Description: Chapter 4 - 03
Derech Hashem
Chapter 4 – 03
The limitations and guidelines that Hashem instituted in the world, are the Torah and mitzvos, both the mitzvos asay and the mitzvos lo sasay. Each one of them is specifically designed to achieve a purpose. Each one strengthens one aspect of our guf, and brings it up a level in ruchniyos, to achieve its true purpose. Or it removes one level of darkness and physicality, and fills up the ‘chisaron.’ The details of each mitzvah have their foundation in the true nature of a person which only Hashem understands, on every level of our existence. Hashem understands us and understands every single creation in this world, and formulated Torah and mitzvos to bring us to our greatest good, our highest level of perfection.
This concept is referred to in the pasuk:
ויצונו ה’ לעשות את כל החקים האלה כו’ לטוב לנו וכו
The root of all Avodas Hashem is to direct a person towards Hashem, so that we turn towards our Creator for all that we need. Every person needs to know and understand that he was only created to connect to Hashem, and we were placed in this world only to control our Yetzer, subjugate ourselves to Hashem using the power of our intellect. We have to work in the opposite direction of our natural physical body, and lead all our actions toward achieving this goal.
But there are two parts to our lives in this world. One part is what we do because we were commanded by Hashem. The other part is what we do because we have no choice. Meaning, one part is all the mitzvos, and the other part is when we utilize the world to survive and live. Although how we eat and drink and do other functions of life aren’t mitzvos per se, they are all limited and guided through the mitzvos asay and lo saasay that Hashem commanded us. There are things we can’t eat, and there are things we do to be able to eat, make brachos, kasher food, and so on. Through doing the mitzvos we are fulfilling Hashem’s will, and thereby we can make the second part of our existence a part of achieving perfection as well.
If we have the right intent, and we eat and drink and sleep in order to give strength and life to our bodies, and enable ourselves to do the other half, keeping Torah and mitzvos, and we don’t eat simply because our body pulls us to the physical pleasures of this world, rather to create an arena for the neshamah to work in, then those acts themselves bring shelaimus and perfection to our bodies. Each act has the same effect that a mitzvah has – because this itself is a mitzvah – to watch over our bodies and keep them healthy to serve Hashem. We not only elevate ourselves, but we also elevate the world as well with us, because it assists us in serving Hashem.
Derech Hashem
Chapter 4 – 03
The limitations and guidelines that Hashem instituted in the world, are the Torah and mitzvos, both the mitzvos asay and the mitzvos lo sasay. Each one of them is specifically designed to achieve a purpose. Each one strengthens one aspect of our guf, and brings it up a level in ruchniyos, to achieve its true purpose. Or it removes one level of darkness and physicality, and fills up the ‘chisaron.’ The details of each mitzvah have their foundation in the true nature of a person which only Hashem understands, on every level of our existence. Hashem understands us and understands every single creation in this world, and formulated Torah and mitzvos to bring us to our greatest good, our highest level of perfection.
This concept is referred to in the pasuk:
ויצונו ה’ לעשות את כל החקים האלה כו’ לטוב לנו וכו
The root of all Avodas Hashem is to direct a person towards Hashem, so that we turn towards our Creator for all that we need. Every person needs to know and understand that he was only created to connect to Hashem, and we were placed in this world only to control our Yetzer, subjugate ourselves to Hashem using the power of our intellect. We have to work in the opposite direction of our natural physical body, and lead all our actions toward achieving this goal.
But there are two parts to our lives in this world. One part is what we do because we were commanded by Hashem. The other part is what we do because we have no choice. Meaning, one part is all the mitzvos, and the other part is when we utilize the world to survive and live. Although how we eat and drink and do other functions of life aren’t mitzvos per se, they are all limited and guided through the mitzvos asay and lo saasay that Hashem commanded us. There are things we can’t eat, and there are things we do to be able to eat, make brachos, kasher food, and so on. Through doing the mitzvos we are fulfilling Hashem’s will, and thereby we can make the second part of our existence a part of achieving perfection as well.
If we have the right intent, and we eat and drink and sleep in order to give strength and life to our bodies, and enable ourselves to do the other half, keeping Torah and mitzvos, and we don’t eat simply because our body pulls us to the physical pleasures of this world, rather to create an arena for the neshamah to work in, then those acts themselves bring shelaimus and perfection to our bodies. Each act has the same effect that a mitzvah has – because this itself is a mitzvah – to watch over our bodies and keep them healthy to serve Hashem. We not only elevate ourselves, but we also elevate the world as well with us, because it assists us in serving Hashem.