Daily Tanya Wednesday 5th Adar: Chapter 31 Part 1: Turning the sadness and depression over one’s spiritual state into joy

Chapter 31: Turning the sadness and depression over one’s spiritual state into joy

5^th Adar/(LY) 22^nd Adar 1

1. Not to be despondent over one’s spiritual state:

• It may happen, that resultant of one’s deep and lengthy one to two hour contemplation [of one’s lack of battle in serving G-d properly and his transgressions in matters that he does not view as sinful, as explained in the previous chapter] which is done for the sake of breaking his heart and humbling his spirit, that one may come to a state of depression regarding his level of service of G-d. Nonetheless, one should not be dissuaded by this, [as this type of depression is positive and good].

2. The root of depression-From the side of evil:

• Joy, from the side of holiness; Depression, from Kelipas Nogah: Now, although all depression comes from the side of evil, Kelipas Noga, and not from the side of holiness, as the side of holiness contains joy, and the Divine presence only resides when one is in a state of joy, nonetheless, there does exist a good type of depression.
• The difference between good depression and bad depression: [Depression that is due to non-spiritual reasons comes from the evil side of Nogah, while] depression that comes due to spiritual reasons comes from the good part Nogah.
• The Mitzvah of Simcha-Not to think of one’s sins during prayer and Torah learning: It is for this reason that the Arizal stated that there is no place during prayer or Torah learning for one to contemplate his sinful behaviors, being that these Divine acts must be done with joy which come from the side of holiness.
• Thinking of one’s sins during confession: The only time that is proper for one to think of his sinful behaviors, is during times of confession.

3. Using depression to destroy the Kelipos:

• Despite the above root of depression in evil, it is necessary to be used for the sake of destroying and crushing the side of evil, as the sages teach us that the handle of the ax which is made from wood from the forest is what is used to take down its trees, and hence here too we need to use depression which comes from the side of evil for the sake of taking down the evil.
• The advantage of this depression: The advantage of this depression is that after one accomplishes the above destruction of evil one will be led towards joy, and on this it says that in every matter of depression there is benefit.

4. Difference between Atzvus [depression] and Merirus [broken heartedness]:

• In truth, there is a difference in the Hebrew language between depression and bitterness of heart, and hence the broken heartedness and bitterness that one feels due to his realization that he is distanced from the light of G-d and that his soul is invested in the side of evil, is not considered depression at all in the Hebrew language.
• The definition of depression: Depression is defined as a sadness which numbs and destroys the heart, making it desensitized and emotionless like a stone, [energy less, and careless for anything in the world].
• The definition of broken heartedness: However, bitterness and broken heartedness, on the contrary, ignites energy within one’s heart in order to experience the bitterness and become emotionally moved by his sad state.
• Broken heartedness comes from the severities of holiness: Accordingly, broken heartedness from spiritual matters comes from the level of Gevuros of holiness. This contrasts with joy which comes from the Chesed of holiness. Now, the heart is able to handle both of these emotions as it contains both inside of it.

5. Occasionally bringing oneself to bitterness:

• Sweetening the severities and breaking the control of the animal soul: Now, on occasion, one needs to arouse the severities of holiness and bring himself to bitterness over his spiritual state in order to sweeten the judgments, which refers to his animal soul and evil inclination which G-d forbid rule over the person, as the severities and judgments can only be sweetened with their root.
• Admonishing the animal soul: On this the sages stated that one should always bring his good inclination to admonish his evil one. The intent of this statement is not that one should do so constantly, but rather on those occasions that one sees that his soul requires it [in order to free it from the grasp of the animal soul].

6. Taking advantage of depression over worldly matters:

• The most auspicious time for the majority of people to experience bitterness of the soul for the sake of crushing his animal soul, is when one is in any event depressed due to worldly matters, or due to an unknown reason. This is an opportune time to transform his depression into an introspection of his soul and fulfill the statement of the sages that one should always admonish his animal soul.
• Banishing the depression from worldly matters: By doing the above exercise, not only does one take advantage of the opportunity to crush his animal soul and reexperience his G-dly soul, but furthermore he frees himself from his depression and worry of the worldly matters.