Musar sur Les Psaumes 1:2

Man ought to employ this quality only in the service of God and His divine Law, as it is written (Ps. i. 2), "And his delight is in the law of the Lord," and again (id., cxix. 97), "How I love thy law," etc. Necessarily, one who occupies himself with the quest of knowledge and moral science (theoretical science and the practical arts), will be (so busy as to be) kept from his lusts. The wise one said, " If aught befall thee and no one occur to thee whom thou mightest consult with reference thereto, avoid it and bring it not near to thy passion, for passion is an enemy of the heart." And he said, "He who is submissive to his lust is routed, and he who rebels against it gains the victory." This quality is preferred by foolish men only because of the imminence (immediateness) of its delight and for the sake of the amusement and merriment and the hearing of mirthful songs which they get through it. They heed not the suffering and the wretchedness that follow in its train, and therefore incline in accord with their natural impulses to the attainment of present pleasure, as it is said (Prov. xiii. 19), "The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,"

The general rule of this matter is that a man should never be stubborn and he should not "make his neck stiff" against those who rebuke him or against one who tries to teach him the upright way — but he should very willingly listen to them, and accept their words with the graciousness of his soul, for concerning stubborn people it is said : "Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward; He that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them" (Prov. 22:5). And it is also said "He that hath a froward heart findeth no good" (Prov. 17:20). In several instances are praised those who willingly listen to the words of the Torah, as it is written "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in His law doth he meditate day and night" (Ps. 1:2). And it is written "And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season" (Ps. 1:3); and it is written : "Happy is the man that feareth the Lord, that delights in his conmmandments" (Ps. 112:1). Notice that it says "delights" which means that a man must train himself to delight to do the commandments.

Meanwhile Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair came and kissed Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, saying, “I have kissed the mouth of Hashem that has been spiced with the spices of His Gan Eden!” First they rejoiced together and then they sat down. When they were seated all the birds that had been providing them with shade flew off and dispersed. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai turned and raised his voice towards them, saying, “Birds of the sky! Have you no concern for the honor of your Master [i.e., the Shechinah] who is standing here?” But the birds remained where they were and would not approach. Rabbi Pinchas said to Rabbi Shimon, “Tell them they may go on their way.” So the birds scattered and went on their way. In the meantime three trees spread out their branches over them and a brook flowed before them, causing all the companions to rejoice. Rabbi Pinchas said, “Those birds provided an abundance of shade but it caused them great sorrow and it is written, “And His mercies are upon all His works” (Tehillim 145:9). For that reason I did not wish to sit in their shade.” Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai said, “I was not the one who put them to the trouble. It was the Holy One Blessed is He who had mercy upon us. Therefore we bear no guilt, nor can we send them away.” Then they all sat together beneath the tree and drank from the water. Rabbi Shimon began a discourse: “Fortunate is our lot that we engage in study. For it is stated, ‘But only in Hashem’s Torah is his desire ׀ he will be like a tree set into the ground near streams of water…’ (Tehillim 1:2,3) Come and see what the Holy One Blessed is He did for us — He planted for us those three trees and caused this brook to flow from this place!” To this day those trees stand there with their great boughs spread wide and people refer to them as, “The plantings of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai and Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair.”