Sponsored in loving memory of Joseph and Shirley Goldwasser by Avraham and Joyce Litzman, their children and grandchildren.
Day Ten
5. “Intention” Guarantees A Successful Outcome.
Intention Below Bears Fruit Above
The Tomer Devorah states as a rule the absolute effect of our intention! The Ramak makes it crystal clear that our intention to affect the Sefirot will definitely bear fruit in the Upper Realms. That is, when a person performs an action with the intention to awaken the emanation of the corresponding Sefira, it will definitely activate the Sefira to send forth its Holy outflow. As the Tomer Devorah state in Chapter Five:
“The rule of the matter is as follows: When one performs good deeds for the inhabitants of the physical realm, and he intends to [awaken the aspect of the Sefira aligned with that particular action,] his intention will certainly awaken the reciprocal effect in the respective Sefira.”
It emerges that acting with faith and proper intent when performing a good deed inevitably awakens the corresponding Sefira in which the said deed is rooted. For example, before performing a Mitzvah we intone the following: “Blessed are You HaShem, King of the Universe, Who sanctifies us with His Mitzvahs….” The greater our intent that HaShem sanctify us through the Mitzvah, the more powerful outflow of holiness emerges from Heaven!
Thus it is with Teshuvah Elyonah: to the extent to which one intends that the light of Binah illuminate him, so will it indeed shine upon him. As the Ramak states in Chapter Four: “One who contemplates Teshuvah all his days causes Binah to illuminate all his days … the days of his life will thereby be graced with the Secret of Teshuvah Elyonah.”
Moreover, it is advisable to first verbally express one’s intention, as the Ramak writes: “It is beneficial for one to verbalize his intention before he acts, in accord with the verse (Devarim 30:14): It is in your mouth and heart to do. (On day Fifty we offer an example of such a preliminary prayer).
Summary: “Intention” guarantees Divine Illumination.
