Mesilas Yesharim, Perek 9

AI summary (may contain mistakes)

When is caution a duty, and when is it fear that holds a person back? The Mesilas Yesharim separates proper fear from foolish fear, and bitachon from plain irresponsibility. Where damage is common, the Gemara calls for precaution. Where no danger is seen, the extra worry comes from the yetzer hara, and often from laziness looking for an excuse.

Key points

• Ignoring the seichel Hashem gave and walking into danger is irresponsibility, not bitachon.
• The Mesilas Yesharim calls careless risk a chet too, since it goes against what Hashem wants.
• Piling guard upon guard and fear upon fear is foolish fear that crowds out avodas Hashem.
• Where damage is common, the Gemara holds the protection of a mitzvah does not apply, as with Shmuel.
• In the lazy man's seven excuses about a lion, laziness drives the caution, not the reverse.

In this shiur

1. 0:00When precaution is proper
2. 1:34Two kinds of fear
3. 5:32Foolish fear and the cold weather
4. 7:01The Gemara's rule and Shmuel
5. 9:58Treifos and what the eyes see
6. 12:57The lazy man's lion
7. 15:58Covid as an example
8. 22:56Why zrizus follows zehirus

Topics

• Bitachon
• Atzlus
• Mesilas Yesharim