I am grateful that I finally made it into the web and that this is what I came across. I and a sisterhood who are right now midrashing on this very subject (guilt) (repentence) have the same difficulties that have been mentioned here. Thanks. and boy D.M. you truely do make sense. - K. P. -0/1-/2002
* * * * *
I've always had a huge problem with negative guilt, but I always thought it was me who was doing it to myself. And like the Rabbi wrote I went into "shutdown mode" where I felt too bad about the aveirah to do anything else- the yetzer hara makes you feel worthless in a sense. But now that I know that my guilt isn't exactly my own, rather the Satan's manifestation inside of me, it's easier to get rid of. I don't want anyone else's "garbage" on my property, therefore I don't want the yetzer hara's negativity infecting my wellbeing. -0/8-/2001
* * * * *
I have thought on promises lately, as a means of creating guilt.
I feel that the only thing that promises establish is the possibility of failure and guilt. To succeed in achieving your desires, without a promise, is to do so without fear as a motivator. To fail without a promise is to have tried, without guilt. In a sense, everytime I see myself making a promise, I see myself as having already failed and trying to make up for it. I am trying now to focus on the moment, keep myself free of the need to promise. To be good because I want to, examine my desires at the moment rather than what I can do to make up for my past. Does this make sense? - D. M. -0/6-/2001
* * * * *
Submit Your Comments Note: Comments are for display on this page, they are not sent to the author.
