Elements of Man’s Form - Chapter 6
(tidbits comment: a MUST read sefer: Song of the Soul
Kabbalistic scholars have assigned names to the elements of man’s form.
They are nefesh, ruach, neshama, chaya and yechida.
Nefesh is
the spirtual force which is the most inferior of the five elements of man’s
form. Nefesh activates and is responsible for the functioning of
the dimension of vitality. The dimension of vitality contains within it the
cohesive force mentioned above in connection with the inanimate, the growth and
sprouting force found in vegetation and the force described above as vitality
found in animals. Thus man contains within him the qualities of the inanimate,
vegetation and the animal. The element of nefesh is
the spiritual force that brings the dimension of vitality into being and keeps
it alive because such is the continual ratzon of the Creator. The Kabbalists
determined that the liver symbolizes the nefesh and as such is described as the
“dwelling place” of the nefesh.
Ruach is an element of form
which is on a higher spiritual level than nefesh.
It is responsible for human emotions and characteristics. Ruach is the force that
arouses desires, lusts, ambitions, and indeed all human characteristics. The
capacity to choose between good and evil stems from ruach and all the components
of action and activity are also connected with ruach. The heart symbolizes ruach and as such is
described as the “dwelling place” of ruach.
The neshama is a
spiritual-intellectual force which guides human beings. The neshama’s task is to guide and correct evil
traits, to overcome lusts, and to harness one’s powers to serve the Creator.
The brain is described as the “dwelling place” of the neshama.
We shall elaborate on chaya and yechida, which are higher level spiritual forces, further on.
The Connection between
Nefesh, Ruach and Neshama.
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