„A person envies God for His infinite happiness, for His absolute perf…”
„A person envies God for His infinite happiness, for His absolute perfection... And when all the means are insufficient to contain its fury, it ends in absolute heresy, in order to remove from the pained soul, eaten by rot, the sting of envy.”From Shemonah Kevatzim I, 129
The Rav's teaching, harmonious and pleasant in part, may at times be confusing. Within his infinite writings there are various facets and directions, and it is worthy and fitting to be exposed to all of them. But one must know that the complexity is a critical part of the understanding, something hard to convey in a few lines. Here the Rav responds to various thinkers regarding heresy. He sees in it a kind of "burning down the clubhouse" for those who arrive at the evil inclination of envy toward God. Their aspiration for harmony and good is infinite, but since they fail to attain the good, they despair and wish to burn everything down. A surrender that comes from envy. A heresy that comes from a disappointed love.
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.