[Avodah] Not livid with anger

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 09:09:43PM +0000, rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com wrote:
: It seems that Qoheles, Rambam, OTz are all advocating either a "Golden
: Mean" or a recipe of spices in an ideal balance - with some noted
: exceptions (Ka'as, shesiqa, and Anava)

: When I have advocated against too much Humra in Halachah, it is predicated
: upon the same machshava. IOW an out-of-balance condition caused by
: "extremism" can knock out the equilibrium of the system.

Which is the parallel to chumrah -- finding the right balance, or
maintaining conscious control of one's reponses? Neither is the
general promotion of qitzoniyus.

The Rambam at the end of Dei'os pereq 1 writes about knowing when to use
every dei'ah, the middah ha'emtza'is, is imitatio Dei. Every middah we
identify is One we see in His actions.

(BTW, notice the Rambam's lashon: "mah Hu NIQRA Rachum af atah...")

OTOH, I can see saying that always being in conscious control, the
master, enlargiing bechirah beyond a negudah rather than moving the
negudah about, is the greater imitatio Deo.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             "The most prevalent illness of our generation is
micha at aishdas.org        excessive anxiety....  Emunah decreases anxiety:
http://www.aishdas.org   'The Almighty is my source of salvation;  I will
Fax: (270) 514-1507      trust and not be afraid.'" (Isa 12) -Shalhevesya