Switched Souls
Gate of Reincarnations: Chapter Five, Section 6
Translation by Yitzchok bar Chaim;
explanation by Shabtai Teicher
It can be that even though a person has a single, pure,
and elevated Nefesh, he may become angry, and it will leave him. A
lesser Nefesh will replace it. Or, he may contract a terrible sickness,
and an exchange of souls may occur. Or, he may contract a debilitating illness,
and his Nefesh may be exchanged and go to another person, while he
receives a different Nefesh. This is the secret of what is said, "A
righteous person all of his life, only to become evil in the end" (Berachot
29a).
Differences consequent upon the variant levels of
soul can be tremendous. Look what can happen when a person becomes angry or
seriously ill. His soul can be switched from a higher one to a lower one.  | | " ...the roots of their souls are from much lower places in the soul body of the human race..." | | |
Then his behavior may change accordingly from moral
to immoral, and to such an extent that it would be said about him, "A
righteous person all of his life, only to become evil in the end."
This is also true in a more general way concerning
the earlier and later generations. The spiritual levels of the later
generations are much lower than the earlier generations, and their behavior is
much less righteous. This is because the roots of their souls are from much
lower places in the soul body of the human race than those of the earlier
generations. Thus, if the soul body of Adam is considered one partzuf
and one lifetime, then it could also be said of it, "A righteous person
all his life, only to become evil in the end."
Or, just the opposite may occur.
In the lifetime of individuals something may happen
to cause the soul of a wicked person to be exchanged for one of a higher grade.
He will then finish his life as a righteous person.
Having said this, it is also possible for a woman who was
originally meant to be the wife of a particular person, but his soul gets
switched and she becomes the wife of the other person [into whom his soul
migrated].
Several times in the Gate of Reincarnations, the
relationship of man and wife has been compared to that of the soul and the
body. Accordingly, it may be that the Rav is implying that souls which are
switched because of some sin or sickness may be switched more or less
permanently like where a wife who goes to another person. To link to the previous article in this reincarnation series,
Connected Levels of Soul, click here
To link to the next article in this reincarnation series,
The Legs and the 10 Martyrs, click here
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