Core Concepts Tanya: Chapter 12

Brief Recap of Chapter 12:Show more

Chapter 12 finally talks about the "Beinoni," who Tanya is written for and says we all can be.

1. The Beinoni is someone who never has nor ever will sin.
What this means is that during his time as a Beinoni, not only will he never sin, but anything from his past and even a thought of sin in the future is absolutely obsolete.
Additionally, even if he were placed in the same exact situation that once tempted him, not only will he not sin, but he won't even be tempted by it.
That's the level he’s reached.

2. The Beinoni maintains control over practical conduct of his thought, speech, and action, the three "garments" of his soul.
The essence of his soul, the ten soul powers, are not under his control.
This means that he still has impulses for sin/temptation. However, he doesn't give in.

3. Davening is a very important time for a Beinoni. This is a time of intense meditation on the greatness of Hashem, which gives way to an intense love and longing for Him. The G-dly Soul is so powerful, so much in control during this time, that the Animal Soul remains quiet and doesn't even try to fight it.
Davening is also vital for a Beinoni because a residue of all this intensity remains with him throughout the day, to help him overcome negative challenges.

4. King Solomon wrote that he saw how wisdom has an advantage over folly, just as light has an advantage over darkness. The Alter Rebbe tells us that this isn't about the what, but the how.
All it takes is one little bit of light to dispel a lot of darkness.
When we speak about evil and transgression in Tanya, we're not just talking about sins outlined in the Torah, but also more refined levels of negativity.
So when we refer to evil, or sin, or temptation, we're referring to anything that leads us away from the path.
It could be something simple, something permissible that we indulge in. It could be a negative thought, something self-deprecating that discourages us from trying harder, or makes us feel embarrassed to take on a new mitzvah. Anything that keeps us from revealing more G-dliness in the world falls into this category.
And the way we combat it is with just a little bit of light.
If we're having negative thoughts, we need to replace them with positive ones.
If we're thinking about inappropriate things, then we need to redirect our thoughts, replace them with something permissible or holy.

5. We have the power to do this.
Tanya insists that everyone was born with the capability to reach a level where "Moach shalit al halev," the mind rules over the heart.
Animals walk on all fours, so their minds and hearts are level. Their eyes look downward.
We were blessed to walk on two feet so our eyes can always look upward, our mind are always over our hearts.
It isn't easy, but we can take control, and at the very least fight.
In the same token, the Torah tells us, "Who is strong? Someone who conquers his [evil] inclination."
As the saying goes, Just say no.

6. There are three sins that are very common and so difficult to fight, that most of us battle them every day.
They include: Slander/ gossip, lack of concentration in prayer, and thoughts of sin. Thoughts of sin means entertaining thoughts of sin, or temptation, or negative things. The Beinoni is susceptible to these thoughts, but he pushes them away with both hands.
The same way you control who comes into your house, or you could ignore someone who sneaks in, you control the thoughts in your mind.
If something shouldn't be there, do you tell it, "Get out! This is my house!," or do you offer it a drink before sending it on its way, if you send it on its way?

7. The chapter ends by telling us that just as all these traits are true for a person's relationship with Hashem, they are also relevant in our relationship with others.
As in, we can not only hold back from our initial response to someone, but even act directly opposite to how we want to act.
There are times when someone really gets on our nerves, or maybe they're just annoying, or maybe they did something we didn't like.
How do we respond to them? Do we respond in kind or do we respond with kindness? Maybe the other person doesn't notice it, but it's another way to give us control, by choosing how to react and being generous with positivity.

The idea of a Beinoni is pretty intimidating, but we limit ourselves in believing it’s unrealistic.
Tanya demands a lot of us, because it believes in us and the levels we can achieve. For many of us, this will be a lifelong battle, and maybe we'll gain a little, maybe a lot. The point is to be aware, the point is to try, because every inch counts. Maybe we'll never reach the ultimate goal, but we can go one step at a time, we can adjust our sights and reach for what we used to think was impossible.