I heard from my master (the Baal Shem Tov) of blessed memory[1], on the matter of,[2] “And the Chayot run and return,” that everything is aflame with desire to return and adhere to its root. Therefore, the soul (which is part of G-d from above) is always aflame to adhere to its source through desire in the Torah (of HaShem) and Avodat HaShem. If a person would be aflame always, he would cease to exist – as it was before the World of Fixing (Olam HaTikun). Therefore HaShem fixed it that a person must occasionally stop and attend to his bodily needs, such as eating and drinking etc., and attend a little to his livelihood, though he (may be content with his lot and) feels he has enough. Now, through stopping his Avodat HaShem at such times, (the desires of) his soul are set aside. Then, (when he concludes whatever he was doing,) he strengthens his power of intellect to return to occupying himself with Avodat HaShem. This is the meaning of, “And the Chayot run and return.”
[1] A teaching of the Baal Shem Tov from the holy book Tzafnat Paaneyach.
[2] Ezekiel 1:14.
