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Notes:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/iskv8595zp0jks5/9.%20Bo.%20Beam%20Me%20Up.pdf?dl=0
Handout:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/06mjqpzv0powzd4/9.%20Handout%20for%20Bo%205779.pdf?dl=0
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Deep within us we acknowledge that spiritual is infinite, while physical is finite, spiritual is eternal, while physical is mortal, and that spiritual is superior. While physical is inferior. We also acknowledge that there is something spiritual within us that defines our being alive, rather than, being a lifeless corpse. However, we identify with our physicality, and feel remote from the abstract intangible spirituality within us. Thus, most often we feel inadequate and inferior, and that our accomplishments are insignificant and lacking.
Our reactions to this inferior complex is one of two:
(a) We take on an ego persona, always proving to ourselves and others that we are better than.
(b) We try to fully embrace our eternal and infinite spirituality in all our affairs.
The challenge is that neither of these approaches successfully fill the hole of inferiority permanently.
(a) When we take on an ego persona, trying to project what we don’t truly believe to be, we ultimately end up having to face the teaching of Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch, “You aren’t fooling G-d, nor are you fooling your fellow man. You are but fooling yourself, and what is the big wisdom in fooling a fool…”
(b) Our sages say that in three ways we are compared to angels (spiritual) and in three ways we are compared to animals (physical). Thus. To deny what is at least 50% of who we are will only lead to suppression, which in turn leads to frustration and mental illnesses.
The question we will explore here is how to fully embrace all that we are, physical and spiritual, with absolute contentment, and with absolutely no sense of inferiority.
This lecture is based on a maamor the Rebbe delivered in 1959, on Yud Shevat the 9th Hilullah of the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchok of Lubavitch, and on the 8th anniversary of the Rebbe’s leadership.
