There is an apparent scientific incongruity I find in this chapter that bears explaining: the Baal HaTanya states that the left chamber of the heart contains blood whereas the right does not. Clearly this is scienifically false. Unless his definition of blood is different than our modern understanding of blood. What is different about the 'blood' in the left chamber of the heart compared to he right chamber? The blood in the left chamber is oxygenated, the blood in the right chamber is not.
Interesting coincidence perhaps, but what proof is there that the Baal HaTanya might be suggesting something like this? The Zohar discusses something conspicuously similar: From the moment a baby is exposed to the air of the world, it receives a yetzer hara, the Zohar explains.
So, while being far from conclusive, this Zohar at the very least provides reasonable support for our interpretation.
Now to the meat of the chapter:
What comes out of this chapter, if you look at the big picture is this: The major organ from which "drives" originate is the Heart. The Yetzer Hara, or the Animal Soul (nefesh haBehami) is rooted in the heart. What this means is that when our Animal Soul wants something, we feel a drive towards that thing, be it food, money, people, anything. On the other hand, our Godly Soul or our Yetzer Tov is rooted in the intellect. When our Godly Soul wants something, we know it is the right thing to do, but we don't feel driven to do it.
This is very heady. It implies that in order to give our Godly Soul mastery over our Animal Soul, WE have to make ourselves want it, WE have to supply the drive. To me it seems there are two major reasons HaShem created us this way: 1) The Animal Soul comes with a built-in drive for self-preservation purposes. Everything the Animal Soul wants are things we need. The difference is we need to learn to moderate this need and use it for the purposes of Holiness - Kadesh et Atzmecha b'mutar Lcha - Use what is permitted as a means to sanctify yourself [not for personal gratification.] 2) Our reward and relationship with HaShem needs to be based on our voluntary participation. Without free will to choose life how can we be rewarded for choosing it? HaShem says He places both life and death before us, and then He commands us to choose life. The fact that we submit to His Will is what makes us worthy to receive life. If we don't submit, we still receive our needs, our Animal Soul still drives us to pursue (against our will) what we need, but we don't really live. It's not us in the driver's seat living life unless we choose.
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