Daily Tanya – Chapter 19 Part 1: The Chochma of the soul desires attachment to G-d even on expense of its existence (Tuesday, 2nd Shevat)

Chapter 19: The Chochma of the soul desires attachment to G-d even on expense of its existence

1. The soul of man is compared to the flame of a wick:

• To further understand this concept discussed in the previous chapter [that a Jew contains a hidden love of G-d which is responsible for his willingness to give up his life for the sake of G-d’s unity despite him having no comprehension in G-d or His unity] we must first well clarify the verse which states that “the candle of G-d is the soul of man.” This verse is in essence saying that the soul of the people, who are called man, is similar to the flame of a wick.

2.      The connection-A flame desires to leave its wick:

• The connection between the soul of man and the flame of a wick is that they both contain a similar nature to desire to leave their source.
• A desire to connect to its root: A flame is naturally always bouncing upwards. The reason for this is because the flame desires by its very nature to separate and leave its wick and to connect and attach to its root above which is the general element of fire which is found under the sphere of the moon.
• The natural desire of the flame to connect above even though it will lose independent existence: Now, although the flame will extinguish and cease to give light down here below if it leaves its wick, and likewise above in heaven it will cease to have any independent existence, having its light incorporated and completely nullified in its root and source, nonetheless, the flame still naturally desires to leave its wick.

3.      The soul wants to expire in order to cleave to G-d:

• A desire to connect to its root, which is G-d: Just as it is with the flame, so too it is with the soul of man in all of its levels, that it naturally desires and yearns to separate and leave the body in order to attach to its root and source in G-d who is the life of all life.
• The natural desire of the soul to connect above even though it will lose independent existence: Now, although the soul will become like naught and be completely nullified in its existence, and not have anything left of it from its original essence, nevertheless it still naturally desires to expire [and be one with G-d].
• “Nature” refers to matters that are irrational and above comprehension: The term “nature” is a general term used for every matter that is above reasoning and rationale. Indeed, here too when we use the term nature to describe the soul’s desire to connect to G-d, the intent is to say that this desire and yearning of the soul is not the result of any specific intellectual comprehension, and in truth is not able to be rationalized and reasoned with intellect. It rather completely surpasses comprehension and intellect.
• The Chochma of the soul: This natural yearning and desire of the soul comes from the level of Chochma of the soul which contains the infinite light of G-d within.