Chapter Nine: The Inner Battle of Souls

This podcast episode explores the profound inner conflict described in Chapter 9 of Tanya, focusing on the battle between an individual's two souls: the animal soul and the divine soul. The animal soul, rooted in mundane desires like lust and anger, primarily resides in the left ventricle of the heart, from where its passions spread throughout the body, even influencing the brain to scheme for their fulfillment. In contrast, the divine soul's abode is in the brain, the seat of intellect, extending also to the right ventricle of the heart, inspiring holy emotions like fiery love and awe for G-d. The text likens the body to a "small city" where these two souls, like warring kings, vie for exclusive control over its organs, thoughts, speech, and actions. The divine soul's ultimate desire is to permeate the entire being, guiding all faculties and actions towards spiritual service, and crucially, to transform the animal soul's negative impulses into a sublime love for G-d, thereby dedicating all of one's inner being to divine service. Surprisingly, the animal soul's opposition is depicted as being for the individual's benefit, providing the necessary challenge for spiritual growth and victory.