Hi,
"A person can elevate himself to a trait of purity if he prepares himself for service of Gd and performance of mitzvot. This means that he doesn't enter into fulfillment of a mitzvah suddenly, without a settled mind and without first contemplating what he is about to do.
"Rather, one should dedicate himself to the purpose, and patiently prepare his heart until he enters the deed through contemplation, thinking about what he is going to do.
"When one enters a deed with this level of examination, it is easy to remove from himself the external motivations and establish in one's heart the true and desirable focus."
(R' Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Mesilat Yesharim Chapter 17)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Showing posts with label Mitzvah: Kavvanah [mental focus]. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mitzvah: Kavvanah [mental focus]. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
The purpose-driven mitzvah
Hi,
"Know that all deeds of [Divine] service, like learning Torah, praying and performing other mitzvot, are intended only for one to study and to be involved in the commands of Gd, and to turn from the affairs of the world, as though you had involved yourself in Gd and ceased from everything else.
"However, if you pray with the movement of your lips, and your face is to the wall, and you think of your commerce, and you read Torah with your tongue but your heart is in the construction of your home without comprehending what you are reading, or you perform any mitzvah with your limbs like one who digs a hole in the ground or chops wood from the forest without thinking about that deed, the One who commanded it or the goal of the deed, then don't think you have achieved the purpose. You will be one who is 'close', as in Yirmiyah 12:2: 'You [Gd] are close in their mouths, but far from their innards.'"
(Rambam, Moreh haNevuchim 3:51)
כתיבה וחתימה טובה,
Mordechai
"Know that all deeds of [Divine] service, like learning Torah, praying and performing other mitzvot, are intended only for one to study and to be involved in the commands of Gd, and to turn from the affairs of the world, as though you had involved yourself in Gd and ceased from everything else.
"However, if you pray with the movement of your lips, and your face is to the wall, and you think of your commerce, and you read Torah with your tongue but your heart is in the construction of your home without comprehending what you are reading, or you perform any mitzvah with your limbs like one who digs a hole in the ground or chops wood from the forest without thinking about that deed, the One who commanded it or the goal of the deed, then don't think you have achieved the purpose. You will be one who is 'close', as in Yirmiyah 12:2: 'You [Gd] are close in their mouths, but far from their innards.'"
(Rambam, Moreh haNevuchim 3:51)
כתיבה וחתימה טובה,
Mordechai
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
