Daily Tanya Chapter 19 Part 3: The portion of Chochma that is in exile within Reshaim (Thursday 4th Shevat)

4^th Shevat

3.      The portion of Chochma that is in exile within Reshaim:

• Only the conscious state of Chochma is exiled and concealed: This state of exile of the level of Chochma only conceals and prevents the effects of Chochma from being felt in the body and soul, so that the soul does not consciously experience the vitality that it receives from Chochma, and Chochma becomes unaware of its reality and existence.
• The root and subconscious state of Chochma remains intact and is not exiled: However, the root and principal of the aspect of Chochma within the G-dly soul remains intact in the mind and does not become invested in the sackcloth of the side of Kelipa that is in the left part of the heart and hence does not become actually exiled within the side of Kelipa.
• In a state of sleep while involved in lusts and pleasures: Nonetheless, even this root and principal of the aspect of Chochma which is found in the mind, is in a state asleep within Reshaim, and does not become awakened to consciously affect the Rasha so long as his mind is still involved with the lusts and pleasures of the physical world.

4.      The return and revival of the level of Chochma within Reshaim:

• The reawakening of their Chochma when challenged with matters of faith: However, when the Rasha becomes challenged with a matter relating to their faith which is above intellect, and reaches the very core of their soul, to the aspect of Chochma within it, then it becomes reawakened from its state of sleep and begins to consciously affect the individual as a result of the power of G-d invested within it. It is this reawakening that gives even the sinners of Israel the natural ability to withstand the challenge of their faith when pressed to give up their lives on behalf of their belief in G-d without any reason or rationale and comprehension.
• Overcomes all their lusts and negative addictions: At that moment, their G-dly soul with its aspect Chochma overcomes all of the Kelipos and lusts it has for the worldly pleasures, whether permitted and forbidden. It can even overcome those pleasures that he has become so accustomed to, to the point that he now despises them, and comes to choose G-d as his portion and lot and give up his life for the sake of the sanctity of G-d’s name.
• The Kelipos become nullified and vanish: Now, although the Kelipos have taken control over the Rasha throughout his life, and he has never successfully overthrown them, as the sages state that sinners are ruled by their heart, nevertheless, when they come to a challenge in a matter of faith in the one G-d, then all of the Kelipos become nullified and vanish.
• A challenge of one’s faith reveals the light of G-d to which all evil is nonexistent: The reason for this is because the faith in the one G-d is rooted in the highest of high of the soul, which is the level of Chochma of the G-dly soul which contains the infinite light of G-d within it. Hence, during a time of challenge in this faith, this Divine light becomes revealed, and banishes all of the evil within the person as if they never existed.

5.      An immense revelation that banishes evil even from one’s soul garments:

• Now, the infinite light of G-d that is invested within the level of Chochma that is within the soul is so powerful and intense that it is able to banish the side of evil from affecting even one’s garments, which are the thought, speech, and action of one’s belief and faith in the one G-d.
• Not denying the oneness of G-d even externally in speech or action: The above means that one is able to stand the challenge to give up his life for the sake of G-d’s unity, even if he is only asked to perform an external action which contradicts the belief in the one G-d, such as to prostrate oneself to idolatry. Although one does not truly believe at all in the idolatry in his heart and is only doing an external action to save his life, nonetheless, the revelation of Chochma is so strong within his soul, that even this he is not able to bring himself to do and would rather give up his life. Likewise, he is unable to speak heretically about the unity of G-d, G-d forbid even if in his heart he retains his complete faith in G-d and is only saying this externally in order to save his life, nonetheless, he would rather give up his life then make even a statement of heresy.

6.      The fear included within the love:

• The above inability of the person to deny his faith in G-d even externally is considered the fear of G-d that is contained within his natural love of G-d.
• A fear of separation from G-d’s unity: This means as follows: Since all Jews contain a natural love within their G-dly soul which desires and yearns to attach to their root and source in the infinite G-d, therefore, as a result of this natural love the soul also naturally fears and is petrified of doing anything which contradicts the faith in the one G-d, such as being involved in anything having to do with the impurity of idolatry G-d forbid. Thus, it fears even speaking or doing an external action which contradicts G-d’s unity even if in his heart he remains faithful to G-d.