Tanya Tools: Recent Episodes
Mrs. Tsyrl Turen
Short inspirational messages empowering your soul. Messages from the Tanya in bite-size. Easy to incorporate into your daily life for a transformed and elevated existence.
You love G-d, we all do. Embedded in our soul is this intrinsic love and knowledge of His existence. We are so drawn to this world, but we are in essence a piece of G-d, with an enormous love for Him.
Your natural existence is that you love G-d. No matter how muffled that voice has become you can't ignore this central part of your existence.
For a Jew, G-d is a part of him, so no matter what I may feel, I need to dig deeper. Underneath my emotions, I will find a deep connection to G-d. It is a part of our psyche. One can not escape oneself or the G-d within themselves.
Everyone believes, even the most ignorant. Belief supersedes intellect. Belief unhampered by the intellect is limitless.
Within each soul there is the flash of seminal wisdom which is the pure nullification to G-d. The core of wisdom recognizes G-d.
While each soul has its innate spiritual quantities and level of spiritual connectedness, all are innately the same at their core. While each soul has its own individual destiny and journey, the core existence of each Neshma is a true piece of G-d. This is more than self-esteem, this is G-d esteem.
Once I stay in the animal awareness I can accept the powerlessness of my physicality and become more open to G-d
It is a gift that our mind naturally rules the heart. We can proactively saturate our minds with G-dly awareness and bring our hearts to a G-dly place.
True wickedness is so rare. It is a punishment to lose the innate power of mind over heart. Otherwise, for the rest of us, we all have that innate ability to rule over our emotions and compulsions.
The mind is spiritually sensitive, yet is remote from the body. It is imperative to transfer this spiritual awareness from the mind to the heart.
There are many paths to perfection. We can use our minds, hearts, thoughts speech, or action to create a strong compulsion for G-dliness.
When there is a struggle, there is also a stretch. We thereby learn to grow and do more.
Loving Hashem is natural. This doesn't take work, it is just being true to yourself. Take some time to learn chassidus. Talk to Hashem. Make inner space for Him inside of you. it's the natural thing to do.
One may feel unaccomplished, that the big ideas and accomplishments haven't been fulfilled. Our limitations make us keep working. G-d receives so much pleasure when we work for our connection to Him.
Any level of love can give me enough strength to overcome my nature. Challenges are a part of life. Put in the extra effort.
A person may have a more rebellious nature. Controlling yourself is one way to maintain good mannerisms. Another way to be is by taming oneself
Stretching beyond your nature and limits, makes one deemed a "worker", for going the extra mile. Just a little extra effort makes a big difference.
There are the natural parameters and limitations to our faculties and emotions. One can supersede these with enough effort. Anything is possible.
Is a love of G-d awakened during prayer considered true? Even though it doesn't last throughout the day, but because it is consistent and the maximum of the individual, it is their point of truth. One should always strive for the maximum in strength and consistency.
Hashem is here for each of us as a loving parent. One should make their best effort, and then turn to Hashem for help in succeeding to vanquish the Yetzer Hara.
Prayer is a time of peace. The poser of prayer puts the animal soul to sleep and you can feel oneness and closeness with G-d.
Overcoming the animal soul can be combatted by accessing the seminal G-dly wisdom that is intrinsically within me. Self-sacrifice opens up this power, putting my desire on the side and making room for His.
How does one overcome the animal soul? Step 1: the Shema. Thinking about how powerful Hashem is, and then how He puts it all aside to spend time for me. This will evoke a reflective love for G-d. 2. Think of all your requests for compassion, which evokes a realization that Hashem is there for me in all aspects of my life. When we feel G-d's love daily, we will naturally feel the love back.
Light dispels darkness, without any struggle. So too in the relationship of G-dliness and evil. We can discover that evil has no power, by bringing G-dliness into our lives.
To be a beinoni is the goal of everyone. It is the inner potential of each of us. G-dliness is the true reality. Look at the world through the lens of Chassidus. Remind yourself of the true reality and potential.
Sometimes we use our mind as a dumping ground, when in fact it is through the mind that we achieve true freedom. Take advantage of the prime real estate value!
The natural dominion of the mind over the heart, is inherent in all humans. The mind is constantly striving upwards and go beyond itself.
Unhealthy self-image: I am a good person so therefore if I am doing this it can't be all that bad.
Healthy self-image: I have a G-dly soul and I am a part of G-d, but I am human and trying.
Chachma is the core of our Neshama. Accessing this intense power unleashes extreme soul power. Humility helps man reach this G-dly inner power. Feeling fear of losing connection to G-d can also help release this power.
Regain your control. 1. Recognize that you can. 2. Train yourself to watch yourself, prevent the thoughts at the beginning. 3. Replace the negative thoughts with positive ones. 4. Think of something G-dly. If you know something by heart, that is more effective. Don't relinquish the thought until the negative one is out of mind.
It is, in fact, in our control, to overcome and control our thoughts. No one else can do that for us but ourselves. It is the ultimate of self-control. Thoughts of sin are akin to sin itself.
Loss of self-control, even for a moment of indulgence places the soul under the control of evil. A Rasha, an evil person, is one who is under the control of evil.
The perfect Tzadik worships for the sake of G-d alone. This raises us to a higher loftier reality and is within our reach. Try it!
Each one of us has the potential to intensify our connection to G-dliness, and rid ourselves of evil. The evil will be transformed or vanish, as the G-dliness overpowers our existence.
Every Jew has the ability to be a perfectly righteous person. Imagine and envision yourself free of any negativity. Imagine your love and passion for G-d consuming every fiber of your being. Then take a step to make it happen.
Instead of viewing the animal soul as your enemy, view it as your supporter in disguise.
The animal soul's job is to tempt you so that you move beyond the temptation. Moving beyond it strengthens you. And you are fulfilling the purpose of the temptation itself.
In order to have a passion for hashem, we must transform our desire. Desire is part of our psyche. Negate the physical desire, to transform that power into something spiritual. Celebrate your connection to G-d with passionate pleasure and joy.
Naturally, the Jew desires permissible things. When a Jew indulges often in permissible things, the spiritual orientation shifts and they begin to indulge in the forbidden.
Two primary emotions are love and fear. Joy factor in serving Hashem expresses the chief factor is serving Hashem. Really appreciating my ability to connect with Hashem naturally sparks joy.
To understand the word forbidden, which means tied. A person who eats forbidden food to energize good actions, the food and good both remain tied to evil.
Torah and Mitzvos are innately G-dly and energize us with a higher level of power. Learning Torah helps us absorb G-d's essence. When feeling weak or overwhelmed, learn Torah!
Guilt and punishment are acquitted. The sin's energy, however, remains. Repentance out of love propels you to do good.
Klipat Noga is a force that can be elevated to holiness. This force governs all permissible opportunities in the world. Any time we encounter permissible we have the injunction to connect to G-d. An opportunity that carries potential to elevate energies that haven't been tapped into, is a lost opportunity to darkness.
Anything G-d said "no" to is impenetrable by holiness. Contact with this evil drags our soul down with it. Through deep repentance, it can also be elevated.
Negative emotions and traits need to be uprooted. this is done with work, it won't happen on its own.
The structure of the animal soul is the perfect opposite to the G-dly soul. The Animal is emotion-oriented. Intellect is a ruling force of the G-dly soul. Trust in G-d, and developing an understanding that all is good help temper the animal.
There are two powers in this world, Everything falls into one of the two categories. If I bring G-dly awareness in mundane they all become part of an expression of G-dliness bringing a feeling of completeness.
The interplay between our thoughts and emotions develops as we develop, and grows in complexity.
The interplay between thoughts and actions becomes more complex and strongly connected over time. By behaving in a way that reflects the desired outcome, we can accelerate the process of character development and improvement.
Knowing that your soul is divinely connected, reflecting the power of the A-lmighty, is empowering and inspires change.
Forbidden experiences are rooted in evil. Connecting with the "other side" is damaging for our soul.
Time and place are catalysts in deciphering the spiritual orientation of one choice vs. the other.
Self nullification 101: When you are in conflict with someone- ask yourself how you would react if the only voice you heard was your G-d's voice.
The word "Beinoni" has a strong message. The "book of Beinonim" is another name for the Tanya. A Beinoni of Tanya is a perfect person, with perfect self-control. Viewing yourself as one who has the potential of Beinoni raises you to a higher standard.
The strategy in the efforts of the Tanya to empower us as workers, working to become that Beinoni. It's about the process.
Everyone has their own individual Torah source. What inspires you may not inspire another person the same. It depends on your soul orientation.
The first words of the cover page of the Tanya, "Sefer Likkutei Amarim" literally translating, a compilation of sayings, is a great expression of humility. This was the life's work of the Alter Rebbe, and yet he considers it a mere compilation. Within humility, you can find answers to all of your questions. Access that point of humility and many doors of growth will open up to you.
Why does our work have to be so hard? G-d wants our G-dly nature to become permeated into every part of our existence. Access the G-dly in your situation. Listen to the messages.
Think of all of your abilities. G-d is the Source of everything. This will help you nullify yourself before Hashem. Become aware of Hashem's presence in my life and in all of the details.
The very first fundamental idea of Tanya: Complete dedication to G-d is attainable. You can reach your potential if you believe in it.
The entire Tanya is based on the verse "The matter is very close to you, in the mind and heart and action. The is our mandate, to serve G-d with our thoughts, speech and action. We strive for the perfection Tanya described.
Believing in your potential as a Beinoni, having perfect self-discipline and self-control, realizing that you are a piece of G-d, and that is our truth is empowering. The more you believe it, the more you can live it. 1.Tell yourself "I am a piece of limitless G-d". Don't measure your worth against your action, rather in terms of your effort. 2. Look at others the same way. You will become kinder and more accepting of others. 4. Pick an area in your life to help your actions reflect your true essence.
The fact that we all can attain the level of Beinoni is empowering. A person must be constantly growing and moving.
Judaism can't be compartmentalized. It is our innate ability to offer all we have to G-d, including our thoughts. Our relationship to G-d is all-encompassing. This evolves organically as we develop our love for the Almighty.