Mussar is an illuminating, approachable, and highly practical set of
teachings for cultivating personal growth and spiritual realization in
the midst of day-to-day life. Here is an accessible and inspiring
introduction to this Jewish spiritual path, which until lately has been
best known in the world of Orthodox Judaism. The core teaching of Mussar
is that our deepest essence is inherently pure and holy, but this inner
radiance is obscured by extremes of emotion, desire, and bad habits. Our
work in life is to uncover the brilliant light of the soul. The Mussar
masters developed transformative teachings and practices--some of which
are contemplative, some of which focus on how we relate to others in
daily life--to help us to heal and refine ourselves.