For those of you who have the spiritual habit of reading the Hayom Yom, one teaching this week felt particularly relevant to the work we do around here:
The crucial first step is to identify the location of the illness, whether it is caused by the crassness, grossness, and corruption of his physical body or by a failing in his soul-powers, the person being inclined to undesirable traits like arrogance or falsehood, and the like. Or, the source of the malady may be habit – inadequate rearing or unwholesome environment, having brought on bad habits.
Without ascertaining the specific site of the illness and the cause of infection, it is impossible to embark on a cure. One can only prescribe an orderly, proper conduct in all matters, what to do and what to avoid…
Most urgent of all, however, is that the patient make himself aware of two things: a) to know that he is ill, and desire most fervently to be cured of his malady; b) to know that he can be cured, with hope and absolute trust that, with G-d’s help, he will indeed be cured of his sickness.
To me, this translates directly into Mesudar Eating. (“One can prescribe an orderly, proper conduct.”)
It takes some time to figure out the root of our food stuff. So the first order of business is seder.
Mesudar Eating means organized, planned-ahead eating.
There’s a clear start and stop to the eating process.
There’s not much thought involved except for the planning process.
And there’s certainly much quiet.
Mesudar means organized, like in a house. When a house is mesudar, everything has its place. Not haphazard. Things aren’t hefker. Not impulsive.
Same with the food…
✍️ Journaling Prompt
Where is my eating currently not mesudar?
What part of the process feels haphazard, impulsive, or hefker?
What is one thing I can do tomorrow to bring more seder in just one meal?
