The Chida famously wrote:
Before learning Torah, or doing any mitzvah, it is a good custom to have thoughts of teshuvah (Moreh Be'etzba, Siman 1)
I heard, in addition to what the Chida says, that the Mishnah Berurah wrote it is good to do teshuvah before going to sleep. I did not remember if he wrote that it should be done before, or after Krias Shema.
Does anyone know where the Mishnah Berurah writes this and what the specific reason for this is?
In Siman 239 (law of reading the Shema on one's bed), Seif Katan 9, the Mishnah Berurah writes as follows:
כתבו הספרים שבלילה קודם השינה נכון לאדם שיפשפש במעשיו שעשה כל היום ואם ימצא שעשה עבירה יתודה עליה ויקבל ע"ע שלא לעשותה עוד ובפרט בעונות המצויים כגון חניפות שקרים ליצנות לשה"ר וכן עון בטול תורה צריכים בדיקה ביותר. גם ראוי למחול ��כל מי שחטא כנגדו וציערו ובזכות זה האדם מאריך ימים
It is written in books that at night before sleep it is proper for a person to examine the deeds that he did all the day, and if he finds that he did a transgression he should confess it and accept upon himself not to do it again, and especially common transgressions such as flattery, lying, mocking, Lashon Hara, and so too the sin of Bittul Torah, need extra scrutiny. Also it is proper to forgive anyone who sinned against him and caused him anguish, and in the merit of this the person lengthens his days.
