Taking the ideas presented in the previous chapters to heart seems to put us in a very compromised position. Sadness! Isn't sadness to be avoided at all costs? After all, every sadness, even that which is induced by spiritual concerns, belongs to the realm of the kelipah. The Alter Rebbe tells us: Don't worry! This is the method -- to subdue the darkness with its very own kind. And furthermore, the main feeling that follows these humbling meditations is a holy one, that of bitterness, which come...
Nov 13, 2020•52 min•Season 14Ep. 1
In this exercise of humility, the thinking person considers his own struggles and compares them to those of the sinful person. The struggle that we expect of the impassioned man is the struggle that we must demand of ourselves. And we fall short, unfortunately. This is true not only in the realm of "do good," in optimal performance of mitzvos. But this is true even in the realm of "turn away from evil," completely and totally refraining from all misdeed. This being so, not only is the morally up...
Nov 06, 2020•55 min•Season 13Ep. 3
It's easy to feel smug when you measure yourself up against someone who seems to fail miserably. But let's look at things beyond the superficial level, by a deeper set of criteria. The person who sins repeatedly doesn't fight to overcome his burning desires. To do so would require a valiant struggle. We may not face his formidable tests just to "turn away from evil." But we face our own tests in the realm of "doing good." Do we fight as fiercely as we expect him to fight? At the core of it, it a...
Oct 30, 2020•53 min•Season 13Ep. 2
Our Sages instructed us to be truly humble before every other human being. And that means having humility even towards someone who is on the lowest spiritual level. Can a great person be truly humble before an evildoer? Yes: By taking the Sages' advice not to judge another until you have come to his place. A person must consider the physical place of the evildoer, as well as his spiritual "place," his incessant, burning passions. And while you can not judge the sinful person, in no way does this...
Oct 23, 2020•56 min•Season 13Ep. 1
Breaking out of the illusion created by our dark side is simply about crushing it. Amazing! Is humility all it takes to fight this complex illusion? Yes. After all, the sitra achra, the "other side," is essentially substanceless -- like darkness, which is simply the absence of light. Light appears, and darkness vanishes. This idea is played out in the Biblical story of the spies. The Jewish people made a leap from no faith to total faith, without any sign or wonder. This was accomplished by humb...
Oct 15, 2020•49 min•Season 12Ep. 6
Doesn't everyone ask themselves this question? It is an important part of growing up. Get in touch with your truest, deepest essence. Your soul is calling and it won't be satisfied with anything but the real thing.
Sep 17, 2020•19 min•Season 12Ep. 6
To access our deepest, truest space, the superficial self must be broken. That was position one -- the place from where we identify with our external self. Now, moving further into the chapter, we go into second person position. Now is the time to take the standpoint of the Divine soul and from that place, to rage against the animal soul. How dare it obscure the truth of Hashem's oneness! This is something that is plainly visible to the eye, and yet the evil inclination dares to cover the eyes o...
Aug 28, 2020•54 min•Season 12Ep. 5
Walking down the path to humility, we are enjoined to examine our thoughts, utterances and deeds. Were all of them an expression of holiness, allowing us to be a vehicle of the holy chambers? Or did some of our behaviors cause us to act as a chariot for the chambers of impurity? This is a most humbling thought. And further, let us consider our dreams: Did we experience mundane dreams, or even tormenting ones? This would point to the fact that those originating from the evil side come and attach ...
Aug 14, 2020•54 min•Season 12Ep. 4
To relieve the heart of numbness, the shell of the sitra achra -- the dark side -- must be shattered. In this exercise, a person is called upon to look at the misdeeds of their youth from their current standing. True, you've moved on. But there is a place deeper still that must be reached. And from this deeper space, you can bring yourself to a state of true humility, thereby allowing the light of the Divine soul to shine within your body and move your heart.
