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7 Adar I, End of Chapter 27

When a person subdues the sitra achra within them and causes an elevation in holiness and positivity, an even higher level of holiness is emanated onto this person from Above "to assist [them] with a great and powerful aid in [their] service of G‑d." The Alter Rebbe writes that this is what our Sages are referring to in the phrase, "If a man consecrates himself in a small measure here below, he is sanctified greatly from above." In addition to receiving extra help from Above, a persom also recieves spiritual reward for fulfilling the commandment, "Sanctify yourselves, and be holy,” which applies to subduing the sitra achra in permissible matters, as the Alter Rebbe discussed yesterday. The Alter Rebbe explains that "sanctify yourself" means "make yourself holy" by separating from the sitra achra. [The word kadosh (holy) means “set apart" or "separate", as in separate from that which is unholy -- the sitra achra and the desires that come from it]. So even when a person is still at a level where the sitra achra is still at full strength within them, when they sanctify themselves by subduing it -- separating from it temporarily -- they will ultimately be truly holy, "through his being aided from above to expel [the sitra achra] from his heart, little by little, so that even in his heart he will no longer have any desire for anything originating in the realm of the sitra achra." Make It Real Today, be extra mindful and intentionally subdue the sitra achra within yourself at least three times. You can use one of the suggestions from previous Make It Real sections, or your own method. See if it becomes a little easier each successive time, as every single time you push away the sitra achra and its desires, you recieve a dose of Divine energy from above to strengthen you in your Divine service!

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6 Adar I, Middle of Chapter 27

The Alter Rebbe writes that we subdue the sitra achra and bring G-d immense pleasure, not just when we resist the temptation for forbidden things, but also when we resist the temptation for permissible-yet-mundane things -- even if we resist for just for a little while. (We learned back in Chapter 6 of Tanya that permissible-yet-mundane actions that are done without the express intention of adding to our service of G-d, get their energy from the sitra achra. i.e. eating just to enjoy the food, instead of eating with the intention of gaining strength to serve G-d). The Alter Rebbe brings the example of Torah scholars who would begin to feel hungry at a certain time each day, and would intentionally push their meal time off for a while and continue to learn Torah, with the intention of subduing the sitra achra and replacing it with holiness (i.e. they would begin to feel hungry at 4 o'clock but would wait until 6 o'clock to eat). Pushing their meal time off didn't add any time to their total amount of Torah study for the day (i.e. they would take a half-hour break no matter the time), but temporarily defying their mundane desire and replacing it with holiness was a great source of pleasure to G-d. The same is true of refraining from permissible but spiritually pointless speech. The Alter Rebbe writes: "Even by the slightest subjugation of the sitra achra here below, the glory of G‑d and His holiness is greatly elevated on high." Make It Real Next time you're scrolling through your Facebook feed and feel a desire to click on that three-minute video of adorable baby kittens, stop and say Tehillim for three minutes or listen to a Torah lecture for three minutes instead. Even if you watch that kitten video right after, those three minutes that you subdued your mundane desire and involved yourself in holiness instead of kittens, caused a big spiritual refinement in the universe and brought G-d so much pleasure. Every tiny positive and holy thing we do in our world makes a huge impact Above, and is so precious to the Infinite.