What is Chassidus and What is Tanya

An entry from the journal of the Rayatz in the year tov-reish-pei-tes, in America:

An American Jew approached me and asked, “What is Chassidus and what is Tanya?”

I answered him, “Chassidus is a emes lichtiker leibedikeit – A truly shining life! And Tanya is a collection of advice and healing for sick souls. It is a work culled from the positive benefits and virtues that people have, as well as their shortcomings. It is unlike other written works by authors because only when you follow the advice and do what it says – only then can you understand what it says for you to do. (Shemuos Vesippurim I, p. 219–220 )