What Type of Nourishment is Everlasting?

To the previous section – The Third Reason: Manufacturer Instructions

What causes those who observe commandments to be more satisfied with their lives? Let's continue to explain.

The Fourth Reason: True Nourishment for the Soul

A person is made up of a physical body and spiritual soul. Which is primary and which is secondary?

The renowned Kabbalist Rabbi Chaim Vital (HaMevarcho”) teaches in his book "The Gate of Reincarnation" (page 2, column 1) that the person himself is the soul, and the body is merely a garment for the soul, which is the main component. In his words: "Know that the person themselves is the spirituality within the body. And the body is the person’s garment and is not the person themselves."

Just as clothing does not move of its own accord, the movements of the body are driven by the soul within. Therefore, although a dead person's body may be intact, they are unable to move or see, because the soul has left and ascended to the heavens.

Because the soul is sourced from a high spiritual place, it does not enjoy material pleasures. The body can experience temporary pleasure, but as the body gets used to the pleasure, it seeks and requires greater pleasure. When a person engages in material matters, the soul is not satisfied, and the person does not achieve true happiness and fulfillment in life. Only when a person is involved in learning Torah and fulfilling its commandments does the soul receive proper nourishment, allowing the person to feel true delight with a sense of completeness and desire for further spiritual growth.

For this reason, a person who follows the path of the Torah is truly happy and finds great satisfaction in life.

In the words of the renowned Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (the Ramchal) on this matter ("Path of the Just" Chapter 1): "If the purpose of man's creation was for this world, there would be no need to have such a significant and lofty soul, which is greater than the angels, especially as it finds no satisfaction in all the delights of this world."

He shares an analogy of a simple man who married the king's daughter. Because she was accustomed to the pleasures of royalty and lavish meals, he could never provide her with what she was used to in her father's palace, and all the pleasures he would bring her were not significant to her because she was accustomed to much greater delights.

Similarly, the soul which originates from exalted spiritual realms, finds no genuine pleasure in the material delights of this world. Only the Torah and the commandments, which are its true nourishment, provide it with the satisfaction and fulfillment, that it is truly accustomed to.

These are the primary reasons why a person following the path of Torah and commandments becomes happier. In the upcoming chapters, we will add further reasons that also contribute to this.

In the next chapter, The Fourth Reason: Special Powers to Cope in Times of Trouble.