The brunt of the work is centered on men because, arguably, we have more desire than women (in most cases). While most of the work depends on guarding one’s eyes for the sake of not lusting, it can also apply for the sake of not coveting or not hating.
It’s astonishing that such an important aspect of Jewish life has been dismissed or relegated to “religious extremists”. People often say “it’s just a minhag” to justify their behavior, as if this was not coded in the Shulchan Aruch.
The people who walk with their eyes down or avoid gazing at women are often mocked and called “backward” or “primitive”. It’s very difficult to find someone like this here in Israel, but I have occasionally seen it. I’m still far away from this ideal though I acknowledge (and envy) the astronomical merit such individuals have.
The eyes are the focus of “da’at”.
They are a straight portal to the soul and because of this are the most spiritually sensitive part of the human body. It’s not farfetched to say they are an accurate measuring rod to where a person stands in Avodat Hashem.
I don’t think I could do justice to the importance of guarding one’s eyes against all forms of immodesty and abstaining oneself from immoral thoughts, but I will try my best in this article.
As it turns out, guarding your eyes is not some deep Kabbalistic ritual reserved for Tzadikim and Rebbes. It’s plain and simple Halacha every Jew must follow.
It basically involves being careful not to look at anything that could potentially lead to immoral or sinful behavior. The concept of guarding one’s eyes is rooted in the verse from Proverbs 4:25, which instructs us to “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.”
Rabbenu Yonah, a medieval Spanish Rabbi and commentator, writes in his Sefer HaYirah that the obligation to guard one’s eyes is one of the foundations of piety (or “chassidut”). He explains that the eyes are the gateway to the heart and mind, and what one looks at can have a profound impact on one’s thoughts and actions.
The Talmud (Brachot 12a) similarly states that the eyes are the windows to the soul, emphasizing the importance of guarding them.
The Shulchan Aruch, also teaches the importance of guarding one’s eyes. In Orach Chaim 239:1, it states that a person should be careful not to look at a woman, even if she is fully [i.e. modestly] clothed, if there is a chance that it will cause him to have impure thoughts or desires.
The Mishnah Berurah, a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch which many Ashkenazim follow, elaborates on this, stating that one should not even look at the small finger of a woman if it is sexually arousing to him.
This Halacha applies not only to men but also to women, who should guard their eyes against looking at the immodest images or situations that could lead to sinful behavior.
According to the Holy Zohar, it is forbidden for a man to gaze at the beauty of a woman, as it may arouse evil thoughts and lead to even worse actions. When R. Shimon walked through town with his companions and saw a beautiful woman, he would lower his eyes and caution his companions not to turn their gaze.
The Zohar explains that whoever gazes at the beauty of a woman during the day will be plagued with lustful thoughts at night, which may lead him to transgress the commandment, “You shall not make to yourselves molten gods.” If he gives in to these thoughts and has intercourse with his wife while under their influence, any children born from that union are considered “molten gods.”
R. Abba adds that it is also forbidden for a man to fix his gaze upon heathen idols or gentile women, or to receive a benefit or healing from them.
Everything depends on intention. One can make the greatest mesirut nefesh (self-sacrifice) in doing the greatest act in the world like saving another person’s life but if he asked his friend next to him to “film him”, he might lose it all and even be punished for it, as we learn in Sha’arei Kedusha.
Here are some real Torah insights on the issue of guarding your eyes:
There’s an interesting insight based on that teaching that in the future the Tzadikim will inherit 310 worlds. Some say there are 620 Mitzvot (Gematria of Keter, crown), including the 7 Rabbinical ones, and that the man receives 310 and the woman another 310.
According to Sefer Tikkun haBrit, the Hebrew word Shuv (to “return”) has a Gematria (numerical value) of 307, but when you add the values of its three letters (SHIN+VAV+ALEF), it becomes 310, which is also the Gematria of Keri. The Mishnah teaches us that in the future, Hashem will give 310 worlds to each Tzaddik.
One called Tzaddik is one who guards the Brit.
Therefore, we can conclude that the Tzaddik who guards his eyes from looking at shuv or other wrong places, deserves to guard his Brit by not spilling semen in vain (Keri has a Gematria of 310 as well). Through this accomplishment, he will merit 310 worlds as a reward for successfully avoiding keri.
Here are some of the blessings conferred upon a man (and presumably a woman), who keeps their eyes pure, again from legitimate Torah sources:
Guarding your eyes is a lifetime work.
The rewards are immeasurable, and obviously can only be repaid in the next world though, as we saw, a small part of it can be paid here.
During my early teshuva days, I used the Guard Your Eyes website a lot. It gave me a lot of chizuk to continue on this path.
I pray I can bring some inspiration to those who come to my blog.
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