Small tidbits and Sparks of wisdom

I have seen, my brother, an excellent literary piece on the subject of abstinence. It was composed by one of the pious as a charge to his son. I think highly of it and have chosen to close this gate with it. I present it to you just as I found it. May it serve you instead of my own admonition and guidance. Understand it and reflect upon it, and with Gd’s help you will attain to what is good and right.

It reads as follows:

“My son, may Gd set you among those who hear and listen, listen and reflect, reflect and know, know and act.

“May He not set you among those who sink in error, drunk with the wine of ignorance; who are enslaved by instinct, ruled by this world, overcome by desires which engross them in pleasures; those who are driven by obsessions and seduced by lust. In darkness they trip and fall, trapped in the routine of their error.

“They hear but do not listen; they speak but do not act. They long for ease but end up sighing in distress. They seek pleasures but are seized with severe suffering. Their souls are weary, their bodies are tired, their intellects are neutralized, and their powers of understanding are shattered.

“They collect gold, which will be lost, and silver, which will be relinquished, and they leave them to enemies or to unfaithful women. They finish palatial residences and dwell in graves. They build homes they will not live in and accumulate wealth they will not spend.

“Each of them buries his father and his child and yet fails to perform deeds of lasting value. Each is oblivious to his end and mindful only of his desires. What can be said for a middle that has lost its two ends, for the solitary individual whose parents have abandoned him?

“My son, think of an individual endowed by the Creator with vast understanding and mastery over his own mind, an individual enlightened as to his own good by the Creator, Who shows him the right way and draws him to it.

“People feel secure with him, and he feels secure with them. He is on good terms with them and is spared harm from them.

“While others serve their base instincts, he serves the Gd of heaven and earth, Who brings life and puts to death, Who creates and provides, beside Whom there is no other.

“What a difference there is between people who follow base instinct and people whose inner lives are refined, whose innermost beings are pure, whose eyes are serene, and whose hearts are full of trust; who delight in remembering Gd when alone and express thanks for His goodness in every situation.

“They devote themselves to all areas of speculation — theoretical, mathematical, and theological — and cut through the veil that keeps one from seeing the ways of inwardness. Through hard work they arrive at the serenity of truth, forsaking comfort for true delights.

“They are not distracted by desires and do not delay because death appears far off. They proceed eagerly toward the day of death, while remaining wary of what will follow it.

“They are Gd’s honored guests, who eagerly seek Him, wait for Him, and serve Him. They speak the truth and call for justice, without fear of a ruler or dominion by an adversary.

“They are the noblest of men and more vigilant than any other people, the most honorable and the greatest of them all. They are honored in the houses of Gd and esteemed in the sight of His creatures.

“Nothing can distract them from remembering Gd, and nothing can deter them from offering thanks to Him. Their tongues are fluent in songs of praise and thanksgiving; their hearts are filled with sincerity toward Gd and total commitment to the idea that Gd is one.

“This world puts up a facade before them, but they recognize its true face. They stride through it and depict it to others. Its treachery is not hidden from them, and its deceit is not concealed from them.

“This world puts on its best clothes before them, but they consider it bare. It shows itself as though it were yielding to them, but they realize that it is under control. It smiles at them, but they glare back at it. It wishes to attract them, but they turn away from it.

“They observe its evil deeds, and the shameful character of its acts becomes clear to them. It has no control over them nor any means of drawing close to them.

“They are Gd’s chosen and pure ones, the elite of the devout, men of clear vision, noble aspirations, and pleasing endeavors.

“They stride toward Gd and are guided, trade with Him and profit, refine their inner lives and are refined, purify their hearts and become the elect.

“They arm themselves with reverence on the dangerous road and are saved. Riding chariots of good deeds, they reach their destination, where they meet with abiding joy and unfailing elation.

“They pass the test of reckoning and are safe from suffering.

“Therefore, my son, choose what is good for your soul before the onset of remorse that will not help and worry that will not end.”

May Gd, in His mercy and abounding kindness, show us — and you too — the right way and steer us to the path of happiness. Amen.

The Ninth Gate is completed,
a song of praise to Gd, may He be exalted.