Tanya, Part I; Likkutei Amarim 13:6

Hook

There are days when our inner world feels like a bustling marketplace, a vibrant, sometimes chaotic, symphony of competing voices. One moment, a gentle hum of devotion, a quiet aspiration towards the good; the next, a clamorous demand for immediate gratification, a whisper of old habits. This isn't a sign of failure, beloved seeker, but rather the very pulse of our human journey, the living, breathing reality of what our Sages call the "intermediate person" – the benoni.

Today, we journey into the heart of this sacred tension, exploring a profound teaching from the Tanya that illuminates this inner tug-of-war not as a battle to be won and forgotten, but as a dynamic dance, a constant arbitration. The mood we embrace is one of radical self-acceptance interwoven with persistent aspiration. It’s the mood of the traveler who knows the path is long, sometimes winding, but never without a guiding star. It’s the mood of honest wrestling, not despair, but a grounded recognition of our complex inner landscape. We acknowledge the persistent presence of both light and shadow within, not to judge, but to understand, to witness, and ultimately, to harmonize.

The promise of our musical tool today is not to erase the struggle, but to give it voice, to provide a rhythmic container for the ebb and flow of our inner judges. Music, in its purest form, becomes the very breath of this arbitration, a sacred space where competing impulses can be acknowledged, held, and subtly guided towards their divine source. Imagine a melody that can hold both the yearning for the infinite and the pull of the finite, a chant that embodies the constant back-and-forth, yet always returns to a deeper truth, a steady anchor. This isn't about silencing the "evil nature" with forced cheer, but about creating space for the "divine soul" to prevail through consistent, loving attention. It’s about finding the melody in the mediation, the harmony in the hovering, the quiet strength in the continuous turning.

We often seek swift resolutions, a magical chord that will banish all discord. But the wisdom of the benoni teaches us that the journey is the very essence of the song. The notes of aspiration, the rests of reflection, the crescendos of divine love, and even the dissonances of temptation – all are integral to the grand composition of a soul striving towards its Creator. Our musical offering today will be a pathway to embody this truth, to feel the sacred tension in our bones, to allow the melody to become the arbitrator, the conduit for divine aid that helps our good nature ascend, not by force, but by gentle, persistent illumination. It’s a tool for persistent becoming, for finding grace in the ongoing process of balancing the scales of the heart.

Text Snapshot

Let us draw a few evocative lines from the heart of our text, Tanya, Part I; Likkutei Amarim 13:6, allowing its imagery and rhythm to settle within us:

"The evil nature [in the benoni], however, is no more than, for example, a magistrate or judge who gives his opinion on a point of law, yet it is not necessarily a final decision to be implemented in deed, for there is another magistrate or judge who is contesting this opinion. It is, therefore, necessary to arbitrate between the two..."

"...the divine soul in the brain extending into the right part of the heart, the abode of the good nature. The final verdict comes from the arbitrator—the Holy One, blessed is He, who comes to the aid of the good nature..."

"...such a person is likened to a “wicked man.” In the words of our Sages, “Even if the whole world tells you that you are righteous, in your own eyes regard yourself as if you were wicked”—not as actually wicked. But one should consider oneself to be a benoni..."

"But in a benoni it is, by way of example, similar to a sleeping man, who can awaken from his sleep. So is the evil in the benoni dormant, as it were, in the left part, during the recital of the Shema and the Prayer [Amidah], when his heart is aglow with the love of G–d, but later it can wake up again."

"...their love, during their prayers, may be termed “the lip of truth shall be established forever,” since their divine soul has the power to reawaken this kind of love constantly, during its preponderance in time of prayer day after day, by means of an appropriate [mental] preparation, each soul according to its intrinsic quality and rank."

