שָׂ֣שׂ אָ֭נֹכִֽי עַל־אִמְרָתֶ֑ךָ כְּ֝מוֹצֵ֗א שָׁלָ֥ל רָֽב׃
Ako'y nagagalak sa Iyong salita, gaya ng isang nakasumpong ng maraming samsam.
Sha'arei Kedusha
From the above, we find that there are four sources of all the bad character traits. These are arrogance (including anger, which adheres to it), idle chatter, lust for pleasure, and depression. Their sources are the four Kelipot of the Yetzer HaRa (The Evil Inclination) in the elemental soul. The opposites of these are four good character traits whose sources are the four good elements of the elemental soul. These are:
1) Humility. This is a total sense of unimportance. Such a person distances himself from any kind of anger, because anger is a result of haughtiness.
2) Silence. Except when he is occupied in the study of Torah and mitzvot or in the physical needs of the body or for the needs of others, he acts as if mute, as one who cannot open his mouth.
3) He despises all physical pleasure or unnecessary excesses.
4) He is always happy with his lot. This is because he realizes that it all is from HaShem-יהו"ה above, and everything that HaShem-יהו"ה brings about is for the good.44Talmud Bavli, Brachot 60b; Midrash Bereishit Rabba 51:3, and elsewhere; Also see Tzava’at HaRivash translated as The Way of The Baal Shem Tov, Section 2. This attitude also results in alacrity with perfect joy in serving his Creator, as scripture states,45Psalms 119:162 “I rejoice in Your words as one who has discovered vast treasure.” Similarly, our sages stated,46Mishnah Avot 1:15 “Make Torah study your permanent priority and your occupation a temporary one.”
1) Humility. This is a total sense of unimportance. Such a person distances himself from any kind of anger, because anger is a result of haughtiness.
2) Silence. Except when he is occupied in the study of Torah and mitzvot or in the physical needs of the body or for the needs of others, he acts as if mute, as one who cannot open his mouth.
3) He despises all physical pleasure or unnecessary excesses.
4) He is always happy with his lot. This is because he realizes that it all is from HaShem-יהו"ה above, and everything that HaShem-יהו"ה brings about is for the good.44Talmud Bavli, Brachot 60b; Midrash Bereishit Rabba 51:3, and elsewhere; Also see Tzava’at HaRivash translated as The Way of The Baal Shem Tov, Section 2. This attitude also results in alacrity with perfect joy in serving his Creator, as scripture states,45Psalms 119:162 “I rejoice in Your words as one who has discovered vast treasure.” Similarly, our sages stated,46Mishnah Avot 1:15 “Make Torah study your permanent priority and your occupation a temporary one.”
Ohr Ne'erav
Beloved, take the Pleasant Light, as one who finds a great spoil (Ps. 119:162).
Sha'arei Kedusha
After all this, he should engage in the study of Torah completely for its sake (Lishmah),872As explained at the conclusion of Part 1, Gate 3, this means, for the sake of the Name of HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He. doing so with all his strength, solely to bring delight to the One who formed him. When engaging in the study of Torah and the fulfillment of the mitzvot, he should be joyous to the ultimate extreme, as written,873Psalms 119:162 “I rejoice in Your words like one who has discovered vast treasure,” for, through this, he draws down beneficence to all the worlds. Of primary importance over everything, is to fear HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He. This should be constant, at every moment, and he thus will be free of sin. This is accomplished by literally placing HaShem-יהו״ה before his very eyes at every moment, as written,874Psalms 16:8 “I have set HaShem-יהו״ה before me always.” He should actively focus his thoughts on HaShem-יהו"ה, blessed is He, adhering them to Him unceasingly, without stopping for even a moment. This is the meaning of the verse,875Deuteronomy 11:22 “to adhere to Him (L’Davkah Bo-לדבקה בו),” and the verse,876Deuteronomy 10:20 “to Him you shall adhere (u’Vo Tidbak-ובו תדבק).”