[Avodah] ain Od Milvado v. Bechira

[Micha Berger]

On Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 02:11:25PM -0700, Harvey Benton wrote:
: If I understand the concept (chasidically explained to me) of Ain Od
: Milvado, everything, despite its appearance to us, is really Hashem. This
: would include trees, tables, chairs, and following the same logic, our
: Bechira as well. Also following this logic, the result of our bechira
: (e.g. choosing good or badly) is also part of Hashem.

I'm not sure this is true of chassidus in general, or is limited to the
Tanya and thus more or less true of various forms of chassidus. I held
off on replying (as RMP noted about the chevrah in general) hoping one
of our Lub members would touch it.

 From what I understand (with that disclaimer in mind), in this system
of thought, tzimtzum /is/ bechirah chafshi /is/ the illusion that I'm
a distinct being living amongst distinct objects. Bechirah was created
by giving us an opportunity to see the Divine within creation or not.

: If so, how can we be punished for choosing badly, when the bechira and the 
: result of the bechira, were to begin with really part of Hashem?

What does it mean to be "part of" HQBH Who is Absolutely One?

I would focus the question slightly differently: If all of creation if
Hidden Divinity, isn't everything perfect, and thus my choices compelled
by the logic of what best fits the Divine Plan?

In Izhbitz thought the only bechirah we have is whether we interpret
our decisions as being in concert with that Plan, or in rebellion. But
given this notion in the Tanya, even that is problematic. Because the
interpretation too is being performed by something that only /thinks/
it's an independent entity.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Today is the 8th day, which is
micha at aishdas.org        1 week and 1 day in/toward the omer.
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