Rabbi Shimon Kessin tells us that the only way to reach Hashem is by way of
the Taryag Mitzvohs, but in and of itself it’s not enough. In addition to performance (of the mitzvohs)
we must also have awareness, which is the true indication of yiras
Shomayim. The awareness is the ultimate goal
and the performance is the means to get there.
At its core, the avodah
of being a good Jew is all about this state of awareness and the d’veykus which
emerges from it. Anyone who wants to be knowledgeable about this avodah should learn Mesillas Yesharim. And anyone who wants to immerse himself in this avodah should live Mesillas Yesharim.
The aforementioned d’veykus is the central concept
here and, as such, it’s the most important word in the vocabulary of avodah as
per the Mesillas Yesharim and is the key variable that changes awareness.
Rabbi Kessin points out that d’veykus is not a
thought. It’s essentially a love state,
and therefore a person who is immersed in avodah day and night is in love with
Hashem. And such a person can’t help
himself because his love for Hashem comes naturally.
So contrary to popular belief, a tzaddik like the
Baba Sali z”l didn’t hold himself back from enjoying this world. The truth is that he actually lived in fun
city. He knew where it was and we
don’t.
Our quest for ruchniyas is a quest to be in love,
and in the Mesillas Yesharim, the Ramchal teaches those few of us whose quest
is in earnest how to be in love with Hashem.
Rabbi Kessin asks:
So what’s love anyway?
Simply put, is not the simcha of the one you love
your simcha and the pain of the one you love your pain?
That’s also how it works with Hashem, and so the
Baba Sali’s entire avodah can be summed up as a desire to put a smile on Hashem’s
countenance.
Rabbi Kessin informs us that the difference between the
Baba Sali and everyone else on the planet is neither to be found is his aestheticism
nor in his tzidkis (righteousness). As
singular and seemingly out of reach as these and numerous other attributes and
practices were to his rarified persona, they are but manifestations of a
decision on his part that we could also make if we had a burning desire to do
the walk of d’veykus rather than
being satisfied with the talk.
The only difference is that the Baba Sali decided to
take the Mesillas Yesharim seriously.
