The world is not a reasonable place.
Meet it on its own terms. When you do something good, do it beyond reason.
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.
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David Harold Chester
Petach Tikva, Israel
September 9, 2020
If I were to believe that this world is not a reasonable place then there would be no way for me to behave in a reasonable way. yet i am sure that reasonable behavior is what I am expected to do and not only myself but everyone else too. So I find that this world is much more reasonable a place than what this particular Daily Dose would lead me to think. Indeed some of these doses are so unreasonable that they should be ignored! Reply
Adele Mischel
Boston
September 9, 2020
Powerful and so true. Thank you, Rabbi Tzvi. Reply
Gus Gordon
Tennessee
February 4, 2017
Too much God-talk. Wisdom can be "beyond reason" without automatically supposing some reality beyond the world. Reply
valerie
usa
August 20, 2013
beyond reason Love it! I look at these doses simplistically - maybe I'm a little excessive, but why not do something good beyond reason! A thank you for these doses! Reply
Brenda
Toronto, Canada
August 20, 2013
Beyond Reason
Within our egoistic nature our reasoning compels us to do things for our benefit. We do things to derive some form of pleasure/gain from it - even if you think you did it totally for the other.
In G_d's world, the reasoning is opposite - Zero gains for me, everything I do for other's benefit. Transcend your self. To implement this, our world needs to see a microsystem in such action, learn how superior this way is and then join the system - then G_d's Light/abundance/security/care/peace will flow through this system. In this system we recognize G_d at the centre of it. We work in His system to bring contentment to Him.
To us in this materialistic world, this logic sounds Ridiculous! Theoretical! impractical!
Once the microsystem is initiated, G_d will steer it's fruifullness.
May this system be established soon as a Light to the nations of the world.
Reply
Thomas Karp
New Haven, Ct.
March 24, 2011
define your terms.
It's important to define your terms, Rabbi:
Are acts of chesed (kindness), acts of good in general, every really senseless and/or unreasonable?
There is both a 'no' part to the answer to that question, and a 'yes' part.
Acts of chesed are certainly unreasonable if they leave you exposed the more so to a Nazi or Muslim extremist; yet-
kindness is still the greatest innovation in the field of mental health, and has been more effective than anything else in restoring reason and sanity to the mentally ill.
Dare I suggest to you, Rabbi, that acts of goodness, particularly acts of chesed, and well-placed acts of tzedekah, are not so much a matter of meeting the world on it's own terms, but of transcending it; of (with a mind to your next holiday)-
passing over it.
Do you really want to say (and on the world-wide web no less) that G-d didn't have good reason for beholding you to a covenant that actually separates you from meeting the world on it's own terms?
Reply
C.Gibbs
Hamilton, OH
February 7, 2008
Daily So right, respect what the world has to offer and learn to perfect it. If you walk in shadows you will go unnoticed. Reply
fernando
Pinseque, Spain
February 7, 2008
beyond reason simple and short expression to have things clear in this crazy world. Reply
Karen
west palm beach, FL
February 7, 2008
Daily Dose I love the daily doses, they keep me in line :o) Reply
Sarah-Libke Caplin
Bal Harbour, Florida
February 7, 2008
Daily Dose
I really feel that the way in which The Daily Dose was given to us each day, was of enormous value.
The teaching was profound and thus the learning incredible.
I print out relevant ones - show them around the office and then pin them to my walls.
Many of us reap the rewards of these homilies and the way they were presented - to me - was just perfect.
Reply
Shlomo (Steve) Brody
Roslyn Harbor, NY/USA
February 7, 2008
organs and veins
As a body and as we do something "good" the world becomes very reasonable as all becomes "better" all as "One" which is the reason..."Life IS Good!" Our physical health is dependent upon our spiritual health!
" We will do, then we will listen"
Reply
Chris
Kennewick, WA/USA
February 7, 2008
When you do something good...
Do it with joy, with lightness of heart, without thought of yourself, but only for the recipient.
I'm a long time subscriber to Chabad Daily Dose but I'm not a Jew! The Rebbe's wisdom reaches beyond confines of religion. He speaks to universal truths of G-d himself.
What an incredible human being this man was, and he still speaks to us and will continue to speak to the human race for eternity.
G-d bless you all, and G-d bless Israel.
Reply
Russell Fig
Waltham, Mass USA
February 7, 2008
The World is Not a Reasonable Place The world should be a reasonable place. Reply
I am not reasonable. So I meet the unreasonable world with love and acceptance and agree to it all. Then I can access my higher self and live from this place occasionally.