Aug 06, 2020•49 min•Season 12Ep. 3
Why is the animal soul considered "the very person"? It's all a matter of the energy source with which you identify. The fact that most people identify with their animal soul, means that "this is me." And if that is who you are ... just this very thought is utterly humbling.
Jul 24, 2020•58 min•Season 12Ep. 2
We now begin to examine the spiritual sickness of a "dull heart." You are doing everything right as far as your meditation goes, but your heart won't respond. It is numb. It won't produce a corresponding emotion. This has serious repercussions as far as prayer is concerned, and as far as exercising restraint. To heal this sickness, we take advice from the Holy Zohar –– this requires a crushing of the animal soul. We are going to have to talk about this!
Jul 17, 2020•57 min•Season 12Ep. 1
There is a common error that if you are suddenly distracted in middle of your devotions, you weren't doing a good job. That would be true if you had but one soul –– but you don't. You have two. Just ignore that distracting voice as though it were a stranger outside of you. And if the going gets rough, don't forget to ask Hashem for help.
Jul 10, 2020•47 min•Season 11Ep. 2
How are we supposed to handle extraneous thoughts that come our way while seriously engaged in Torah study or prayer? Should we try to sublimate the driving emotion? Or should we perhaps feel dejected and despicable? Here's the rule: certain exercises are only meant for the tzadik who eradicated his evil. But for everyone else –– refocus your concentration, intensify your joy and ignore the distraction.
Jul 03, 2020•48 min•Season 11Ep. 1
This class, we finish the chapter. We explore how the practice of self-restraint, of "self-made holiness" creates immense Divine repercussion. The very holiness that we unleash above is drawn down to us, granting us great Divine assistance in our unique mission.
Jun 26, 2020•56 min•Season 10Ep. 3
Each and every time we resist our dark side, we cause a corresponding effect above. The unique flavor of the beinoni's struggles has the power to bring down the root of the evil above. His service is similar to the naturally unpleasant substance that has been seasoned and tempered to become a delicacy that comes to surpass the quality of naturally sweet and delicious foods. The pleasure that this brings Above is the greatest of all.
Jun 19, 2020•52 min•Season 10Ep. 2
Working through different causes for depression, we now visit the problem of having involuntary sinful thoughts. This can bring a person down, feeling that they have not made any spiritual progress. The Alter Rebbe turns this scenario around, and brings us to realize that this in fact is a reason for joy! A new way to be close to Hashem!
Jun 12, 2020•52 min•Season 10Ep. 1
A person who rejoices in sufferings is called a lover of G-d and is rewarded measure for measure. Now, we move to understanding sadness that comes from spiritual disconnection. While truly, separation from the Divine is a reason to be sad, you still have to be happy. For this kind of sadness, you need will to make the time and have a calm mind. Once you have paid attention to your sadness caused by spiritual disconnection, the subsequent joy is powerful!
Jun 05, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 9Ep. 3
Joy is required! To free the heart of any trace of worry or sadness, the Alter Rebbe first explores sadness originating from worldly matters. Examining the advice of our Sages, we come to an incredible realization –– that a person can actually experience joy even in the midst of challenges.
May 22, 2020•1 hr•Season 9Ep. 2
Your Divine soul is the stronger of the two souls. But being stronger is not enough! If you want to be victorious in the inner struggle of light over darkness, happiness is key. Sadness is dangerous, and although it has its place, it must be employed only under very specific conditions. This Women's Tanya Class is our interactive spiritual journey where we investigate, discuss and apply the revolutionary ideas presented in the Tanya, a foremost work of Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism by the Alter ...
May 14, 2020•57 min•Season 9Ep. 1
The Revelation at Mount Sinai broke all barriers, and we beheld the Divine. That condition was only temporary -- the sin of the golden calf brought denseness back to the world. Still, with the profound revelation of the Torah, we received the strength to transform the darkness into light, and this time for good. A time is coming when the fleshly eye will perceive the Divine and every creature on this earth will perceive and know G-d.
