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Humility is the Root of Holiness

TRY THIS:
Give a sincere smile to "those people" who usually give you a closed or chilly response (like, who ARE they, anyway?!)


WHY IT HELPS:
Yeah, like who ARE they, and why aren't they more friendly?

Doesn't matter to you. Don't get involved in the drama. Let G-d work that one out.

Your job in this scene is to be humble and have confidence (Emunah) that G-d will work out matters just fine, whether those people smile, or are downright grumpy.

In smiling honestly and being sincere, you're putting yourself right out there in a humble, non-haughty way. You can let the moment happen without discomfort or displeasure because you know The Maker of the world is coaching you through another of life's passages. Your "higher self" knows this all the time. Remember To Remember this all the time.

Our higher selves, our Neshamah, feels more akin to its source outside this world, and it transmits this to our mind in its subtle but perceptible way. But our physical bodies, from the brain down, are more tied to this world of physical needs, pleasures and challenges.

So, our job is to live our lives as spiritual beings residing in our physical selves, but to never let our lower animal desires take control of the ship. G-d has combined in us a hugely connected and vast Neshamah, (whose source is from the highest spiritual origins that can possibly be), into an animal body that clearly has its origin in this physical world.

This is the root origin of the teaching of Humility, for Hashem sees fit to take his most rarefied, pristine spirits and lower them into this sea of physicality.


DEEPER MEANINGS:
There is a parable taught in the sefer Shomer Emunim. A king in this world would only have the best or most beautiful servants and possessions. In contrast, G-d, the King of Kings specifically desires and draws close the humble people of this world.

And we're meant to battle with the selfish "animal" desire to be arrogant, proud and "free". Free of G-d, Who made us. This is the purpose of mankind being placed in this lowest of worlds, to pull the leash tight when our more base desires start to run.

In making us, Hashem takes spiritual stuff from the highest level and roots it securely into physical bodies from this lowest of worlds. In doing so, G-d ties together the entirety of creation, to enhance the "lowest" with infusions of the "highest". Clearly, there is no haughtiness in the face of G-d, for even the highest spiritual essences are sent down here for their duty.

So certainly, we, who originated in this lowest of worlds must be humble, and live with the knowledge that this is our purpose - to learn humility, and be confident that as our ego retreats it makes space in our hearts for G-d.

Pride and G-d don't go together. G-d doesn't exist for a proud person, who sees himself as the primary determinant of his own life's direction. So, G-d lets that person alone, and lets him try to determine his own life, and lets that person make enough mistakes until he comes around to admitting he really needs G-d to straighten out his life.

Better to get the right message from the start.

Paraphrased from Shomer Emunim - Discourse on Emunah, HaRav Aharon Rotta ztz'l, Rebbe of Chassidei Toldos Aharon.


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