אָמַר הַמְחַבֵּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִקְדַּמְנוּ לְדַבֵּר בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן הָאָדָם עִם נַפְשׁוֹ וְהָיְתָה הַפְּרִישׁוּת מִן הָעוֹלָם אֶחָד מֵאָפְנֵי הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן, רָאִיתִי לִסְמֹךְ לוֹ בֵּאוּר מִינֵי הַפְּרִישׁוּת וְתֹכֶן חִיּוּב מָה שֶׁהוּא חוֹבָה מִמֶּנָּה עַל אַנְשֵׁי הַתּוֹרָה בַּעֲבוּר מָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ מִתַּקָּנַת הַתּוֹרָה וְהָעוֹלָם וּמְנוּחַת הַנְּפָשׁוֹת וְהַגּוּפוֹת בִּשְׁנֵי הָעוֹלָמִים.

Since our previous discussion dealt with the accounting of a man with himself, and abstinence from this world's interests was one of the ways of such accounting, I deemed it proper to follow with a clarification of the various types of abstinence, and which forms of abstinence are a duty for men of torah (religious people) to adopt. For this furthers the improvement of one's religious and secular pursuits and brings peace of mind and of body in both worlds [here and hereafter].

It is proper for us to clarify seven matters on the subject of abstinence.

1. What is general abstinence and why do human beings need it?

2. The special abstinence for the followers of the torah, and the need for abstinence by them.

3. The classes of abstainers as determined by their type of abstinence.

4. The conditions of special abstinence.

5. The kind of abstinence which is in accord with our torah

6. What the torah and the books of the prophets tell us on abstinence

7. The difference between the early ones and between us regarding abstinence.