Tanya Bits: A Little Dose of Wisdom for Daily Living

We like when expectations are realistic. When things seem accessible. And we often feel so helpless when they are not.

I feel the need to be altruistic, coupled with the need for self-preservation.

Each of the four elements spiritually symbolizes a core character trait of the animal soul.

What really is the secret to a strong self-esteem?

Do other people or situations actually cause our feelings? Or is it something internal that produces them?

It is love of G‑d that drives the fulfillment of His commands, and the awe of G‑d that allows one to refrain from doing what is forbidden.

Can you imagine approaching G‑d and hugging Him? Like, really embracing His essence? Is such an encounter even possible?

When one learns Torah, the mind is absorbing G‑d’s will and wisdom.

90 percent of our thoughts, speech or action can go either way, expressing the G‑dly soul or the Animal soul.

Fruits and nuts aren’t the only things with a shell that has to be removed. Much of reality is covered in a shell, a layer that conceals the G‑dliness found in the world.

As soon as you discover that you have derailed—and decide to get back and on track in serving G‑d with every physical act—you can retroactively insert a holy intention into any permissible action done without the express intention of serving G‑d.

You may have all the good intentions in the world and may sincerely wish to make someone happy, but if you go against their express desire, they most definitely won’t be pleased.

Your G‑dly soul tries to assert itself over your body. Your animal soul swoops in like a medieval king fighting for territory, desperately trying to win over those very same thoughts, speech and actions. It’s an endless battle, and you are the battlefield.

In order for us to understand which level we can strive for, we need to understand our limitations.

You could punch it, kick it, ignore it or wrestle with it, but it will never be defeated. This is the personality of the G‑dly soul, which never gives up the good fight against the animal soul.

My mind can control my heart, and therefore, it is my greatest tool to assist me in the battle against the animal soul’s wants.

We sometimes find ourselves swinging from feelings of grandiosity to feelings of incompetency.

Just because he does not fully succeed in his emotional perfection, that does not render his service of G‑d “untrue.”

How could I contemplate eating something that my brain perceives as being repugnant?

“Just five more minutes,” I told myself, yet every turn of the pedal was strenuous, disproportionately harder than the entire 30-minute workout. The struggle was real.

Even if you don’t experience the kind of results you anticipated, if you follow the Torah’s protocol for serving G‑d, you need not feel frustration over not seeing tangible results to your efforts. The results are G‑d’s department.

Isn’t it difficult to generate feelings of love and awe of G‑d?

Your soul is spiritually predisposed to something of a spiritual nature—an inborn faith and love of G‑d, inherited from your forefathers.

The thicker our sense of self, the dimmer our connection to this light in our soul.

We all have those moments as parents. The child doesn’t want to comply or demands an explanation, and you respond with “because I said so.”

While we may not be aware of it, we are united with G‑d at every moment.

While G‑d created a world where we subjectively seem independent of Him, His intention was that we would invest effort to discover the truth—that at every moment, He is our true life force.

What came first, the creation of the world or G‑d’s desire for mitzvot?

When you learn the words of Torah, there is intimacy. You’re not “just doing G‑d a favor” by fulfilling his mitzvot; you are getting to know G‑d.

It’s not a petty annoyance, but going against the very purpose of why He created the world! Whether it is a “small sin” or a “big sin” is irrelevant; the fact that G‑d doesn’t like it causes a disconnect between Jew and G‑d.

“And your two chickens that you actually own, would you give those to the czar?!”

When a curve ball is thrown your way, it can either disrupt your life or enhance your life. The difference is in your priorities and your perspective.

How should you deal with depression over spiritual downfalls?

There is no shame in struggle. If anything, shame is rooted in a person’s ego, where he expects himself to be exempt from the struggle experienced by the rest of humanity.

Can’t your brain ever give you a break? Can you ever have peace from the pesky animal soul?

What if, no matter how many chapters of Tanya you learn, you feel apathetic and lack the emotional connection to prayer and self-improvement?

You want to feel warm, passionate and motivated. Instead, you remain indifferent and unenthusiastic, plugging along with a lukewarm Judaism.

Sometimes, in order to be truly spiritual, you need to feed your ego a slice of introspective humble pie.

My animal soul might trip me up, but my G‑dly soul remains untouchable. Isn’t that a reason to rejoice?

If I am a body and you are a body, then your existence interferes with mine. But if I am a soul and you are a soul, then we are only one existence.

Fulfilling my purpose brings a double joy: My soul’s mission is accomplished, and G‑d’s desire is satisfied.

Where is G‑d? Wherever you reveal Him.

I was working out on the treadmill, and my son was looking at me strangely. “But what’s the point, Mommy?” he asked. “Why are you walking if you’re not even going anywhere?”

Every time a Jew performs a mitzvah, he or she tears down a bit of the kelipa—the forces that deny G‑d.

No one can transform the corner of the world reserved just for you.

Learning Torah is like calling G‑d over; He can’t help but respond.

Judaism is not about disconnecting from the physical to reach the Divine, but bringing the Divine into the physical.

When we know that someone is around, we are on our best behavior.

Imagine knowing with certainty that a treasure exists within you, and all you gotta do is dig, dig, dig.

As an artist, I tend to notice all the details automatically, even if I’m not in the midst of a painting. My eye is trained.

Learning at the uppermost levels necessitates regimen.

Can you really come to love G‑d, or is that a lofty goal relevant only to the few “spiritual souls” out there?

Sometimes, kids want prizes for their behavior or to be acknowledged for their help. And sometimes, kids are not focused on themselves but on their parents.

All metals were not created equal.

Just as when you tug at the bottom of a rope and the top of the rope gets pulled as well, when the animal soul is “pulled” into temptations, the G‑dly soul is dragged along.

When we think of all the good deeds G‑d has done for us, we are bound to feel love back towards Him.

It may take effort on the grandfather’s part, but were he to deliver a college-level lecture to the child, it would be way above his head. In order to connect, he needs to remove all barriers.

What should you do with your desire to be spiritual?

Many phenomena that take place in the human body are actually a reflection and can be used as an analogy to understand abstract concepts about G‑d.