Truth is also associated with the ground as the verse says, "Truth will
sprout from the earth." (Psalms 85:12). Falsehood is also associated
with earth, "And Hashem said to the snake [the source of all evil and
falsehood], 'Because you have done this [enticed Adam and Eve to
sin],(upon your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days
of your life." [The verse associates the snake, the epitome of
falsehood, with the dust.] (Genesis 3:14) In this way, the earth and
blood are alike since they both resonate with an admixture of good and
evil.
Every fall is good because it provides us with a perspective of truth
which we are unable to perceive while in an elevated position. We must
fall to the dirt associated with the spiritual energies of truth in
order to dispel any misconceptions we may have about our position in
life and relationship with Hashem. Rabbi Nachman calls this process a
descent for the purpose of achieving an eventual ascent. Thus, the
positive aspects of the dust are used to negate the negative aspects of
the dust.
One of the main causes of evil and impurity is falsehood. One of the
main sources of good and holiness is truth. The commandment of covering
the blood illustrates the impact of truth and falsehood upon our lives.
Blood contains the nefesh, the spiritual component which sustains all of
the body's functions. On the one hand, the blood's spiritual energies
fuel animalistic desire, the root cause of all evil. On the other hand,
the blood sustains the body and it is through the body that we are most
able to recognize and serve the Creator. Since the blood contains both
positive and negative aspects, it is essential that we sift, separate,
and elevate the good aspects from the bad.
Rav Noson says that in the upper worlds there are no distinctions,
everything reflects the unity of Hashem. Only in this physical world are
there differences and distinctions. For example, in this world there is
a notable difference between silver and gold. However, in the upper
worlds, the spiritual source of silver and the spiritual source of gold
are both Hashem's infinite light. Before an object is formed in this
world, it is connected to all other things within Hashem's unity. After
it is formed and takes on a physical appearance, it appears to be
separate and distinct from every other object. However, this is an
illusion, because although each physical item appears to be unique,
distinct and separate, it is still rooted within Hashem's unity in upper
worlds. This is the negative and false aspect of earth. As Rabbi Nachman
said, truth is one, but falsehood is many. For example, in reference to
silver, the truth is that it is silver, and nothing more. Falsehood has
infinite possibilities--calling silver gold or copper or plastic, etc.
(1 Lekutai MoHaran 51) However, as illusory as the physical world is, in
the end, when all objects decay and disintegrate into the same
material--dust--the truth is ultimately revealed that in reality
everything is the same, unified within Hashem's Oneness, as the verse
says, "All [things] go to the same place [they are all connected and
unified within Hashem]; all [things] originate from dust and all
[things] return to dust." (Eccl. 3:20) Thus, it is through the earth
that the truth about the Oneness of Hashem is revealed. So we must sift
the positive aspects of dust from the negative ones in order to discover
truth.
Rav Noson says that in order for our activities in the mundane world to
be associated with truth, they must be connected to or unified with
Hashem. He gives several examples: One should earn his livelihood with
the sole intention that he will use the proceeds of his income to serve
Hashem by giving charity, supporting his own Torah study, creating a
Torah lifestyle for himself and his family etc. Then, when such a person
works, he connects all of the hours he expends on earning a living to
truth, unifying all of his work to the Oneness of Hashem, the source of
all truth. Thus he lives a life of truth. Conversely, a person who goes
to work without these intentions leads a life that is very far from
truth. Such a person is likely to be dishonest in business, because his
motives for working are not associated with truth--he is not interested
in facilitating his service of Hashem. [Note: People who cloak
themselves in the garb of religiosity while conducting themselves
dishonestly are in the same category. Their religiosity is not for
serving Hashem, but rather themselves.] In another example, Rav Noson
says that all scientific knowledge is worthless if one does not use it
to recognize that it was Hashem Who created and continues to operate the
wonders of nature. What does it matter if, for example, a person
researches and discovers the dimensions of the sky. In the end he will
return to the dust and his knowledge will be worthless to him.
Scientific knowledge that is not used to acknowledge and serve Hashem
actually results in driving people even further from truth. Such
scientists are not only far from the truth themselves, but they mislead
the masses, inculcating them with false beliefs that preclude belief in
Hashem. However, when a person uses his scientific knowledge as support
for the reality of the Creator and the requirement to serve Him, he
connects his knowledge to truth. Then his knowledge unifies him in
Hashem's Oneness.
As mentioned above, blood is associated with the spiritual energies of
animalism and hedonism, the root of all evil and falsehood. Also
mentioned was the fact that everything decomposes to become earth,
affirming the truth that everything is connected to Hashem and His
Oneness. Thus, this aspect of earth is associated with the spiritual
energies of truth. So when we cover the blood of a slaughtered animal
with earth, we rectify the false aspects associated with blood, i.e. by
covering the blood with the spiritual energies of the truth that are
associated with the earth, we rectify that part of the blood which
engenders hedonistic desires leading to a life of temporary and false
values, detached from Hashem and His truth. In this way the spiritual
energies of falsehood contained in the animal's blood are subdued and
the positive aspects of the blood, those which provided life to the
animal, in order that Hashem could be served, are elevated.
