Daily Tanya Friday 19th Elul Igeres Hakodesh 15 Part 3: The Sefiros

🌟 Overview: The Ten Sefirot in the Soul of Man

The ten sefirot manifest within the human soul, particularly through seven emotive attributes that serve as the roots and general categories of all emotional traits.

💖 The Three Primary Emotive Attributes

1. Chesed (Lovingkindness)

• Unbounded benevolence and generosity.
• Desires to give without limitation, even to those who may not need or deserve it.

2. Gevurah (Severity/Restraint)

• Restricts or withholds benevolence.
• Exercises judgment and limitation, especially when giving is inappropriate.

3. Rachamim / Tiferet (Compassion / Beauty)

• Mediates between Chesed and Gevurah.
• Extends kindness to those who are unworthy but in need.
• Called Tiferet due to its harmonious blend of Chesed and Gevurah, like a multicolored garment.

🧠 The Process of Diffusion: Netzach and Hod

4. Netzach (Endurance/Victory)

• Strategizes how to impart wisdom effectively.
• Resists internal and external obstacles to giving.
• Represents persistence and overcoming resistance to sharing.

5. Hod (Splendor)

• Complements Netzach in refining and adapting wisdom.
• Helps break down complex ideas into digestible parts.
• Associated with the kidneys and testicles—organs that refine and prepare.

Both Netzach and Hod are likened to “grinders” that prepare spiritual nourishment, much like millstones grind wheat.

🔗 The Bond of Transmission: Yesod

6. Yesod (Foundation)

• The emotional and intellectual bond between teacher and student (or father and son).
• Enables effective transmission through love, desire, and face-to-face engagement.
• The stronger the desire, the more profound the transmission.

Analogous to the physical process of conception, where desire amplifies the transmission of essence.

👑 The Final Channel: Malchut

Although not elaborated in this excerpt, Malchut typically represents the actualization or reception of the transmission—often associated with speech or manifestation.

💎 Inner vs. Outer Emotive Attributes

• External Attributes: The active traits involved in giving and teaching.
• Internal Attributes: Rooted in deeper emotions like love and awe, which motivate the external actions.

🧠 Intellectual Roots: ChaBaD

7. Chochmah (Wisdom)

• The spark of insight.

8. Binah (Understanding)

• The development and analysis of ideas.

9. Daat (Knowledge/Connection)

• The power of focus and emotional integration.
• Most crucial for developing spiritual emotions.

Emotional maturity is proportional to intellectual development. A child’s emotions are petty due to undeveloped ChaBaD, while adults’ emotions grow with their intellect.

📜 Final Insight

“According to his intelligence is a man praised.”
The depth and refinement of one’s emotional traits are directly tied to the strength and clarity of one’s intellectual faculties.