 Mesillat Yesharim - Resources: Encyclopedia II - Mesillat Yesharim - Aim of the workThe aim of the work is the perfection of character. Rather than innovating a new system, Luzzato builds his work on a Beraita in the name of the sage Pinchas ben-Yair as mentioned in the Talmud:
Torah (study) leads to watchfulness (zehirut)
Watchfulness leads to alacrity (zerizut)
Alacrity leads to cleanliness (of sin, nekiyut)
Cleanliness leads to abstention (of improper practices, perishut)
Abstention leads to purity (tahara)
Purity leads to holine ...
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