Mindfulness is the secret of a happy life.
:oŸx£d ©` mŸC¦I©e (wd wh) And Aharon was silent. (10:3) The two children of Aharon, Nadav and Avihu, had died before Hashem. The Torah attests that "Aharon was silent”, and accepted the decree.
To understand how Aharon was able to pass this difficulty, Rabbi Moshe Mekobrin Z’'l. a student of Harav Mordechai of Lechovitch, who was a student of Harav Shlomo of Karlin Zta’’l. writes in his Sefer Amaros Tehoros that having Yishuv Hadaas - Mindfulness - is the best means of passing through the world. Mindfulness is commonly understood to mean peace of mind, tranquility, and composure. According to the Rebbe of Kobrin, it is, in fact, a key aspect of Jewish living.
The son-in-law of the heilige Chafetz Chaim relates how the Chafetz Chaim always had peace of mind, and he said that this has accompanied him all his life in the most difficult situations, and this was his greatest glory. The Chafetz Chaim explained that this act of having peace of mind and tranquility, and composure is interpreted in the verse x ¤x ¤` ¥n d ̈n ̈c£` we recite on Hoshanah Rabbah. In middle, we pray d ̈l ̈d¤A ¦n W¤t¤p, which interpets Hashem save our souls from having confusion and panic and our souls may not be troubled and have peace of mind.
This act of having peace of mind, tranquility, and composure was the reason for oŸx£d ©` mŸC¦I©e “And Aharon was silent” :(wd wh) He was calm and composed in this difficult situation. How can we reach such a level? I heard many times from my great uncle Harav Nisson Pilchick z''l.—the brother of my grandmother Fradel, the wife of Reb Yitzchok Halevi Klitnick z''l.—who used to always relate to the younger generation and say he was astonished to see how the elder Chassidim always kept their heads sharp with mindfullness! They had Yishuv Hadaas. All this power originated in Aharon. Aharon knew that everything that occurred was from Hashem and meant only for his good being.
The Gemara (Eiruvin 65b) says :x ̈Mi¦p m ̈c ̈` mi ¦x ̈a §C d ̈WŸl §W ¦A .Ÿeq§r©k §aE Ÿeqi ¦k §aE ,ŸeqŸek §A In three matters a person’s true character is ascertained; ŸeqŸek §A, in his cup, his behavior when he drinks; Ÿeqi ¦k §a in his pocket, his conduct in his financial dealings with other people; Ÿeq§r©k §aand in his anger, how he acts when he gets angry. Unfortunately, one quickly sees how they lose themselves. However, the person who has Yishuv Hadaas and has mindfulness keeps his composure even when he drinks. We always saw the tzaddikim and chassidim drink a lot, yet they kept their composure. The second Ÿeqi ¦k §a, in financial dealings, one acts honestly, knowing that everything is from Hashem and no one can take anything from you. The third thing is anger: You shouldn’t get angry at someone who teased you or said a stinging word to you, since that person is just a messenger from Hashem, and this is a message for you via that person. By acting with mindfullness and composure in these three acts, one is refered to as m ̈c ̈` a man.
This level of mindfulness was planted by Aharon Hakohen for all future generations to act this way and thereby live a tranquil and peaceful life. Now that we have a perception of Aharon’s level, we can understand Mishna Avos chapter 1:12. ,oŸx£d ©` l¤y ei ̈ci ¦n §l ©z ¦n i¥e¡d :x¥nŸe` l¥l ¦d :d ̈xŸeY©l o ̈a §x ̈w §nE zŸeI ¦x §A©d z ¤` a¥dŸe` ,mŸel ̈y s ¥cŸex§e mŸel ̈y a¥dŸe` Hillel used to say: Be one of the disciples of Aharon, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving mankind, and drawing them close to the Torah. Aharon had the right judgment; therefore, he was a lover of peace and a pursuer of peace because he knew that everything that happens in this world is coming from Hashem for the benefit of the person. Therefore, Aharon was able to teach the people to have mindfulness and to be calm and composed. When there was a dispute, it was quickly resolved.
(Yehuda Z. Klitnick)