60. A Mitzva that Comes through Transgression
I heard on Tetzve 1, February 14, 1943
A Mitzva [commandment] that comes through transgression means that if one takes upon himself the work in order to receive a reward, it is divided into two things:
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The reception of the work, which is called a Mitzva.
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The intention: to receive a reward. It is called a sin because reception moves one from Kedusha [holiness] to Sitra Achra [other side].
The whole basis and the reason that gave one the strength to work was the reward; hence, a Mitzva “that comes” means that he was brought to perform the Mitzva, this is the transgression. This is why it is called a “Mitzva that comes,” that the one who brings the Mitzva is the transgression, which is only the reward.
The advice for this is to do one’s work in the form of “without seeing more,” that his whole aim of the work will be to increase the glory of heaven in the world. This is called working in order to raise the Shechina [Divinity] from the dust.
The matter of raising the Shechina means that the Shechina is called “the collective of the souls.” It receives the abundance from the Creator and dispenses to the souls. The Administrator and what transfers the abundance to the souls is called “the unification of the Creator and His Shechina,” for at that time the abundance extends to the lower ones. However, when there is no unification, there is no extension of abundance to the lower ones.
To make it clearer, because the Creator wanted to delight His creatures, therefore, as He thought of dispensing the abundance, He also thought of the reception of the abundance. That is, that the lower ones would receive the abundance. But both were in potential, meaning that afterward, souls will come and receive the abundance in practice.
Also, the receiver of the abundance in potential is called Shechina, since the thought of the Creator is a complete reality and He does not need an actual deed. Hence the lower one… (discontinued)