Daily Tanya Sunday 1st Nissan Chapter 38 Part 1: Speech versus thought of a Mitzvah

Chapter 38: The importance of both Kavanah and action in a Mitzvah

2^nd Nissan/(LY) 21^st Adar 2

1.      Speech versus thought of a Mitzvah:

• The thought of a Mitzvah is invalid without its speech or action: Based on the information in the previous chapter, one can understand the following law: The Talmud and Poskim rule that thought is unlike speech, and one who thinks the words of Shema in his heart and mind without verbalizing them, does not fulfill the Mitzvah. This applies even if he concentrates on the words in his mind and heart with all his might and strength. Nonetheless, he does not fulfill his obligation, and is required to repeat the reading. The same applies to Birchas Hamazon which is Biblical, as well as all other Rabbinical blessings, and prayer [that one who thinks the words in his heart and mind without verbalizing them, does not fulfill the Mitzvah].
• The speech or action of a Mitzvah is valid even without its thought: On the other hand, if one verbalized the words, but did not have intent of the heart, he nevertheless fulfills his obligation, Bedieved, and is not required to repeat the prayer with exception to the first verse of Shema and the first blessing of Shemoneh Esrei, as it states in the Talmud that until here is the Mitzvah of concentration and from here and onwards is the Mitzvah of reading.

2. The reason that speech disqualifies the Mitzvah and not thought:

• The G-dly soul requires no fixing-Its purpose is to fix the animal soul: The [G-dly] soul [i.e. Neshama] does not require any refinement or elevation in it of itself with the fulfillment of Mitzvos, and it is rather performed solely for the sake of drawing down Divine light for the sake of refining the animal soul and body.
• Through speaking with the five organs of one’s mouth and performing the Mitzvos with the other limbs of the body, one draws G-dliness to his body and animal soul. [Accordingly, one does not fulfill his obligation with thinking and concentration if it does not involve an action, as it does nothing to fulfill its purpose of refining the animal soul and body. Nonetheless, thought and concentration also play a vital role in the performance of a Mitzvah, as will now be explained.]

(LY) 22^nd Adar 2

3. The importance of thought despite its lack of disqualification:

• Action without intent is like a body without a soul: The Sages state that prayer or other blessings without intent is like a body without a soul. [To understand this we must first give the following introduction in explaining the difference between the soul and body, as found amongst all creations of the world.]

4. Everything, even a rock, has a soul:

• Every creation has a body and soul: Every creation in this world contains a body and soul. The soul refers to the living soul of every living being whether human or animal.
• G-d enlivens the body and soul: G-d enlivens all of these creations and constantly creates [their body and soul] from nothingness through a G-dly ray and light which he projects into them. [This G-dly revelation is what recreates the soul and body every moment and prevents its return to nothingness.]
• Even a rock has a soul: The above concept that every physical creation has a soul applies even to the body in it of itself, and even towards the completely inanimate, such as rocks and earth. Even these creations contain within them a revelation of Divine light from G-d which enlivens them in order to prevent them from returning to their original state of absolute nothingness.

5. No comparison between the soul and the body:

• Now, despite the above, there is no comparison at all between the revelation of G-dly light and energy that shines in the body, and that which shines in the soul of all living creatures [as will be explained].