Sunday morning I awoke full of gratitude and good intentions for the day ahead.
I studied the Responsibility chapter from "Everyday Holiness” ,made some notes, and after breakfast worked effectively until lunchtime. After lunch Yetzer-Hara kicked in and my productivity went rapidly downhill. I spent a few hours watching irrelevant youtube videos, podcasts and sports. I knew what I was doing but had no will to stop. When I reviewed my day before retiring to bed, I felt real frustration for wasting my day.
I awoke at 05:30 and not long after the concept of living a perfect day came to me, and not long after the song “The Impossible Dream” came into my head. When I looked up the lyrics I realised how relevant they are to me and anyone following the Mussar Path.
I thought to myself-”where did all that come from” and also how did an agnostic lost soul with a very limited Christian upbringing discover and begin to follow the Mussar Path?
There is so much in this post! First of all, I just finished rereading some books on Jewish Renewal. I first met Rabbi Waskow in the 70's and then found Rabbi Lerner in the 90's. The idea of Judaism being a transformational religion inspires me. I am also reminded of my favorite spin on The Serenity Prayer - "God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me." Since I started this Mussar practice six years ago, I can see how I've been changed for the better. But I can also see how changes in me are being reflected in those around me. Think globally, act locally, and we can change the world. But I am fascinated by the story of the baker - what am I working on? Not just the task at hand, but a middah. What am I doing? Balancing the checkbook? No, gratitude for what I have. Helping my 12 yo grandson make his lunch? No, awe in watching him grow and take responsibility for himself. Writing a birthday card to a 93 yo friend of my parents? No, compassion, love, and humility for the only person alive who has known me all my life. Transformational.
I simply couldn't read that thought from Rav Yerucham Levovitz, without sharing Rav Shimon Shkop's variant.
Rabbi Shkop starts by analyzing an enigmatic teaching in the Talmud (Nedarim 38a):
"... [Commenting] on the verse 'Carve out for yourself.' [It explains the words "for yourself"] - Moses only became wealthy through the extra pieces [of sapphire he chipped off the stones to make] the Tablets. This is a startling idea — [is it possible that] Hashem couldn’t find any way to make Moshe
wealthy except through the extras of the Tablets?"
Pretty startling, no? We're talking about The Tablets, the Ten Commandments, and _that's_ what Hashem chooses as the vehicle for granting Moses wealth???
Rabbi Shkop explains that the Tablets here symbolize the surface upon which we write the Torah. Our souls. Carving away the extra sapphire? This represents our need to remove the excesses in our Middot, in our soul traits, to prepare that surface.
Rav Shimon adds:
"For this reason, the Holy One showed Moshe as a sign to all who accept the Torah that He would prepare their income for them through the making of the Tablets; any “extras that are carved away” will provide them with income."
He too says that the point of going to work is as a gym for developing our Middot. Making money is merely a side effect.
In other words, we aren't supposed to be looking for business solutions that aid the other because win-win solutions make the most money. Rather, Hashem set up commerce such that win-win solutions make the most money so that we are motivated to find ways to provide services or goods to others!
I have been guided to the concept of “A Perfect Day” Without knowing precisely what a perfect day would look like for me! I decided to live it anyway.
The reality is: In each moment I do know what “I should and should not be doing”, my problem is having the awareness, courage and strength to do it
For the first two hours of today I estimate I reached 75/80 % perfection
Up at 05:45
Black coffee
Studied my notes and affirmations of current Mussar Trait - Responsibility.
Completed a 45 minute exercise routine.
Drove to the supermarket with due care and attention.
Bought healthy food: eggs, apple, tomatoes, butter for breakfast.
…..
Then the song “Impossible Dream” spontaneously came to mind. I looked up the lyrics and they seem to be very appropriate for our journeys on the Mussar Path. I also did a Ai research on “The Impossible Dream"
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love, pure and chaste, from afar
To try, when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest, to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To fight for the right without question or pause
To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star!
Ai response:
"The Impossible Dream" is a song about a courageous and unwavering quest to achieve a noble, though difficult, goal. Its meaning revolves around the importance of fighting for the right, even against overwhelming odds, and finding peace in knowing that one has strived to be the best they can be. The lyrics, from the musical Man of La Mancha, are sung by the protagonist Don Quixote and represent his commitment to his ideals.
Core themes
Unyielding determination: The song emphasizes a commitment to a cause despite the challenges, such as "to fight the unbeatable foe" and "to bear with unbearable sorrow".
Pursuit of justice: A central theme is the selfless and relentless effort to "right the unrightable wrong" and fight for what is just, even "into hell for a heavenly cause".
Idealism and virtue: It speaks to a desire to live a life of virtue and honor, even when the world is cynical and lacks these qualities.
The value of the quest itself: The lyrics suggest that the true reward is not necessarily in succeeding, but in the effort and courage put forth. The payoff is a sense of peace and purpose from knowing you've given your all.
Personal growth and peace: By following this quest, the singer knows his heart will be "peaceful and calm" in the end, and the world will be better for his effort, regardless of the outcome.
God’s blessings to all, especially to those sharing this Mussar Path
God moves in mysterious ways!
Sunday morning I awoke full of gratitude and good intentions for the day ahead.