Notice the legal imagery: "magistrate," "judge," "arbitrate," "final verdict." Feel the spatial metaphors: "left part of the heart," "brain," "right part of the heart." Sense the dynamic interplay: "contesting," "ascends," "challenged," "preponderance," "rises the other falls." And the vivid comparison: "sleeping man," "aglow with the love of G-d." These words paint a picture of an active, internal process, a constant negotiation rather than a static state.

Close Reading

The Tanya’s description of the benoni, the intermediate person, offers a profound and deeply liberating perspective on our inner world. It reframes the struggle between our higher and lower impulses not as a battle for eradication, but as an ongoing process of arbitration and conscious choice. This is not about achieving a state of perfect purity where no negative thought or desire ever arises, but about gaining mastery over the expression of these impulses, and cultivating a consistent channel for divine assistance.

Insight 1: The Authority of Action, Not the Absence of Impulse

Our text emphasizes a crucial distinction: "The evil nature [in the benoni], however, is no more than, for example, a magistrate or judge who gives his opinion on a point of law, yet it is not necessarily a final decision to be implemented in deed." This is a cornerstone for understanding emotional regulation in a deeply human, non-judgmental way. It tells us that the mere presence of a thought, a craving, or an inclination towards something less than ideal does not, in itself, define us as "wicked" or "failed." The "evil nature" (the yetzer hara) is present, active, and vocal, offering its "opinion." It expresses its desires, its pulls towards worldly pleasures, its inclinations that might diverge from our highest aspirations.

The genius of the benoni state is that while these impulses are fully present "in their innate strength, craving after all the pleasures of this world," they do not hold ultimate authority over our actions. The text states, "it has no authority and power to diffuse itself throughout the limbs of the body." This is a powerful insight into emotional maturity and spiritual discipline. It acknowledges the persistent, often loud, voice of the lower self, but crucially separates this internal 'noise' from our outward behavior.

Consider this in the context of our daily lives. We might feel a surge of impatience, a flash of envy, a strong desire for something fleeting or even harmful. The benoni teaching doesn't demand that these feelings vanish instantly. Instead, it invites us to witness them as "opinions" or "points of law" presented by an inner magistrate. These opinions are not to be automatically implemented. There is a second judge, the "divine soul in the brain extending into the right part of the heart," which offers a counter-argument.

This internal dialogue, this "arbitration," is where our conscious effort lies. It's about refusing to grant immediate executive power to every impulse that arises. This isn't repression in a harmful sense, denying the existence of the impulse. Rather, it's a profound act of self-governance. We acknowledge the desire, the craving, the negative thought, but we do not allow it to dictate our speech, our actions, or our overall direction. The "garments—the thought, speech, and act of the animal soul—are not invested in the brain, mouth, and hands and the other parts of the body, because G–d has given the mind supremacy and dominion over the heart."

This means that even when the "evil in the [heart’s] left part of the benoni is in its innate strength," we can still choose to clothe our minds, mouths, and hands in the "thought, speech, and act of the 613 commandments of the Torah." This is an incredibly practical and compassionate approach to living a spiritual life. It doesn't set an impossible standard of having no negative thoughts or desires, but rather focuses on the empowering reality of choosing how we respond to them.

The text further clarifies, "Even one whose whole aspiration is in G–d’s Torah, which he studies day and night for its own sake, this is still no proof whatsoever that the evil has been dislodged from its place." This is vital. Deep spiritual engagement and devotion do not necessarily eradicate the root strength of the lower nature. Instead, they provide the framework, the "garments," through which the divine soul can manifest its rule. The struggle is ongoing, but the victory is in the consistent choice of righteous action and thought, even in the face of persistent internal "opinions."

