Note of Caution

The Rosh Yeshiva of the Diaspora Yeshiva, Rabbi Mordecai Goldstein, points out that there are three potential stumbling blocks in doing spiritual accounting:

1. Stopping - even with the system of Sefer Cheshbon Hanefesh, a person may simply stop doing accounting after the initial stage of enthusiasm.
2. Shallow accounting - although continuing, some people allow their accounting to degenerate into a mechanical activity and do it in a cursory, shallow fashion.
3. Disproportionate accounting - some people judge themselves without relating to the norms of their spiritual generation, the immediate circumstances of their personal life, and the stage of their personal spiritual advancement.

As general counsel for success in producing more qualitative accounting and the perfecting of character traits, one should join a group that sits at a set time to fill out cheshbon hanefesh charts. This gives the individual the benefits of group interaction; i.e., opportunity for discussion, giving and receiving correction and advice, group support, and continued group growth.

In addition the following is suggested. Daily determine your overall spiritual growth in a scale of one through ten. Record it in a suitable place on your weekly chart. Record the averages of this amount on a weekly, quarterly, and yearly basis. The purpose is to spot broad trends not caught by your regular accounting. Then, with the help of HaShem, you will be able to pull out of those "larger spiritual setbacks."

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Diaspora Yeshiva

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