The path from thoughts to action to character.

Many of you I am sure have heard the saying, “Be careful what you think…Your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, and your habits become your character.”

In this short article I will shed some light, on this statement. The flow from thought to habits and character isn’t always as direct and as smooth as it sounds.

Mysticism explains, the highest internal faculty of the soul is intellect. After that goes the emotions which most of the times is the outcome of intellect.  Intellect, rational and logical discernment and emotions, will project themselves towards the outside of the person through three garments, thought, speech and deed.

In order that intellect or emotions should come to deed, it must go through the channels of thought and speech, at the very least speech as it is within thought. We think in terms of words and language. Once a person determines in his intellect that he wants to do something it will not happen automatically that he will be moved to do anything at all.  He must give conscious thought towards action, as to how and what he wants to do.This thought towards action is something additional and apart from the intellect that concluded that it’s important to do. Thinking to act, requires making the additional effort to think.

The same hurdles and hitches exist from thought to speech. Speech which is focused entirely to the outside is on a soul spiritual lower level   than thought which is entirely within oneself. Speech is also more superficial and posturing and since it is on the outside of the person it doesn’t happen automatically.

Thought in itself doesn’t dictate or oblige speech, just like concluding something is important in ones intellect will not force a person to think and consider how and what to do in order to act on those conclusions. It is entirely possible that a person can think about anything and will never consider speaking about it. He may even doubt whether he should speak at all about what he is thinking.

The same is also true from the garment expression of speech to action. Action is separate from the person and is totally an external garment expression of the soul. Therefore from speech to deed there are the same two catches. #1, speech will not necessarily lead to action and in order that there should be deed and action, an intentional consideration is necessary in that direction.

The distance and therefore the effort to have ones speech lead to action is even greater than that from thought to speech since action is even further from speech than speech is from thought.

The driving force that propels and pushes this process is will. This will, resolve and motivation is born as a result of one’s intellect.

Now here is the gigantic however. When will, resolve and determination comes not because of logical reasoning but because of pleasure and enjoyment, the will to do wasn’t born out of intellect but because of a deep desire for the results, this is so powerful, that it influences and guides the intellect and emotions through all the steps of expression and will automatically accelerate the flow to action, without any delays. “Nothing stands in the way of a desire.”

This desire for something because the person internally feels a pleasure in the results, sways the mind to understand and fires up the emotions to feel and directed automatically through thought speech and deed, quickly with a minimum of hindrances. Because of the intense will infused with pleasure he will not rest or stay quiet until the goal is reached.

So back to where we started. The procedure that starts with thought and makes a bee line to character, for it to work smoothly and effortlessly, must be preceded with a personal pleasure and passion, in the end results.

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Before I share with you a fabulous powerful metaphor for life and the afterlife, I will begin with the following.

Rabbi Yaakov taught, based on a verse in the bible, the reward for doing good deeds is for the most part given in the afterlife, where the soul continues to live forever, after it leaves the body.  Our earthly existence he would say is but an ante chamber where man trains himself for life in the eternal world to come.

The final destination is the world to come and this world is but a gateway a vestibule before the world to come. One must prepare himself and build a firm basis of good deeds in this world so they can enter and enjoy the banquet hall of the palace.

The Midrash says, “The wicked are destined to plead before G-d. “Give us a chance to repent and do more good deeds”, but G-d replies,” you foolish men! The world you inhabited is like the days before the weekend, whereas this world is like the Sabbath itself. Unless a man prepared food the day before, what will he eat on the Sabbath? The world where you lived resembles dry land, whereas this world is like the sea. Unless one prepares food while ashore, what will he eat when at sea? The world you where in is like a lobby, and this world is like the banquet hall, if a man does not qualify in the antechamber, how shall he enter the banquet hall.”