This insight liberates us from the burden of constantly trying to "feel" perfectly pure. We are not judged by the mere existence of an undesirable thought or feeling, but by our choice of how to engage with it, or rather, how not to engage with it in terms of action. The "arbitrator—the Holy One, blessed is He," steps in to aid the good nature, radiating "Divine light" to illuminate the divine soul. This divine assistance is not to remove the magistrate, but to ensure the "final verdict" aligns with holiness. It’s a constant infusion of grace that empowers our conscious will to choose wisely, to keep the reins of our "small city" (our body and psyche) in the hands of the divine soul, even when the clamor from the left side of the heart is strong. This is not about suppressing emotion until it explodes, but about conscious, intentional redirection of energy and action. It’s about cultivating the habit of asking, "Who truly holds the gavel in my inner court?" and then consciously inviting the Divine to preside.

Insight 2: The Ebb and Flow of Spiritual States – The "Sleeping Man"

The second profound insight into emotion regulation from this text addresses the transient nature of spiritual uplift and the reality of recurring challenges. The Tanya uses the vivid analogy of a "sleeping man" to describe the state of the evil inclination in the benoni: "But in a benoni it is, by way of example, similar to a sleeping man, who can awaken from his sleep. So is the evil in the benoni dormant, as it were, in the left part, during the recital of the Shema and the Prayer [Amidah], when his heart is aglow with the love of G–d, but later it can wake up again."

This imagery is deeply empathetic and realistic. It acknowledges that moments of profound spiritual connection, intense love for G-d, or clarity of purpose do not necessarily represent a permanent vanquishing of our lower impulses. We all experience those peak moments – during prayer, meditation, or acts of selfless kindness – when our hearts feel "aglow with the love of G-d," and negative inclinations seem to recede into a peaceful slumber. In these moments, the divine soul clearly "gains strength and ascendancy over the animal soul." The sitra achara (the 'other side,' the evil inclination) is "subdued," but crucially, "it is not entirely abolished, in the case of the benoni."

The "sleeping man" analogy teaches us not to be dismayed when, after a powerful spiritual experience, the old cravings or negative patterns seem to "wake up again." This is not a sign of spiritual failure or hypocrisy. It is the very nature of the benoni's journey. The evil inclination is not annihilated; it simply enters a state of dormancy, awaiting an opportunity to stir. This understanding prevents the "toxic positivity" that demands constant bliss or the shame that can arise when we feel a spiritual high dissipate.

Instead, this perspective cultivates resilience and patience. It tells us that consistent engagement, rather than a single transformative event, is the path. Just as we don't eat one meal and expect to be nourished forever, we don't have one powerful prayer experience and expect our lower nature to be permanently silenced. The "sleeping man" will eventually stir, and we must be prepared to re-engage the arbitration, to re-invite the divine aid, to re-clothe our actions in holiness.

The text further notes, "This quality of love... which is attained at the time of prayer by virtue of the preponderance of the divine soul... is, in comparison with the degree attained by the tzaddikim who serve G–d in perfect truth, not called “true service” at all, since it passes and disappears after prayer, and it is written, “The lip of truth shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.”" This is a sobering, yet ultimately empowering, distinction. The tzaddik (righteous person) has reached a level where their love is "established forever," where their evil is truly "abolished" or "despised and hated with a consummate hatred." For the benoni, however, our moments of profound love and connection are real, but they are often transient.

However, the Tanya immediately pivots to offer profound encouragement: "Nevertheless, in relation to the rank of the benonim, it is regarded as a truly perfect service in terms of their [level of] truth... their love, during their prayers, may be termed 'the lip of truth shall be established forever,' since their divine soul has the power to reawaken this kind of love constantly, during its preponderance in time of prayer day after day, by means of an appropriate [mental] preparation."

This is the heart of enduring emotional and spiritual practice. The benoni's truth is in the capacity to reawaken that love, day after day. It's not about a permanent state of emotional purity, but about the consistent, conscious effort to prepare oneself, to engage in prayer, study, and contemplation that rekindles the flame. The "appropriate [mental] preparation" is our ongoing work: pondering "the greatness of G–d, the En Sof, blessed is He," which generates "intense and flaming love of G–d in the right part of his heart."

