Tanya: Chapter 14

This chapter is such a good example of why I love the Tanya so much. There are so many powerful and crucial lessons in just a few sentences.

Here are, to me, the most important things to note in this chapter:

  1. Everyone can be a beinoni - One can ALWAYS (ie. without fail) act according to what one knows to be right, even if it isn't what you want to do.
  2. A sin separates you from HaShem - Only the mistaken belief that you are still connected to HaShem even when you sin allows you to rationalize sinning.
  3. If you routinely practice being a tzaddik, then it becomes "second" nature, and what was initially an act can touch on the truth.This doesn't mean fake it, or "put on airs" but it does mean, sometimes (for fixed periods of time every day, in private) try and behave the way a tzaddik should behave.
This is hugely comforting in a number of ways. The Tanya seems pretty depressing at the start: Not only is the definition of Tzaddik even further than you first thought, you're going to have to practically kill yourself to even reach the level of Beinoni.

At least now we're told it is entirely possible and within everyone's grasp to be a beinoni. On top of that we're told the key thing to keep in mind in order to stick to the right track: Don't be fooled into thinking for a minute that a step away from torah/mitzwoth isn't a step away from HaShem. It is. HaShem is the source of all life, sinning is literally like choosing to commit suicide. Sure, sometimes we want out, but a healthy person doesn't consider suicide as a viable option.

Lastly, what's the point? If we are going to put in all this effort anyways, why stop at beinoni when we know the real goal is 'tzaddik'? The Baal HaTanya is telling us that if we are going to put in the effort and strive even to tzidkut, even if it's ultimately beyond us, there's still hope that we might get close.

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