animal soul – New beginnings: A blog about spirituality, chaplaincy and renewal

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 70

Beginning of Chapter 39. This chapter offers an approach to the difference between Malachim (angels) and human beings. The goal of the Alter Rebbe is to show how the human being is on a higher level than Gd’s servants as the human has the opportunity to change and grow. This is done through the discussion of natural love and fear vs. intellectual love and fear. And even the natural love and fear of a human is different that the Malachim as the human must work to uncover that which is hidden while the Malachim are already at that level. The work, the growth is what makes the human higher.

Episode 70

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Do you want to work on taking the actions of your life and find meaning in all you do and who you are? Are you struggling with your spiritual growth. Contact New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC at 732-314-6758 ext. 100 or via email at newbeginningsspiritualcoach@gmail.com

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 51

Part two of Chapter 31 – We continue to explore how to raise up the soul when the heart is feeling numb. We explore the metaphor of exile and redemption, using the Exodus story as the paradigm for rising above our physical desires. This part also speaks to the need to not just raise the divine soul but also the animal soul to newer heights through Torah and Mitzvot, through the work of spiritual growth.

Episode 51

All episodes can also now be heard on Apple Podcasts – here

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 21

Beginning of chapter 12. This chapter brings us to the definition of the Beinoni, the intermediary, non-tzaddik, non-rasha, person. We discuss today the difficulty in defining this person based on the criteria presented, namely a person who has never sinned and never been a rasha, yet always lives with some form of struggle. We work to describe the beinoni based on this criteria and the scenarios of when this person has moments when the divine soul overwhelms the animal soul and when the person “doesn’t.” I offer my take on trying to grasp with the difficulty the term intermediary presents in relation to what the Tanya is trying to say it means.

Episode 21

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 20

We explore chapter 11 of Tanya. This chapter describes the different categories of rasha, the “wicked” person. We discuss how the rasha seems to always have a means of turning things around, through having remorse and regret, except for the rare instance of the “rasha who only has evil,” which is the one whose divine soul no longer dwells within. We go a short tangent about the issue of suffering as penance from a spiritual care perspective as it relates to Tanya. I offer perspective on how the paradigms being established in Tanya are getting to core issues about overcoming tendencies in our lives.

Episode 20

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 17

Episode 17

Part two of chapter nine. The chapter continues with the theme of our mind and heart being vessels for the soul as a means of describing the internal struggle we face on a constant basis. This struggle is the battle of the animal soul vs. the divine soul. The mission is for the divine soul to overcome the animal soul by cultivating a deep, passionate love for Gd. We reflect on how the “evil inclination”, the yetzer hara, is a tool to help us overcome the animal soul.

Do you want to work on taking the actions of your life and find meaning in all you do and who you are? Contact New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC at 732-314-6758 ext. 100 or via email at newbeginningsspiritualcoach@gmail.com

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 16

episode 16

Part one of Chapter 9. This episode discusses the Alter Rebbe’s understanding of location of the animal and divine souls within the human being. We get a glimpse into how he understands action vs. thought as it pertains to the body/soul relationship. We see the importance of spirituality being a combination of intellect (contemplation) and emotion.

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 11

Episode 11

This episode explores chapter 6 of Tanya. We discuss the animal soul vs. the divine soul that we have previously discussed. We look at the Alter Rebbe’s views of the animal soul as it relates to his views about universalism and particularism as well as how he is setting up this dichotomy to better define his primary target, the Beinoni (intermediary person). I express how some of these views can be a challenge in our modern world and how I find a way to reconcile it for myself.

I’m Here. If you or someone you know is in journeying along the waves of life, allow me to join you along the road to discovery. Contact New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC at 732-314-6758 ext. 100 or via email at newbeginningsspiritualcoach@gmail.com