23 Mar Pesach: The 4 Questions and the Stages of Transformation (The Baal Shem Tov)
Why does the Mitzvah of telling of the story of Pesach, ‘The Maggid’ have the 4 questions? Here is but one idea.
There is a powerful Chassidic philosophy that the beginning of the resolve of a paradox.. and the reveal of a greater truth begins with a ‘question’. Then.., there is a stronger foundation for rectified change.
The Baal Shem Tov spoke of three primary stages integral to change (tshuva); submission, separation, sweetening (or chash mal mal). We will look at how they apply to our question; why does the telling of the story of the Haggadah , the section of The Maggid, have the 4 Questions?
This fundamental understanding of submission-separation-sweetening in Chassidut is clearly related to the story of the Nation of Israel as written in the Haggadah itself;
- Submission- We were slaves
- Separation – the Exodus from Egypt
- Sweetening – the Receiving of the Torah and the journey that brings Mashiach
To ask a question, one should be in anticipation of being filled with the response and accordingly be prepared to receive an answer. Therefore a person must become, be bitul (nullified, humble). This stage of acquiring (the trait and experience of ) humility is the stage of submission.
Having created a ‘vacuum ‘to receive, one has accomplished 2 things; 1) prepared themselves as a ‘vacuum’ to receive throught the process of nullification of ego/self, and 2) separated out from the previously existing state of reality. Thus we have now accomplished the 2 phases of submission and separation.
The reciting of the Maggid is what is now going to fill the ‘vacuum’ or void created by the asking of the four questions.
The sweetening is G-ds divinity, and as the story of the Exodus from Egypt continues is the receiving of the Torah and the coming of Mashiach.
Looking at ‘The 4 Questions’ (or any opportunity of change and growth) and the Baal Shem Tov’s ‘universal’ stages of change and transformation can then allow us to reveal deeper meaning and greater truth through the asking of the questions. The result greater freedom to rectify ourselves and the World in the service of G-d.
Lawrence (Leib Getzel) Lax
Addictions and Counseling (Hnrs)
www.lawrencelax.com