May 08, 2020•1 hr•Season 18Ep. 4
It should be utterly impossible to remain in existence when G-d is totally and essentially manifest. And it is. No being, earthly or heavenly, can withstand total Divine exposure. Still! There is one way to remain vested in the body and yet bear that profound revelation that is coming at the End of Days. That is the "technology" of the Torah -- the Torah is "strength."
May 01, 2020•50 min•Season 18Ep. 3
In understanding the Divine desire, we come to examine the Kabbalistic idea of the chain-like order of worlds. And in so doing, we come to realize something utterly striking: that in our world of darkness lies the ultimate purpose of Creation.
Apr 24, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 18Ep. 2
Hashem has a desire to dwell in these lowest realms. In order to understand the scope of this desire, we must first define "lower" and "higher" from a new frame of reference. With our new realization, we can come to the astounding realization that Hashem is equally present in all of the worlds, from the most lofty and spiritual to this most physical.
Mar 29, 2020•44 min•Season 19Ep. 2
In this introduction to Tanya Chapter 36, we discuss the fact that belief in Moshiach's coming is one of Maimonides' 13 principles of faith. A principle of faith means that everything we do in terms of Torah and Mitzvos is affected by this. Why does it matter that much if someone believes or not?
Mar 26, 2020•7 min•Season 18Ep. 1
To live a life truest to yourself, remember what you would give up life for. The generation of Jews entering the Land of Israel was commanded to say the Shema for this very reason. Although no one would stand up against them from without, there is always the battle within. And to win this battle, there is something that must be engraved in your mind always. In this class, we summarize and culminate the unit of chapters 18-25. This Women's Tanya Class is our interactive spiritual journey where we...
Mar 06, 2020•22 min•Season 8Ep. 5
Hashem is forever, His Will is forever. Any contact with the Eternal lasts forever. The act of Torah study, the performance of a mitzvah, are contact with the Divine - creating a fusion that lasts forever. As long as the soul's sensation within the confines of time and space has not been interrupted, this fusion can be sensed within the soul below. And if there has been an interruption, asking for forgiveness restores the awareness and attachment. This Women's Tanya Class is our interactive spir...
Feb 27, 2020•50 min•Season 8Ep. 4
When your attachment to the Divine is jeopardized, you would give up life itself. All you want is to stay attached, terrified to lose that bond that you already have. But this is purely about loss! What about gain? Are you willing to go the extra mile to intensify and immortalize the bond that you already have? Reach into that space where everything is eternal to inform and drive your everyday conscious. This Women's Tanya Class is our interactive spiritual journey where we investigate, discuss ...
Feb 20, 2020•47 min•Season 8Ep. 3
Our core self yearns to stay attached to the Divine even at the price of life, and this gives us a new way to see through the haze. The haze of insanity can bring us to draw a distinction between temporary and eternal separation. Don't be fooled. Our core self, our Divine self, transcends time – it rules and dominates time. From this space within ourselves, a moment is forever. This Women's Tanya Class is our interactive spiritual journey where we investigate, discuss and apply the revolutionary...
Feb 13, 2020•40 min•Season 8Ep. 2
We now look at our everyday choices in a new light; it is not just in extreme situations that our decisions are fundamental. From our greatest choices to those that seem inconsequential, we essentially face the same question every time. And we can connect to our deepest core, our truest desire, in every situation – in just a moment's time. This Women's Tanya Class is our interactive spiritual journey where we investigate, discuss and apply the revolutionary ideas presented in the Tanya, a foremo...
Feb 06, 2020•22 min•Season 8Ep. 1
In this closing class on the chapter, we summarize the idea behind violating the Divine will. Delving deeply into the psyche, we reach a potent cognizance of the inner pain a person endures in violating the core self. This Women's Tanya Class is our interactive spiritual journey where we investigate, discuss and apply the revolutionary ideas presented in the Tanya, a foremost work of Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism by the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi.
Feb 05, 2020•16 min•Season 7Ep. 5
