200- Receiving Pleasure from Three Kelim [Vessels]

Man receives pleasure from three Kelim called “future,” “present,” and “past.”

The greatest pleasure is from the future. For example, when one thinks that he will be invited to a wedding or to an important dinner, where although there are many people in his town, only a few, important people were invited to this dinner, and he is one of them.

1) The meal and the wedding will take place in some time, but he is already enjoying the future, as was said, “Criminal thoughts are worse than a crime” (Yoma 29a), since he has much time to enjoy the future.

2) The present—when he is at the dinner and sees that only important people are attending, he is delighted.

3) After the fact, when he remembers the honors he received at the dinner, this also delights him.

One should depict to himself that he will have a gathering of friends, and he should take actions and thoughts concerning how to appreciate the party.

To the extent that he prepares to appreciate the party, he can then enjoy in the present, during the party. To the extent that he enjoys the present, he can then enjoy the past, since as long as he remembers pleasure that he had at the party, he feels pleasure in the present.

It follows that one depends on the other: The future depends on the importance of the surrounding, and the surrounding is regarded as that which is destined to come, and the present is called “internal.” The past is called Reshimot [recollections], meaning according to the measure of delight he had, to that extent he remains with Reshimot. This is regarded as Reshimot remaining so as to sustain the Kelim. That is, according to the Reshimot that remain within him from the pleasure, these Reshimot sustain the person.