Daily Tanya 30th Nissan Chapter 44: Even if the love does not feel real-it is real

(LY) 30^th Nissan

1. Even if the love does not feel real-it is real:

• [What should one do if he tries the above contemplations to arouse a love for Hashem like a son to his father, but is unsuccessful in feeling a true feeling in his heart. Should this love be dismissed or does even its imagination have some power. The Alter Rebbe answers as follows:] Even if one feels that the love aroused through his contemplation is seemingly a figment of his imagination, and not a true love, he should not become saddened by this, as it is intrinsically true, as in truth every Jew contains a hidden love in his heart. [Furthermore, regarding the purpose of this love, it makes no difference if one actually feels it, or imagines that he feels it, as explained next.]

2. The purpose of the love-To perform Torah and Mitzvahs:

• The entire purpose of revealing this love is to motivate one to perform the actions of learning Torah and doing Mitzvahs [for the proper reasons].
• How the love motivates the fulfillment of Mitzvahs: Meaning, that as a result of having this love revealed he will learn Torah and fulfill Mitzvahs in order to give gratification to Hashem, like a son serving his father. [Thus, even if his love is imaginative, so long as he brings these results in his intent of his learning and Mitzvahs, it has fulfilled its purpose.]
• Hashem attaches the thoughts of love to the action: [Now, although the quality of this intent is lacking if in truth the love is merely imaginative, nevertheless] on this Chazal state that a good thought Hashem attaches to the action to become wings to make the good deed fly above. [Thus, although Torah and Mitzvahs require a motivation of love and fear to make it soar upwards to G-d, which refers to a palpable love felt in the heart, nevertheless if one only manages to conceive a love in his mind, Hashem sees his good intent and turns it into the wings that would have been created through the emotional love.]

3. The pleasure Hashem gets from one’s Torah and Mitzvahs:

• Like the joy of a father whose son was redeemed from captivity: [Above, it was stated that the purpose of this love is so one serve Hashem with the intent of causing Him gratification. Now, what gratification does Hashem get from one’s service?] The gratification Hashem receives from one’s Divine service is similar to the joy of a king who greets his son who came to him after being liberated from captivity. [The G-dly soul of a Jew is, as explained above, an extension of Hashem, and akin to a son of G-d. When this Jew performs Torah and Mitzvahs, it redeems the beloved son [i.e. the soul] from the concealment and spiritual captivity that it was found in within the physical world, body and animal soul. This causes Hashem much joy.]
• The joy of being able to dwell below: Another gratification that Hashem receives through one’s Divine service is due to the fact that He is now able to dwell below. [The entire reason for creation is because Hashem desired for mortal beings who face spiritual challenges to invite Him to the world. Thus, when we serve Him with Torah and Mitzvos we invite Him to the world and fulfill this purpose, thus giving Him much gratification. Accordingly, the above-mentioned love of a son to a father which one is to contemplate and reveal, is to then be used to serve Hashem to cause Him gratification of seeing his son redeemed from captivity and giving Him a dwelling place below.]

4. How to make oneself conscious of the first love-the love for one’s life:

• [All that was stated above regarding the second form of love of a son to his father, is equally true regarding the first form of love, the love for one’s life.] Also, the first form of love for Hashem, who is one’s life, is very easily attainable to bring it from its dormant state into one’s consciousness.
• Verbalize and think of the love to arouse it: This is accomplished through habituating oneself to verbalize and think of this love, thus making the love be equally on his lips and heart.
• Even if can’t arouse love simply imagining it suffices: Nonetheless, even if he is unable to accomplish an arousal of a true emotion of love in his heart, he is still able to serve Hashem, learn Torah and perform Mitzvahs, for the sake of Heaven, through imagining this love in one’s mind, and Hashem will then attach this good thought to the action [as stated above.]