What's In It for Me? | Rabbi Aharon Pessin

We all talk about Shmiras HaEinayim, how important guarding one's eyes. So important, there's even an organization called Vayimaen, to try and help us do that. But what's in it for me? Very surprising statements from our rabbis, Rishonim and Achronim. Sefer Chasidim, R' Yehudah HaChasid, one of the Rishonim, Siman 495, says, If one has a tremendous struggle, and puts the effort, יראה זרע, יאריך ימים, his kids will benefit from it. Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh, in Bereishis 49:22, says, If one watches his eyes, מידה כנגד מידה measure for measure, he will not be harmed from Ayin Hara. He always watches his eye, he will not be harmed from the Evil Eye. The Arizal says, You can actually acquire X-ray vision. If one guards his eyes, he is able to look at a vessel which was dipped in the Mikvah and to see י-ה-ו-ה, the letters of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, on that vessel. The Chatam Sofer, in the name of his Rebbe, R’ Nosson Adler, and the same thing appears in Nachal Kedumim, the חיד”א in Parshas Bereishis. When one leaves this place here, after at least 120, sometimes it's associated with some sorrow and pain, but one who watches his eyes will not have צער המיתה. Unbelievable, but one can even make money from Shmiras HaEinayim. Aruch HaShulchan in Choshen Mishpat 393:3 brings a whole Maaseh, when one can actually win a court case in Beis Din, if he watches his eyes. But it also can help our Parnassah and that is a Segulah from R' Chaim Palachi. R' Chaim Palachi, the greatest Posek in his generation, about 200 years ago, in his Sefer Tochahat Chaim in Parshas Acharei Mos he writes, There’s a pasuk we keep saying every single day, more than once, If our eyes are to HaKadosh Baruch Hu we will have what to eat. In other words, we will have Parnassah. But it doesn't stop there. It's the end of the Torah and the beginning. That is how the Torah ends. To the eyes of Klal Yisroel. Your eyes should be to me, says HaKadosh Baruch Hu. And then what happens? Bereishis, cut it in two, Bar is תבואה, Bar is grain, Bar is Parnassah. אשית is I will place, I will give. If you’re willing to make sure to use your eyes properly, to look only at what you're supposed to, not to look at what you're not supposed to, says HaKadosh Baruch Hu: I will give you Parnassah. So Shmiras HaEinayim, there’s many, many benefits to us, other than just fulfilling the will of HaKadosh Baruch Hu.