QUESTION:
When a person is in middle of learning, davening, or hisbodedus and he feels a sudden physical need for comfort, eating, coffee, relaxing, going outside, or chatting, or simply just wanting to do nothing, is this always bittul Torah or is it a sign that the person really needs to unwind? Is the body rebelling against ruchniyus in these scenarios? Many people can’t sit and learn an entire seder without interruptions and they feel a need to “schmooze” in middle – perhaps these are their basic emotional needs and therefore there’s nothing wrong with how they are acting and it’s not bittul Torah for them. Is that true?
ANSWER:
If a person will lose his yishuv hadaas (basic level of calmness) at a noticeable level if he doesn’t do any of these things (chatting, relaxing, eating, coffee, etc.) then he is acting above his level. Usually this will also cause an imbalance between the abilities in his soul. Also, there are some who need to chat a lot, much more than the average need, and there are also those who can’t sit and learn uninterrupted for long and they need to take breaks. Every person has to act according to the level he is on right now.
QUESTION
2) Why does growth depend on inner work and doing what our souls need? Shouldn’t it all depend on much sleep and nutrition and exercise we are getting? If a person would sleep enough, eat right and exercise properly, he will have the physical and emotional well-being to learn and do mitzvos properly. Why does he need to do more than this?
ANSWER
The body needs to eat and sleep and be taken care of [in order to be healthy and so that we can serve Hashem], but our soul’s health depends on balancing our four elements.
QUESTION
3) Does physical exercise like running or walking quickly or brisk walks during the day the best antidote to remove sadness? And what about going to the gym? Is this all needed in order to serve Hashem properly, or is it the way of the goyim because it focuses exclusively on the body and on the needs of the lower soul (nefesh behaimis)?
ANSWER
This is a way that works “from below to above”, it is to affect our soul by taking care of the body. It needs to be thought about carefully and how to be done within the boundaries of kedushah. In contrast, working with our four elements works directly with the soul.
QUESTION
2) Why does growth depend on inner work and doing what our souls need? Shouldn’t it all depend on much sleep and nutrition and exercise we are getting? If a person would sleep enough, eat right and exercise properly, he will have the physical and emotional well-being to learn and do mitzvos properly. Why does he need to do more than this?
ANSWER
The body needs to eat and sleep and be taken care of [in order to be healthy and so that we can serve Hashem], but our soul’s health depends on balancing our four elements.
QUESTION
3) Does physical exercise like running or walking quickly or brisk walks during the day the best antidote to remove sadness? And what about going to the gym? Is this all needed in order to serve Hashem properly, or is it the way of the goyim because it focuses exclusively on the body and on the needs of the lower soul (nefesh behaimis)?
ANSWER
This is a way that works “from below to above”, it is to affect our soul by taking care of the body. It needs to be thought about carefully and how to be done within the boundaries of kedushah. In contrast, working with our four elements works directly with the soul.
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