1.

Compare and contrast the theme of devotion as wholehearted love in the thinking in Bahya ibn
Paquda (Duties, Gate 10) and Moses Maimonides (Guide I:39, 51, 61, 62, 63; II: 38, 40; III: 32, 33,
35, 52)

The wise are required to instruct the ignorant (Eccles. 12:11). Meditation is
the meaning of contemplation of the nature of god. We are required to meditate
upon creation. The purpose of meditation is to understand Gods wisdom. One
should attempt to understand all of Gods creatures whether they are significant or
insignificant. God is omnipotent so then why is there evil? Gods graces are well
embracing and general. God is good to everyone and is merciful. Involvement in
the material world prevents you from understanding God in a perfected intellect.
Man is unable to discern the goodness of God because he is born into the world wild
and ignorant like a beast. A man who is empty will achieve understanding. A baby
who is found in a deserted island and taken care of by a holy man is a good
metaphor for the graces of God as the graces of God are bestowed upon people
indiscriminately regardless of whether or not they are receptive to these graces or
understand these graces. It is better to mourn than it is to feast (Eccles. 2:14). The
righteous use their eyes to see, but the fools walk in darkness as blind people (Prov.
4:18; 4:19). Meditation upon creation is an obligation as well as demonstration of
God through understanding his wisdom. The movement of the Sun is a trace of
Gods wisdom that is obvious and noticeable even to a fool. In regards of the
parable of the two sons owning land, one should focus more on their spiritual
progress which is in our true home.
The sixth mark of wisdom enables man do be artistic, scientific, and professional for
the sake of earning a living. (Proverbs. 2:6): The lord gives wisdom and out of his
mouth comes knowledge and discernment. Why do you spend money for that
which is not bread? Let your soul delight itself in fatness. If you serve the lord, he
will bless you with food, water, and health.
The seventh pillar of wisdom represents the fullness of obeying gods law. Those
who follow gods law benefit in this world and the world to come (Isa. 55:2 f). We
are obligated to meditate upon each of the pillars of wisdom.
There are ten ways in which you can achieve whole hearted devotion to god alone.
The first is that there must be a whole hearted acceptance that God is the ultimate
filler of the universe.
Every act and work should be purely done for Gods sake alone. Bahya duties of
the heart.
Oriental people absorb from what is and go beyond the physical universe in order to
nourish the life of his soul and to perfect his individuality.

The western world can teach the eastern world about material success while the
western world can teach the west about the practice of contacting the ambient
upper air warmed by the righteous glow of love. This leads one to the process of
renewing the spiritual and moral life.
Through Avidebron and Moses Maimonides, the west became leavened with Greek
and Oriental thought.
Bahya Duties of the Heart: Wisdom, the Highest Good
The highest good given to humans by the creator, is wisdom.
There are 3 dominant types of wisdom:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Philosophy of Nature, dealing with properties and accidents of matter

Philosophy of number and measurement
Mathematical wisdom ( ex. astronomy and music)
Knowledge of God

Divine wisdom is that which is most necessary to religion.

Doing work and speaking the words of the law are an end in of themselves as said
by the rabbis.
Seek No Reward but Wisdoms Self.
Let the awe of heaven be upon you
Serve God without expecting an award.

The Creator God has given us three gates which enable us to enter into
spirituality.
The first is pure uncorrupted reason. The second is the Torah revealed to Moses.
The third is built upon the traditions.
Commandments relating to the duties of the heart: believe that the world has a
creator who created it from nothing. There is none other like God. We are to accept
his unity and worship him.
Moses Maimonides:
Guide for the perplexed ch 39:
The term heart is equivocal. The heart is the part of the body that gives residence
to life itself. The term is figuratively used to designate the center of everything.
unto the heart of heaven denotes thought.

Whose heart turneth away this day

and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
but fools die for want of heart
a wise mans heart is at his right hand- meaning that his intellect is directed
towards perfect things.
and though shalt love the lord thy god with all thy heart.
all existent bodies are always represented to oneself as certain essences
every essence of every body contains an attribute.
all the names of God found in any books derive from actions.
God has an articulated name.
Adonai my lord, pass not away, I pray thee
the name of god is not pronounced except in the sanctuary by the sanctified
priests

Ch 62:
to sum it up, a fool believes everything
Articulated name: I am that I am.
God does not have any attributes.