The bible says, “Which I commanded you this day, to do them.” Our sages explain,” this day you are able to do them. Tomorrow is set aside for receiving the reward.” In the present world man can seek perfection through good deeds. A man’s delight in the afterlife depends on his performance upon earth. Unless he cares to improve himself in this life he will have no remedy afterlife as it is written, “That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered (and made important).”

Once, a very long time ago, there was a town with a very strange habit. Two burly muscular men would one day grab a traveler passing by the town in the forest, and seat him on the throne in their palace. They would tell this fellow he was now their king with servants at his discretion and as much money as he desires. The fellow seeing that this was like a dream come through and experiencing all these possibilities at his fingertips would start enjoying his newly discovered power and opportunities.

Just as this fellow was coming to terms with his position and starting to make sense of his responsibilities, as unexpected as he became king, exactly a year later two burly muscular men would snatch a hold of him and place him right back on the trail he was on a year earlier in the forest. No amount of screaming or yelling that he was king etc. would help.

One day they did the same to a new unassuming innocent candidate. This fellow as he was seated on his throne, started to inquire what this practice was all about and discovered the method to the madness.

Throughout the year he kept on secretly but regularly sending money and servants to a far off island to build for himself  a beautiful palace. When the surprising but not so surprising day came and the two strongmen came to jerk him out of his dream instead of screaming and yelling he took it all calmly.

This person, went straight to the shore where his servants where waiting for him to wisk him over to what he prepared throughout his fortuitous opportunity.

True self empowerment.

Why are people so afraid to use the word, G-d?

They  have no problem with,  “Universe”,  “the  energy  force”,  “love”, “ Universal  energy”, “ Infinity “, “Ultimate Reality”, “Cosmic Energy”,  “ Mother nature “, and the list goes on to name just a few vague designations and  aliases. Does anyone really understand what these names mean specifically? Or is it just some feel good distraction into an otherworldly outer space?

What does Mother Nature mean, and who created Mother Nature? What makes anyone so sure the “ultimate reality” is “Love”? How and where does intelligence and wisdom fit into the picture? What makes you so sure with any of these names, that it is so perfect?

If you walked into a factory producing from raw ingredients a delicious mouthwatering freshly baked pastry and then, packed ever so neatly into an attractive package, would you refer to the “cosmic force” who designed the entire process for the sake of love? Or, would you have no problem referring to the person or people behind this wonderful process, as intelligent wise engineers? That would also mean you have to pay for the pastry before you walk out of this factory.

Could anyone be considered rational and suggest a jumbo jet or a 100 story building built years ago and discovered in the desert somewhere, came together by some freak of nature and a confluence of winds and energies that happened to put this intricate combination of substances and machinery together?

So why should anyone think, human beings who keep on popping out to the world just happen by itself? Why should anyone think for a moment that the intricate design of one atom just got wafted and propelled by itself, into its state of existence?

It is pretty sensible, and VERY logical, to consider the world as the creation of a wise and intelligent creator. This, besides all the personal testimony that is recorded for example in the book of the Bible. The problem is then one must ask, so why did He/She create the world? What does this intelligent force want from me? Why was I, created?

People would rather ignore good sense than the thought and feelings of more responsibilities and guilt that comes with the realization that perhaps there is a G-d.  People don’t want to feel controlled and ordered what to do and what not to do by the mission they were sent here to accomplish.

The problem is, if one doesn’t commit themselves to the limitations and reality of the compass, while they journey the rough seas of life, they stand a good chance of never getting anywhere worthwhile. So while they may enjoy fishing every day and drifting along in freedom, the underlying awareness they aren’t getting anywhere must eventually gnaw at their consciousness, that in truth they are lost and just drifting about meaninglessly and senselessly.

When a person acknowledges and unceasingly works on personally appreciating, there is a G-d, always was and always will be, who is by His very nature infinite. This G-d, since He is infinite surpasses any male female description, and incorporates the ultimate perfection of everything. This G-d in all His perfect wisdom created a Universe that is way beyond the comprehension of any human being now or forever . This G-d in all His glory created me, and I am as important to G-d as the greatest planet in the universe because, in front of infinity, nothing is more than the other, everything receives equal attention.