This insight encourages a practice of gentle persistence. When the spiritual high recedes, and the "sleeping man" begins to stir, we don't despair. We recognize it as the natural rhythm of our inner life. We know that our divine soul has the inherent power to "reawaken this kind of love constantly." This transforms discouragement into a call to return, to re-engage the process, to seek the divine light once more. It teaches us that our spiritual journey is not a sprint to an endpoint, but a continuous, unfolding dance, a daily renewal of commitment and connection. The truth of the benoni is in the unwavering dedication to this cycle of reawakening, making the temporary ascendancy of the divine soul a permanent potential that is tapped into through consistent effort and divine assistance. This allows for the full spectrum of human experience, even longing and sadness, to be held within the larger container of the spiritual path, knowing that the capacity for reawakening is always present.

Melody Cue

Imagine a melody that breathes with the very rhythm of arbitration, a niggun that holds both the insistent voice of the lower self and the clear, steady call of the divine. Our niggun for the benoni is not one of frantic striving, but of grounded, persistent turning. It is a wordless chant, allowing the space for our own internal dialogue to unfold within its embrace.

Let us call it "The Arbitrator's Hum." It begins with a slightly melancholic, questioning phrase in a minor key – perhaps a descending sequence of three or four notes, like a sigh or a hesitant query. This is the "magistrate's opinion," the initial pull or doubt, acknowledged but not yet affirmed. It lingers, suggesting the persistent presence of the yetzer hara's voice, "in its innate strength, craving after all the pleasures of this world."

Then, a second phrase emerges, higher in register, perhaps shifting subtly towards a major key or a brighter modal quality. This phrase is a response, a gentle ascent, representing the "divine soul in the brain extending into the right part of the heart." It’s not an aggressive refutation, but a clear, calm counterpoint, embodying the intellect's ability to contemplate and challenge. This phrase might have a feeling of opening, of expansion, as if light is beginning to illuminate the inner chambers.

The third phrase returns to a more neutral, perhaps slightly ambiguous tonal center, reflecting the "arbitration" itself. It is a moment of holding, of seeking the "final verdict." This phrase is often repetitive, a gentle rocking motion, allowing for contemplation of the tension. It's the space where the "Holy One, blessed is He, who comes to the aid of the good nature" begins to radiate the "Divine light." This phrase should feel like a patient waiting, a deep listening for guidance.

Finally, the fourth phrase rises with a quiet certainty, resolving into a clear, steady major chord, or a strong, stable melodic peak. This is the moment of "preponderance and dominion" for the divine soul, when the good nature gains the upper hand. It’s not a triumphant shout, but a grounded, internal victory, a feeling of gentle ascendancy, of the "excellence of light over darkness." This phrase should leave a sense of peace, a quiet affirmation that the light has prevailed, even if the "sleeping man" awaits his eventual stirring.

The niggun then cycles back, perhaps starting the next iteration with the initial melancholic phrase, reminding us that the arbitration is continuous, the "sleeping man" will awaken, and the process of reawakening love is a daily practice. The key is the flow between these emotional and melodic states, the acceptance of the minor key's presence, and the consistent return to the major key's resolution through divine aid. It’s a melody that embraces the full spectrum of the benoni's inner life, allowing for moments of challenge and moments of grace, always guiding us back to the source of our strength. The tempo should be moderate, allowing for spaciousness and reflection, never rushed, but always moving forward. The articulation should be legato, smooth and connected, reflecting the seamless integration of our inner experiences within the divine process.

Practice

Let us now engage with "The Arbitrator's Hum," allowing its gentle rhythm to guide our inner arbitration for a focused 60 seconds. This ritual is designed to anchor the wisdom of the benoni in your body and soul, whether you are nestled in the quiet of your home or navigating the vibrant pulse of your commute.

