Ten Minutes of Meaning (Part 164): Who is at the Center of Your Life? - Mesillas Yesharim

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#Mussar #SelfImprovement #SelfHelp #Judaism #Jewish #Mindfulness Become a better version of yourself with just 10 minutes of wisdom from R' Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal) and his magnificent work, Mesillas Yesharim. For more content, visit http://www.rabbiefremgoldberg.org. We are on Chapter 19, translation courtesy of @SefariaProject. וכבר דברנו גם כן למעלה מענין לשמה ושלא לשמה למדרגותיהם. We have already discussed earlier the matter of performing a mitzva "for its own sake" (lishma) and "not for its own sake" (shelo lishma), according to their various levels. אמנם ודאי שמי שמתכוין בעבודתו לטהר נפשו לפני בוראו, למען תזכה לשבת את פניו בכלל הישרים והחסידים, לחזות בנועם ה' לבקר בהיכלו, ולקבל הגמול אשר בעוה"ב לא נוכל לומר שתהיה כונה זו רעה. However, he whose motivation in his divine service is to purify his soul before his Creator in order to be worthy of sitting among the Just and the Pious, "to gaze upon the pleasantness of G-d and to dwell within His sanctuary", and receive the reward in the World to Come, we certainly cannot say that his motive is evil. אכן לא נוכל לומר גם כן שתהיה היותר טובה, כי עד שהאדם מתכוין לטובת עצמו, סוף סוף עבודתו לצורך עצמו. On the other hand, we also cannot say that this is the best of motives. For as long as a person is motivated by his own benefit, in essence, his divine service is for his own self-interest. אך הכונה האמתית המצויה בחסידים אשר טרחו והשתדלו להשיגה, הוא שיהיה האדם עובד רק למען אשר כבודו של האדון ב"ה יגדל וירבה. But the true motivation which is found among the Pious, who have exerted themselves and strove to attain it, is for one to serve solely in order to raise and increase the honor of the Master, blessed be He.