"I love Path of the Soul! It is one of the best things I've done in the last 10 years. I feel as though I have been delivered to my Soul Family. I don't know how I would have made it through the pandemic without my Mussar curriculum."
- Liz Bernstein
Path of the Soul, an advanced-level Mussar course delivered in two parts, is designed for people who have completed at least one year of Mussar study.
How do you recognize and follow the path of your soul? Only by answering profound questions—not in theory, but in the flesh of your life—can you discover and follow the track that leads to your most elevated spiritual destiny.
Path of the Soul is a curriculum for wholeness, complete with assignments, learning, challenges, and tests. Each of us has his or her own curriculum, though not everyone is aware that his or her life-course is a curriculum, nor engages with it consciously. This advanced program of Jewish education and practice helps you recognize your own personal curriculum and provides you with the tools needed to follow that curriculum or grow toward wholeness. Along the way, you’ll uncover stages, levels, dynamics, and pitfalls on your path and use Mussar’s wisdom to guide a wise and successful traverse of this path. You’ll engage in several introductory teachings and then study:
Path of the Soul I Themes and Middot
- Gateways
- Introduction
- Man’s Duty in the World
- Vigilance
- Alacrity
- Cleanliness
Path of Soul II Themes and Middot
- Abstinence
- Purity
- Piety
- Humility
- Fear of Sin
- Holiness
An engaged participant in Path of the Soul will come away with
- A clear understanding of Mussar teachings that describe and light the path of the soul.
- New insight into their own personal spiritual curriculum.
- Tools and practices to help guide his or her soul’s journey.
- A new depth of spiritual maturity.
Format
- Text: Path of the Just (Mesillas Yesharim) by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto.
- Accounting of the soul (cheshbon ha’nefesh) with worksheets for a cheshbon ha’nefesh diary.
- Chevruta study with text and study materials.
- Va’ad of 6-8 people alternating weekly with chevruta sessions
Pre-Requisites
This course is appropriate for people with a minimum of one year of TMI Mussar va’ad-based study. The study should include completion of Season of Mussar I and II or Pathway to the Inner Life Parts I-III or Everyday Holiness, Chaburah, or Mussar in Action; Exceptions will be made for equivalent coursework. Chaverim membership is not required.
Schedule: TBD
Path of the Soul Path of the Soul is 29 sessions in two parts. People who take the first part may opt to continue for the second, but no one can start with the second part.
Tuition
Non-Chaverim Tier 1 - $385 (per part)
Non-Chaverim Tier 2 - $329 (per part)
Non-Chaverim Tier 3 - $231 (per part)
Chaverim members enjoy a 15% discount off of course pricing. Members, please select the Chaverim rate of your choice on your registration form, membership will be verified before your enrollment is secured for the course.