Kuntres HaHispaialus (The Discourse on Emotional Arousal): Difference between revisions

The kuntres is an epistle to all Chabad chassidim dealing with the ways of hispayalus (emotional arousal) in the heart and mind according to the Chabad approach, and their integration into Chabad avodas Hashem. The main point is that true Hispaialus is achieved only through deep hisbonenus in Chassidus, after which the heart becomes naturally aroused in different levels corresponding to the depth of hisbonenus.

The kuntres is divided into an introduction, which is a separate letter where the Rebbe explains the obligation of Hispaialus and rejects those who experience "external hispajalus," which he calls "the old ways" on one hand, and on the other hand those who are supposedly afraid of becoming emotionally aroused (referring to Chabad chassidim who mistakenly understood that Hispaialus was completely invalid). The Rebbe laments the situation that most chassidim do not awaken to Hispaialus and explains the reasons for this condition.

The kuntres itself is divided into several sections where the Mitteler Rebbe explains the levels of Hispaialus as they are divided into five levels of the nefesh habehamis called ahavas olam, or in the language of the kuntres "Hispaialus of physical life," and five levels of the nefesh ha'elokis called ahava rabba, or in the language of the kuntres "Hispaialus of G-dly life," the ways to reach them, and the obstacles to hispajalus.