Evil Voices
Sent to me by a good friend:
"It happens, the evil inclination convinces one that he has committed a great sin, even though the sin in question was but a stringency or, perhaps, not even a sin at all. The intention of the inclination is one pointed to cause this person to fall into despair, resulting in his ceasing study of Torah.
"Every person needs to see through these convincing mind patterns and to learn to respond to this insidious voice with this affirmation, "I am not concerned with what you claim to be an important transgression. Your intention is to take me away from the precious study of Torah. You speak lies! I refuse to consider what you have to say! Even if I have committed a transgression I will give my creator greater delight in refusing to let this thought bring me to despair. Rather than letting this create a chasm between sacred work and myself I will use this moment to serve God in joy!"
"For this is an important spiritual principle: "The intention of my service is not for myself, but to cause a pleasing spirit for the Blessed One. Even if I did not concern myself with this stringency you have now made me aware of, I don't believe the Blessed One will mind, since my sole intention is not to be distracted from serving God. How could I be distracted even for one moment?
"This is a great principle in serving God: to guard oneself from despair with all one's capacities."
Sources:
Tzavaat Rivash, no.44:
Tzavot HaRivash (The Testament of the Baal Shem Tov). Brooklyn: Kehot, 1975.
and Or HaEmet, p. 103b.
"It happens, the evil inclination convinces one that he has committed a great sin, even though the sin in question was but a stringency or, perhaps, not even a sin at all. The intention of the inclination is one pointed to cause this person to fall into despair, resulting in his ceasing study of Torah.
"Every person needs to see through these convincing mind patterns and to learn to respond to this insidious voice with this affirmation, "I am not concerned with what you claim to be an important transgression. Your intention is to take me away from the precious study of Torah. You speak lies! I refuse to consider what you have to say! Even if I have committed a transgression I will give my creator greater delight in refusing to let this thought bring me to despair. Rather than letting this create a chasm between sacred work and myself I will use this moment to serve God in joy!"
"For this is an important spiritual principle: "The intention of my service is not for myself, but to cause a pleasing spirit for the Blessed One. Even if I did not concern myself with this stringency you have now made me aware of, I don't believe the Blessed One will mind, since my sole intention is not to be distracted from serving God. How could I be distracted even for one moment?
"This is a great principle in serving God: to guard oneself from despair with all one's capacities."
Sources:
Tzavaat Rivash, no.44:
Tzavot HaRivash (The Testament of the Baal Shem Tov). Brooklyn: Kehot, 1975.
and Or HaEmet, p. 103b.
posted by nickthepoiguy at 11:54 AM
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