QUESTION:
How do the 10 levels of growth in Mesillas Yesharim correspond to the 10 Sefiros?
ANSWER:
1) Torah corresponds to Malchus. It is the Torah which crowns Hashem as King.
2) Zehirus (watchfulness) corresponds to Yesod, which means to “shine”, as taught in sefer Moreh HaPerishus v’Madrich haP’shitus.
3-4) Zerizus and Nekiyus (alacrity and cleanliness) correspond to Netzach and Hod, which are called the two “feet”, the ability to run quickly to do a mitzvah (zerizus). The feet also touch the dirt of the ground, hence at this level there is also a need for nekiyus, cleanliness.
5) Perishus (abstinence) corresponds to Tiferes, the middle line, which turns chessed into din and also serves as a bridging level between chessed and din. Perishus means to either separate, make lukewarm, or compromise.
6) Taharah (purity) corresponds to Gevurah. “Who is a gibor, a warrior? One who overcomes his inclination.” Taharah is to separate and thereby by purified, and it is a continuation of perishus.
7) Chassidus (piety) corresponds to Chessed, as it simply implies.
8) Anavah (humility) corresponds to Binah, “It has nothing of its own”. Binah is higher humility, unlike lower humility, shiflus (lowliness) which corresponds to Malchus.
9) Yirah (fear of Hashem) corresponds to Chochmah, “The beginning of wisdom is to fear Hashem.”
10) Kedushah (sanctity) corresponds to Keser, which is d’veykus.
2) Zehirus (watchfulness) corresponds to Yesod, which means to “shine”, as taught in sefer Moreh HaPerishus v’Madrich haP’shitus.
3-4) Zerizus and Nekiyus (alacrity and cleanliness) correspond to Netzach and Hod, which are called the two “feet”, the ability to run quickly to do a mitzvah (zerizus). The feet also touch the dirt of the ground, hence at this level there is also a need for nekiyus, cleanliness.
5) Perishus (abstinence) corresponds to Tiferes, the middle line, which turns chessed into din and also serves as a bridging level between chessed and din. Perishus means to either separate, make lukewarm, or compromise.
6) Taharah (purity) corresponds to Gevurah. “Who is a gibor, a warrior? One who overcomes his inclination.” Taharah is to separate and thereby by purified, and it is a continuation of perishus.
7) Chassidus (piety) corresponds to Chessed, as it simply implies.
8) Anavah (humility) corresponds to Binah, “It has nothing of its own”. Binah is higher humility, unlike lower humility, shiflus (lowliness) which corresponds to Malchus.
9) Yirah (fear of Hashem) corresponds to Chochmah, “The beginning of wisdom is to fear Hashem.”
10) Kedushah (sanctity) corresponds to Keser, which is d’veykus.
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