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Perfecting one's Middot: Difference between revisions
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# One should be as bold as a lion, light as an eagle, as fast as a deer and as strong as a lion, to do the will of your Father in heaven <ref> Pirkei Avos 5:23 </ref>. Thus, one shouldn't be embarrassed from people who scoff at him in his Divine Service. Nevertheless, one shouldn't likewise respond brazenly to them, so that one doesn't acquire the character trait of brazenness / עזות פנים <ref> Kitzur S"A 29:8 </ref>. | # One should be as bold as a lion, light as an eagle, as fast as a deer and as strong as a lion, to do the will of your Father in heaven <ref> Pirkei Avos 5:23 </ref>. Thus, one shouldn't be embarrassed from people who scoff at him in his Divine Service. Nevertheless, one shouldn't likewise respond brazenly to them, so that one doesn't acquire the character trait of brazenness / עזות פנים <ref> Kitzur S"A 29:8 </ref>. | ||
# Argument is very bad <ref> </ref>. One shouldn't cause argument, even for a Mitzvah matter <ref> Kitzur S"A 29:9 </ref>. | # Argument is very bad <ref> </ref>. One shouldn't cause argument, even for a Mitzvah matter <ref> Kitzur S"A 29:9 </ref>. | ||
===Jealousy=== | |||
# Jealousy can remove a person from the world <ref> Pirkei Avot 4:21 </ref> | |||
# However, sometimes jealousy can be used for a positive goal such as for spiritual growth. <ref> Gemara says in Bava Batra 22a "kinat sofrim tarbeh chachma" - the envy of Torah scholars increases wisdom.<br /> | |||
Sefer LiRayacha Kamocha pg. 159 points out that if one has spiritual envy of another because he is trying to outshine that person or in order to denigrate another, that would be in violation of the same jealousy as material jealousy. </ref> | |||
==Ways to Perfect Character Traits== | ==Ways to Perfect Character Traits== | ||
How should one accustom onesself to humility? One should always speak gently, and have a bent comportment with a head looking down, with one's heart above. One should always view a person as more important than oneself. <ref> Kitzur S"A 29:3. For example: | How should one accustom onesself to humility? One should always speak gently, and have a bent comportment with a head looking down, with one's heart above. One should always view a person as more important than oneself. <ref> Kitzur S"A 29:3. For example: | ||
