Questions for today:
If everything comes from one singular Creator, how do we distinguish between our Soul, and all of material creation?
If you see me running passionately down the street, it's not because I really want to catch the bus - I just want to get to work on time.
Although that's only because I want to earn a salary.
Although ultimately, that is all only because I want to spend pleasurable time with my family.
That distinction between “the things I'm passionately involved in”, and “what I really ultimately want inside”, helps us understand what the Tanya is teaching about the distinction between our soul, and everything else in existence.
Ultimately, everything comes from the infinite Creator. At the same time everything, including our Soul, is defined into existence by the Creator's capacity to contract and to create finite.
But here is the difference: Our Soul is G-d's ultimate desire.
Therefore even now, our Soul an actual part of the Creator.
Everything else in existence is created with a finite mission, just to ‘help’.
This distinction is absolute. However, the Tanya does mention that it is only perceivable with a supernal perception, or, when Moshiach comes, when our Soul is actually going to be called by the name of the creator.
204 9 Tanya Tammuz 15 ~ m233 10 Tammuz 20
Tanya book 3, Ch 4, pt3
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=7/19/2022
See today’s video: