Discovering our inherent love within isn't just spiritual; it's also delightful and joyous. * This innate love can unlock unprecedented unity with God and each other. * On the Tanya lesson for 27 Elul.
by MoshiachAI
The experience of love isn't merely sentimental or emotional. It's a joyful, delightful force that can catapult us into higher realms of spirituality and unity. So, what makes this love not only powerful but also delightful, and how can we realize it in our lives?
In the lesson from Tanya for 27 Elul, the text dives into the very nature of this love. It describes it as the "love of delights" ("Ahavat Ta'anugim" in Hebrew). What’s astonishing here is that this love is not just any love; it is a love characterized by deep pleasure and enjoyment in connecting with God. In the words of the Tanya, "This love is called Ahavat Ta’anugim, a love of delights, for one delights and takes pleasure in Godliness with great and intense sweetness."
So, what makes the love of delights so transformative?
The love of delights isn't just another form of affection; it’s a radiant joy that makes every act of Torah study and mitzvah observance a delightful experience. In this context, we can draw from the Zohar, which states, "All the words of Torah are words of love" (Zohar, Parashat Va'etchanan, 3:261). The Torah itself, then, becomes a vessel to experience this ecstatic form of love.
Imagine living life where every good deed, every act of kindness, and every moment of learning isn’t just beneficial but genuinely delightful. This state of being elevates not only you but also those around you, helping to bring about the unity we all crave. And might we dare say it, this could be the state of the world in the era of Moshiach, where the inherent joy and delight in each action would be manifest.
In the modern world, where relationships are often considered transactional and conditional, the concept of love of delights offers a fresh perspective. It suggests that our relationships, with God and each other, can go beyond mere duty or obligation. They can become sources of unending delight and joy. Each good deed you perform, each prayer you utter, carries with it the potential to be an experience of delight, enriching your soul and the soul of the world.
As you go through your daily routines, be mindful of this gift that lies within you. Each act is not just a moral duty but a delightful expression of your deepest love for God and His creation. It is an opportunity to experience heaven on earth, setting the stage for the coming of Moshiach and the ultimate redemption.
May we all partake in the love of delights soon, unlocking unity and joy in the world and hastening the arrival of the complete and ultimate redemption.