Where the Self Lives

Over the years, you build an awareness of self: who you are, what you like and dislike, how you feel about things. This is the mind of da’at—a place of consciousness, of knowing and feeling “I exist.” It is the most visceral of minds, closely linked to the emotions.

Consciousness is not evil. The problem is the way a human enters into his consciousness and identifies with it. What is actually only an awareness of self becomes your actual self. It is an act of self-imprisonment, as you become trapped in a tight cell of self-definition.

The path of inner Torah leads you to reach beyond this conscious state to an essential self that is one with the Infinite. This is the act of liberation from a personal Egypt, which Torah makes possible on a daily basis.

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By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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Allan Koven Laguna Woods December 20, 2017

Brenda,
"He programmed the soul to malfunction"? God who is outside of space and time knows all. It is not a mystery to him.
So, how does one "steal pleasure selfishly from God".

Sorry, but this does not make sense to me.
Incidentally, Torah study may help some Jews in understanding aspects of life that are confusing; nevertheless, as 99% of the world knows little of Torah, must they be doomed to live their lives in ignorance? Reply

Brenda Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 9, 2021

in response to Allan Koven:

Allan, in our original spiritual state, G_d's light flowed between us as one blissful network.
Then He diminished His Light between us. This loss of His Light gave us the perception of self existence. This state encourages us to seek self-benefit, often at the expense of others.

In the spiritual world perception, where all is one whole interdependent system, a selfish act would be 'stealing' G_d 's abundance, which must be passed through the system for it's healthy functioning. Look how our world is malfunctioning due to our false perception that we are individuals!

G_d programmed this false perception in us by withdrawing His light between us so that we will learn how to return to that harmonious system through conscious awareness. We must come out of our self, our prison to reform that altruistic interconnected system.
The deeper meaning of the Torah instructs us how to rise above our self perception. Through inner work we feel good connections and positive attitudes to others. Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada November 2, 2017

Managing Your Self With 2 Forces Our 'self' is a consciousness that is programmed to seek pleasure and avoid harm.
Initially the 'Self' was one soul in which all were integrated as a whole perfect system controlled by Him.
Then He programmed that Soul to malfunction. It discovered how to steal pleasure selfishly from G_d. This is forbidden in the spiritual world.
This exile is for us to learn how to manage that Soul consciously. How to participate in it's management with G_d.

By implementing the inner work of the Torah, which is internal work using our consciousness, we discover that my self lies between 2 forces: The force that shattered us, my selfish ego and the force of G_dliness, which gives me the ability to sense and benefit others. When the second force awakens it can begin correcting the ego. Through conscious awareness we feel our self between those 2 forces. Through inner Torah work implemeted by our sages (Abraham, Moses, the Ari, RAMCHAL, RASHBI etc) we learn to correct our ego to aim at benefiting all Reply

Jorge Qro. Mexico December 1, 2015

Nothing better that study Torah to get peace of mind Torah is the most beautiful experience it ever happened to me in my lifetime, but to be one with the Infinite is too much for me. A Tzadik like the Bal Shem Tov or, Moses Rabbeinu himself, I believe, have become one with the Infinite. As for me, I don't want cheese, only getting out from this mousetrap. With this I want to mean that I'm happy with the state I've reached. Reply

Amie Illinois September 7, 2021

in response to Jorge:

I believe you become one with the infinite when you let Him into your heart. It is a Love story. Reply

Jorge Qro México September 10, 2021

in response to Amie:

Amie, Hey, I secretly tell you that I liked your comment, but thanks to Chabad I found out what was hurting me; I took it away from my heart and let life goes on, freely. My life is naturally coming to an end and I think I will pass away peacefully. The afterlife does not concern me, when I am in that realm I hope to know how to deal with it. Maybe I'll need a Siddur. I don't feel anymore that compulsory feeling to comment. Reply

Anonymous April 6, 2012

Da'at Finding your Da'at is what we are all about. Our moral compass and code of conduct through it. Torah study is very important in this regard, and as equally important is gaining experience and wisdom as you live life and love.

It's always nice to be reminded about the Torah study part. Most probably don't need a reminder. I do.

Thank you. Chug Sameach. Reply

Eugina Herrera New York, New York April 6, 2012

Wisdom To know the differences of good and evil. Reply

Justin Roth Staten Island, NY April 1, 2012

On the "essential self" One's "self", as it exists in this physical world, consists of a body, a mind, and a soul. One who gets tattoos, plastic surgery, extensive piercings and the like are "changing" their actual self. Unfortunately, these people come to identify themselves as the "self" with the tattoo, or the "self" who got plastic surgery. This is, indeed, and act of self-imprisonment. After all, Hashem created us with a body. The body is an essential part of the self. We are created by Hashem with certain physical, intellectual and spiritual attributes. So, I say, people should learn to love and accept themselves the way Hashem ordained them to be. I certainly do! Reply

Paula Bonnie Golladay Falls Church, VA July 27, 2008

Where The Self Lives Ah Rabbi Tzvi once again the wisdom of the sages is so honest so true.

For so many years i lived in my created personal Egypt. Locked into a mind that I felt I would never be able to free myself. The more I tried the more the web became entangled.

This lasted for at least from the ages of 15-57!

Once I learned how to free myself through the study of Torah and other books but most importantly listening to G-d, by quieting my scrabbled mind I was able to free myself from bondage.

Thank you dearly for my daily postings, they help create a wonderful day for me. Reply

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