• would love to hear from you; MRubin214@gmail.com
• Please let me know if the notes below are helpful (note they are unedited so please do not rely on)

In Likutei Moharan, we’re taught that human nature is shaped by three key faculties:

• Intellect (Seichel): The mind that perceives truth and connects to Divine wisdom.
• Imagination (Koach HaMedameh): The bridge faculty that translates understanding into action.
• Action (Ma’aseh): The physical implementation of our thoughts in the world.

• The intellect, grounded in absolute truth, leads the way.
• The imagination becomes a faithful transmitter of Divine wisdom.
• Actions naturally align with Divine will, and there’s no resistance in the system.
• This approach is like a healthy body, where the limbs move as directed by the mind without friction.

• Desires and circumstances often drive the perception of what’s true.
• Imagination creates illusions, justifying actions that may not be based in eternal truth.
• This results in dissonance, where a person’s actions are not aligned with their higher purpose.
• It’s like a body whose movements are driven by random impulses, instead of being guided by a higher purpose.

• Reality consists of interconnected spiritual levels, each with its own essence and outer expression.
• As we grow, we ascend through these levels, expanding our capacity to connect to the Divine.

• Spiritual growth begins at the most basic level, and we must master each one before progressing.
• Moving from one level to the next is like advancing through school—each level introduces new challenges and forces us to begin again in a new environment.
• Each transition brings us face-to-face with the klipah (spiritual shell) of that level, which we must break through to access the deeper spiritual essence.

• At every level, we encounter a klipah—a spiritual barrier—that prevents us from accessing the deeper truths.
• These barriers may appear as confusion, resistance, or limitations, but they are not inherently negative; they provide the necessary challenge for spiritual growth.

• Divine attributes like chesed (kindness) and gevurah (strength) may seem like opposites at first glance.
• From a limited perspective, they appear to conflict with each other. But from a higher vantage point, these contrasting qualities come together to create Divine beauty (tiferes).

• Giving tzedakah (charity) creates a powerful connection between the giver and the receiver, as well as with the Divine.
• By giving, we identify with others and transform our resources into vessels for Divine will, elevating both ourselves and the recipient.

• Giving tzedakah before prayer sets the stage for spiritual ascent, allowing us to break through barriers and access higher levels of Divine connection.
• This act of selflessness creates the spiritual alignment needed to ascend through the worlds during...