Etzem HaNeshama (The Essence of the Soul): Difference between revisions

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 In the Tanya, [[the Alter Rebbe]] refers to the ten powers of the soul - the three intellectual faculties and seven emotional attributes - as "Mahut V'Atzmut HaNefesh" (the essence and being of the soul).
-However, in Likkutei Torah, he elaborates further and explains that the ten powers, and even their source which is the Sefirah of Chochma, are merely vessels for the Etzem HaNefesh. The Etzem HaNefesh itself is "a portion of G-d that is not defined by ten aspects that have specific definitions, but rather is a simple light."
+However, in [[Likkutei Torah]], he elaborates further and explains that the ten powers, and even their source which is the Sefirah of Chochma, are merely vessels for the Etzem HaNefesh. The Etzem HaNefesh itself is "a portion of G-d that is not defined by ten aspects that have specific definitions, but rather is a simple light."
 In many places in Chassidic teachings, it is explained that Etzem HaNeshama is the level of Yechida in the soul, called so because it is united with Hakadosh Baruch Hu who is called 'Yachid'. However, in many other places, it is explained that even the Yechida is another level below Etzem HaNeshama - based on the statement of our Sages: "Five names were called to it: Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Chaya, Yechida," meaning that all levels (including Yechida) are merely "names" for Etzem HaNeshama.