QUESTION:
I have heard and seen that there different, contradicting lifestyles of different Gedolim and tzaddikim. There were some [Gedolim and tzaddikim] who lived modestly and simply, to the point of shameful poverty, whereas there were other Gedolim and tzaddikim who lived royally, in beautiful homes, and with beautiful furniture, etc. Others lived a more average, middle-class lifestyle. How do we reconcile these different ways of living of our Gedolim? What can us small people learn from it? And what is the proper way for us to live like?
ANSWER:
Generally, this is a matter that depends on the different existing soul-roots (shoresh haneshamos).
For example, some Gedolim lived a life of wealth and royalty. The sage Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi (who is called Rebbi) merited “two tables” – he merited Torah scholarship and also fabulous wealth – and this was because he descended from the royal family of King David. Therefore, he conducted his life with royalty/wealth. Contrast this with the lifestyle of the sage Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa, who sustained himself with a little bit of carobs. This was because his soul was rooted in the concept of “He builds worlds and destroys them”, and destruction in Hebrew is the word chorav, from the word “carob”.
However, even when one’s soul is rooted in wealth and royalty, he still needs to undergo the process of spiritual growth that is called havdalah (separation) and hachnaah (subjugation), a certain separation from the physical world, and only later can he have hamtakah (sweetening). It is said in the name of Reb Pinchos Koritz explained the teaching of the Sages, “This is the way of the Torah - eat bread dipped in salt”, that frugality is for one who is still on his path in the “way of Torah”, but once one has already arrived at the “palace”, he is able to conduct his life differently [there is no longer a need for him to be frugal].
Also, there are souls who are rooted in ohr (spiritual light), which includes the right and left lines (kav yemin and kav sm’ol) as well as malchus (royalty), whereas others’ souls are rooted in keilim (“vessels”).
Therefore, one should clarify his soul root, and also, what his current spiritual level is. After that one, can know how to conduct himself. [If one concludes that his soul is rooted in royalty and that he needs to live a more affluent lifestyle], one should always suspect that maybe he is being motivated by a lustful desire for wealth. And, vice versa: If one feels an affinity for adapting a simpler and more modest lifestyle, one should also suspect that perhaps this is coming from laziness and from a lack of responsibility.
For example, some Gedolim lived a life of wealth and royalty. The sage Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi (who is called Rebbi) merited “two tables” – he merited Torah scholarship and also fabulous wealth – and this was because he descended from the royal family of King David. Therefore, he conducted his life with royalty/wealth. Contrast this with the lifestyle of the sage Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa, who sustained himself with a little bit of carobs. This was because his soul was rooted in the concept of “He builds worlds and destroys them”, and destruction in Hebrew is the word chorav, from the word “carob”.
However, even when one’s soul is rooted in wealth and royalty, he still needs to undergo the process of spiritual growth that is called havdalah (separation) and hachnaah (subjugation), a certain separation from the physical world, and only later can he have hamtakah (sweetening). It is said in the name of Reb Pinchos Koritz explained the teaching of the Sages, “This is the way of the Torah - eat bread dipped in salt”, that frugality is for one who is still on his path in the “way of Torah”, but once one has already arrived at the “palace”, he is able to conduct his life differently [there is no longer a need for him to be frugal].
Also, there are souls who are rooted in ohr (spiritual light), which includes the right and left lines (kav yemin and kav sm’ol) as well as malchus (royalty), whereas others’ souls are rooted in keilim (“vessels”).
Therefore, one should clarify his soul root, and also, what his current spiritual level is. After that one, can know how to conduct himself. [If one concludes that his soul is rooted in royalty and that he needs to live a more affluent lifestyle], one should always suspect that maybe he is being motivated by a lustful desire for wealth. And, vice versa: If one feels an affinity for adapting a simpler and more modest lifestyle, one should also suspect that perhaps this is coming from laziness and from a lack of responsibility.
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