The Temple and the Temple service have the ability to connect one to
Hashem and truth. As discussed above, the blood of cattle, sheep, and
goats did not require covering. Within the context of the sacrificial
offering, the blood was sprinkled upon the altar which connected it to
truth. Thus there was no need to access the earth's resonance with truth
by covering the blood. [Note: Although not all cattle, sheep, or goats
were offered upon the altar and today there is no Temple, since all
cattle, sheep, and, goats come from the same spiritual roots, they are
all connected to truth through those animals which were actually
sacrificed, for through their being sacrificed, they drew the spiritual
energies of truth to the entire spiritual root].
OF SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS
The goal and purpose of life in the physical world is to come closer to
Hashem, the source of all truth, through serving Him and doing His will.
Rav Noson says that the barometer of an activity's being rooted in truth
or falsehood is whether or not it is useful in the service of Hashem.
What if a person truly wants to serve Hashem, but unintentionally
becomes a follower of a person whose activities that are rooted in
falesehood or of a false philosophy? Rav Noson explains that such a
person will not be held responsible. Furthermore, if in his heart, he is
sincerely looking for truth, Hashem will eventually open his eyes and
make him realize that that particular leader or thought system which he
believed would lead him to Hashem is in fact false. Rav Noson cautions
that one should not rationalize adherence to a person or philosophy that
he knows to be false based upon the possible material benefits. Hashem
cannot be fooled. He knows everyone's intentions. Rav Noson therefore
suggests that in order to avoid the pitfalls of self-delusion or
uncertainty, one should verbally declare to Hashem that he wants only to
be led to truth and then give over all of his thoughts, speech, and
actions to Hashem in order that Hashem will lead him to the truth. Even
if the individual has not yet found truth, if he sincerely seeks it,
Hashem will eventually lead him to it. Finding truth entails being
associated with the true Tzaddikim (saints) and adhering to their
teachings. Thus, one who is sincerely seeking the truth Hashem will lead
to a true Tzaddik. And the more we strive to find such a Tzaddik, the
sooner it will happen.
On the one hand, the Jews are compared to the stars, "[Hashem said to
Abraham, the father of the Jewish People] 'Gaze, now, toward the
Heavens, and count the stars(so shall your offspring be!'" (Genesis
15:5) In another verse the Jews are compared to the dust, "I (Hashem)
will make your offspring as the dust of the earth..." (Genesis 13:16)
The sages explain that when the Jews fall, they fall to the depths of
the earth and when they ascend they ascend to the stars. Rav Noson
further elaborates: It is the spiritual energies of falsehood,
associated with the dust, that influences the Jews to sin, causing them
to fall to the dust. However, once they have fallen, the true Tzaddikim
are then able to activate the positive aspects of earth--which are the
spiritual energies of truth--enabling the Jews to return to truth as
they ascend to the heavens. In another way of understanding this
concept, after sinning, but before they fall to the earth, the Jews are
unable to realize that their sinful path is wrong, destructive, and full
of falsehood, leading them away from truth. But once they have fallen,
they are able to clearly recognize that it was their belief in falsehood
and sinful behavior that was responsible for their downfall. This
activates the other aspect of the dust, the energies of truth which
helps the Jews correct their behavior, propelling them once again to the
heavens.
Every fall is good because it provides us with a perspective of truth
which we are unable to perceive while in an elevated position. The above
discussion illuminates Abraham's prayer in his attempt to save the city
of Sodom, which Hashem was about to destroy for the extreme wickedness
of its residents, "Behold now, I (Abraham) desired to speak to my G-d
[in order to plead the cause of the wicked people of Sodom] although I
am but dust and ash." (Genesis 18:27) The wickedness of the people of
Sodom resulted from their great love and attachment to falsehood. Every
human being has some good within him, even the most wicked. However, the
people of Sodom were so corrupt, wicked, and attached to falsehood that
it was even very difficult for Abraham, a man who saw the good in
everybody, to find any good within them. Still, Abraham was well aware
of the above mentioned principle and so, believed that there must have
been some good hidden amongst the people of Sodom worth saving. This is
why he pleaded their case. Abraham felt that in order to discover the
true good hidden within the Sodomites, as discussed above, he had to
connect himself with the spiritual energies of the truth, which are
associated with the earth. By declaring that he was nothing but dust and
ash, Abraham was able to merge his essence with the spiritual energies
of the dust. As mentioned above, dust attests to the unity and Oneness
of Hashem, which is associated with the spiritual energies of absolute
truth. Once Abraham was connected to absolute truth, he would be able to
discover the underlying good of the people of Sodom, that he was sure
was hidden within them. Once Abraham would be able to see the good
within the people of Sodom, he would be better able to defend them.
