סה.

The essential matter of receiving the intellect and the daas — which is the boundary of the human being… The essential aspect of receiving the Torah — meaning to merit to look well upon the light of the intellect and the wisdom that is in every thing — and through this to draw close to Hashem Yisburach. And to recognize Him and to serve Him Yisburach through all the things in the world. And to subdue and to nullify the foolishness and the coarseness of the external wisdoms and philosophy, and the sum total of all the desires and the evil character traits — which are truly a spirit of foolishness and madness and truly the work of a beast. Which flow from the aspect of the wicked kingdom.

There are those who are so sunken in their desires — that they actually perform the work of a beast. And even so, they wish to become wise — and they are wise in their own eyes and discerning before their faces. And they wish to investigate investigations in the knowledge of His G-dliness Yisburach according to the external wisdoms, Heaven forbid. Also — among the somewhat worthy ones — this blemish and error has somewhat flowed and descended. That they have not yet emerged entirely from the work of a beast — and even so they wish to introduce novelties. And they express foreign opinions and false wisdoms in the paths of the service of Hashem — until through the great abundance of the filth of their desires… There are many people who are so sunken in their desires — as they themselves know — (and they actually perform the work of a beast, and even so they are wise in their own eyes and discerning before their faces) — who through the great abundance of the filth of their desires are worse than beasts and actually perform the work of a beast. And even so they are wise in their own eyes and discerning before their faces, etc., as above — and they wish to investigate investigations in the knowledge of His G-dliness Yisburach according to the external wisdoms.

Also among the somewhat worthy ones… there are famous false ones — who have still not emerged entirely at all from the work of a beast. And even so they are wise in their own eyes and they wish to lead the world, to lead Israel — with foreign opinions (and false wisdoms in the paths of the service of Hashem) — and many false wisdoms of foolishness, vanity and falsehood. And they clothe themselves in mitzvos — and they twist the hearts of many of Israel and distance them from the true Tzadik. And they call the truly worthy and truly God-fearing ones of the generation by the name of fools and simpletons, etc. And in truth they are all "altogether vanity" [Psalms 62:10] — because they invert the truth and perform the work of a beast. And even so they wish to know wisdoms and novelties. And through this they are unable to receive the true intellect and daas — until they go astray and are confused in the foolish and vain wisdoms. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן