Absorbing money

Hi,

"Dry land absorbs water. If the earth is already saturated, additional water turns it into mud.

"So it is with money. The needy can absorb money. When the person who already has enough for his needs accumulates more money, it turns into mud."

(R' Moshe of Mekarov, cited by R' Abraham J. Twerski in Rebbes and Chasidim, Chapter 71)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Poverty may be a need, too

Hi,

"Rabbi Zusia of Anipoli lived in abject poverty. Someone asked him, 'How can you be sincere in reciting the blessing thanking Gd for giving you all your needs when you lack so much?'

"Rabbi Zusia replied, 'Gd knows what my needs are better than I do. If He knows that one of my needs is poverty, who am I to say otherwise?"

(R' Dr. Avraham Twerski, Rebbes and Chassidim, Chapter 38)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Free Will, people and animals

Hi,

"One of the ways in which humans are distinct from animals is that we are free, whereas animals are not… True, under certain circumstances an animal may avoid gratifying a biologic drive. For example, a hungry jackal looking for food may come across a delectable carcass, but if this happens to be in the possession of a ferocious tiger, it will not approach the carcass. However, this is not because the jackal consciously suppresses its appetite, but because the fear of being killed by the tiger overrides the hunger. This is not at all an instance of free choice, but merely a greater biologic drive, that of survival, overcoming a lesser drive, that of hunger.

"Some psychologists would have us believe that human behavior is on the same plane and that our freedom of will is but an illusion… It is quite evident, however, that in practice we do not subscribe to this theory. Our entire concept of human responsibility, with our elaborate system of positive and negative sanctions, is based on the assumption that humans are not at the mercy of impulses and that we indeed have the freedom to choose and determine much of our behavior."

(The Spiritual Self, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski pg. 4-5, 6-7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Ruin and Repair

Hi,

"R' Nachman of Breslav said, 'If you believe things can be ruined, you should believe that things can be repaired.' A positive perspective is essential for a productive life. Resigning oneself to failure eliminates the possibility of progress."

(Rabbi Dr. Avraham Twerski, Rebbes and Chasidim, pg. 81)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Becoming a chassid

Hi,

"Two chassidim were carrying on a conversation.

"'How would you define what a chassid is?' one asked.

"'A chassid is someone who wishes to become a chassid,' the other answered.

"'Well, who would not wish to become a chassid?' the first asked.

"'Someone who thinks he already is a chassid,' the other answered.

"A chassid is a person who constantly strives for self-improvement and for greater spirituality. Although he knows one can never achieve perfection, he nevertheless aims to approach it as close as possible."

(Rabbi Dr. Avraham Twerski, Rebbes and Chassidim, chapter 40)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Miserable perfection

Hi,

"If I were to choose a single character defect that causes people more misery than any other, it would be the inability to admit a mistake."

(Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski, 60 Days for 60 Years: Israel pg. 45)

Have a great day,
Mordechai