Daily Tanya Chapter 34 Part 2: Making an abode for G-d during one’s business dealings through giving charity (Wednesday, 15th Adar)

15^th Adar

3.      Resolving to study more Torah when the opportunity arrives:

• In addition to the above joy within the current time available that one has for Torah study, one should also resolve that if G-d gives him more time, he will dedicate that time for Torah study.
• A good intent is considered like done by G-d: This resolution itself has the power to make it as if he is already fulfilling it, as a good intent G-d considers like actual deed.

4.      Making an abode for G-d during one’s business dealings through giving charity:

• Even during other times of the day that one is not studying Torah, but is rather dealing with business, one can become an abode for G-d by giving charity from his income.
• Making an abode for G-d by being merciful just like G-d: [Giving charity makes for G-d a dwelling place below being that] it follows His character traits, as just as He is merciful so too a person should be merciful, as it states in the Zohar that the right hand of G-d is kindness.
• Giving 20% of one’s earnings to charity elevates all of one’s time invested in business: Although one only gives 20% of his earnings to charity, which is only 20% of his time, nevertheless, as a result of this distribution, all of the other hours he invested to earn an income, which is another 80% of his time, become a dwelling place below for G-d.
• A similar ruling regarding sacrifices: Our sages teach us that the Mitzvah of charity is equivalent to all the offerings. Now, just like by sacrifices the entire animal kingdom became elevated through the offering of a single animal, and the entire vegetative kingdom became elevated through one flour offering with olive oil, [so too by charity, it has the power to elevate all of one’s earnings and time invested in making the income].
• During prayer and Torah learning all of one’s bodily necessities are elevated: Furthermore, [aside for the elevation of all of one’s earnings through charity] when a person studies Torah and prays, everything that he has eaten and drank and benefited from for the sake of his bodily needs and health, also become elevated to Hashem.

5.      Retaining a feeling of disgust of one’s spiritual state despite all the above joys:

• All the above different experiences of joy that one can have with G-d does not contradict the feeling of disgust, broken heartedness, and humbleness over one’s low spiritual state.
• Disgust from the animal soul and joy from the G-dly soul: It is possible to experience this broken heartedness even during the actual joy, as the broken heartedness is a result of the body and animal soul while the joy is a result of the G-dly soul and the spark of G-d that is within it to enliven it.
• On this the Zohar states that one can experience weeping on one side of the heart and joy on the other side.