Lech Lecha

This week Torah portion of Lech Lecha relates how Avraham and his wife Sarah escaped the famine in the land of Canaan and went to Eqypt. Before arriving in Eqypt Avraham says to Sarah “I realize that you are a good looking woman. When the Eqyptians see you, they will say “this is his wife” and kill me, allowing you to live. Please say that you are my sister. They will then be good to me for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

We are all left puzzled with how Avraham could have placed Sarah in a position of potential danger, in order for his own life to be saved. More puzzling is Avraham’s ability to think about the benefits he would receive by placing his wife in such jeopardy.

How could Avraham allow Sarah be drawn into a situation where she might possibly become dishonored, for the sake of his benefit?

The Zohar answers this question by stating that Avrohom “did not rely on his own merit but rather on the merit of his wife – that he would acquire wealth in her merit, for one acquires wealth in the merit of one’s wife.”

Spiritually as well, Avrohom’s descent into Egypt for the sake of “spiritual wealth” could only be accomplished in the merit of Sarah. Toward the end she had to descend to Pharaoh’s house.

Since the ultimate intent of the descent into Egypt could only be accomplished in this manner, the Zohar concludes that Avrohom was correct in “relying on Sarah’s merit; in her merit he would not be harmed, nor would any harm befall her.”

In spiritual terms, Avrohom and Sarah are symbolic of soul and body, respectively. That both of them had to descend to Egypt in order to accomplish their spiritual missions in life, teaches us a lesson as well. Only through partnership with the body can the soul reach its supreme elevation.

One of the fascinating concepts to emerge in western psychology is the notion of the sub-conscious. Our conscious self, we are told, is a projected analogue of the deeper self beneath the surface.

The nature of this deeper sub-conscious is little understood, even today. Freud noted that our inner drives derive from deep within and become manifest as the libido drive. Others questioned Freud and claimed different dominant subconscious drives, such as the quest for power and control, or search for self-realization, or a sense of oneness with the Cosmos, or manifestation of the collective unconsciousness.

Nevertheless, vagueness and speculation are the hallmarks of most western systems seeking the key to understanding our deeper selves.

When a man and woman unite in marriage, their personal union draws its power from the cosmic marriage that underlies the whole of existence; the bonding of the divine masculine and feminine energies emerging from the Creator's Infinite Light to generate existence, a world, and life.

Masculine "wisdom" (chochmah) unites with feminine "understanding" (binah), male "holiness" (kedushah) unites with female "immanence" (shechinah), and so on.

The Chassidic teachings of Chabad based on the Kabbalah, albeit ancient in source, are more sophisticated and developed in this respect than are the western teachings. Amongst these is the delineation of the subconscious into two soul-pathways known as Seichel (Mind) and Middot (Emotion). But the common translation of "mind" and "emotion" does not convey their essential meaning in this system. In truth what is meant is that Seichel and Middot are the subconscious antecedents to the overt expression of mind and emotion, and are latent within the Neshama (soul).

The conscious expression of Seichel/Mind is thought, while the conscious expression of Middot/Emotion is speech. This is an interesting notion, that our subconscious "mind" finds its expression in the way we think, and the subconscious "emotions" come into play in the way we speak.

Furthermore, we draw from the subconscious those thoughts that express our individual personality. Likewise, the way we speak is also a signature of our inner character.

What can be learned through the episode with Avraham and Sarah is that developing congruence between Seichel and thought, and between Middot and speech is a mastery skill. Those who are serious about their personal development and fulfillment in relationships will aspire to train and practice in two tasks:

a) To change the subconscious default of their "mind" and "emotions", and,
b) Allow their thoughts and feelings to become their true expressions

What kind of person are you? With what amplitude and frequency do I express this nature?

Try to recall the conversations you had the past few days. Are there any thought patterns and sequence of words that seem to repeat? If so, are you satisfied with this pattern?

Interested in coaching? Write to Chaya, describing your challenge in your life journey: info@coachchaya.com

All emails are protected with complete confidentiality.