[Avodah] AishDas and Mussar

[David Riceman]

<RMB>
>> The only alternative to Mussar is chassidic ecstatic experience. IOW, 
>> either
>> one pursues meaning that is based on thought and experience, or one that 
>> is
>> based on experience for which thought is a second layer.
<snip>
>> Mussar is a broader concept than the one path taken by Tenu'as haMussar. 
>> One
>> can use their tools to deepen pretty much any hashkafah.

I think you're missing something here.  Both mussar and "chassidic ecstatic 
experience" use the koah hadimyon as a tool.  The difference is whether 
they're aiming to effect the dimyon or the sechel.  There are Jewish 
traditions which emphasis bypassing the dimyon altogether and exclusively 
using the sechel.  For example, the Rambam in MN, his son in Sefer HaMaspik 
L'Ovdei HaShem,  Abraham Abulafia (if I understand his claims correctly) 
and, more recently, Franz Rosenzweig.

David Riceman