Please could you explain the difference between Teshuva meyirah and Teshuvah me-ahava and give some examples of each?
If someone does Teshuva me-ahava does this mean they won't need to come back as a gilgul (no sins)?
Teshuva Meyirah And Teshuvah Me-Ahava
Started by
AlHal
, Jun 22 2012 09:49 AM
2 replies to this topic
#2
Rabbi Shapiro
-
- Administrators
-
- 1,423 posts
Member
Posted 22 June 2012 - 10:50 AM
Teshuva means you regret what you did and resolve never to do it again.
The reason why you regret what you did and and decide never to do it again determines whether the Teshuva is MeAhava or MeYira.
If the reason you regret doing the sin and won't do it again is because you want to avoid the negative consequences of sinning, such as being punished by Hashem, that is Teshuva MeYirah.
If the reason you regret doing the sin and won't do it again is because you know you owe Hashem so much because of what He gives you and out of gratitude for the priceless bounty He has bestowed upon you, such as your eyes, ears, home, and everything else, you want to do what He wants you to, that is Teshuva MeAhava.
Any Teshuva that is motivated by love for Hashem (I merely gave one possible example of how love could prompt Teshuva) is Teshuva MeAhava.
I do not know that it says exactly that if a person does Teshuva MeAhava he does not have to come back in a Gilgul, but the Reishis Chochma brings in the name of the Zohar in Mishpatim that Teshuva, Tefilah and accepting of suffering (קבלת יסורים) prevents someone from coming back in a Gilgul.
It also says in Seforim that if a person cannot do Teshuva by accepting his suffering with love, he will come back in a Gilgul, and this is hinted in the Posuk השיבנו ה' אליך ונשובה - in order for us to do proper Teshuva, Hashem makes us "return" to this world.
The reason why you regret what you did and and decide never to do it again determines whether the Teshuva is MeAhava or MeYira.
If the reason you regret doing the sin and won't do it again is because you want to avoid the negative consequences of sinning, such as being punished by Hashem, that is Teshuva MeYirah.
If the reason you regret doing the sin and won't do it again is because you know you owe Hashem so much because of what He gives you and out of gratitude for the priceless bounty He has bestowed upon you, such as your eyes, ears, home, and everything else, you want to do what He wants you to, that is Teshuva MeAhava.
Any Teshuva that is motivated by love for Hashem (I merely gave one possible example of how love could prompt Teshuva) is Teshuva MeAhava.
I do not know that it says exactly that if a person does Teshuva MeAhava he does not have to come back in a Gilgul, but the Reishis Chochma brings in the name of the Zohar in Mishpatim that Teshuva, Tefilah and accepting of suffering (קבלת יסורים) prevents someone from coming back in a Gilgul.
It also says in Seforim that if a person cannot do Teshuva by accepting his suffering with love, he will come back in a Gilgul, and this is hinted in the Posuk השיבנו ה' אליך ונשובה - in order for us to do proper Teshuva, Hashem makes us "return" to this world.
