He paints a vivid picture of people engaging with Torah, but missing something fundamental.
He argues that many people, even those deeply involved in studying Torah, are actually diminishing its inner light, its pnimiyut (inner aspect). They treat it, he says, "as if it is something that no one in the world wants." Ouch.
Why? Because they're only engaging with it at a time that is "neither night nor day." Think about that. It's that liminal space, that in-between time, where things aren't quite clear. It's a metaphor for engaging with Torah superficially, without genuine commitment or seeking its deeper meaning.
The Tikkunei Zohar, a companion work to the Zohar, delves into this idea further. It suggests that when we neglect the inner dimensions of Torah, we become like a blind person "feeling his way around a wall." We're touching the surface, but we're not truly seeing.
So, what's the consequence of this superficial approach?
Baal HaSulam says that it strengthens our own chitzoniyut (external aspect), our ego, our focus on benefiting our bodies and worldly desires. And not only that, but it also strengthens the external aspect of the Torah itself – the literal interpretation, the rules and regulations without the soul.
He's saying there's an imbalance. When we prioritize the external, we starve the internal. Like a plant without water, the deeper meaning withers.
And here's the kicker: this imbalance doesn't just affect us. It affects the entire world. Baal HaSulam argues that when we strengthen the external aspects of Torah, we simultaneously strengthen all the external aspects of the world. This happens "at the expense of the internal aspects, each category following its essence."
What does that mean? It means that everything is connected. Our individual approach to Torah has ripple effects, influencing the balance between the external and internal in the world around us.
Pretty heavy stuff, right?
It makes you wonder: Are we truly engaging with the depth and beauty of Torah, seeking its inner light? Or are we just feeling our way around the wall, content with the surface level? Are we nourishing our souls, or just feeding our egos?
Baal HaSulam's words are a powerful call to look deeper, to seek the pnimiyut, and to strive for a more balanced and meaningful engagement with the Torah, and with life itself.