665. Counsels against the Inclination

If a person sees that his inclination overcomes him, he should read the Shema reading [Hear, O Israel…]. If this does not help him, etc., he should remember the day of death; this will certainly help him.

We should ask why he is not told to remember the day of death right away. Why should we wait and use other counsels, and only when we see that there is no other way do we tell him to remember the dying day?

We should say that first he is told to take advice from fear of the Creator, which is on vessels of bestowal. If this does not help him and he has no choice, he should take advice from the fear of the body.