A PRAYER TO SAVE A CITY
The ashes of the red heifer were able to purify a person who had become
spiritually contaminated through contact with death. The sages explain
that ash and dirt contain the same spiritual energies, for Numbers 19:17
also refers to ashes as dirt, "They shall take for the contaminated
person some of the dirt [referring to the ash] of the burning of the
purification [animal]..." Death was decreed upon the world as a result
of the snake having enticed Adam to sin against Hashem. As mentioned
above, the essence of the snake resonates with the negative energies of
dirt, i.e. falsehood and evil. Since the entire universe is either
associated with or dependent upon the earth, when the snake caused the
negative aspects of earth to prevail over the positive aspects, meaning
that falsehood obscured truth, it caused man and the entire universe to
become detached from truth and Hashem. Originally, before Adam's sin,
man and the entire universe was attached to truth and therefore did not
need to die or decay having no need to reconnect to the positive aspects
of earth. However, when through his sin, man became detached from truth,
it became necessary for him and all creatures to reunite with truth by
dying and becoming dust once again. Furthermore, life requires one to
deal with the falsehood of this world. Living in an environment of
falsehood causes mankind and everything else to eventually expire and
decay. In order for man to cleanse himself of the impurity of falsehood
that he absorbs from this world, after his demise he is placed in the
ground, which reunites him with the spiritual energies of truth and
purges him of the negative spiritual energies of falsehood. Since death
is associated with falsehood, the ashes of the red heifer, which
contained the spiritual energies of truth, were sprinkled upon the
contaminated person to cleanse him of the impurity. In addition, a woman
suspected of being unfaithful to her husband, called a sotah in Hebrew,
had to drink of water that contained holy earth taken from the Temple
grounds. This drink, which was also associated with the spiritual
energies of truth, determined the guilt or innocence of the suspected
woman. If she was indeed guilty, these waters would cause her death,
because by acting immorally, she was connected to one of major
falsehoods in the world and needed spiritual healing that only returning
to the earth could accomplish. Conversely, if she was proven to be
innocent, these waters would cause her to enjoy improved health and she
would merit to produce beautiful children. Because she did not detach
herself from the ways of truth, the holy earth contained in the waters
would increase her connection to the truth even more and she would
flourish. [Note: On the physical level one's body is thrown into
chemical imbalance when he tells a lie. This demonstrates how death is
associated with falsehood and life with truth.] (Lekutai Halachot: Yorah
Dayah: Hilchot Behayma V'Chaiya Tehora 4:23-29)
AND BURIAL IN THE GROUND
Truth brings one closer to Hashem and falsehood has the opposite
effect(Our Rabbis taught: Four men entered the 'Orchard' [They ascended
to heaven by uttering Hashem's Name. (Rashi)] [The 'Orchard' is an
expression for paradise where the souls of the righteous are kept
(Maharsha)]. [The four were] Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Acher [Lit. 'other',
the name by which Elisha ben Abuya is referred to because he became an
apostate as the result of this incident], and Rebbe Akiva. Rebbe Akiva
[their teacher] said to them, "When you arrive at the stones of pure
marble [which give the illusion of water] say not, Water water! For it
is said, "'He who tells lies will have no place before My (Hashem's)
eyes." (Psalms 101:7) [They performed certain rituals and uttered
certain prayers with purity. Through these procedures they were able to
go from chamber to chamber in the upper worlds and were able to observe
angles performing their duties. They eventually reached an inner chamber
that appeared to be filled with tens of thousands of waves of water.
However, there was actually not even one drop there. If they would
declare that this chamber actually contained water, which was a
falsehood; since Hashem cannot tolerate falsehood, they would be ejected
from this inner chamber. (Hakosev)]. Ben Azzai looked and died [As the
verse says, "For no human can see My (Hashem's) face and live." (Exodus
33:20) (Rashi)] [The Orchard contained the wisdom of G-dliness. This
enflamed Ben Azzai's soul with a passionate love for Hashem and the
bright light there caused his soul to separate from his body, divesting
itself of the physical. This indicates that Ben Azzai was on a very high
level. (MaHarsha)]. Of him the verse says, "Precious in the sight of
Hashem is the death of His saints." (Psalms 116:15) Ben Zoma looked [at
the Shechina, the Divine Presence] and became demented [Ben Zoma
experienced what Ben Azzai had experienced, but since he wasn't on the
same high level, Ben Zoma was not able to absorb the light with such
clarity. This caused his mind to became confused, just a person becomes
confused when he encounters something that isn't clear. (MaHarsha)]. Of
him the verse says, "If you have found honey, eat enough for you, lest
you become sated with it and vomit it." [He overstepped the boundaries
of deriving pleasure from a sweet thing i.e. the Divine Presence, which
is similar to overeating honey.] (Proverbs 25:16) Acher mutilated the
shoots [meaning he became an apostate. He didn't properly comprehend
what he saw. This misunderstanding caused him to erroneously conclude
that there was more than One Divine power. (see Maharsha)] Rebbe Akiva
departed unhurt. [This indicates that Rebbe Akiva was [spiritually]
complete in every category. When he realized he had reached the maximum
limits of human intelligence, he was able to control himself and not
break through the boundary [of safety] and did not approach any closer
to Hashem [than safety would permit]. (Maharsha)]. (Talmud: Chagiga
14b)