Chapter 28

In this chapter, the Alter Rebbe brings another reason why we might be sad and gives the solution to avoid that sadness.

It may happen that, in the middle of studying Torah or of prayer, when we are truly busy serving Hashem, Inappropriate thoughts arise, and that generates sadness, because we think: “If I were really serving Hashem, "I wouldn't be thinking about these things that have nothing to do with Him.".

For example, if we were truly praying, why would we be thinking about breakfast? Does that mean our prayer is worthless? These thoughts generate sadness because we put in so much effort, and apparently, our prayer has no value.

But that's not true. The Alter Rebbe explains that, first of all, when the "Average Man" has these bad thoughts during prayer or study, he should quickly stop thinking about them. As soon as he realizes, for example, that he's thinking about breakfast in the middle of prayer, he should focus more intently on the words of the prayer he's reciting.

Secondly, the Alter Rebbe explains that what is happening is that the greater the effort to use the “inclination to good” to serve Hashem, The more force the "inclination to evil" must exert to fight against it, the more strength it must put into fighting against it. So, it's the opposite of what we thought! The fact that the "inclination to evil" is working so hard is clear proof that the "inclination to good" is working very well! And that should bring great joy: if there is so much opposition, it's because we are truly on the right path.

The Alter Rebbe explains how both souls, the Divine Soul and the Animal Soul, work together. It's not that one proposes to do one first. Mitzvah And then the other one says the opposite: they don't take turns, but rather operate simultaneously. It's like a soccer match: both teams play, move around the field, and try to make their plays at the same time, even though only one team has the ball at a time, but both are moving and playing on the field.

The same is true of the two souls of the Jew: both "play" within us to govern the body and, sometimes, even speak simultaneously, trying to get our attention. It's as if, while we are praying, and the Divine Soul is reciting the words of the prayer with great enthusiasm, a stranger stands beside us and starts talking about the latest film by a famous filmmaker. They talk and confuse and annoy us. What we must do is pay absolutely no attention to them, not even acknowledge them, but concentrate much more intently on the words of the prayer, as if that person didn't exist.

Similarly, when we are praying or studying and our minds wander, we must remember not to dwell on those thoughts but to continue praying or studying with renewed zeal. While the Divine Soul is praying or studying, the Animal Soul is talking about anything and everything…

If it is still very difficult, the Alter Rebbe indicates another way to save ourselves from those thoughts: that we ask for help from Hashem. Because, after all, the Divine Soul is a portion of Hashem (as explained in chapter 2), therefore, we can pray to Hashem that He may truly save a portion of Himself. And ask Him to remove all those thoughts that confuse us so much and prevent us from serving Him with joy. And Hashem, It will certainly help us.