This is true self-empowerment.  This is ultimately, the greatest personal assurance in life, which carries lasting and deep, peace of mind.

Are you one of those, afraid to say you believe in G-d?

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So many people talk about Mother Nature, the force out there, call it whatever you want…. What are they talking about? Are these people ascribing power to the unknown, blindly?

Believe there is a solution to every problem, and if you think positive it will be positive. Last time I checked, people are dying left and right suddenly, unexpected, in accidents illnesses etc. They haven’t seen any answers to, their problems. People in hospital beds, thinking all the positive in the world and dying anyway.

You ever hear of statistics and probabilities? When was the last time anyone was ready to throw a thousand dollars at a company stock on the basis of, thinking  positive? If 75% of the times chances are to the negative, you really have to be blind to think totally positive.

Why is it people are so afraid to use the word, G-d? The moment G-d is introduced, “you must be a religious fanatic. Some throw back or something.” The last time I heard the news, people were killing each other for life insurance policies, robbing stores for its money,  or just plain going nuts and going on killing rages because of negative influences stemming from horror movies and/or drugs.

Maybe the throw back and problem isn’t G-d after all? Perhaps what’s causing some in our society to be living like cave men, the culprits are, money, drugs, and horror movies?

According to the latest polls 90 % of Americans believe in G-d. So why are we so afraid to say so, in our schools and in public and to our friends?

Once a King was speaking to his advisor about the possibility of a G-d. By mistake he tipped over the ink wells on the table in front of him and they spilled on his royal clothes and on the table in front of him. The king excused himself to change his clothes. The advisor quickly cleaned up the mess on the table and came up with a brilliant idea.

As an accomplished artist he drew in the place of the ink mess a beautiful picture of the gorgeous landscape as seen  through the windows of the palace. When the king came back he asked the advisor, what happened on the table, where did the beautiful picture come from? The advisor told the king that the ink that spilled over, formed itself into the sophisticated picture.

The king told the advisor to stop pulling his leg. It is impossible that inanimate ink could form itself into exact precise locations and intelligently make itself. “Only someone with a great mind and talent could draw such a beautiful portrayal of my garden” said the king.

The advisor then told the king, “Why should anyone be thinking differently when it comes to the beautiful landscape of the huge universe in all its precision and beauty?”

No one would ever believe a novel of a thousand pages that keeps every reader in suspense from page one to the very last paragraph and includes so much wisdom came together just randomly by all the letters falling into place. Why then should we think the universe with infinitely so many more components and so much more complex and complicated than the most difficult text book, happened randomly?

All this is besides the personal testimony of countless otherwise intelligent scholars and sages over the generations who have personally experienced and communicated with what they have clearly said, was the One and Only, G-d.

People hesitate to use G-d because, if there is a G-d, we must be beholden to Him, and for some people that’s pretty scary. Truth is, when viewed properly, the thought and acceptance in our heart that there is a G-d is extremely comforting.  Using every opportunity to strengthen our relationship with G-d is most fulfilling and gratifying.

More next week.

How to get anyone into a state of tranquility and self confidence.

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The following is a quote from one of the great mystics. “Thoughts and the ability to visualize are incredibly powerful. As if it were convincing and lifelike, these faculties will place a person anywhere. At that moment the person is totally elevated from the nonsense and trivia of the earthly reality. His awareness, his consciousness, his aspirations travel away. His thoughts are dancing, elevated in the realm of the spirit and soul, and his flesh is detached and perhaps even estranged from him...”

It is possible for a person to physically be in one place, an unpleasant place, and be completely and totally unaffected, through his thoughts that put him in a place of peace and tranquility.