Setup

Find a moment of relative stillness. It doesn’t need to be perfect silence; simply turn your attention inward. You might close your eyes gently, or soften your gaze. Place one hand over your heart, and the other over your forehead, symbolizing the connection between the "left part of the heart" (passions) and the "brain" (intellect), and inviting the divine soul to extend into the "right part of the heart." Take three deep, cleansing breaths, envisioning each exhale releasing any outer distractions, and each inhale drawing in a sense of inner spaciousness.

Action

1. Acknowledge the Magistrate (15 seconds): Begin by humming the first, slightly melancholic phrase of "The Arbitrator's Hum." As you hum, bring to mind a recent inner struggle, a persistent craving, a fleeting negative thought, or a mood that pulls you away from your higher self. Don't judge it; simply acknowledge its presence, as the "magistrate who gives his opinion." Feel its reality without letting it consume you. Allow the hum to hold this feeling. You might silently repeat the phrase from the text: "It is an opinion, not a final decision."

2. Invite the Divine Soul (15 seconds): Transition to the second, ascending, brighter phrase of the hum. As you hum this, consciously invite the presence of your "divine soul in the brain extending into the right part of the heart." Envision a gentle light, a sense of clarity, a quiet resolve, or a feeling of love for G-d. Recall a moment of spiritual connection or aspiration. Let this brighter hum be the counter-argument, the challenge to the initial opinion. Silently affirm: "My divine soul offers a contesting opinion, a higher perspective."

3. Rest in Arbitration (15 seconds): Move to the third, repetitive, neutral phrase of the hum. This is the space of arbitration. Here, you are not actively struggling, but resting in the awareness that the "final verdict comes from the arbitrator—the Holy One, blessed is He." Allow yourself to simply be present with the tension and the potential for resolution. Feel the divine light radiating, illuminating your soul. Silently whisper: "Divine light illuminates me; the Holy One comes to my aid."

4. Embrace Preponderance (15 seconds): Conclude with the fourth, resolving, stable phrase of the hum. Feel the gentle ascendancy, the "preponderance and dominion" of the divine soul. This is not the eradication of the lower impulse, but its being "subdued," put to sleep, at least for this moment. Sense the quiet victory, the grace that allows you to choose holiness. Silently affirm: "Light prevails over darkness. My divine soul ascends."

Focus

During this 60-second practice, your focus is not on eliminating the "evil nature" but on consciously engaging in the arbitration process. Feel the flow between acknowledging the lower impulse, inviting the higher perspective, resting in divine aid, and affirming the ascendancy of the good. Remember the "sleeping man" – this practice helps put that impulse to sleep for a time, knowing it may awaken, but also knowing you have the power to reawaken love constantly. Allow the melody to be the container for this dynamic inner work, holding both the challenge and the grace.

Takeaway

Our journey through Tanya's profound wisdom reveals that the spiritual path is not a quest for an impossible purity, but a courageous engagement with our inherent complexity. The benoni is not a lesser being, but the very crucible of conscious becoming, a soul constantly, dynamically arbitrating between the pulls of the material and the call of the divine. This is a deeply honest and liberating truth: your moments of wrestling are not flaws, but the very fabric of your growth.

The melody we've explored, "The Arbitrator's Hum," is a testament to this truth. It is a sonic container for the ebb and flow of your inner life, a reminder that even when the "sleeping man" of old habits stirs, your divine soul possesses the inherent power to "reawaken this kind of love constantly." This isn't about forced smiles or denying genuine longing or sadness; it's about acknowledging the full spectrum of your inner landscape while consistently choosing to align your actions with the highest light.

Carry this understanding forward: you are never alone in your internal dialogues. The Divine Arbitrator is always present, ready to illuminate your path and aid your good nature. Your "truth" as a benoni lies in the unwavering commitment to this daily reawakening, this persistent turning towards the light, one conscious breath, one hummed melody, one chosen action at a time. Let your life be a continuous niggun of this sacred arbitration, a testament to the enduring power of gentle, truthful persistence.