Core Concepts Tanya: Chapter 27

Brief Recap of Chapter 27:

1. Chapter 27 continues the theme of addressing situations which might make someone feel depressed, leaden, too sad to get moving as they should. We know we're at our best when we're happy, so the negative forces of the world try to infringe upon that happiness to wear us down and hold us back. In this chapter, the Alter Rebbe focuses on sadness/depression that may occur when someone feels nothing they do is ridding the sinful thoughts/desires that bombard them during even mundane times of the day.

2. To solve this, we need to adjust our view of this obstacle.
If such thoughts come to us while we're going about our regular day, resist giving into feelings that will sink us. We need to push the thoughts away. Not only that, but we can rejoice that we've been given the chance to face down and rid ourselves of these thoughts.
Why is that something to get excited about?
Because this battle with negative forces is specifically the work of a Beinoni.

4. The Alter Rebbe reminds us that we are not tzaddikim. Therefore, we shouldn't be hard on ourselves for having thoughts of sin and strong desires for indulgences, because this is part of who we are and what we're fighting against. This battle may be the very reason for our creation! A tzaddik doesn't face this battle because he's on a different spiritual track. The tzaddik is involved in the work of turning over, transforming dark into light. The Beinoni, and all others, are tasked with weakening the sitra achara, even when it seems to be at its strongest.

5. It would seem the tzaddik has a much more enviable mission than everyone else. However, as we learn from the story of the twins Yaakov and Eisav, there are two ways of serving Hashem, and two ways of bringing about Divine pleasure in the work we do.
The first is the way of the tzaddik, "sweet work," which focuses on transforming dark into light.
The second is the way of the rest of us, "savory work," which is about not giving in and resisting the sitra achara, thereby weakening it.
As with any palate, both sweet and savory dishes are desirable and enjoyable in their own way.
In this example, the Alter Rebbe is reminding us to focus on the work we're meant to do, and reassuring us that this work also has meaning and worth and brings joys to Hashem.

6. The third paragraph of Shema warns "you will not follow after your heart and after your eyes by which you go astray." The ordering of this verse, putting heart before eyes, teaches us that if our heart wants something, then our eyes will find it. Therefore, it is our task to resist the urges and desires of our heart. Impulsive thought of sin isn't the sin, but willfully following up on it is. Therefore, even if we only passively refrain from giving in and committing a sin, we are still rewarded as though we had actively performed a mitzvah.

7. "What's forbidden is forbidden, what's permissible is unnecessary."
This saying teaches us how to go about our work of weakening the sitra achara. We know we're supposed to refrain from the forbidden, but it's the resistance to indulge in the permissible where we can truly subjugate the negative forces and exert our will over them. We see this in the example of the Gemara that scholars eat their meals two hours later than everyone else, because they can. Most importantly, they're using those two hours to pursue Torah study. When we resist something we want to say or do or eat, or push it off just a little and use that time for good, then we are fulfilling our purpose in weakening the sitra achara.

8. Hashem tells us "You shall be holy." The word for Holy is "Kedusha" which really means to set apart. We become holy/make something holy when we set it/ourselves apart. And when we really, sincerely try, then Hashem helps us. This phrase is not just a command, but a promise and reassurance that we will be holy.

The battle against sinful thoughts and desire is constant and ongoing, one that will probably continue for most of the Beinoni's life. However, each time we push against the negative forces and hold them back, we get a little bit stronger and bring Hashem pleasure in our work.
Think of a garden. No matter how beautiful, it needs to be constantly weeded and tended and protected from whatever may encroach upon it. Always and ongoing. Yet, there are spots when we do clear away all the weeds for a while, when we can hold them back long enough to plant something which will flourish and grow. And then the work goes on.