Hi Everyone

Just a few words. I don't expect any relpies but feel free to do so if you wish. I am happy that I made it to Shacharit 4/4 times this week. That is a record so far! I am also 10 days clean from computer trash! 

I asked one of my Rabbis (A Chabad Rabbi... I'm not Chabad but I really like them). They are not dispassionate and are generally friendly and welcoming. Learning doesn't feel cold when I am amongst them. I asked him what is the significance of comparing lust to water in the Tanya? Please add to these very elementary answers

1. One does not see the damage that water does to the landscape from hard rains and floods. The water covers up the devastation and in this way "deceives" us regarding the extent of damage. Similarly, we cannot think that lust does not damage us. Every time we act out or look at porn etc it damages our minds as Reb Gue keeps saying in the handbooks. We may not feel the effect at first but we notice behavour changes in ourselves such as impatience and lack of emuna. G-d feels distant - that is the damage that is caused

2. Water just goes with the flow. It does not avoid "dangerous areas." It goes wherever it is channelled to flow. Water cannot care what happens to it. It is also inanimate, which means that it cannot cry out when it is dirty or polluted. Similarly, with us, porn makes us careless about our behaviour towards our fellow human being and to G-d. When we look at porn, we are dispassionate about the world. Whatever happens (our yetser tells us) who cares? We become "casual" with Hashem when we fall into these bad habits. That brings about destruction to ourselves because we lose our dignity by doing things which make us worse off like porn, drugs etc. When we don't recognise ourselves as human beings and make ourselves accountable to our potential the we sink into depression.

3. One idea I had, is that water needs to be contained be be useful. Also, if it is not contained or we lose our ability to contain it then it can become a destructive force (Floods and Tsunamis). If we do not control or destroy our lust addictions then there is only one path we can tread upon and that it... the road to hell in this world............. and in the next.

Please add on to this!     

Wow Ilan, that is truly beautiful! You have greatness in you.

Let me add to your ideas, that "water" symbolizes "Chesed".

Chesed on the "good side" is giving to others. Water quenches the thirst and provides for all living things, it's life-giving, refreshing good - with no bounderies...

However, "Chesed" on the "bad-side", is when we turn the chesed inwards and provide only for ourselves (even our giving to others is only for ourselves), and we do this also with no boundaries...

So those who suffer from lust, it's just a sign of the strengths of their souls. They have an overwhelming nature of Chesed... But the question is, how will we channel it?

Keep sharing Ilan!

B"H

GUE,

Maybe that can be connected to Vayikra 20:17
"v'raah as ervasah vhi sireh es ervoso, CHESED hu"

Ezra - right - that Pasuk refers to misguided and mischanneled Chesed ("marrying" one's sister).

R. GUE and Ilan: also, we know that the body is mostly water.  So too, lust can overwhelm our bodies and souls if we allow it to.

Ezra - that's an amazing point. How did you think of that?? You have a good head!

I heard another pshat on that... The Pasuk says "Olam Chesed Yibaneh" - Chazal say that Kayin had no choice but to marry his sister... therefore it is called "chesed" when a brother and sister are together today inappropriately...