How does one acquire the trait of Watchfulness? Watchfulness is the very first trait on the ladder to success in terms of real life growth.
The Ramchal has told us what Watchfulness is all about. We need to watch out for things that can cause us to stumble in life. But how do we actually acquire this trait?
The Ramchal brings in the teaching of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair who says that the first step in this journey – is the study of Torah. It is the Torah that will help us find out way to the “portico”.
One needs to really immerse oneself in studying all of Torah – especially those parts that deal with the practical aspects of life growth. We learn this from the stories that are written in the Torah. We learn from the Chumash as well as from the Aggadic sections of the Talmud. We see how the giants of life-growth behaved in years gone by – and we learn from their behaviour as to what we should be doing now.
It’s a long road. Let nobody be fooled into thinking it’s easy to get there. There’s a lot to learn. One needs much patience!
The Ramchal lists three types of people for us. There are the perfectionists, those who are less than them, and then a group of people even lower.
In today’s lesson we learn about the level of the perfectionist. Here is a person who demands only the highest of standards in life. If he is that way in life in general – he must also follow these same steps when it comes to his own life growth. He must not be any less demanding. Once he realises the road ahead and how important it is so strive to that level of perfection – he must go all out!
Ultimately a person who goes in this direction will stand the best chance of reaching that final – and greatest level – of fear of God. It is a great level to work towards, because it makes us aware that there is much more to life than the general idea of physical attainments. One realises that life is about achieving goals of the soul. Spiritual goals. And in this, the perfectionist must strive for.
