Core Concepts Tanya: Chapter 28

Brief recap of Chapter 28:

1. Chapter 28 rounds out the discussion on sadness which weighs us down and prevents us from serving Hashem with joy. Chapter 26 spoke about sadness stemming from areas in our physical lives, Chapter 27 addressed a more spiritual sadness which occurs during mundane activities. Chapter 28 discusses sadness which occurs during spiritual activities.

2. What if I'm doing everything I'm supposed to, what if I started my day off right, what if I'm in a good spiritual place, and yet, in middle of davening/doing a mitzvah/studying Torah, thoughts of desires or sin make their way into my mind? What does this mean about me and what does this mean about my service? Is everything worthless? Am I a hypocrite or unworthy for not being able to keep these thoughts away?

3. Short answer is no, because this negative does not undo all the positive.

4. The Alter Rebbe reminds us that such thoughts occur not because we aren't doing what we're supposed to be doing, but because we are. The fact that negative elements are trying to come after us when we're engaged in holy pursuits proves that we're winning the battle for good in that moment. And so, negative forces redouble their efforts to try and distract us or bring us down.

5. Think of a person who's davening and right across from him is someone trying to distract him. That person will either shut down the distracter or concentrate even harder so the person will not interfere with his prayers. This is how we deal with negativity that tries to interrupt our spiritual pursuits. We push it out of our minds and refuse to engage. King Solomon tells us "don't answer a fool in his foolishness lest you become like him." When you fight in the mud, you get muddy.

6. Sometimes it may seem dispiriting because this battle has no end. As soon as we reach a higher level, stronger negative forces already await us there. Yes, but their getting stronger is proof of how well we're doing. Also, we will never fully defeat these negative forces unless we reach the level of a tzaddik. These thoughts prove that we're not a tzaddik, rather we are a battleground between two souls, each fighting minute by minute, day by day, to gain full and absolute control of the body so it may use it to its own end. This fight, whatever it may be for each of us, may very well be the reason we were created. Every step forward counts, every time we fight is meaningful.

7. There may come a point when a person has tried and worked so hard, but still feels he isn't making any gains, that the negative forces are just too overwhelming and intense to suppress. If at this point, the Alter Rebbe advises that a person humble his soul and pray and beg Hashem to have compassion on him. And not just for the person's sake, but for Hashem's sake. Because we each have a part of Hashem inside of us, the G-dly soul, so we ask Hashem to have mercy upon this piece of himself that He's given us, to help protect us, to give us a boost, to gain strength and courage to fight on.