Unity with the Divine: The Essence of Tanya’s Teaching on Torah and Commandments
Divine unity stands at the heart of all spiritual aspirations. In the world of spiritual growth, there is a special path leading to this divine unity with the Creator. But how can an ordinary person achieve such an elevated connection? The ancient wisdom of Hasidic teaching reveals this secret through understanding the special role of Torah and commandments.
Two Roads to One Summit
Imagine that your soul is a delicate instrument, tuned to perceive higher worlds. When you study Torah or fulfill commandments (mitzvot), something wonderful happens – your soul connects with the Divine will, bringing you closer to divine unity. But this connection varies in quality and depth.
When we fulfill commandments – giving charity, praying, helping others – our actions become conduits for the Higher will. This is similar to how a chariot carries its rider. Our hands, feet, and mind completely submit to the Divine plan at the moment of fulfilling the commandment.
But there exists an even deeper connection.
The Magic of Torah Study
Something special happens when studying Torah that enhances divine unity. The Torah doesn’t just express the Creator’s will – it is this will itself. When you read the Torah text, reflect on it, discuss it – you literally immerse yourself in Divine thinking itself.
“The Torah and the Almighty are completely one”
This is like if your thoughts momentarily became the thoughts of a great genius – you don’t just understand their ideas, you think with their mind. This is why studying Torah creates a unique form of divine unity, inaccessible by any other path.
Organs and Soul: A Metaphor for Unity
Hasidic teaching uses a vivid metaphor to explain this difference in achieving divine unity. The commandments are like “organs of the King.” Think about how your body works: when you want to move your hand, it instantly obeys, without delay or resistance. Similarly, the commandments are completely subordinate to the Divine will.
When we fulfill a commandment:
- Our actions become a “chariot” for the Divine will
- Our physical body transforms into a vessel for holiness
- We unite with the Creator through a specific action
But in Torah study, something greater happens – a complete fusion of human thought with Divine wisdom, the highest expression of divine unity, similar to how the soul is one with its essence.
Why Great Awe Is Born from Knowledge
When a person truly realizes what happens during Torah study – how their limited mind touches infinite wisdom that is above all worlds – a special sacred awe is born within them. This awe emerges from experiencing divine unity firsthand.
Imagine: that which even the highest worlds cannot contain suddenly manifests in your ordinary human mind! This thought can evoke the deepest reverence and awe.
This is what the verse speaks about: “And the Almighty commanded us to fulfill all these laws, to fear the Almighty.”
A Practical Lesson for Everyone
It’s important to understand that not every person can reach such a level of awareness and experience such divine unity and awe. Each soul has its own source and root, its own capabilities and limitations.
But even if you don’t feel this elevated unity and awe, this should not stop you from studying Torah and fulfilling commandments. Every step on this path is valuable, and each soul can find its own special connection with the Divine, corresponding to its nature.
Wisdom of the Patriarchs
Hasidic sages said: “The Patriarchs – they are the chariot.” What does this mean? Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob reached such a level of divine unity where their entire being – every organ, every thought – was completely subordinate to the Divine will. Their entire existence became a “chariot” for the manifestation of the Higher in this world.
This shows us the highest goal of human life – to become a perfect conduit for Divine will in the material world.
The Path to True Unity
Hasidic teaching reveals an amazing truth about divine unity: studying Torah creates a deeper union with the Divine than even prayer. Although prayer connects the upper worlds, it still doesn’t achieve the degree of fusion that immersion in Torah provides.
This doesn’t diminish the significance of prayer and other commandments – they are all necessary for harmonious spiritual development. But it is through studying Torah that a person achieves the most elevated divine unity with the Divine source.
What the Life of Worlds Depends On
Interestingly, according to Hasidic teaching, the life force of all worlds – from the highest spiritual to our material one – depends on people fulfilling the commandments. When we fulfill commandments, we literally sustain the existence of reality and contribute to cosmic divine unity.
This gives special meaning to each of our actions. Even a simple act of kindness or a moment of studying sacred texts becomes a cosmic event, supporting all creation.
This article is based on Chapter 23 of the book “Likutei Amarim – Tanya” by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, one of the greatest Hasidic thinkers and founder of the Chabad movement.
Afterword: This text has not been approved by any sage, Torah scholar, or rabbi and is merely a simplified adaptation of the sacred text for general understanding. For comprehension of true wisdom and a deeper understanding of the original text, you should refer to the sources.
