Hayom Yom 16 Cheshvan - Thought needs desired content
The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman · Rabbi Yosef Katzman
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Show Notes
הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה הִיא לְבוּשׁ וּמְשָׁרֵת הַשֵּׂכֶל וְהַמִּדּוֹת
Thought is a garment and a servant for the mind and the emotions.
בְּשָׁעָה אֲשֶׁר אֵין לָהּ שֵׁרוּת בְּשֵׂכֶל אוֹ בְּמִדּוֹת
When it is not assigned a task by the mind or the emotions,
גַּם אָז פּוֹעֶלֶת פְּעוּלָתָהּ לַחֲשׁוֹב וּלְהַרְהֵר
it still remains active, thinking and imagining.
אֲבָל פְּעוּלָתָהּ לֹא לְבַד שֶׁאֵינָה תּוֹכְנִית, אֶלָּא הִיא גַּם פְּרוּעָה לְשִׁמְצָה
However, not only does this activity lack substance, it is uncontrolled and decadent....
וּמְבוּאָר כִּי סִבַּת הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת זָרוֹת אוֹ רָעוֹת הוּא דִי פּוּסטקַייט פוּן קאָפּ
As is explained elsewhere, the cause of alien thoughts (machshavos zaros) and evil thoughts (machshavos ra’os) is an empty mind.
דְּכַאֲשֶׁר הַשֵּׂכֶל עָסוּק אָז יֵשׁ לְהַמַחֲשָׁבָה מַה לְשָׁרֵת
When one’s mind is busy, thought has a purpose to serve,
וְאֵין מָקוֹם לְמַחֲשָׁבוֹת שֶׁל שְׁטוּת וְהֶבֶל שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם מַמָּשׁ
and there is no place for foolish and worthless thoughts that lack substance.
Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English