E Mussar - Sabedoria para o Crescimento Pessoal: SF

quinta-feira, 1 de junho de 2023

SF - The Master of Virtues

One of our sages advised his students: "First learn what is bad in order to avoid it, and then learn what is good and do it." In the course of striving for personal excellence, why is it necessary "to first learn what is bad"? Every form of good is vulnerable to a negative force that can destroy it. For instance, imagine a person contemplates on patience, without considering how to regulate his own feelings of impatience. When put to the test his emotions will likely uproot all the work he put into attaining patience. Whereas, if he first masters his negative emotions, then he will be able to act with pure and consistent patience.

A person who knows his negative traits and how to master over them, is able to attain every good and positive virtue.

Envision Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, the master of pleasing character traits and kindness. See how he first purified himself from the negative traits, such as impatience, and selfishness, so they would not impair his good virtues and acts of kindness. Imagine Rabbi Yisrael Salanter flowing with goodness and love for all of HaShem's creations.

(Based on Chovos HaLavavos, Sha'ar Yichud HaMa'aseh)