Q:
How can a person do teshuva if he once smoked even if now he has stopped?
A:
Anybody who smokes today is declaring, “I am a shoiteh gomur, a complete imbecile,” because on the package it says openly what’s going to happen if he smokes.
Now if he once smoked, he did a very great sin – don’t think it’s a small thing. Putting your life in danger is a terrible sin and that person should know that he’s going to be held accountable.
What teshuva should you do? Spread the news to others not to smoke. Try to get people to stop smoking. By doing that, you’ll save their lives and it’ll be a kapara for yourself. That’s one of the ways of doing teshuva if once upon a time you were trying to commit suicide by smoking.
TAPE # E-59