Sunday, May 16, 2004
We continue our countdown to Mattan Torah with short daily quotes from Messilat Yesharim:
-- From Ch. 20
"You are duty-bound to follow the mitzvot as strictly as possible, no matter who is watching you as you do, and are to neither be afraid nor embarrassed .... But even this requires discrimination and forethought, as it refers to those mitzvot which we are absolutely obligated to do. In regard to them you have to be as hard as flint. But as to those extra flourishes of piety which, when done in front of most people would cause laughter and mocking, and would have them sin and be punished because of the pious person's extra measures -- the pious person should abandon such things, as they are not an absolute obligation upon him .... The crux of the matter is that you should do any essential, obligatory mitzvah when its time comes, no matter who may mock you. But you should not do anything which is not essential and which will cause laughter and mockery."
"We can infer that one who would truly be pious must evaluate all of his actions in light of their results, and according to the concurrent conditions: according to the company he finds himself to be in, the circumstances, and the physical location. If refraining will result in further sanctification of the name of G-d and satisfy Him more than the performance of the act, you should refrain rather than do. If an act appears to be good but is actually bad in its results or its ramifications; or if another act seems to be bad, but is actually good in its results-- you are to act in consideration of the ultimate effect and outcome, as that is in truth the fruit of all actions."
-- From Ch. 21
"A lot of introspection and profound reflection especially helps in the acquisition of piety. The more you reflect upon the exalted nature of G-d, the infinite nature of His perfection, and the great and unfathomable difference between His greatness and our lowliness, the more will you be filled with trembling and reverence before Him. When you reflect as well upon the great goodness He has provided us with, His vast love for Israel, the closeness to Him the righteous enjoy, the excellence of Torah, mitzvot and other learned matters -- an intense and powerful love will arise within you, and you will want nothing but to attach yourself to Him. When you will see that He is literally a father to us, and has compassion upon us as a father has compassion upon his children, the desire and longing to reciprocate, as a child would want to do for a father, will constantly be aroused in you."
"To do this, you have to sequester yourself in your room and collect your thoughts for the introspections and considerations of these truths. What will [also] help in all this is a thorough familiarity with and profound understanding of the Songs of David, and a reflection upon their statements and main points. As they are full of love, reverence and all manner of piety, there cannot help but be aroused in you a great urge to follow in David's footsteps and to go on his path when you reflect upon them. It also helps to read the stories of the pious in the aggadot they are found in. Obviously, they excite the mind to take note and follow their noble deeds."
"What deters from piety are preoccupations and worry. When the mind is preoccupied and is stewing in its worries and external concerns it is impossible for it to reflect. And without reflection you will never obtain piety. Even if you will have already obtained it, preoccupation will compel and confuse your mind, and will not allow you to grow in your reverence, love and the other matters relevant to piety we have mentioned."
"The only thing that can stand guard over a person and save him from these deterrents is trust -- casting your lot upon G-d completely. That comes about with the knowledge that it is utterly impossible to lack what is already determined to be yours."
"The true path is that taken by the early pious ones who would make their Torah-study primary and their occupations secondary, and were successful at both. Once you work just a little, all you need further do is trust in G-d and you will never be concerned about worldly matters. Then your mind will be free and your heart readied for true piety and complete service to G-d."
(c) 2004 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
You can always contact Rabbi Feldman at feldman@torah.org
May this series on Messilat Yesharim, which is offered in loving memory of my recently departed uncle, Chaim ben Avraham Stone a"h, serve as an aliyah for his neshama.
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Get your own copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” by logging onto http://www.aronson.com/jbookstore/ and typing in "The Gates of Repentance".
Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has translated and commented upon "The Gates of Repentance", "The Path of the Just", and "The Duties of the Heart" (Jason Aronson Publishers). And his new work on Maimonides' "The Eight Chapters" will soon be available from Judaica Press.
His works are available in bookstores and in various locations on the Web.
Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled "Spiritual Excellence" and "Ramchal".
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-- From Ch. 20
"You are duty-bound to follow the mitzvot as strictly as possible, no matter who is watching you as you do, and are to neither be afraid nor embarrassed .... But even this requires discrimination and forethought, as it refers to those mitzvot which we are absolutely obligated to do. In regard to them you have to be as hard as flint. But as to those extra flourishes of piety which, when done in front of most people would cause laughter and mocking, and would have them sin and be punished because of the pious person's extra measures -- the pious person should abandon such things, as they are not an absolute obligation upon him .... The crux of the matter is that you should do any essential, obligatory mitzvah when its time comes, no matter who may mock you. But you should not do anything which is not essential and which will cause laughter and mockery."
"We can infer that one who would truly be pious must evaluate all of his actions in light of their results, and according to the concurrent conditions: according to the company he finds himself to be in, the circumstances, and the physical location. If refraining will result in further sanctification of the name of G-d and satisfy Him more than the performance of the act, you should refrain rather than do. If an act appears to be good but is actually bad in its results or its ramifications; or if another act seems to be bad, but is actually good in its results-- you are to act in consideration of the ultimate effect and outcome, as that is in truth the fruit of all actions."
-- From Ch. 21
"A lot of introspection and profound reflection especially helps in the acquisition of piety. The more you reflect upon the exalted nature of G-d, the infinite nature of His perfection, and the great and unfathomable difference between His greatness and our lowliness, the more will you be filled with trembling and reverence before Him. When you reflect as well upon the great goodness He has provided us with, His vast love for Israel, the closeness to Him the righteous enjoy, the excellence of Torah, mitzvot and other learned matters -- an intense and powerful love will arise within you, and you will want nothing but to attach yourself to Him. When you will see that He is literally a father to us, and has compassion upon us as a father has compassion upon his children, the desire and longing to reciprocate, as a child would want to do for a father, will constantly be aroused in you."
"To do this, you have to sequester yourself in your room and collect your thoughts for the introspections and considerations of these truths. What will [also] help in all this is a thorough familiarity with and profound understanding of the Songs of David, and a reflection upon their statements and main points. As they are full of love, reverence and all manner of piety, there cannot help but be aroused in you a great urge to follow in David's footsteps and to go on his path when you reflect upon them. It also helps to read the stories of the pious in the aggadot they are found in. Obviously, they excite the mind to take note and follow their noble deeds."
"What deters from piety are preoccupations and worry. When the mind is preoccupied and is stewing in its worries and external concerns it is impossible for it to reflect. And without reflection you will never obtain piety. Even if you will have already obtained it, preoccupation will compel and confuse your mind, and will not allow you to grow in your reverence, love and the other matters relevant to piety we have mentioned."
"The only thing that can stand guard over a person and save him from these deterrents is trust -- casting your lot upon G-d completely. That comes about with the knowledge that it is utterly impossible to lack what is already determined to be yours."
"The true path is that taken by the early pious ones who would make their Torah-study primary and their occupations secondary, and were successful at both. Once you work just a little, all you need further do is trust in G-d and you will never be concerned about worldly matters. Then your mind will be free and your heart readied for true piety and complete service to G-d."
(c) 2004 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
You can always contact Rabbi Feldman at feldman@torah.org
May this series on Messilat Yesharim, which is offered in loving memory of my recently departed uncle, Chaim ben Avraham Stone a"h, serve as an aliyah for his neshama.
********************************
Get your own copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” by logging onto http://www.aronson.com/jbookstore/ and typing in "The Gates of Repentance".
Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has translated and commented upon "The Gates of Repentance", "The Path of the Just", and "The Duties of the Heart" (Jason Aronson Publishers). And his new work on Maimonides' "The Eight Chapters" will soon be available from Judaica Press.
His works are available in bookstores and in various locations on the Web.
Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled "Spiritual Excellence" and "Ramchal".
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