Question
The Rav explained in a response that the Baal Shem Tov’s path in avodas Hashem was an approach of the element of “water”, the element that is used for attaching oneself to Hashem due to the pleasure and bliss of being pulled after a love for Hashem as well as a love for all Jews. Being that the Baal Shem Tov founded Chassidus, it follows then that the entire Chassidus is an approach based on the element of water. Will this mean that Chassidus is only for someone whose primary element is water? This is hard to understand, because we know that ultimately all of Klal Yisrael will need to gain from the Baal Shem Tov’s path which is the “light of Mashiach”, and we know that Mashiach told the Baal Shem Tov that he will only come when the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov are disseminated throughout the rest of the world.
Answer
[Although the Baal Shem Tov’s path was based on the element of water which was the Baal Shem Tov’s primary soul element], the Baal Shem Tov’s path was based on a higher root than the standard element of water. It was an element of water [manifested as love, attachment, pleasure and connection to Hashem and to the Jewish people] which came from a spiritual source, called ayin.
The main avodah of a person is to connect to the sphere of ayin [the completely spiritual element, usually identified as emunah] which is above the 4 elements, and from that one can increase the strength of his primary element. Through that, one becomes connected to the root of the spiritual illumination of a particular approach in avodas Hashem. By extension, each person can connect to it based on his particular soul root and particular mission in life.
In particular, in order for a person to connect himself to the Baal Shem Tov’s path, one should connect to his personal element of water. However, although one can connect himself to any path of avodas Hashem, this still does not mean that the path is a reflection of his primary soul element.
