„When a person is in his greatness, and his apprehension appears in it…”
„When a person is in his greatness, and his apprehension appears in its light, then his spirit spreads and widens... but when he falls from his level, and then his spiritual senses are limited and constricted, if that breadth of spirit which he had at the time of greatness remains within him, it turns into an ugly arrogance. Therefore, in a time of smallness, he must humble himself and reduce his affairs, and then there will be fulfilled in him, 'And You save the humble people, and from the dunghills You raise the poor,' and 'a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.'”From Shemonah Kevatzim, V, 151
Rav Kook brings a most surprising piece of counsel for the inconstancy of life—to respond in accordance with the true situation in which a person finds himself. A successful person feels his successes and acts out of them. He recognizes his place, and out of greatness brings his light into the world—he knows his place and illuminates his world.
All this when the situation is good and success is in his hand. But a great person who has fallen from his greatness is liable to fall into the most dangerous places. He is liable to think that his light is still radiating, to continue with the trappings of royalty that were part of his former life, and to disgrace himself. The Sages warned us regarding the honor of a person after he has passed his peaks—'Be careful with an elder who has forgotten his learning...' But the warning this time is precisely to the elder who has forgotten, and not to the people around him...
In hard times we must recognize our place. This self-awareness is the way to return and to reconquer the summit to which we were accustomed; a lack of self-awareness in hard times is liable, God forbid, to lead to a crash.
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From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.