Our Sages teach that it is forbidden to gaze at what is above and below, what is before and what is after (Chagigah 11b; cf. Tzaddik #560). The Rebbe said, “There is a different ‘above and below’ for each individual where he may not gaze. It all depends on his level.”330Likutey Moharan I, 54:3; Be’Ibey HaNachal ad loc.; Tzaddik #48; Likutey Halakhot, Eruv Techumin 2:2. There are those whose intellect can go no further than the bounds of the physical world. They are therefore forbidden to delve any further.
This is true of philosophers and scientists. Their intellect may reach up to the stars, but it cannot penetrate further. They know nothing beyond the sphere of the physical, and even within it, they are often mistaken, leading to their many disputes. We have already explained why one must avoid their works.
Every man has a place where his intellect ends. Beyond this, it is forbidden for him to gaze, for this is “what is above and below.” There he must depend on faith alone.
בְּעִנְיַן מַה שֶּׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ ז"ל (חֲגִיגָה יא:) שֶׁאָסוּר לְהִסְתַּכֵּל מַה לְּמַעְלָה מַה לְּמַטָּה מַה לְּפָנִים מַה לְּאָחוֹר, אָמַר רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל: שֶׁכָּל אָדָם וְאָדָם יֵשׁ לוֹ בְּחִינַת מַה לְּמַעְלָה מַה לְּמַטָּה וְכוּ' לְפִי מַדְרֵגָתוֹ שֶׁאָסוּר לוֹ לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בָּהֶם. כִּי אֵצֶל קְצָת, מִסְתַּיֵּם שִׂכְלוֹ אֵצֶל הַגַּלְגַּלִּים וּרְקִיעִים וְאָסוּר לוֹ לְהִסְתַּכֵּל לְהַלָּן יוֹתֵר.
Our Sages teach that it is forbidden to gaze at what is above and below, what is before and what is after (Chagigah 11b; cf. Tzaddik #560). The Rebbe said, “There is a different ‘above and below’ for each individual where he may not gaze. It all depends on his level.”330Likutey Moharan I, 54:3; Be’Ibey HaNachal ad loc.; Tzaddik #48; Likutey Halakhot, Eruv Techumin 2:2. There are those whose intellect can go no further than the bounds of the physical world. They are therefore forbidden to delve any further.
וְגַם כָּל הַפִילוֹסוֹפִים וְהַמְחַקְּרִים, כָּל שִׂכְלָם וַחֲקִירָתָם הוּא רַק עַד הַגַּלְגַּלִּים וּלְמַעְלָה מִזֶּה אֵין יוֹדְעִים כְּלוּם. וְגַם בַּמֶּה שֶּׁתַּחַת הַגַּלְגַּלִּים טָעוּ הַרְבֵּה בְּכַמָּה דְּבָרִים עַד שֶׁנָּפַל בֵּינֵיהֶם מַחֲלוֹקוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת בְּכָל דָּבָר. וּכְבָר מְבֹאָר שֶׁאָסוּר לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בָּהֶם כְּלָל.
This is true of philosophers and scientists. Their intellect may reach up to the stars, but it cannot penetrate further. They know nothing beyond the sphere of the physical, and even within it, they are often mistaken, leading to their many disputes. We have already explained why one must avoid their works.
וְהַכְּלָל: שֶׁכָּל אָדָם בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁמִּסְתַּיֵּם שִׂכְלוֹ אָסוּר לוֹ לְהַלֵּךְ יוֹתֵר. כִּי זֶהוּ אֶצְלוֹ בְּחִינַת מַה לְּמַעְלָה מַה לְּמַטָּה. רַק לִסְמֹךְ עַל אֱמוּנָה לְבַד.
Every man has a place where his intellect ends. Beyond this, it is forbidden for him to gaze, for this is “what is above and below.” There he must depend on faith alone.