„Good traits cleave only to an upright heart, to a person of good deed…”
„Good traits cleave only to an upright heart, to a person of good deeds; and the influence of the intellect does not flow properly except when the deeds are desirable. A person must greatly strengthen himself to rectify his deeds, so that he may merit the truth of the supreme illumination befitting a person by virtue of the elevation of his soul. And in any case, a person must always strengthen himself to make an effort—even when purity of deeds does not succeed in his hand, even when he is entangled by sins between man and his fellow, where specifically restitution and appeasement are the rectification—if for various reasons he has not yet succeeded in rectifying, let him hold fast to his stronghold in Torah, in wisdom, in knowledge, and in talent.”From Pinkas HaDapim III, 39
Good traits, good deeds, an upright intellect—these are usually things connected to one another. When a person acts in an upright and honest manner in our world, the good cleaves to him. And when he sins and misses the mark, this is evident in his life and in his day. Sins blind our eyes from rectification. Lust causes us to miss opportunities because we become blind.
But what is a person to do who feels corrupted? Who feels that, despite repeated attempts at rectification, he still does not succeed in rectifying? The world of wisdom and knowledge is a more stable world to hold onto (the matter is greatly expanded upon in the essay 'A Sage Is Preferable to a Prophet'). The world of emotion is stormier and more exciting, but when rectification is needed, the place of wisdom, Torah, and knowledge enables a deeper and greater rectification that also endures over time and allows for long-term building.
For the recovery of Naftali ben Mirna-Leah
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.