Tanya – Page 7 – New beginnings: A blog about spirituality, chaplaincy and renewal

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 23

Final section of chapter 12. We finish the initial discussion of the Beinoni as it relates to the righteous and wicked person. Much of the focus is on how the categories might be a case of mind over matter.

Episode 23

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 22

Continuation of chapter 12. Today’s short piece engages the question of why the Beinoni is not a Tzaddik. The focus is on what the person experiences when not in a prayer state of being. I use this is piece as a jumping off point to name a couple of similarities/differences between Tanya and another book of early 19th century Eastern Europe, Nefesh HaHayyim as a way of showing different approaches to connecting to Gd.

Episode 22

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 19

Concluding chapter 10. We continue to discuss the incomplete tzaddik, focusing on how the incompleteness is due to a small minute amount of animal soul remains after it is vanquished. We explore imperfection and vulnerability along the way to becoming “perfect,” referencing a blog post, Vulnerability, from two days ago. We also discuss the ultimate goal of doing good as unification of the divine attributes, not spiritual growth as a means of the self desire to connect to Gd. From this, I offer a thought about spiritual growth in general as a continuous process that must go beyond self needs.

Episode 19

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 18 (Chai episode)

Part one of chapter 10. This chapter presents the distinction between the complete and incomplete tzaddik (righteous person). We discuss the redemptive quality of overcoming our physical desires as it relates to the categories of complete and incomplete tzaddik. And, for the Star Wars people out there, I make a comparison to the battle of the light vs. dark side.

Episode 18

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.

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 15

episode 15

This episode discusses some key ideas from chapter 8. The chapter continues along the discussion of whether actions take precedence over thought or vice versa through a continuation about consuming permitted and forbidden food. If I eat permitted food for the wrong reason or eat forbidden food for the sake of invigorating my spiritual self, what are the negative results. Additionally, this chapter discusses idle speech, neglecting Torah study and the effect of other intellectual pursuits as it relates to spiritual growth.

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 14

episode 14

Last part of Chapter 7. We discuss two situations, one in which regular penance, teshuva, will uplift the negative to positive and one in which the effects of teshuva will only bring about change in the spiritual realm post-death. I also briefly discuss how our mission is to plant the seeds and see what will grow and change from the seeds planted.