EDITOR’S NOTE: INTRODUCING THE TEN LEVELS OF TRUST

The general principle stated above gives us a plan for overcoming the obstacles to bitachon, especially the obstacle of Hashem’s apparent remoteness. The more distant He seems from us, the more difficult it is for us to have true bitachon in Him. Therefore, it is our mission to get to know Him and His ways as much as it is in our power to do so. To this end we have to work our way through the intermediate causes that He employs to manage our world.

The last part of this chapter presents ten levels of bitachon as interpreted by Chovos Halevavos. Each level corresponds to a stronger degree of trust, based on a better understanding of our Creator. 

However, before presenting the ten levels of trust, Rabbi Miller shows the importance of this kind of study when compared to a simplistic approach. Rabbi Miller identifies the simplistic approach as emunah peshutah — simple faith. As he interprets emunah peshutah, Rabbi Miller takes the view that this is not the approach most people should aspire to.