After our discussion yesterday for Red Letter Sunday, I was asked about the 13 degrees of mercy according to Kabbalah ... God has founded this world on the basis of mercy (Chesed). Everything that happens has mercy at its core - even those things that we mistakenly perceive of as being anything but merciful. If a person truly attains to the level of Chesed then they will realise that even the most (apparently) negative of events and life experiences stem from Chesed. Judaic tradition has it that there are 13 degrees of Divine mercy that we should attempt to emulate: Act towards other with principled goodness - even though they may be unappreciative. Treat others with love, even though they may not (apparently) deserve it. Help others to spiritually better themselves. Realize that all people are in essence one organism and that the failings of one harm all people. Do not indulge in self-indulgent anger, even when justified. Try to improve others through love. Release your anger towards others when you see them do a good deed for others. Emulate G-d by forgiving those who repent. Do not keep a reckoning of anothers bad deeds. Magnify the good and minimise the bad act. Act with love to those who regret their former deeds. Treat others fairly and in a spirit of love. Act with patience and compassion towards the truly pious. Act with love towards all people as even those who do not deserve your love. contain within themselves the Divine spark. Remember that even those who seem unlovable were once unsullied by sin. Try to remember them as they were in this earlier stage.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 01:54:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015