The Secret of the True Intellect: The Power of In-Depth Torah Study to Conquer Desires
Lesson No. 160 | Tuesday, Parashas Vayeira, Eve of 15 Cheshvan 5759 - Lesson for the Breslov Kollel for Young Men
A person is composed of two aspects: the illuminating intellect and Torah, and the desires whose source is in the sin of the Tree of Knowledge. The article explains how only through in-depth Torah study and delving into Halacha (Jewish Law), a Jew can purify his intellect, nullify foreign desires, and stand face to face with his Creator.
In every single person, there exist two aspects. There are days when the mind is clear and he learns Torah in a state of "Anpin Nehirin" (illuminated face), and there are days when the mind is blocked, in a state of "Anpin Chashuchin" (darkened face). A person must struggle day by day until he merits to always be in a state of "Anpin Nehirin."
The first foundation that a Jew must know is that the desires do not belong to him at all. Desires are merely an external garment. When a person is drawn to a desire, it is like someone scratching a wound until it bleeds; he is only injuring himself. According to the holy Zohar, desires come from the "Meshcha d'Chivya" (the skin of the serpent).
After the sin of Adam HaRishon (the First Man), he received a garment of the serpent's skin. Originally, the body of Adam HaRishon illuminated from one end of the world to the other, in the aspect of "Kutnos Ohr" (garments of light, spelled with an Aleph), but following the sin, he received a body of "Ohr" (skin, spelled with an Ayin) – flesh and bones. Therefore, a person must fight and know: "This is not me, this is not what I want, this is not my true will!" A person might think that the desires and the unseemly things are his own will, but this is merely an illusion. It is a foreign will that has attached itself to him, a poison that entered humanity from the sin of the Tree of Knowledge. We must break free from our addiction to this poison.
Breaking Free from the Control of the Seventy Nations
The only way to break free from all the desires and bad character traits is exclusively through in-depth Torah study. In-depth Torah study is the aspect of "Anpin Nehirin" (illuminated face), and it is the exact opposite of all desires.
When a person learns Torah in-depth, he breaks free from the control of the seventy nations of the world, who rule over us because we are subjected to seventy desires. The moment we break free from the desires, they will have no control over us whatsoever. The Torah is the opposite of desires. When a person toils in Torah and "kills himself" over it, as the Sages expounded:
"When a man dies in a tent - the Torah is only established in one who kills himself over it" (meaning, one who sacrifices his physical desires for Torah study).
He kills his illusory selfhood, the bad character traits, and the desires. He toils in Torah until he merits to understand it, and transitions from "Anpin Chashuchin" – darkness and the concealment of knowledge, to "Anpin Nehirin" – the knowledge and comprehension of the Torah.
The Intellect is the "Man"
Only one who learns Torah in-depth is called "Adam" (Man). Although there are non-Jews who study Gemara superficially in universities, the inner intellect of the Torah belongs only to a Jew. Regarding this, it is stated:
"You are called 'Adam' (Man), and the idolaters are not called 'Adam'."
The title "Adam" refers exclusively to the true intellect, the intellect of the Torah, and not to the hands or the feet. One who is drawn after bad character traits and desires is not called "Adam." The intellect is divided into three levels: Chochmah (wisdom), Binah (understanding one thing from another), and Daas (the acquisition of Torah). These are the three aspects of the Divine Name Y-H. Three times Y-H (15) equals 45 in Gematria (numerical value), which is the exact numerical value of "Adam." Thus, the essence of the name "Adam" is the aspect of the true intellect.
When a person utilizes the Chochmah and Binah of the Torah, they "consume the flesh" – they nullify the skin of the serpent and the desires. We must kill the illusory, self-centered desires. The moment a person does this, all the enemies and adversaries, who draw their power from our grasp on the "Meshcha d'Chivya" (skin of the serpent), stumble and fall.
A Mitzvah to Sharpen the Intellect
There is a great mitzvah (commandment) to sharpen the intellect, just as there is a mitzvah to always be in a state of joy. How does one sharpen the intellect? Through the in-depth study of Gemara and Halacha. A person is born with an intellect and he must develop and deepen it. This is not optional; it is an obligation. One cannot say: "I am a Breslov Chassid, I am exempt from deepening my intellect, I will go dance and do Hisbodedus (secluded prayer) in the fields all day." On the contrary, true joy stems from the intellect! Rebbe Nachman of Breslov teaches that it is a great mitzvah to sharpen the intellect and to understand a matter thoroughly.
It is an obligation to enter into the depth of Halacha, in the aspect of "Vayalen ba'emek" (and he lodged in the valley) – in the depth of Halacha. It is told of Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian zt"l that he explained the words of the Gemara regarding the angel who appeared to Yehoshua bin Nun and told him, "Now I have come." The angel came with a claim regarding the neglect of Torah study. Rav Lopian asked: There was a war going on, how could they possibly learn? The answer is that Yehoshua did indeed learn, but because of the war, the study was not "in the depth of Halacha," with complete detachment from the surroundings.
Similarly, it is told of Rav Shalom Wexler zt"l, that in 1948 he sat and learned in Jerusalem. Outside, shells were falling and houses were being destroyed, but he was so immersed in his learning that he asked his grandson to go to the neighbors and ask them to "stop making that strange noise" because he couldn't concentrate. He didn't even know there was a war! This is learning in the depth of Halacha.
Conquering the Heretic in the Heart
When a person sharpens his intellect and understands a concept to its very core, he fulfills the Mishnaic instruction, "Know what to answer a heretic (apikoros)." However, the intention is not to argue with heretics on the outside. The true heretic is found within a person's own heart.
This heresy manifests when a person stands in the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, speaking with Hashem face-to-face, yet fails to concentrate and focus on the words. If a person truly knew and felt that the King of Kings is standing right in front of him, listening to his prayer and desiring to bestow upon him all the salvations in the world—he would pray with tremendous enthusiasm and carefully articulate every single word!
The reason a person fails to feel this is due to a weakness of the intellect. A strong intellect is capable of clearly visualizing the presence of Hashem right in front of him. Therefore, by sharpening the intellect through in-depth Torah study, a person eradicates the heretic within his heart. He then merits to stand before his Creator with a whole heart, praying with true enthusiasm and dveikus (deep spiritual attachment).
Part 2 of 2 — Lesson No. 160
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