An ox once entered the Chofetz Chaim's home and caused much damage. The Rebbitzen got very upset and chased the ox out of the house, and the Chofetz Chaim told her, "There is no point in getting angry. You have two options to prevent this from happening again – either always keep the door closed or, if you want to keep it open, constantly keep an eye on it."
He then added, "The same is true regarding ruchnius. The yeitzer hara tries to push its way into a person's mouth in order to get him to cause damage by speaking forbidden words. One has two ways to prevent this. He can either always keep his mouth closed, or he can keep it open but constantly remain on guard to ensure he only speaks good, permitted words."
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- An Open Mouth is Impure:Explore how an "open mouth" leads to impurity through forbidden speech. Can guarding our words transform our spiritual state? Find out more!
- Good and Bad Depends on One's Mouth:Explore how the words we speak shape our realities, revealing the profound impact of lashon hara on our lives and the world since creation.
- Words Rule Over Him:Can silence truly be more valuable than words? Explore the wisdom of restraint and the lasting impact of our spoken choices.
- The Wisdom of Silence:What wisdom did the Imrei Emes bring from Eretz Yisroel? Explore how silence is the key to true understanding and insight in this thought-provoking article.
- Distancing a Person From His Creator:Uncover how lashon hara distances us from Hashem and the path to spiritual purification through the wisdom of the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh.
- More Severe Than the Three Chamuros:Lashon hara outweighs the cardinal sins, prolonging our golus. Explore how this profound insight demands action through Torah study. What can we do?
- The Golus of the Shechinah:Why is the Shechinah in golus? Explore how our words impact divine presence and what it means for our prayers and spiritual lives.
- The Connection Between Guarding One's words and the Mezuzah:Explore how guarding your words aligns with the mezuzah's sanctity, revealing the profound impact of speech on personal holiness and identity.