מצוות החיים
Commandments of the Living
The mitzvot hachayim are guidelines for maintaining Covenant with God via expressions of ats'miut (self) and avodah (service).
instructions, not laws
Within hachayim, mitzvot are not legalistic commands but covenantal practices that sustain the unity between human awareness and the Divine Presence.
ats'miut עַצמִיוּת (self)
Ats’miut are the mitzvot of inner integrity, practices that refine the self so one’s awareness becomes a clear vessel capable of attuning to God.
Five practices of Ats’miut:
Hitbonenut — daily self-witnessing to observe emotions, motives, and distortions without judgment.
Shmirat Ha’lev — guarding the heart from resentment, arrogance, and envy through active emotional cleansing.
Nikkayon Ha’Nefesh — intentional honesty: speaking truthfully and examining one’s narratives for self-deception.
Guf Kedosh — treating the body as a sacred seat of awareness through rest, nourishment, and mindful embodiment.
Siluk Ha’Ani — practicing humility by loosening egoic identities to let divine presence move through awareness.
avodah עֲבוֹדָה (service)
Avodah are the mitzvot of relational service, practices that manifest God-consciousness through just, compassionate, and generative action in the world.
Five practices of Avodah:
Tzedek Ma’asit — performing concrete acts of justice, especially for the vulnerable or exploited.
Chessed Peshut — giving kindness without expectation, restoring dignity and warmth where it is lacking.
Re’iyah El Ha’Zar — actively recognizing and uplifting “the stranger,” treating outsiders as full members of the covenantal family.
Hashavat Shalom — repairing harm: apologizing, reconciling, and restoring peace where relationships have fractured.
Ma’aseh Shechina — creating spaces, moments, or communities where God’s presence can dwell through unity and compassion.
