Happy Passover! Matza musings .. .
No posts since end of March-- whew.
Passover certainly creeps up on you, and then, I forget all about me.
Its the chometz/matza; ego/selflessness "difficulty".
On one hand, chometz is a prohibited substance, like ego. Edge G-d Out.
On the other hand, that same substance, the rest of the year, is fine. How can something which is no good for me spiritually, somehow become fine? If ego is bad, how does it become good?
Just a thought, but maybe this idea will help as an analogy--
The addicts of the 12-step program have the following wonderful passage in Bill W.'s book, "12 and 12", pg. 40:
. . . it is explained that the other steps of the A.A. program can be practiced with success only when step 3 is given a determined and persistant trial. This statement may surprise newcomers who have experienced nothing but constant deflation and a growing conviction that human will is of no value whatsoever. , , but now it appears that there are certain things which only the individual can do. All by himself, and in light of his own circumstances, he needs to develop the quality of willingness. Trying to do this is an act of his own will (emphasis mine). . . It is when we try to make our will conform with G-d's will that we begin to use it (i.e. our will) rightly . . .
In the language of the Jewish sages of the Talmud, "asay retzoncha retzono . . . ", Make your will His will.
Matza and chometz are really the same thing, just under different circumstances. Matza is, after all, just humble bread. So-- by eating bread, but in the humble state, we remind ourselves how to relate to the bread the rest of the year. Ego in the service of G-d is no vice. But, the test is-- would I forgo any reward for the deed? If the answer is yes, then, the ego is not "edging G-d out." This is the chometz which not only is not a prohibited substance, but it must be used as a holy offering on the holiday of Shavuos, the special Double Loaves brought on the alter.
Torah and ego are not incompatible. Thy will, not mine, be done.
When I get too busy and I stop posting, then my Ego is taking over, and I forget about caring for myself, and connecting with the world out there. I am no longer in the service of His will, but of mine.
Happy last days of the holiday!
Passover certainly creeps up on you, and then, I forget all about me.
Its the chometz/matza; ego/selflessness "difficulty".
On one hand, chometz is a prohibited substance, like ego. Edge G-d Out.
On the other hand, that same substance, the rest of the year, is fine. How can something which is no good for me spiritually, somehow become fine? If ego is bad, how does it become good?
Just a thought, but maybe this idea will help as an analogy--
The addicts of the 12-step program have the following wonderful passage in Bill W.'s book, "12 and 12", pg. 40:
. . . it is explained that the other steps of the A.A. program can be practiced with success only when step 3 is given a determined and persistant trial. This statement may surprise newcomers who have experienced nothing but constant deflation and a growing conviction that human will is of no value whatsoever. , , but now it appears that there are certain things which only the individual can do. All by himself, and in light of his own circumstances, he needs to develop the quality of willingness. Trying to do this is an act of his own will (emphasis mine). . . It is when we try to make our will conform with G-d's will that we begin to use it (i.e. our will) rightly . . .
In the language of the Jewish sages of the Talmud, "asay retzoncha retzono . . . ", Make your will His will.
Matza and chometz are really the same thing, just under different circumstances. Matza is, after all, just humble bread. So-- by eating bread, but in the humble state, we remind ourselves how to relate to the bread the rest of the year. Ego in the service of G-d is no vice. But, the test is-- would I forgo any reward for the deed? If the answer is yes, then, the ego is not "edging G-d out." This is the chometz which not only is not a prohibited substance, but it must be used as a holy offering on the holiday of Shavuos, the special Double Loaves brought on the alter.
Torah and ego are not incompatible. Thy will, not mine, be done.
When I get too busy and I stop posting, then my Ego is taking over, and I forget about caring for myself, and connecting with the world out there. I am no longer in the service of His will, but of mine.
Happy last days of the holiday!
posted by Rabbi Zvi B. Hollander | 11:50 AM
2 Comments:
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Those are interesting thoughts on ego! Happy passover to you and your close ones! Happy last days of the holidays!!
This is Ibrahim from Israeli Uncensored News
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