No person can know his own inner motives.
He may be kind because kindness brings him pleasure.
He may be wise because wisdom is music to his soul.
He may become a martyr burned in fire because his heart burns with defiance.
How can you know that your motives are sincere? What is the test?
The test will be when doing the right thing cuts against the grain.
Faith in Hashem upholds us even in the midst of doubting one's abilities Reply
I know just what the rabbi means, and needed to know it again. Sometimes doing the right thing hurts, and it is easier to do good when you soon reap a reward. I have had countless experiences like this. There are times when acting on good will can make you look bad. We can have hope and faith in the one above. Remember that even one person with him is more powerful than an army of the world Reply
Sorry, Rabbi. Tzvi Freeman. I respectfully disagree with your opinion regarding expression of kindness, wisdom, etc. that must be "against the grain" Moreover, I think that all those virtues could be inherited and/or internalized, so we can act kindly and be wise feel well, very happy, kol hakavod. After all, HaShem clearly expressed his satisfaction after each and every act of creation. Was not it? Reply
Simon, there are people out there that really enjoy giving—giving to friends, to loved ones, to family. Are they truly sincere in their kindness, or is this just the modality of their lifestyle that serves them best?
The only way to tell is when they give to someone they really don't like, someone who won't give them any more respect or love because of the donation—but really needs it nevertheless.
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I agree completely with your response. Thank you
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Are you speaking of doubt? If we doubt ourselves, are we not headed for trouble? Reply
Real Motives
This may be a strange application of the DD, but it less than 24 hours so my emotions are raw right now and my heart is broken.
Since yesterday was Shabbes, my phones were unplugged, the computer was off and I would have never ridden in a car! I broke all 3 in less than 4 hours because my 18 year old Main Coon cat became horribly ill and I knew it was terminal. I turned on the computer to see if I could reach a friend via email because I needed help. After two hours, I gave up and called her; she knew instantly that something was wrong and told me she would be here in 15 minutes. We loaded my fur baby into her carrier and headed for the vet who confirmed that my gut instinct was correct. I stayed with her as she died.
The connection is that I know intellectually that I made the correct decision; it was an act of kindness. Emotionally, every instinct was to do whatever it took to keep her alive so I could have her a little longer. Now I'm trying to focus on 18 years of joy.
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Real Motive Beautiful and true... Both comment as for the anonymous too. B"H You all at Chabad are my greatest teachers! Reply
inner motives
To Rabbi Tzvi Freeman
Real Motives
Shevat 7, 5772 · January 31, 2012
Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson
Will you please explain this further?
No person can know his own inner motives.
He may be kind because kindness brings him pleasure.
He may be wise because wisdom is music to his soul.
He may become a martyr burned in fire because his nature is to defy, his nature is to be fire.
When can you know that your motives are sincere? Only when it is not within your nature to do this thing.
And how do you know that it is not within your nature? Only when you travel two opposite paths at once.
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Real Motives Dear Rabbi, I agree and like the article so much that I take the liberty to post it on my Facebook. Thank you. Amen. Reply
Cannot Know We can't know our own inner motives, Indeed. But can we also not know our own Judgement? Of course, I do not mean all of it, the absolute Judgement, but can we realize it regarding a specific decision? Reply
Lishmah Is it ever possible to do something totally lishmah? Does that only come with time and experience? (mitoch shelo lishmah ba lishmah) Reply
Real Motives Very very good! Reply
stretching It seems to me that the point is to stretch one's self. For example, if you have expertise as a motivator one on one and only focus on that skill, you may not realize that you have as valuable a skill whereby groups can gain, although it may take a bit more effort to do this at the start. It may not be about good and bad traits , although it certainly can be. Reply
BORN TO BE GOOD AND WILD So, my compassionate nature is just that, an innate need to help someone in pain. I am just that way. So, my critical nature- not judging others.-could that be an example of traveling 2 paths? Taking the innate "bad" parts of ourselvers & working to eliminate them. This infomation makes me believe that all of my "good" qualities are just part of who i am & nothing i have anything to do with. I see now, that all of the "bad" traits i possess & changing them are what self-refinement is about. I used to think that my generosity, compasion for the less fortunate & lonely, were qualities ithat made me a better person. How easy it is to be good, when it is in our nature. Time to look at my bad traits again in a new way and work xtra hard to travel opposite paths . This would be what true self-refinement is about. I have never looked at my good qualities, that i havehad since childhood & felt that they were nothing i had worked 4, i just had them. revelation for me. Reply
Feb 7 post- how I had the same question. It is answered by the author January 6 /10 above. Reply
So...
Our motives are only sincere when we struggle to progress?When we go against our self indulging or accomodating or even naive tendencies?When we answer the calls for changing,even if they are tough and scaring sometimes?
If one stays stuck in his/her stubborness ,is he/she being selfish,and ultimately not faithful before G-d?Is that?
Is keeping stuck ,when life opportunities come,a sin?Could we say this is a sin?
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I have heard of a saying. The worst evil is when good people do nothing. It might not be a matter of sin as much as g_do calling us to do more because he loves us. He wants us to be devoted to him for the right reasons. If we just don't feel like it then he will wait. He knows how hard it is here on earth, and his mercy and patience are eternal. He is also fair and when we make him wait we wait also. All you can do is the best you can and always enter into his peace. If you can enjoy your life and enter into his rest every night that should be a indication that you are in the right direction Reply
Great Insight! Such is my life; knowledge gained. Reply
how? How can you travel opposite paths at once? Somebody enlighten me please. Reply
To make mistakes It's important do make mistakes in order to achieve progress, OK? People who don't do nothing will never learn from the experience. So, everything that G-d does is for good. But sometimes it hurts a lot. Reply
Healthy flexibility/stretching yourself I get the point now. Thank you Rabbi Tzvi Reply
I'd rather be selfish at this point... There's sooooo much of life that is against the grain of comfort..
Was nice for a decade or so..
Time for a new chapter
Gd can keep his difficulties for him/herself