I studied the Responsibility chapter from "Everyday Holiness” ,made some notes, and after breakfast worked effectively until lunchtime. After lunch Yetzer-Hara kicked in and my productivity went rapidly downhill. I spent a few hours watching irrelevant youtube videos, podcasts and sports. I knew what I was doing but had no will to stop. When I reviewed my day before retiring to bed, I felt real frustration for wasting my day.
I awoke at 05:30 and not long after the concept of living a perfect day came to me, and not long after the song “The Impossible Dream” came into my head. When I looked up the lyrics I realised how relevant they are to me and anyone following the Mussar Path.
I thought to myself-”where did all that come from” and also how did an agnostic lost soul with a very limited Christian upbringing discover and begin to follow the Mussar Path?
“GOD REALLY DOES MOVE IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS”
There is so much in this post! First of all, I just finished rereading some books on Jewish Renewal. I first met Rabbi Waskow in the 70's and then found Rabbi Lerner in the 90's. The idea of Judaism being a transformational religion inspires me. I am also reminded of my favorite spin on The Serenity Prayer - "God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me." Since I started this Mussar practice six years ago, I can see how I've been changed for the better. But I can also see how changes in me are being reflected in those around me. Think globally, act locally, and we can change the world. But I am fascinated by the story of the baker - what am I working on? Not just the task at hand, but a middah. What am I doing? Balancing the checkbook? No, gratitude for what I have. Helping my 12 yo grandson make his lunch? No, awe in watching him grow and take responsibility for himself. Writing a birthday card to a 93 yo friend of my parents? No, compassion, love, and humility for the only person alive who has known me all my life. Transformational.
I simply couldn't read that thought from Rav Yerucham Levovitz, without sharing Rav Shimon Shkop's variant.
Rabbi Shkop starts by analyzing an enigmatic teaching in the Talmud (Nedarim 38a):
"... [Commenting] on the verse 'Carve out for yourself.' [It explains the words "for yourself"] - Moses only became wealthy through the extra pieces [of sapphire he chipped off the stones to make] the Tablets. This is a startling idea — [is it possible that] Hashem couldn’t find any way to make Moshe
wealthy except through the extras of the Tablets?"
Pretty startling, no? We're talking about The Tablets, the Ten Commandments, and _that's_ what Hashem chooses as the vehicle for granting Moses wealth???
Rabbi Shkop explains that the Tablets here symbolize the surface upon which we write the Torah. Our souls. Carving away the extra sapphire? This represents our need to remove the excesses in our Middot, in our soul traits, to prepare that surface.
Rav Shimon adds:
"For this reason, the Holy One showed Moshe as a sign to all who accept the Torah that He would prepare their income for them through the making of the Tablets; any “extras that are carved away” will provide them with income."
He too says that the point of going to work is as a gym for developing our Middot. Making money is merely a side effect.
In other words, we aren't supposed to be looking for business solutions that aid the other because win-win solutions make the most money. Rather, Hashem set up commerce such that win-win solutions make the most money so that we are motivated to find ways to provide services or goods to others!
Yes thanks for the translation of pirkei avot. I like ‘chapters of first principles.’
Dvar acher - archetypal bequests
And the vehicle of transmission: musar as a verb, Moses musared them to the elders, the elders musared them (the avot) to the prophets. Etc. 😉
A Perfect Day?
I have been guided to the concept of “A Perfect Day” Without knowing precisely what a perfect day would look like for me! I decided to live it anyway.
The reality is: In each moment I do know what “I should and should not be doing”, my problem is having the awareness, courage and strength to do it
For the first two hours of today I estimate I reached 75/80 % perfection
Up at 05:45
Black coffee
Studied my notes and affirmations of current Mussar Trait - Responsibility.
Completed a 45 minute exercise routine.
Drove to the supermarket with due care and attention.
Bought healthy food: eggs, apple, tomatoes, butter for breakfast.
…..
Then the song “Impossible Dream” spontaneously came to mind. I looked up the lyrics and they seem to be very appropriate for our journeys on the Mussar Path. I also did a Ai research on “The Impossible Dream"
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love, pure and chaste, from afar
To try, when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest, to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To fight for the right without question or pause
To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star!
Ai response:
"The Impossible Dream" is a song about a courageous and unwavering quest to achieve a noble, though difficult, goal. Its meaning revolves around the importance of fighting for the right, even against overwhelming odds, and finding peace in knowing that one has strived to be the best they can be. The lyrics, from the musical Man of La Mancha, are sung by the protagonist Don Quixote and represent his commitment to his ideals.
Core themes
Unyielding determination: The song emphasizes a commitment to a cause despite the challenges, such as "to fight the unbeatable foe" and "to bear with unbearable sorrow".
Pursuit of justice: A central theme is the selfless and relentless effort to "right the unrightable wrong" and fight for what is just, even "into hell for a heavenly cause".
Idealism and virtue: It speaks to a desire to live a life of virtue and honor, even when the world is cynical and lacks these qualities.
The value of the quest itself: The lyrics suggest that the true reward is not necessarily in succeeding, but in the effort and courage put forth. The payoff is a sense of peace and purpose from knowing you've given your all.
Personal growth and peace: By following this quest, the singer knows his heart will be "peaceful and calm" in the end, and the world will be better for his effort, regardless of the outcome.
God’s blessings to all, especially to those sharing this Mussar Path
Kol HaKavod Alan! Well said!!!