Questions for today:
Where can we see this difference between our act of fulfilling a mitzvah, and the meditation and intent that we imbue it with, in the world around us?
There's a fascinating G-dly concept that we could see clearly in the world around us.
When we describe the divine name with which the world is created, it has four letters - and you can see four different expressions of G-dliness in the world around us.
'Mineral' doesn't move or change, the G-dly source is completely invisible.
'Vegetation' grows and changes, you can see a little bit of life/G-dly impact.
‘Animal' is a very different category all together. It walks around - they're living things.
However, an animal is still a 'body' that's alive. Compare that to a 'Human being' which is a 'living thing' that happens to 'use' a body.
Although the four are a powerful lesson in divinity, for our subject here in Tanya, we’ll bundle them into two categories; mineral and vegetable, are 'objects' and, animal and human, are 'living things'
Take those two bundles; objects and living things, and you have a fascinating example of the difference between the physical Commandments that we do in the material world, and the thought, intent, and inspiration that gives them life.
104 Tanya Nissan 4 ~ m124 Tanya Adar II, 24
Tanya book 1, ch38 p4
A great and visible example of the different levels of G-d's "constriction" is the different expressions of G-dliness in the world around us.
Mineral, vegetation, animal and human, each have respectively "higher" expressions of G-dliness.
The division between mineral/vegetation (objects) and animal/human (living things) are a great example of the distinction between physical action, and thought/intent".
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=3/27/2022
See today’s video: