Knowledge is Power --- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER Power.
All commandments in the Torah, have a corresponding
spiritual reality, that is always available and accessible, to perform the
exact function, that its physical counterpart was intended and designed to
accommodate.
We read in the Torah, if a person murdered or killed
someone, there were 6 cities of refuge that would protect this person until his
case was heard before Judges and/or as long as the High Priest was alive. If
anyone attacked the murderer/killer while he was in these cities he would be
culpable for his deed.
These six special cities were protection, from G-d, from the
bad guy.
When a person sins against G-d he/she is essentially
murdering or killing a portion of his/her own G-dliness within, the soul, that
was whole and complete before the negative act was done.
The evil animalistic tendencies within, is permanently
seeking materialistic persuasions to entrap the person away from proper and
G-dly values. This takes place mainly during the six days of the week when we
are commanded to “go into the world, and conquer it” – “six days a week you
shall do all your work”.
The antidote to these potentially harmful SIX days, G-d
gives us “the cure before the sickness” and presented us according to the Sefer
Ha-Chinuch (“Book of Education”) with six constant commandments to stay
strongly connected with G-d, our higher source of power, and protected from the
bad energies out there seducing us into its trap. The more a person places himself inside the
observance and consciousness of these practices, the more he will be protected
from the vices of the evil inclination.
The Sefer ha-Chinuch ("Book of Education"), was
published anonymously in 13th century Spain. It separately discusses each of
the 613 commandments, both from a legal and a moral perspective, usually based
on Maimonides' Mishneh Torah - and closes with a summary as to the
commandment's applicability.
Though there is a debate about who is the true author, it is
agreed, the Sefer ha-Chinuch (Book of Education”) was written by a father to
his son as a gift, upon reaching the age of Bar Mitzvah.
And, here are the very special BIG SIX -- tools and techniques for protection against
the evil & animalistic inclinations.
1, To Know There is a
God
I am G-d your God who brought you out of Egypt. (Exodus
20:2)
The first of the Six Constant Commandments - Mitzvos is also
the first of the Ten Commandments; it is the mitzvah to recognize, G-d exists.
We must acknowledge not only that He created the world, but that He continues
to be involved in its day-to-day operations and our personal lives.
2, Not to Believe in
Any Other “gods”
Do not recognize any other “gods” in My presence. (Exodus
20:3)
Any place one could possibly go is in G-d’s presence;
accordingly, there are no other powers! We must recognize that no being created
by G-d can ever thwart His will.
3, To Know That G-d
is One
Listen, Israel, G-d is our G-d, G-d is One. (Deuteronomy
6:4)
Recognizing G-ds unity means knowing that He is unique, He
has no partners, components or divisions, and that He exists outside of time
and space.
4, To Love G-d
You shall love G-d your G-d with all your heart, with all
your soul, and with all your ability. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Loving G-d should be the natural result of recognizing His
existence; if we truly understand all that G-d does for us, how could we help
but appreciate and love Him for it? We should also be prepared to give of our
time, our resources and more for the sake of G-d.
5, To Be in Awe of
G-d
You must revere G-d your G-d; Him you shall serve.
(Deuteronomy 10:20)
To revere G-d means to recognize that our actions have
consequences. Knowing that there’s a G-d and a system of spiritual checks and
balances helps keep us on the right path.
6, Not to Be Led
Astray by Our Desires
Don’t follow your heart or your eyes, after which one can go
astray. (Numbers 15:39)
“Heart” refers to heretical thoughts, and “eyes” refers to
physical temptations, both of which can distract a person from what’s really
important in life. We must not be led astray by philosophies that are not
compatible with Torah (our values) or by physical desires.
Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan (1838-1933, known as the Chafetz
Chaim) discusses the applications of these commandments and comments: "At
every time and moment that a person ponders these, he fulfills commandments,
(he strengthens his eternal bonds with G-d the source of infinite strength) and
there is no limit to the amount of reward given for the mitzvoth
(commandments)..."
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