התבוננות (Class Four). This class discusses the idea of self honesty when it comes to life in general and עבודה פנימית in particular. There are three levels in התבוננות and one caveat. 1) ממלא כל עלמין; כי הוא חייך the contemplation that starts with us and that He sustains US. 2) סובב כל עלמין; הכל…

התבוננות (Class Three). The point of the התבוננותו is וידעת היום so that it should bring to the והשבות אל לבבך. The Mitteler Rebbe writes that התבוננות must be in details so it should truly arouse the heart. Ironically the mind and heart contradict each other (unless one is on the level of פנימיות המוח…

התבוננות (Class Two). In order to engage one’s mind there must be the אסורה מכאן להתקרב לשם in order to engage with Hashem they need a lot of time to get away from regular life in order to engage with and Daven to Him. התבוננות is not meditation. [I believe that התבודדות which is practiced…

Bina cont. התבוננות (Class One). Emotions (אהבה ויראה) that come from the “father and mother” combination of Chochma and Bina. The idea of using the mind to arouse the heart. The רמב”ם בהלכות מלכים, about not being afraid on the war front by not thinking. This is the explanation found in Chassidus to explain the…

Bina. Bina is everything Chochma is not. It analyzes and forfeits the light and pleasure of the “Flash of Chochma” for the sake of the credibility and discernment and clarity of Bina. Example from the Rebbe’s teaching a RaShI.

Chochma. Two parts: 1) acknowledging one’s limit and surrendering to the unknown and transcendent. 2) This opens the person up to the enlightenment, intuition, or light, the flash of Chochma. But the two are based on the quality of the person and his prior preparedness as an intellectual.

A thought on current events. Review. Mind and heart, objective vs. subjective. Mind closer to Soul, Heart closer to actions.

The ten S’firos. The idea that the human form is a Mashal to understand the ten supernal S’firos based on the principal of מבשרי אחזה אלוק. Chassidus explains the משל to us as well, so we can understand the ten כחות הנפש precisely.

Chapters 1-3 also address the question of fasts as they do or don’t relate to Teshuva.

Chapters 3-4. The truth of creation is (only) the divine words that (individually) sustain each being. “If G-D would open our eyes we would see that reality is nothing other than the divine words that sustain all”. We are what we think we are because He hides.