How Do I Dispel My Inner Darkness? The Analytical & Behavioral Approaches

beutiful shiur

Baruch HaShem

Thank you for very profound meanings of the ways to light Chanukah, dispeling darkness.
I will try to incorporate your teachings in my life to actualize it. The Shamai and Hillel's ways of dealings remind me of a teaching that to heal the ailment, one may fight the ailment itself and heal the affected organ, or one may enhance the productivity of healthy organ.

Interesting idea with “enhancing the productivity of a healthy organ”! But it hardly can be applied if the “ailment” ( G-d forbid) is in the head. For serious physical condition we have doctors… Darkness on the personal level encompass dysfunctionality , numerous psychological problems that keep us from self-realization and ultimately from delight in life. Demons of misery, fears, insecurity, low self-esteem etc. can be eliminated with light of Torah, good deeds, taking care for others and getting help from friends; just simple smile or warm greeting can bring light to dark corners of our “existential loneliness.”
It would be nice to review lesson that we had learned from Chanukah all year around!

Why not all 8 days of 9 candles? My reasoning is that the Temple menorah would have been all its candles. I also noticed that 8x9=72. Which would account for the 70 souls that went to Egypt plus the 2 that were there already (Joseph and Benjamin). It would show the miracle of Joseph and the gathering of Jacob's family and eventually the Exodus.
Bring about full "sparks " joined together. Just like when Moshiach will be revealed and All souls will be together again.
Just curious!

In regard to your exposition re. mehadrin etc.. and your quoting Taz re. Ashkenazim following Rambam and Sefardim Tosfos.

See Sdei Chemed on Chanuka 9:4, first 2 paragraphs, whereby Sefardim had that minhag from way back, before baalei hatosfos were on the scene, and Ashkenazim don’t do exactly as the Rambam.