9 June 2025 · A sentence from the teachings of Rav Kook

Ignoring the Evil Within Us

„When a person diverts his attention from the evil within his soul, and does not occupy himself with its repair, he does not recognize his own ugliness; consequently he is righteous and upright in his own eyes, his mind grows haughty, and this is the foundation of pride.”From Shemonah Kevatzim, VI 254

As human beings, we must be engaged in constant work of repair, in order to build a world and to develop within it. True, there are times when we must pause a little from the demand for repair. But as a rule, when we find a flaw, we must labor to mend it. If we ignore our flaws, pride will cover over our ability to advance, and the price of that ignoring may be immense.

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