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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 76

Beginning of Chapter 41 – This chapter shifts our focus from love of Gd and the confluence of needing love and fear to carry the light of our actions back to the divine realms to a discussion of the importance of awe/fear. We look at the metaphor of relationship to Gd as master/servant vs. parent/child which comes from the notion of love of Gd. This section suggests that complete service to Gd must be within this combined focus of fear and love.

Episode 76

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 75

Conclusion of Chapter 40 – We continue to focus on intentionality, kavvanah, with a focus on trying to understand how love and fear are the wings of bringing the study, prayer and action upwards. We answer the question of how love and fear can be wings if they are mitzvot, not just extras to mitzvot. We also look at few of the tangential notes the Alter Rebbe presents in this section to better understanding the wings and the divine realms.

Episode 75

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 74

Continuation of chapter 40. We continue to explore intentionality by looking at the reason why mechanical, non-focused, prayer and learning have a partial effect. He suggests that doing things without intent is not as problematic because the prayers and study are already imbued with at least some holiness and light from the divine, even though our existence is greatly diminished from the Ein Sof light.

Episode 74

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 73

Beginning of Chapter 40. We continue looking at intentionality, Kavvanah. The piece today tries to distinguish the categories of Kavvanah, intentionality, and Lishmah, something for its own sake. We see the difference between the two in that lacking intention doesn’t fully take away from the action while doing something for an ulterior motive does.

Episode 73

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 72

Conclusion of chapter 39. We continued to explore the notion of intentionality in our actions as it pertains to his description of the divine realms. The love and fear of Gd we have as we are performing mitzvot, whether that which is intellectual or that which is from the animal soul play a role in our focus. We define the notion of the reward for a mitzvah is a mitzvah as well as the importance of taking action even for the wrong reasons so long as we are always striving to do things for the right intentions.

Episode 72

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 71

Continuation of chapter 39 – We continue by discussing the realm of Atzilut and how only the few righteous have soul roots from there. This discussion is a deepening of the Alter Rebbe’s description of the divine realms and soul roots. He also introduces the concept that our prayer, when done right, can be a journey to the divine realms. I also give a short piece on the importance of entering Passover in the right frame of mind, one that sees the cleaning as part of the process, not the burden before the day of celebrating redemption.

Episode 71

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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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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 69

Conclusion of Chapter 38 – In the final section of this chapter, we discuss intentionality, kavvanah, seeing the two types, intellectual/proactive, and instinctual/reactive. This ties in with the overarching theme of how our mitzvot are divided into action and thought, with speech being the bridge between the two.

Episode 69

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 68

Continuing in chapter 38. We continue to compare and contrast the body and soul, the physical and spiritual as it exists in this world. He establishes that on some level, body and soul are equal, as it relates to the contraction of the divine light through the various permutations of existence. The body and soul are different as they relate to being bound up within the material world. We discuss a further debate about action vs. intent, returning again to the importance of both being separate but equal. He continues to suggest the importance of bridging the gap between our physical and spiritual existences.

Episode 68

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 67

Beginning of Chapter 38. This chapter offers another perspective on the duality of speech and thought. We discuss the importance of verbalizing our prayers as it draws light into the body and reveals the light encased in the animal soul. We look at intentionality and the importance of lining up thought and speech, though sometimes speech can be “enough.” I also comment on how we learn intentionality from the sacrifices as it relates to this week’s Torah portion of VaYikra.

Episode 67

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