Likutei Moharan, Part II 12:3/ליקוטי מוהר"ן·תנינא י״ב:ג׳

13. {This teaching and the lesson that begins “Those who boast…” (Lesson #15), as well as all that which was taught while on the road… such as “It was asked…” (Lesson #16), are all one. For all these lessons are interconnected. And they are alluded to and concealed within the teaching of our Sages, of blessed memory, in the very amazing aggadah (homiletic story) about what Rabbi Zeira asked Rabbi Yehudah when the latter was in a humorous mood and so [would answer] if he were asked about any of the phenomena in the world (Shabbat 77b). [Rabbi Zeira] asked him a number of very odd questions, such as: What is the reason that an ox has a long tail?… What is the reason that a rooster’s lower eyelid closes upwards?… All the questions raised [in that story] are extremely puzzling, and all the aforementioned concepts are hinted at and concealed there. Also that which is brought earlier regarding joy and a humorous mood relates as well to this and is hinted at in the aforementioned aggadah, which was told when [Rabbi Yehudah] was in a humorous mood.

2Also that which is brought in this lesson concerning the verse “but ayeh is the lamb for the olah?” is hinted at in the aforementioned aggadah, which states: “if he were to ask him about any of the ChaLaLei (phenomena) in the world.” This is the mystery of the ChaLaL Hapanuy (Vacated Space), which is, so to speak, empty of His Godliness. In actual fact, it is certainly impossible for God not to be there as well, for if so, from where would it get its life-force? However, this is the aforementioned concept of receiving life-force from the Hidden Utterance/ BeReIShiYT.

3Also related to here is that which is brought further on concerning the fear of God, YaReI ShaBbaT. This is because every type of fear has its [corresponding] utterance, and there is one utterance which includes them all, as mentioned above.

4Also that which is brought further on concerning Divine providence relates here, to the aforementioned aggadah: What is the reason a rooster’s lower eyelid closes upwards? However, we did not merit hearing the explanation of all this.}