Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 185

185 - The Main Aspect of Perfection is Fear

As stated in the Zohar (Vayikra 4a): When Israel perfects their service, it is as if the holy Name is perfected, etc. The core of perfection is fear, as it is written (Deuteronomy 10:12): "What does Hashem your G-d ask from you but to fear." Therefore, fear is called the "end of the matter," as it is written (Ecclesiastes 12:13): "The end of the matter, all has been heard: fear G-d," for it perfects all things.

There are two types of fear: the superior type arises from G-d's greatness and exaltation, recognizing Him as the supreme ruler. The inferior type stems from lower fears – such as fear of animals, officials, or other threats – which remind one and lead to the exalted fear of Hashem in His greatness. The superior is AV (-my father; "A" for fear as kingship, per Avot 3:15: "Without the fear of kingship..."; Vav draws from the intellect, called Yud – per Rashi on Exodus 15:1, where Yud signifies thought). The inferior is AD (-my L-rd; Dalet is "poor," drawn not from intellect but from base things, elevating feminine waters – like a humble request to a friend that effects provision, the words becoming an elevation of feminine waters prompting worldly influences).

This is (Genesis 2:6): "And a mist went up from the earth" – through this lower fear, which is the aspect of mist, thereby "watering the whole face of the ground" (drawing influences).

When abundance is drawn, a vessel is needed to contain it and prevent externals from sucking it – this vessel is the closed Mem, forming the letters ADAM (-man). The longing and desire to travel to the tzadik creates an impression of the vessel, like a craftsman who first sketches and engraves the outline before making the vessel. The desire creates the sketch, and arrival completes the vessel. Thus (1 Samuel 16:7): "Man sees with the eyes" – through fear "with the eyes" (the inferior fear from what is seen), forming ADAM (drawing influences via mist as fear; Mem as the vessel).

But through the superior fear – from heartfelt understanding of His exaltation – the holy Name of the Holy One Blessed be He is perfected (per Zohar). This is "and Hashem sees to the heart" – through fear "to the heart" (superior fear from heart-understanding of exaltation), the Name Hashem is completed, as in the Zohar: When Israel perfects their service, the holy Name is perfected, with fear as the main perfection. Thus, "and Hashem sees to the heart," for through this superior fear – the aspect of fear to the heart – the Name Hashem is completed.

[This teaching was heard in his name and relates to (Psalms 84:6): "They go from strength to strength, he appears to G-d in Zion." The explanation is unclear to me, but it seems connected to the teaching's end: the longing to travel to the tzadik creates the vessel's impression... "Zion" signifies this marking or impression (-tziyun) formed by the initial great longing, through which one later merits divine nearness. Our Rabbi, of blessed memory, said that greater labors and troubles at the start of drawing near to Hashem blessed be He – such as preventions from family, money, or others, requiring much effort to overcome – are a great good. They form a larger vessel for receiving abundance of holiness and purity. The more labors, the greater the vessel for drawing near to Hashem. This is the aspect of "he appears to G-d in Zion" (through the impression formed by longing).]