Questions for today:
Yesterday we described the life we infuse our action with as being parallel to the life forms of ‘animal’, and ‘human’. Is there a difference between the two? What would that be?
When we divide the world into four expressions of Divine life, we see a world that consists of mineral, vegetation, animal and human.
Mineral and vegetation are inanimate, physical entities, so we correlate them with physical actions; they parallel the physical performance of mitzvos.
In contrast, animals and humans are living beings. Therefore, they correlate with the intent that infuses life into the physical actions. People and animals represent the physical actions that are performed with excitement, intent, and inspiration.
Although humans and animals are in the same category here, they differ from one another and therefore we need to make a distinction between the two groups.
When a natural love or fear inspires us to fulfill a commandment, this type of mitzvah would parallel animal. Yes, the action is thriving with life, but there is still a higher level.
A human being has intellect. When we think about the vastness of the Creator and that the Creator chose us as His nation, we develop a love for the Creator. This love we develop then inspires us to want to fulfill His will.
This love formed through intellect is the highest form of life that we can infuse into our physical actions. Human, intellectual, life.
106 Tanya Nissan 6 ~ m126 Adar II, 26
Tanya book 1, ch 38, Pt 6
We discussed that minerals and vegetation parallel physical actions, while the living animals and humans parallel the intent that infuses life into the actions.
Today we distinguish between animal and human. Animal life represents the fulfillment of commandments that stems from a natural love. Human life represents the fulfillment of commandments from the internal desire to connect with the Creator.
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=3/29/2022
See today’s video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9DjVkzpJo4&list=PLFZQPK6u-zSBls9Hwx3P5vKIBRnjBvHe&index=106