What is the Path of Abraham?

From Sebomenoi

Also, go HERE for a printable flyer on the Faith of Abraham.

The Path of Abraham is the path of life chosen by those individuals who posses a submissive faith in the ONE Creator L-RD of all existence, as it is written of Abraham, "And he trusted in the L-RD, and He considered it to him as righteousness;" - Genesis 15:6. This means that such a person lives life with a confidence in the Almighty that is in accordance with the expression of His Will to creation. Intrinsic to faithfully living in accordance with His Will is to uphold the laws of the Almighty. Of Abraham the Almighty says, "Abraham obeyed Me and observed My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws;" - Genesis 26:5. The 7 commandments that Abraham kept, mentioned in the section "7 Laws of Noah" are, as stated in that section, the only absolute obligations on the peoples of the world apart from the people of Israel. In this section it is to be elaborated with what 'spirit' [or attitude] Abraham kept these commandments. This includes the understanding that although, according to Torah, the peoples of the world are only absolutely obligated to keep the 7 laws, that there are additional principles which are PROPER and fitting to strive for and follow. When we say 'proper and fitting,' we mean that if an individual does not strive to follow these principles, there will not be any 'divine punishment' so to speak. On the other hand, although there may not be any 'divine punishment' for not striving to follow these principles, an individual who does take it upon himself to fulfill these principles will certainly have an increase in 'divine reward' in the World to Come and in this World. In addition to the above, the following is certainly the ideal way to carry out the 7 laws; Anyone who will strive to fulfill the following principles will only strengthen his faith in the Almighty and his closeness to Him, as well as further establish a culture that upholds living a lifestyle in accordance with the Creator's Will. The Path of Abraham is not to just do the bare minimum while trying to make His Will conform to our desires. The Path of Abraham is a surrendering love toward the Almighty that causes one to willingly go beyond the minimum obligations of mankind. It urges a person to conform his life more and more to the Will of the Creator as it is made known to him.

Abraham had such a surrendering confidence in the Almighty that he was willing to give up his long hoped for son, regardless of the emotional pain, at the command of the Most High. The Path of Abraham lead Abraham to set aside any reservations of comfort and ease that would hold him back from the fullness of the L-RD's goodness, to the point of physically removing the foreskin of his loins in total expression of the removal of the foreskin of his heart. The Faith of Abraham is a faith that can not be contained in one's heart. That which is circumcised is exposed and revealed. A circumcised heart manifests itself. People say it's what's in the heart that matters. The Path of Abraham admits that whatever is in one's heart is expressed in one's actions. The harmony of our character traits must reflect the harmony of our position before the Most High. This page is an introduction to the Path of Harmony with the ONE G-d and with mankind. In RAMBAM's words, The Path of Abraham:

THE STRAIGHT PATH is to generally follow the middle path of character traits, with each and every aspect-quality of personality that mankind has. This concerns following after those character traits which are equally distant from the extremes of character traits, not being close to either side of the extremes.

For this reason the Wise men of Israel of old ordered that people should continuously look over and examine their character traits, and calculate their temperaments, in order to guide their character traits and temperaments toward the direction of the middle path, so that the people will be wholesome/serene with wellbeing in their bodies.........

.......... ...to be continued... ...........

Whoever is a person that is very careful with himself, and distances particular character traits which he possesses just a little from the middle path, slightly closer to one of the extremes of a particular character trait, is called devout.

What does this mean? Someone that distances his personality from the the pride of his heart until this character trait turns more toward the other direction - toward great humility, such a person is called devout. This is the character trait of devotion [piety].

And if someone distances himself from pride until he is in the middle point of this trait, neither overly proud or overly lowly and debased, but rather in the middle point between these two extremes - at the quality of humility, such a person is called wise; And this is the character trait of wisdom.

This method of adjusting our character traits concerns all temperaments and qualities of personality.

.................. ...to be continued... ..................

We [the people of Israel, the Jewish people] are commanded to walk in these middle paths of character traits. And these are the good and straight paths about which it is said [in Deuteronomy 28:9], "And you shall walk in His paths (ways)."

In this manner [the ancient Wise men of Israel] taught the explanation of this commandment: (See bottom for further explanation of this section)

The same way He is called "Gracious," you as well must be gracious.

The same way He is called "Compassionate," you as well must be compassionate.

The same way He is called "Holy," you as well must be holy;

In this way the prophets called G-d all the different titles such as 'Slow to anger,' 'Great in devoted-kindness,' 'Righteous and Upright,' 'Perfect,' 'Heroic and Powerful,' and the rest that come with these.

One should know that these are the good and upright paths; A person is obligated to habituate himself in these paths so as to resemble these [paths] of His, according to the person's ability and strength.

How does one make himself regular in these temperaments to the point that these temperaments become firmly established in him?

He should act, and act a second and third time, with actions which express these [proper] character traits and temperaments of the middle path; He should do this continuously until these actions [which reflect the desired personality traits], become easy for him to do - until they are no longer difficult on him to perform. At this point such temperaments will become firmly established in the personality of his soul.

Because these terms are called to the Creator, and these are the middle paths in which we are obligated to walk, therefore this path is called the 'Path of HASHEM' [The Path of G-d].

And this is that path which Abraham, our father, taught to his sons, as it is said [in Genesis 18:19], "for I have known him for the sake that he will command his descendants and his household after him to keep the way of the L-RD, by doing righteousness and justice.."

The one who walks in this path brings goodness and blessing upon himself, as it is said [in Genesis 18:19], "in order that the L-RD will bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken concerning him."

[The above is taken from chapter 1 of Hilkhoth De'oth of the Mishneh Torah, compiled from the Talmudic writings by RAMBAM (Rav Mosha ben Maimon)]

Concerning the section in this page which speaks of the Creator as being called 'Gracious, Compassionate, Holy, etc...' ONE MUST UNDERSTAND that these terms and ALL terms applied to the Creator are terms which are named after His ACTIONS in this world, in creation. The many different names or titles of the Creator do not reflect many different essential 'internal' aspects or attributes of the Creator. There is no plurality with the Almighty Creator whatsoever. We refer to the Creator with these terms simply because we have no other way in which to refer to Him. For this reason we refer to Him according to the revelation of His Will in His mighty acts which we perceive in creation. We see that the Almighty gives life and redeems; therefore we call Him Compassionate. We see that the Creator pours out judgment on man when man lives in wickedness; therefore we call the Creator 'Righteous and Just.' We know that the Almighty created all things that we perceive; therefore we call Him 'Creator.' We see that there is nothing more mighty than He, and that there is no end to His might, therefore we call Him 'Almighty;' etc... It is against the path of Abraham to believe that all these terms refer to plural aspects which exist within the Creator, for this would mean that we are able to take on aspects of His Divinity whenever we live our lives according to graciousness, and compassion, in addition to implying that the Almighty exists within time/space and can change. Why this latter comment? Since divisions, distinctions, and change only exist within time and space, then if there were to be distinctions of plural attributes WITHIN the existence of the Creator, this would mean He exists under time and space. If He exists under time and space then it is impossible that He created time and space. If He did not create time and space then what did? If He exists contained in time and space, then He Himself requires a creator, heaven forbid! Rather, this realization, that the All-powerful Creator exists above all created things, and that this Creator created time and space and all other things, which means that He has no divisions or distinctions within Himself whatsoever, and that He is One unlike any unity in creation, and He does not change [for change only occurs in time/space], --- THIS is The Foundation of the Path of Abraham and the 7 commandments which he faithfully kept. For how can one keep the first and most essential of the 7 commandments, against participating in the worship of created things, if the same person doesn't even recognize the essential difference between creation and the Creator? For a 'creator' which is subject to time/space, and which has divisions and parts, and can change, is not the Creator at all. Anyone who thinks the Creator exists under time/space, has parts and can change, has not yet perceived the essential distinction between the Creator and His creation. Therefore, this truth is very worthy of deep thought and study, that one who is not yet sure about the Sublime Unity of the Creator may find rest in His immutability. All plurality which we perceive in relation to the Creator exists ONLY in our own perception of Him through His many (plural) works within creation. The plurality of His many majestic works exists within creation, and not within Himself - Who exists above all concepts of spatiality or time. Blessed is He Who is exalted above all existences, and above all our misconception!

WEBSTER DICTIONARY

"What place could be My resting place?" (Isaiah 66:1) Really, would G-d dwell on earth with man? Behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens can not contain You; (II Chronicles 6:18) "..for I am G-d and not a man" (Hosea 11:9) "For I am the ALL-TRANSCENDENT One, and I do not change; (Malachi 3:6)

"To whom can you liken G-d; What likeness can you attribute to Him?" (Isaiah 40:18)

Isaiah 44:7-8

'Who is like Me? Let him announce and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to be.

'Do not tremble and do not be fearful; Have I not long ago proclaimed it to you and declared it? And you are My testimonies. Is there any G-d besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.'"

"G-d is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should relent.." ( Numbers 23:19 )