Machshava:

Chassidut 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Bilvavi II

Description

Five levels of yirah (fear): 1) yiras ha’onesh (fear of punishment); 2) fear because of one’s own honor; 3) fear because of the drive for perfection; 4) fear of sin and 5) fear of Hashem’s greatness. We must fear Hashem in this world through suffering and in the world to come through terrible punishments such as Hell. The main force that pushes us is honor — not only external honor which people see, but inner honor of inwardly feeling self-respect. Since we seek d’veykus (closeness) with Hashem, we fear sin since it creates a barrier between us and G-d.