”The Baal Shem Tov said, “Where a person’s thoughts are, that is where the person (truly) is. “ In the seminal book on mysticism the Zohar, it says. “The Human existence - is thought”.  It is through the channel of one’s thoughts, at the top of one’s form, the soul energy of a person, the quality of his life and his feelings are drawn and then shine in one’s body.  The desire for something and the resolve and determination inside a person must work with and through ones thoughts.

Strength and weakness in a person’s life are all the result of ones thoughts. Thought is compared sometimes to a funnel. In the same way that through a funnel water is given shape and  is directed ,  it is through the conduit of thought that the full power or weakness  of the soul will  make its’ way into a person’s  actual body.

Thoughts that accentuate optimism, faith in G-d and happy beliefs will shape and express the soul accordingly. Negative thoughts give shape to the soul and with that everything about the person to reduce itself to that undesirable pattern. The influence of good thoughts on the soul is far greater and deeper than speech and action, because of its closeness and constant attachment with the soul.

G-dly words and inspiration, for example the book of Psalms, are the ultimate in good and positive thoughts of wisdom and light. They are particularly beneficial to influence, mold, and direct the soul and one’s life for the good.

When a person thinks G-dly thoughts, which is most compatible with the spark of G-d within, they encompass and synergize with the soul and this will trigger from ones essence and depth the full shine and infinite light that knows no bounds. This will allow the soul, a spark of G-d, to bring forth the strongest of life itself and makes any person in whatever circumstances they are in feel both peaceful and at the zenith of personal confidence.

Thoughts that are the opposite of Holiness and G-dliness will cause tremendous hurt to a person, by going against the nature of one’s own soul and strangling the soul. This choice, to think non-worthy, negative thoughts places a perimeter on the soul and reduces the soul of its light in the body which results in darkness and uncertainty.

The positive influence of a good thought, finer speech and actions is much greater on the soul than a bad one. “Greater is the measure of goodness over the measure of punishment.” A small positive light will chase away much darkness from a large dark room. Positive, inspiring thoughts are more powerful than the darkness caused by negative thoughts.

The more a person accustoms and trains oneself to think positive thoughts, the more we habituate our souls to flow in a positive direction which brings about great positive results.

Can a person have his cake and eat it too.

Can someone drive a Rolls Royce and also be spiritual?

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Anybody who is somebody, wants more of a spiritual connection in life. Some of us are not sure why that is so but the desire is there. For some they aren’t even sure what spiritual means. To some, spiritual means nonphysical, transcendent. To others, spiritual could mean a whole range from psychic to mystical to divine.

For the sake of our conversation, spiritual means divine and G-dly.

When G-d revealed himself to the Israelites at Mt Sinai the verse says, “And G-d descended over Mt Sinai...” The mystics tell us, that with the giving of the Torah, with this great gesture on G-ds part, a bridge was formed and sealed between the lower worlds and the higher worlds. It became possible for people in this physical world to connect and attach themselves with the infinite G-d.

When G-d gave the Ten Commandments, and the infinite G-d revealed His wisdom from above, all the sick were cured of every illness. There is no place for illness weakness or any shortcomings when the infinite perfect G-d is discovered.

How can a puny human being ever connect with this great G-d so they as human beings become more spiritual and divine? Only by fulfilling the requests and wishes of G-d, we develop this bond and connection with Him.

Our sages tell us the word Sinai come from the word to hate. In order to be recipient of G-dliness and spirituality one must hate materialism and worldly pleasures. They say, “just like water and fire can never live together, so too, it is not possible for the love of G-d and the love of this world to dwell together.”

For somebody to truly and completely receive G-d in their life they must totally liberate themselves from the hold of this corporeal world which conceals and therefore challenges G-ds existence. They must evolve from any of the worldly limited and finite paradigms.  A great sage was once asked where is G-d?  He answered, “Wherever He is allowed to enter.”  The place must be one that is welcoming and hospitable to the awareness of  G-d.

