Machshava:

Chassidut 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Bilvavi II

Description

Ahavas Hashem is one of the 613 mitzvahs. Two levels of love: 1) "ahavah t'luie b'dvar" love that depends on getting something in return; or 2) love that is completely pure with no expectations of getting anything in return. Natural love of a Jew for Hashem does not depend on getting anything in return. Our avodah (spiritual practice) must begin from ahavah with expectations. Sickness of our generation is that we lack hakeres hatov (thanking Hashem for all we have). Beginning of serving G-d is to realize that we have nothing and everything is a gift from G-d.