Speaker A: A future where the light of understanding fills everything. That really brings the entire arc of the discussion full circle, doesn't it? Starting with the foundational verse that Judd's weighs very near, showing how this book is designed to help make that a practical reality now, and culminating in a vision where that inherent nearness becomes a universally revealed state for everyone.
[00:48:25] Speaker B: It really does. It provides a kind of ultimate context for the intense effort put into the book and its study. It frames it as essential guidance for a time of journeying, anticipating the eventual arrival at that future state of universal, revealed knowledge.
[00:48:40] Speaker A: Okay, let's just take a moment, then, to recap this fascinating deep dive into the sources surrounding the Book of the Intermediates. We began by understanding that this entire influential work is built upon a scientific, single, foundational verse from Scripture, a verse declaring that fulfilling Jesu's commandments, which crucially includes cultivating deep spiritual emotions like love and awe, is actually very near and accessible to every single person.
[00:49:04] Speaker B: Right? And we then explored the inherent challenge in actually achieving those emotions, how it seems to go against our natural pull towards the material world. And we saw how the book courageously addresses this challenge head on by offering not one, but two distinct pathways for attainment.
A lengthy contemplative route aimed at generating feeling through deep understanding, and a shorter route of revelation focused on arousing the innate connection already present deep within the soul. Both pathways designed to make that lofty goal genuinely very near.
[00:49:36] Speaker A: We learned about the author known as the Altar Rebbe and his incredible humility in presenting the work simply as a compilation of teachings gathered from respected earlier authors and his own great teachers.
But we also marveled at the sheer dedication behind that humility, his 20 years of meticulous refinement, reviewing and revising every single word and letter until he felt it was perfect.
[00:49:56] Speaker B: And we delved into the critical challenge that emerged once copies began to circulate. The unavoidable accumulation of errors in handwritten manuscripts, compounded by the disturbing fact of intentional corruption by opponents seeking to discredit him. This crisis ultimately compelled the author to undertake the significant effort of bringing the book to the printing press, a task carried out by dedicated individuals R. Sloam Shachna and R. Mordechai to ensure an accurate, standardized version.
[00:50:25] Speaker A: Then there were the powerful approvals from his esteemed colleagues, Rabbi Yehuda Leb Hakon and Rabbi Zusia Vanipoli. These weren't just endorsements. They revealed the extraordinary spiritual weight these leaders assigned to the book. They made almost prophetic predictions about its capacity to counter spiritual challenges and its intrinsic connection to a future era of redemption, even embedding profound, profound symbolic meaning within the very dates they chose for their approvals.
[00:50:50] Speaker B: And we tackle that fundamental question raised right in the compiler's foreword, the known limitations of books compared to personal guidance, especially given that interpretation is subjective and a book can't account for individual differences. We saw how this specific book, the Book of the Intermediates, uniquely overcomes these limitations, according to the author, because it was specifically addressed to his known followers, meticulously tailored to the specific issues and questions he knew they struggled with from countless private conversations.
This design allows the written words ideally to penetrate their individual spiritual needs, almost as if they were in a personal conversation with him.
[00:51:28] Speaker A: And we briefly touched on how this book connects intrinsically to the author's other significant writings like the Holy Epistle and the Epistle of Repentance, which build upon and use the principles laid out in the Book of the Intermediates, leading his sons to publish them together later on.
We also acknowledge the unfortunate loss of the original perfect manuscripts, meaning the printed version had to be compiled from existing copies, with the sons expressing confidence that any minor errors remaining were likely recognizable scribal slips that wouldn't obscure the author's core intended meaning.
[00:52:02] Speaker B: Finally, we looked at the author's very practical advice for readers to seek help from local scholars if they struggle with understanding or applying the book's counsel, and alongside that, his powerful plea for those scholars to overcome any false modesty and actively share their knowledge, illustrating the profound mutual enlightenment that comes from the act of teaching and learning how Jeed enlightens the eyes of them both.
And this all culminated beautifully in the forewords concluding vision of a future time of universal direct knowledge of the divine, when such intermediary teaching might no longer be needed.
[00:52:34] Speaker A: It's truly a remarkable story surrounding a remarkable text. From just a single foundational verse we've traced the journey of a book compiled with immense painstaking care, facing existential threats to its integrity, earning the most powerful endorsements imaginable and designed to function in a uniquely personal way. Despite being a written work and the.
[00:52:54] Speaker B: Central message, the Core Promise remains incredibly potent today.
The idea that achieving a deep meaningful connection through love and awe of Gendry and is not some impossible dream reserved for the few, but is in fact very near. With practical paths offered for every seeker. It stands as a guide crafted with the intention of bringing profound personal spiritual insight across the generations.
[00:53:18] Speaker A: So maybe something to consider as you move forward. Drawing on the insights from this deep dive, think about the incredible faith and vision the author's contemporaries had in the specific book. They believed it held the key to countering spiritual plagues and even helping pave the way for a better future for the entire world.
What kind of transformative power must they have perceived within these teachings to make such claims?
[00:53:39] Speaker B: That's a great question to ponder.
And maybe also consider this idea from the that a book, a piece of written text, could be imbued with the capacity to function as truly personalized guidance because it was written with such deep awareness of and tailored response to the specific struggles and questions of individuals. How does that challenge, or perhaps expand our own understanding of how wisdom is transmitted and received, whether we're engaging with ancient texts or navigating our own modern quest for knowledge and meaning?
[00:54:09] Speaker A: Thank you so much for joining us on this deep dive today. Keep exploring, keep questioning, and keep seeking that profound connection in your own journey.
