Hey Guys,

Guard always talks about Avodas Hashem (divine service) but I still don't really know or understand what this entails. Surely when we guard our eyes and forego self-destructive behaviours we're really serving ourselves rather than God right? Or am I missing something in my understanding?

Also, what does it mean to have a connection with God? Does this mean spiritual sensitivity and appreciation of beauty in music, nature and literature or am I totally wrong?

Thanks for your help fellas and I hope all is well.

BW,

DL

Read the agnostic chapter in the big book. You will understand.

Hey Frumfiend,

Thanks for the pointer, I'm going to start investigating it this weekend.

Hope all is well and TC,

DL

In Judism there are a few approaches to this. The two main ones are chasim and litvisha. If I recall you are not Jewish. Regardless I think the basic idea is to be aware of God, have a sense of awe about Him and be aware that we are doning things as part of His service.

Also read Dov's posts.

Thanks for your reply Holy Yid.

I hope all is well.

DL

Holy Yid wrote on 28 Oct 2010 07:08:


There are many more than a few. There is no 'one' derech. Hashem gave us the Torah and the Mitzvos. That is our only Derech. Its not either you have to learn all day or you have to do so and so all day. Its whatever your heart and mind tell you are the right way towards God. As long as what you are doing is Lesheim Shomayim, you are creating a connection with God.

Well... not necessarily. There are many commandments that we keep, even though they are not self destructive, in order to serve hashem. For example, masturbation. It is arguably a "healthy" behaviour but we try to limit ourselves because hashem commands us not to. P in the other hand is arguably a self destructive behaviour but we try to limit ourselves because that is God's will. So we are serving ourselves BUT our main incentive to stop is because it is hashem's will (the proof to this is that most secular people don't think twice about it even though it is morally questionable while we are here struggling). 




It means different things to different people. As Holy Yid/Yiddle2 wrote, there are many different approaches to this but it definitely can mean spiritual sensitivity and appreciation of the beauty in this word.