How a Person Should Conduct Himself: Difference between revisions

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The Pasuk in Mishlei/Proverbs (3:6) says: "בכל דרכיך דעהו--Know Hashem in all your ways".
The Pasuk in Mishlei/Proverbs (3:6) says: "בכל דרכיך דעהו--Know Hashem in all your ways".


#Even things that a person does for his physical needs should be done for the sake of Hashem. This manifests itself, for example, in several areas. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:1 </ref>.
#Even things that a person does for their physical needs should be done ultimately for the sake of Hashem. This manifests itself in several areas. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:1 </ref>.
# A person is '''obligated''' to evaluate his ways, and to weigh all of his actions--if he sees something that will lead to service of Hashem, he should do it; and if not, he shouldn't. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:7 </ref>.  
# A person is '''obligated''' to evaluate their ways, and to weigh all of their actions--if they sees something that will lead to the service of Hashem, they should do it; if it will not, one should refrain from doing it. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:7 </ref>.  
# One who does this serves Hashem, even as he eats, drinks, sits, stands, walks, and engages in business. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:7. Also see Shulchan Aruch 31:7, Rambam Hil' De'os Chapter 3. </ref>.
# One who does this serves Hashem as one is meant to, as he eats, drinks, sits, stands, walks, and engages in business. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:7. Also see Shulchan Aruch 31:7, Rambam Hil' De'os Chapter 3. </ref>.


==Eating and Drinking==
==Eating and Drinking==
# It goes without saying that a person shouldn't eat anything non-Kosher, God forbid.
# It goes without saying that a person should not eat anything non-Kosher.
# Even if one is hungry and thirsty, it is not praiseworthy if one eats to satisfy that hunger and thirst.
# Even if one is hungry and thirsty, it is not praiseworthy if one eats to satisfy that hunger and thirst.
# When eating, one should intend that it give him strength for the service of God <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:2 </ref>.
# When eating, one should intend that it give one strength for the service of Hashem <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:2 </ref>.
# One shouldn't eat things because they are tasty, but because they help his body's health <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:2 </ref>.
# One should not eat things because they are tasty, but rather because they help keep one's body healthy <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:2 </ref>.


==Sitting, Standing, and Walking in proper ways==
==Sitting, Standing, and Walking in a Proper Way==
# It goes without saying that one shouldn't sit in a [[gathering]] of scoffers, stand in the ways of sin, nor walk in the ways of the wicked.<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:3 </ref>.
# One should not sit amongst a [[gathering]] of scoffers, stand in the ways of sin, nor walk in the ways of the wicked.<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:3 </ref>.
# Even to sit in a counsel of the upright, to stand in a place of Tzaddikim, and to walk in advice of the pure, one shouldn't do for his own benefit, to satisfy his desire, but for the sake of Hashem <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:3 </ref>.
# Even to sit in a counsel of the upright, to stand in a place of Tzaddikim, and to walk in advice of the pure, one should not do for one's own benefit, to satisfy one's desire, but do it for the sake of Hashem <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:3 </ref>.
# However, if it is impossible for one to do it solely for the sake of Hashem, one shouldn't refrain from these; instead, one should do it not for its proper sake, as one will eventually come to do it for its sake.<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:3 </ref>
# However, if it is impossible for one to do it solely for the sake of Hashem, one should not refrain from being upright; even when one at first practices so for the wrong reasons one will eventually come to do it for its proper reason (leshem Shamayim), by habituating oneself to doing the right thing.<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:3 </ref>


==Lying Down==
==Lying Down==
# It goes without saying, that if a person can be studying Torah or doing Mitzvos, and he incites sleep upon himself for pleasure, it is not fitting to do this. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:4 </ref>.
# It is improper to incite sleep upon oneself for pleasure's sake, when not too tired and still capable of serving Hashem, learning Torah and doing mitzvot.<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:4 </ref>.
# However, even if one is tired, one who sleeps for his body's benefit isn't praiseworthy, but instead one should sleep for health and so that he can focus on Torah <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:4 </ref>.
# However, even if one is tired, one who sleeps for his body's benefit is not praiseworthy, instead one should sleep for health, so that one can focus on Torah properly <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:4 </ref>.


==Speaking==
==Speaking==
# Even if one speaks about דברי חכמים / Wise words, one should intend for it to be about a matter that will bring about Divine Service. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:6 </ref>.
# Even when one speaks דברי חכמים / wise words, one should intend for them to be for the purpose of bringing about Divine Service. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:6 </ref>.


==Business Matters==
==Business Matters==
# When one does business, one's intent shouldn't be to only amass wealth, but instead, in order to sustain his family, to give [[Tzedaka]], and raise sons that will study Torah. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:7 </ref>
# When one does business, one's intent should not be to amass wealth, but instead one's motivation should be to sustain one's family, to be able to give [[tzedaka]], and raise sons that will study Torah. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:7 </ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 09:09, 16 June 2015

The Pasuk in Mishlei/Proverbs (3:6) says: "בכל דרכיך דעהו--Know Hashem in all your ways".

  1. Even things that a person does for their physical needs should be done ultimately for the sake of Hashem. This manifests itself in several areas. [1].
  2. A person is obligated to evaluate their ways, and to weigh all of their actions--if they sees something that will lead to the service of Hashem, they should do it; if it will not, one should refrain from doing it. [2].
  3. One who does this serves Hashem as one is meant to, as he eats, drinks, sits, stands, walks, and engages in business. [3].

Eating and Drinking

  1. It goes without saying that a person should not eat anything non-Kosher.
  2. Even if one is hungry and thirsty, it is not praiseworthy if one eats to satisfy that hunger and thirst.
  3. When eating, one should intend that it give one strength for the service of Hashem [4].
  4. One should not eat things because they are tasty, but rather because they help keep one's body healthy [5].

Sitting, Standing, and Walking in a Proper Way

  1. One should not sit amongst a gathering of scoffers, stand in the ways of sin, nor walk in the ways of the wicked.[6].
  2. Even to sit in a counsel of the upright, to stand in a place of Tzaddikim, and to walk in advice of the pure, one should not do for one's own benefit, to satisfy one's desire, but do it for the sake of Hashem [7].
  3. However, if it is impossible for one to do it solely for the sake of Hashem, one should not refrain from being upright; even when one at first practices so for the wrong reasons one will eventually come to do it for its proper reason (leshem Shamayim), by habituating oneself to doing the right thing.[8]

Lying Down

  1. It is improper to incite sleep upon oneself for pleasure's sake, when not too tired and still capable of serving Hashem, learning Torah and doing mitzvot.[9].
  2. However, even if one is tired, one who sleeps for his body's benefit is not praiseworthy, instead one should sleep for health, so that one can focus on Torah properly [10].

Speaking

  1. Even when one speaks דברי חכמים / wise words, one should intend for them to be for the purpose of bringing about Divine Service. [11].

Business Matters

  1. When one does business, one's intent should not be to amass wealth, but instead one's motivation should be to sustain one's family, to be able to give tzedaka, and raise sons that will study Torah. [12]

References

  1. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:1
  2. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:7
  3. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:7. Also see Shulchan Aruch 31:7, Rambam Hil' De'os Chapter 3.
  4. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:2
  5. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:2
  6. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:3
  7. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:3
  8. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:3
  9. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:4
  10. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:4
  11. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:6
  12. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 31:7
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