Nefesh habehamit

In Kabbalah the nefesh habehamit (נפש הבהמית, "the animal soul," also nefesh habehamis) is the source of animalistic desires within a soul. Initially, its desire is to seek out worldly physical pleasures. However, it can be trained to desire spiritual pleasures instead. Its function is to give life to the physical body.

Transforming the Nefesh HaBehamit

While the nefesh habehamit is still attached to worldly, physical pleasures, it is synonymous with the yetzer hara, the evil inclination. However, the nefesh habehamit is not inherently evil; it merely seeks pleasure. Through persistent, joyous exposure to Torah study and observance of mitzvot, the nefesh habehamit can be trained to desire spiritual, Divine pleasures. Once refined this extent, it is often termed the nefesh hachiyunit, the vivifying soul, because its primary function then is to give life and energy to the body in order to study Torah and perform the mitzvot.

The nefesh habehamit is typically mentioned together with the nefesh ha'elokit, the Divine soul, because the nefesh habehamit and the nefesh ha'elokit are at first in opposition to each other. Chassidut teaches that every person must seek to dominate and conquer the nefesh habehamit to make it serve the nefesh ha'elokit.^[1]

Parable of the Harlot and the Prince

In fact, the nefesh habehamit itself desires to be defeated, as explained by a Zoharic parable of a king (G‑d) who desired to test the mettle of his son, the prince (the soul, whose true identity is the nefesh ha'elokit). The king hires a beautiful harlot (the yetzer hara) to seduce his son, explaining to her that his goal is to test son. She is to utilize all of her wiles and techniques to ensnare the prince, as anything less would not be a true test. However, inwardly, the harlot wants that the prince should succeed and not succumb to her.^[2]

Thus, the purpose for the existence of evil is solely to be defeated by mankind, and this is for man's own benefit.^[3]

Levels of Conquest

The Tanya explains that it is within the power of all people to at least control the so-called "garments" of the soul. These "garments" are thought, speech and action, and are derived from the verse (Deuteronomy 30:14), "For it is exceedingly close to you, in your mouth and heart, to do it [the mitzvot]."^[4] Once these three garments are wholly devoted to Torah and mitzvot, a person attains the rank of a beinoni, and this is within reach of every person.^[5]

A tzadik is one who has utterly transformed the actual emotions of the nefesh habehamit.^[4] That is, instead of changing just the external "garments" of the soul, he has transformed the soul's emotions themselves, and actually feels no attachment to worldly desires. His sole desire is for Divine pleasures.^[6]

The above, however, describes an "incomplete tzadik," and a small remnant of evil remains.^[7] A "complete tzadik" is one in whom the essential nature of the nefesh habehamit has been transformed, to the extent that he "transforms the evil and elevates it to holiness," turning "darkness to light." This tzadik not only feels no attachment to evil, but utterly hates it.^[6]

Relation to Human Anatomy

The Tanya teaches that the nefesh habehamit is primarily manifest in the left ventricle of heart, and that from there, it spreads throughout the body via the blood. It fights against the nefesh ha'elokit by flooding blood to the brain, where the nefesh ha'elokit resides. The nefesh habehamit itself may be defeated by causing the brain to control the heart,^[1] that is, by causing logic to control and guide the emotions. In fact, this is considered the natural state of a person, since in a human the brain is physically positioned above the heart (in contrast to animals, where the brain and the heart are on the same level).

Additional Reading

• "Building Block No. 6: Nefesh HaBahamis (Animal Soul), Nefesh HoElokis (G‑dly Soul)." http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/80970/jewish/Nefesh-HaBahamis-Animal-Soul-Nefesh-HoElokis-G-dly-Soul.htm
• Freeman, Tzvi. "Me and My Body: a Dialogue." Heaven Exposed. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/740798/jewish/Me-and-My-Body-a-Dialogue.htm
• Schneersohn, Shalom Dovber. "Veyeilech ish mibeit leivi." Hemshech Samech-Vov: Yom Tov Shel Rosh Hashanah. pp. 137–46. (Hebrew)
• Weinberg, Yosef. Lessons in Tanya. (This contains the full text of the Tanya translated into English, with English commentary translated from Yiddish. It also includes the original Hebrew text of the Tanya.)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Likkutei Amarim ch. 9, Tanya
2. ^ Zohar part II 163a
3. ^ Likkutei Amarim ch. 9, Lessons in Tanya by R. Yosef Weinberg.
4. ^ ^{a b} Likkutei Amarim ch. 17, Lessons in Tanya
5. ^ Likkutei Amarim ch. 14, Tanya
6. ^ ^{a b} Likkutei Amarim ch. 10, Tanya
7. ^ Likkutei Amarim ch. 10, Lessons in Tanya