podcasts – Page 5 – New beginnings: A blog about spirituality, chaplaincy and renewal

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 45

Part one of Chapter 28. We continue to discuss the topic of extraneous thoughts that come into our minds in the midst of our actions. This time the focus is on how to handle these thoughts in the midst of prayer and Torah study. We get into a discussion of how a tzaddik will deal with this versus how we, the beinoni, needs to work on not allowing the thought to bring us down. I offer a short parashat Mishpatim thought based on the past couple of days of Tanya as well.

Episode 45

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 44

End of chapter 27. This section looks at a second approach to overcoming our base, physical instincts, or overcoming the Sitra Achara (dark/other side). There are many permissible actions one is allowed to do yet we must also work on the motivation for doing them. If we are doing things for the sake of connecting to Gd, then we are also suppressing the power of the Sitra Achara from getting the upper hand. This comes through the means of learning how to delay giving in to our physical desires. We are not ignoring them. Rather we are using things like eating as a tools to grow spiritually. We also briefly explore the term Kadosh, translated as holy to find the depth and beauty of this term.

Episode 44

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 43

Part two of chapter 27. The Tanya warns us not to be sad about the internal struggle because the internal struggle is our mission in life. He suggests that it is this struggle which helps define the Beinoni, the intermediary person, to whom he is writing. We discuss the power of struggle and overcoming it to continue along a path of spiritual growth. I reflect on the importance of maintaining practice even if our minds are not engaged because the actions can, if we are intentional, hopefully open the door to further spiritual growth.

Episode 43

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 42

Part one of chapter 27. We continue our discussion of finding the joy in the midst of sadness/melancholy. This time, the focus is on how we are building resistance to sin through pushing away our negative thoughts during our day to day business. Even when not involved in “holy” work, we are able to grow and improve passively by avoiding allowing the evil inclination to push us to sin.

Episode 42

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 41

End of Chapter 26 – In this short piece, we reflect on how to divert the feeling of sadness to a specific time and place for reflection. This reflection should allow a person to find the wholeness again from a broken heart and from contrition. The goal is to the see and experience the joy that should come out of the sadness.

Episode 41

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 40

Part one of Chapter 26. This chapter discusses finding positive growth in the midst of sadness and darkness. We delve into the beginnings of the theology of how we find hope in tragedy, meaning in suffering, light within darkness. This relates to inspiring people to continue to work on spiritual growth even when things seem lost. The Alter Rebbe suggests that we may never understand the why and that our push to succeed might be like planting the seeds for some future time. None of this pushes aside the pain and sadness. Rather, it is a his call to reflect on trying to see farther and deeper, which for most of us is nearly impossible to do. It doesn’t we despair and don’t reflect. Rather, we recognize our limitations as human beings to prognosticate on the whys of the future.

Episode 40

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 39

Final section of Chapter 25. This last section deals with two topics.

1. The daily need for forgiveness for the negligence that is our human imperfection as it relates to not constantly fulfilling study of Torah and performing mitzvot. This negligence is in contrast to willfully abrogating the law, for which teshuva is much more complicated.

2. A review of how reciting Shema 2x a day is a message of absolute loyalty to Gd. It is about commitment. Spiritual growth and connection to faith is ideally about absolute commitment.

We look at how we have to commit to change and not just claim we want it.

Finally, we end off with a short Torah thought based on Parashat Yitro regarding Gd’s revelation of Torah at Mount Sinai in light of what we have studied as it relates to Gd revealing Gdself distilled through the Torah.

Shabbat Shalom.

Episode 39

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 38

Part of two of chapter 25. This section deals with the phrase “doing good” as it relates to the hidden love, the divine soul within each of us. Even when we aren’t feeling the connection consciously, the love and connection to Gd is built in for us to work to draw upon in order to foster the relationship we want to have. In this piece I also touch on how the well could go dry but not when it comes to the divine soul.

Episode 38

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 37

Part one chapter 25. This recording reviews some of the concepts we have seen in the previous chapters about how to overcome the spirit of folly. If we presume our ability to love and fear Gd are always present, we have the tools needed to sustain our positive spiritual growth. This section reviews the importance of relationship with the divine as part of the ability to overcome our mistakes. I also add in a plug for spiritual growth as relational and my work as a spiritual coach. I also offer a special wish at the end of the show to my older son as he turns 13 today on the Gregorian calendar (Hebrew birthday upcoming in a week).

Episode 37

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 36

Part two of Chapter 24. He continues the discussion of sin as a result of the “spirit of folly.” The section deals with three types of violations:

1. Cardinal sins which cannot be violated at any cost

2. Prohibitions that need to be violated in the short term for the sake of long term gain

3. Violations of prohibitions punishable by Karet – divine separation, vs. most other violations, which are temporary breaks with the divine.

I also attempt to express my view of how the spirit of folly as he presents it is not an excuse for the bad choices people make and yet we must also recognize that often people are not making rational choices when making hurtful, horrific choices in the actions that they take.

Episode 36

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