Letter 381

The entire essential falls and descents of those distanced from Hashem Yisburach — all of it is through the confusion of the imagination. And conversely — through the clarification and the repair of the imagination — one merits to complete faith. And to ascend through this to the inwardness of the intellect and the daas — which is the very essence of the soul. And through this one merits to the abundance of good hidden — that "no eye has seen" [Isaiah 64:3], etc. Through drawing close to the true Tzadik — one merits to the wholeness of the clarification of the imagination and the repair of the holy faith.

(One who wishes to think about his final end — must be very careful never to be old and weak in his own eyes. Namely — not to fall into the old age and weakness of the Sitra Achra — Heaven forbid. And to begin every time only to live a new holy vitality. And every time to renew himself like an eagle in his days. To begin every time to engage in the service of Hashem with a truly new beginning — as though he has not yet begun at all.)

Sometimes a great Tzadik is transformed into another person — because a soul of a wicked person has clung to him. And through this he falls into transgressions and blemishes — Heaven forbid.

And sometimes a holy soul becomes embodied in a wicked person — through which he is aroused to teshuvah. And every person — according to his free choice and according to his longings and his strengthening and his faith in Hashem Yisburach — so Hashem Yisburach deals with him through His mercies…

The evil desires always lie in ambush for the soul of the person. And the more precious and great the soul — the more they intensify against him more and more. And one needs abundant mercy and great strength — to be saved from them.

The person of sound intellect — when he sees that the evil inclination and the desires intensify against him very greatly — and it seems to him that it is difficult to shatter them. He must know and believe — that certainly his soul at its root is very great and precious and most lofty. And thousands of thousands and tens of thousands of tens of thousands of worlds without measure depend upon it. And he must overcome himself with great strength — to have compassion upon it. Not to lose the very precious and beloved treasures — that depend upon his soul. And to overcome himself with all his strength — to save his soul (from the pit) from the oppressor. And the essential thing is through drawing close to the true Tzadik.

This is not the way of true humility — to consider oneself an utter wicked one — Heaven forbid. And to diminish the worth of his holy soul. Rather on the contrary — one must elevate his heart and his mind in the ways of Hashem. To say within himself — it is not fitting for him to do such deeds — bestial deeds. For his soul is most lofty!