Sha'ar Ha'Zechira - Intro to the Intro

Thoughts on Orchos Tzaddikim:
Sha'ar Ha'Zechira
Intro to the Intro
By: Daniel Listhaus
The nineteenth chapter of Orchos Tzaddikim is Sha'ar Ha'Zechira (Gate of Remembrance). The Orchos Tzaddikim, also known as Sefer Ha'Midos, discusses all of the various traits contained in a person and teaches how to perfect these traits. Middos (character traits) literally means measures, for each person has a measure of each character trait. Each person has his or her own degree of haughtiness, humility, anger, etc. which are utilized differently based on each person's personality. The key to the sefer in general is to be able to locate each middah within oneself and train it adequately in order to properly direct it in the right direction. One of these sections is, surprisingly, Sha'ar Ha'Zechira. Being that it has a place in this sefer it must somehow be something that could be worked on and perfected. Usually when we think about memory we think about the ability we are born with (to various degrees) to remember and recall people, places, and events. However if memory is indeed a character trait which we are expected to perfect, there must be a much deeper form of memory.
What is it that we think about by default? Imagine you are doing some “mindless activity” such as driving, mowing the lawn, taking a shower, or shoveling snow. What is it that you think about? People tend to think, by default, about the biggest thing that is presently on their mind. One who is taking a big test in the near-future is likely to find himself thinking about it whenever he is not actively thinking about some other activity. Another going through a difficult relationship will most likely revert to his interpersonal struggle. However, what about when there is nothing new and we are in a current state of boredom, caught in the normal rhythm and routine of life, what is it that comes to mind when doing brainless activities? Probably nothing.
One time on a trip in upstate New York, I started a conversation with the bus driver and respectfully and curiously  asked him how he felt about all the time he spends behind the wheel. I thought that he would tell me about some ideas he thinks of or how he allows his mind to wander and enjoy the scenery, but his response was nothing of the sort. He responded that unless he has some major trip coming up that he is aware of or some issue going in on his family he does not really think about anything.


So much time and effort is spent teaching the young and reinforcing for own selves how to practice controlling our speech, attitude, and actions. However if we would take a step back and think broadly about where speech, attitude, and actions stem from we would conclude that they come from our assumptions, perspectives, and filters that are embedded into the deepest recesses of our minds. There must be a way to control what we think about by default, and a method through which we could shape the way we think in general.

In order to be a proper Jew, there are certain things which are expected to be on the forefront of one's mind. This is what this gate of the Orchos Tzaddikim is coming to describe - Thirty basic, yet essential, items which we are tasked to do more than merely train ourselves to think about every day (actually, twice a day as the Orchos Tzaddikim prescribes), but to program them within ourselves to in turn influence our very perspective and core beings which will in turn impact our speech, attitude, and actions.

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