[Avodah] Cheshbon Ha-Nefesh (I.R.S.O.)

[Micha Berger]

On Wed, Oct 17, 2007 at 04:59:08AM -0400, Allen Gerstl wrote:
: For an interesting article as to the book Cheshbon Ha-Nefesh that provides a 
: program for such a personal stocktaking see:
: http://www.yasharbooks.com/2004/11/musar-and-benjamin-franklin-ii.html

It was discussed here too. If you open Franklin's book, it is
obviously the source -- with a somewhat different list of middos. See
<http://tinyurl.com/2n7oh8> for the archive index of it.

That said, keeping Cheshbon haNefesh predates the Ramchal. Franklin's is
just one possible format for doing so; one that appealed to RYS. Keeping
a nightly journal, presuming one journaled one's emotional and external
responses rather than a diary of the day's events, is no less valuable.

In either case, one sees what patterns really emerge, rather than seeing
the anecdotal evidence that confirms what I think I'm like. And, it
habituates me in watching myself. Which I think added to my ability to
watch myself while in the moment, and catch more of my mistakes before
they're made.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             "And you shall love H' your G-d with your whole
micha at aishdas.org        heart, your entire soul, and all you own."
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