The book of the Zohar says, “The strength of the body is the weakness of the soul, the weakness of the body is the strength of the soul.”  A person is commanded to have a healthy body, however the strength of the body, passion and zeal, enthusiasm and excitement for worldly and materialistic pursuits weaken the possibility for the spiritual and the soul.

 “I am G-d your G-d… you shall have no other G-d...” is the first and second commandment. The relationship between G-d and his People is likened to the relationship between a husband and wife. Just like the slightest distraction in a relationship will compromise the bond between a husband and wife the same is also true in the relationship between us and G-d.

When a person is focused on his body, materialistic pleasures, and everything is done to please and satisfy the body, the relationship with one’s soul, the G-d within, is ignored and seriously compromised. When however the ultimate goal is to satisfy and fulfill the spiritual goals by fulfilling G-ds commandments with the help of whatever physical a person is blessed with, then the world becomes a vehicle for the spiritual. Then, we have allowed G-d in, to our world.

G-d put us in this physical world not to ignore the beautiful blessings He so kindly granted us. We however have the G-dly given free will to use what is in this world to serve our hedonistic side which conceals G-dliness, or to use what is in this world purely to serve G-d. Then, we have become a dwelling place for the divine, within ourselves.

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The prophet Jeremiah admonishes, “let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might and let not the rich man glory in his wealth; but let him that glories, glory in this, that he understands and knows me for in these things I delight says the Lord.”

According to our sages, everything is determined up in heaven except for the choices a person makes between good and the opposite. Wisdom, might, wealth are gifts from G-d. There is no place for a person to glorify himself in those things that are granted to him, so they can support and help him accomplish in those areas where he really does have input and influence.  The only area in life a person can justifiably take personal credit and pride in, are those choices a person makes when he decides the righteous and good path over the alternative.

Ben Zoma declares however that certain types of wisdom, might and wealth may properly be prized and gloated over once they are integrated in the concept of “understanding and knowing me”.  And he says.

“Who is wealthy, and may justly acknowledge his wealth?  He who can bring himself to mentally and emotionally be happy with his lot.  “Happy shall you be in this world, and it shall be well with you in the world to come.”

G-d created a nature within humans that we quickly become habituated and adapted with our circumstances in life. We become comfortable with our families, our health, our environment and our condition in life. There’s an old saying. If G-d showed us the whole picture of anyone else’s life, all its’ pluses and minuses, the overwhelming majority of people would choose precisely where they presently are.

This is good because by becoming accustomed to what we have, the irony is, this is what creates the desire to explore and desire more.  To experience something fresh and novel.

On the other hand, once a person starts to intensely focus on more, many times this will cause people   to lose their appreciation and gratitude for all the good and all the blessings they already have been blessed with.

Ben Zoma teaches us to live in the now. When people become seriously driven and focused on the future, many times this has a tendency to put people under tremendous stress and in a state of worry and anxiousness.  Or, they may feel responsible for things that are not under their control. And to live in the past, many times this brings feelings of guilt and personal blame.

The proper balance is when we live and are focused mostly on the now, as the Rambam teaches, “a person should view every day as if it where his last day.”  We are grateful and appreciate the present, while aspiring for more in the future.

In is interesting that we start every day and our morning prayers begins with an expression of thanks and gratitude and only  a few minutes later we are asking for more!  But it’s from this foundation of thanks, that it is healthy to ask and seek more.

A person who is constantly aspiring and dreaming for more and forgetting the present will never be satisfied. When he finally gets what he wants, he is still hoping for more, and always feels lacking. With this mentality, a rich person with $200 who seeks to double his wealth is poorer than a poor person with this same mentality. While a poor person with a mentality of gratitude is wealthier than a person with more money.

Not being caught up in this cycle maintains inner peace and calm.   And on the contrary, a person at peace with himself is far more able to take advantage of opportunities which present themselves, and thus achieve true success in the world at large.