July 12, 2021 · 00:06:08
On top of all the other transgressions, the speaker of lashon hara violates the mitzvah of (Devarim 6:13): "The L–rd your G–d shall you fear,". When the opportunity to sin arises we are obligated to counter it with the thought that "Hashem is aware of all that happens and there are consequences for his actions". Utilizing this focus will help a person refrain from sinning, one who ignores this contemplation by speaking improperly negates this mitzvah. The Beis HeLevi on the topic of "Do not Covet" explains the achievability with a parable of one with a consuming desire who walks over a frozen river and starts to slip. As the person is slipping the only thought entering his mind is "Oh no, I'm going to die". That fear eliminates any other emotion and doesn't allow anything to coexist. Similarly, when Hashem commands us against something, the fear that we have should function in a way that will not make room for any desires or passion. Chofetz Chaim, Introduction (Asei) וְעַל כֻּלָּם עוֹבֵר (יא) עוֹד עַל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה (דברים ו' י"ג) דְּ''אֶת ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ תִּירָא'', שֶׁהֻזְהַרְנוּ בָּזֶה לִירֹא מִלִּפְנֵי ה' יִתְבָּרַךְ כָּל יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ, וּבְבוֹא מַעְשֶׂה לְיָדֵינוּ, נִתְחַיַּבְנוּ לְהָעִיר אֶת רוּחֵנוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַפֶּרֶק, שֶׁהַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַשְׁגִּיחַ בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה בְּנֵי אָדָם, וְיָשִׁיב לָהֶם נָקָם כְּפִי רוֹעַ הַמַעֲשֶׂה, וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה יִמָנַע מִלַּעֲבֹר עַל דַּעַת קוֹנוֹ, וּבְוַדַּאי מִי שֶׁמַפְקִיר אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ לֶעָוֹן הֶחָמוּר הַזֶּה שֶׁל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע ו