„I need counsel, that the same joy and contentment that I feel in the…”
„I need counsel, that the same joy and contentment that I feel in the system of my spiritual thoughts, and in the engagement with ideas and hidden matters, should be with me also at the time of performing the practical commandments and prayer, and at the time of engaging with the body of the revealed Torah.”From Shemonah Kevatzim, VI, 24
Engagement with spirituality can be an immense pleasure - pleasant thoughts, soaring on the wings of the spirit... But many times, the practical commandments, prayer, may bring a person to a crash because of the fact that these are daily deeds.
Repeating the same deeds again and again may cause a feeling of loathing. And we must try to make our prayers and the deeds we do cause us, too, a feeling of spiritual elevation.
How does one do this? The sages gave various pieces of counsel, the common thread of which is to try to renew within the deeds and prayers on the one hand, and on the other hand to know that not everything in life is built of excitement. Routine, too, has value.
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Have a good evening.
For the recovery of Iris bat Tova.
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.