QUESTION What is the source for the Rav’s entire approach in avodas Hashem? Which sefarim is the Rav mainly coming from? Of the 4 elements (earth, water, wind, fire), what is the Rav’s primary element?
Also, how the Rav is able to combine so many different approaches of all of the sefarim hakedoshim and synthesize them together. If each sefer is coming from a different kav of avodah (spiritual sphere that creates a certain corresponding form of serving Hashem) which is in contradiction with a different kav of avodah, how is the Rav able to fuse all of these approaches together? How can a Litvish approach be fused with the Chassidic approach, and how can one Chassidic approach work together with a different Chassidic approach that contradicts it? How is the Rav’s approach not in contradiction with our mesorah (tradition) and how is it all aligned with our mesorah?
I think that if more people would know the root of the Rav’s path in avodas Hashem and the main “element” which the Rav’s path corresponds to, they would be able to gain a lot more from the Rav’s approach.
ANSWER The main “elements” [in the “Bilvavi” approach] are as follows: The element of earth is the basis (kli) of the approach, and the spiritual illumination (ohr) of it manifests as “fire-of-wind.”
The path [which the “Bilvavi” approach] stresses is “kelalut hakol”, inclusivity of everything [or comprehensiveness]. In order to counter the ruination caused by the “Erev Rav”, the evil spiritual forces which cause mixture and confusion in everything, we need an approach that unifies together everything. Each person, according to his own ability, is able to unify and bring everything together. But, if a person acts above his level and beyond his capabilities when he tries to do this, he becomes mixed up and confused.
