Questions for today:
It’s important to have intellectual discussion, questions, and analysis on any topic, however it is important to be clear on the fundamental premise of the topic of discussion. To discuss the relationship of the Creator with the world, based on a model we are familiar with, craftsmanship, would lead to incorrect inferences. How can we view realities’ relationship with the Creator?
Before we can have an intellectual discussion, we have to be on the same page.
For example, before we discuss the ethics of manners, we have to agree if I own the house, and therefore I should get a thank you every time I pour a glass of water for you or, In contrast, if I'm the guest in your house, in which case I have to ask and thank you for every glass of water that I take.
We’ve been discussing creation. If we want to discuss it intellectually, we have to point out and clarify a fundamental distinction. All "creation" that we are familiar with, is actually just, "formation." We take things that existed before and change them.
For example, when a carpenter goes over to a tree, the chair that he wants to build is already there. We just can't see it yet. His work will be changing the wood, and when he stops working, the changes will stop. But the ‘chair’ was there before, and it will stay afterwards.
By contrast, creation did not exist before the Creator's effort. Before creation where was nothing, and without consistent creative energy, reality would cease to exist.
This is similar to a projector shining a picture of Mount Everest on a previously white wall. If you want to get rid of Mount Everest, you don't have to do any excavation, just stop shining.
This concept is a basic premise and foundation for any discussion that we're going to have about G-dliness or miracles within the physical world.
168 06 Tanya Sivan 09 ~ m193 Sivan 8
Tanya book 2, Ch 2, Pt 1
After describing the Torah's perspective on creation and physical reality, the Tanya now begins to discuss this logically.
The first step is to point out and clarify a fundamental distinction.
All "creation" that we are familiar with, is actually just "formation". We take things that existed before and change them.
They were there before we added our effort, and will remain after.
By contrast creation did not exist before the Creator's effort. Without that consistent creative energy, really would cease to exist.
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=6/7/2022
See today’s video: