1.
Editor's Introduction 
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part I)
This small book is the first in a series of books detailing practical steps on how to attain the state of feeling attached to Hashem at all times. The Hebrew title - Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh - "In my heart, I will build a Sanctuary" sums up ...
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3.
Introduction
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part I)
The purpose of this work is to show the way and impart the necessary insight to attain true perfection as defined by the Mesillas Yesharim. In his opening chapter he writes as follows: "The only true perfection is deveikus to HaShem....
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4.
Section 1: Clarifying the Purpose of Life
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part I)
1
The primary task of a person's service of HaShem is to clearly identify the purpose of his life.
Let us begin with a brief introduction.
Every Jew knows as a matter of course that there is a Creator Who created the world, inc...
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5.
Section 2: Emunah that the World has a Creator
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part I)
44
We have so far clarified that a person's purpose and obligation in this world is to be close and attached to Hashem, and that this must be his sole aspiration in life. We shall now attempt to describe the way of life that a person must li...
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6.
Section 3: Emunah that Each Thing is a Creation of Hashem
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part I)
67
We have so far described the way to achieve the first stage - the maintaining in one's mind and heart the basic awareness that there is a Creator. [But before we continue, it is important that you remember an essential rule for succe...
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7.
Section 4: Emunah in Divine Providence
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part I)
88
The third stage, which we will now discuss, is Hashem's guidance of the world. The Rambam writes (Hilchos Avodah Zarah 1:1) that there were those who erroneously thought that although Hashem created this world, He subsequently abandoned ...
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8.
Section 5: Fear of Hashem
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part I)
139
Yiras ha'onesh is the starting point of one's spiritual growth. It is referred to as "lower fear" in the sefarim hakedoshim (as opposed to awe of Hashem's greatness, which is called "higher fear"). Yiras ha&...
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9.
Section 6: Loving Hashem
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part I)
161
Ahavas Hashem is a positive commandment in the Torah, as it says, "And you shall love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and all your soul and all your resources" (Devarim 6:5). We see that everyone is obligated to love Has...
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10.
Section 7: Closeness to Hashem
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part I)
171
After a person has merited that his soul clearly feels the mutual love, both conditional and unconditional, between him and Hashem, his avodah is to reach the inner essence and purpose of avodas Hashem, which is closeness and deveikus to Has...
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11.
Section 8: Hiskalelus – Integrating with Hashem
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part I)
177
Once a person has really attained the feeling that Hashem is right near him, his avodah is to attain hiskalelus in the Infinite, as it says, "I am His." (A deeper form of this avodah is to cause all the creations to be miskalel...
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12.
Chapter 1 - The Righteous One Lives by his Faith
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part II)
"Indeed, You are a Hidden God"
To begin, we will present an introduction. In every new endeavor, especially when it relates to clarifying the ways for a person to serve his Creator, one must strive to do it for th...
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13.
Chapter 2 - "You Shall Know Today, and Settle it in your Heart"
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part II)
Intellectual Knowledge and Experiential Knowledge
As was explained in the previous chapter, the most central aspect of life for each person in every time is the matter of emunah. Even if he is awoken in the middle ...
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15.
Chapter 4 - The Senses of the Soul and the Ability to Uncover Them
(ENGLISH/Building a Sanctuary in the Heart - Part II)
Hashem Can be Felt Only through the Soul
We have explained that there is emunah in the intellect and emunah in the heart, and that the difference between them is that with the intellect, one only knows abou...
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