Summary: So far, the Ramchal has told us that for a person to be truly righteous, they don’t need to just purify their actions (which is Prishus – abstinence), but also to purify their thoughts and intentions. Each person has their own level to focus on, but the Ramchal tells us that in general, “Chazal have already clarified that there are various levels of ‘not for the sake of the Mitzvah itself" (Shelo Lishma).” Now, the Ramchal will spend some time going through the various levels for us to think about.
The Ramchal writes: “The worst of (impure motivations) is for one to not be serving at all for the sake of Divine service, but to deceive others and to gain money or honor. On this type of person, it was said: ‘it would have been better had his placenta turned over his face (died in the womb)’ (Yerushalmi Berachos 1:5). On such a person, the prophet said: ‘we are all as one unclean, and all our righteous deeds as like a discarded garment’ (Yeshaya 64:5). (Mesilas Yesharim, Chapter 16)
This level is the essence of a “fake” observant Jew, the one that looks the part and even sometimes acts the part, but is not truly a Torah Jew on the inside, which tends to spill out into some of his behaviors. This type of person is not doing Mitzvos because Hashem commands us to do them or because the values them. This type of person acts solely on selfish motives, such as financial incentives or to make a buck. The reason he looks so pious when praying or so “into it” when learning is so that others can comment on what a Tzaddik he is, so he acts this way to make sure he is noticed.
The Ramchal continues: “There is another type of ‘not for the sake of the Mitzvah itself’ (Shelo Lishma), which is the ‘for the sake of receiving a reward’ (Avos 1:3). On this, our sages said: ‘a man should always occupy himself with Torah and good deeds, even if it is not for their own sake, for doing so will lead to doing them for their own sake’ (Pesachim 50b). Nevertheless, he who has not yet reached from ‘not for their own sake’ (shelo lishma) to ‘for their own sake’ (lishma), is still far from reaching his Shelemus (wholeness/perfection).” (ibid, Chapter 16)
As much as the idealistic mind hates to hear it, people act out of many motivations, very few of them altruistic. When one first starts keeping the Torah – a Ba’al Teshuva – we heap praise on his smallest achievements given that he intends to serve Hashem. Similarly, we can say the same thing about a child who first starts coming to shul and learning or davening. The answer is that beginners need encouragement as well as other external rewards to keep them going and excited. However, if a person is 40 years old and his primary consideration of davening in a shul is because it has a gala kiddush with meat boards and single malt scotch, one has to do some contemplation and self-improvement.
A person should not, however, say to himself, “Since I don’t have the total dedication to Hashem, I should not do the Mitzvos at all” since eventually, healthy, and mature people who “keep at it” graduate from their selfish motivations and learn to think of Hashem. Rav Chaim Volozhiner, ZT”L, points out that even while a person is performing Mitzvos for other motives, he should keep the ultimate goal of becoming altruistic and strategize the best way to get there, as the Ramchal explains that this is part of our journey to perfection. To be continued next week, B’Ezras Hashem.
