„It is impossible to demand of oneself, nor of the world in general, p…”
„It is impossible to demand of oneself, nor of the world in general, pure ideals without an admixture of dross that comes from the nature of matter and from social turbidity; and the whole rule is one of the most successful advancement. Let a person always engage in Torah and mitzvot not for their own sake, for out of doing so not for their own sake, he comes to do so for their own sake.”From Shemonah Kevatzim, VIII, 68
If we demand of ourselves to be completely clean of any ulterior motive in everything we do, we will not be able to act in this world.
It is human nature to have ulterior motives. To have personal desires - to develop, to succeed, to rise, to be more. This is natural.
The ability to be a great person is the understanding that advancement is a matter of time. Level after level.
The sages taught us that a person should always engage in Torah not for its own sake. The beginning of the service of God, the beginning of anything, will always be with personal desires, and not one driven only by pure ideals.
Perseverance, ascending level after level, can bring us closer to an ever more refined place, ever cleaner.
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Have a good evening.
For the recovery of Esther bat Luna Fani
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From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.