תּוֹרָה יא

When a person follows one's own intellect and wisdom — one can fall into errors and bad stumbling-blocks and come to great evils — G-d forbid. As many have stumbled and fallen greatly through their wisdom — sinning and causing the many to sin — G-d have mercy. And all this came through their evil wisdom. For the essence of Judaism is to walk in wholeness and simplicity — without any wisdom. And to look at everything one does — that Hashem Yisborach should be there. And not to pay any attention at all to one's own honour — only if there is the honour of Hashem Yisborach therein — one does it. And if not — not. And then one will certainly never stumble at all. When a person falls from one's level — and sometimes one's fall and descent is very very great — G-d have mercy. For there are those who fall to very disgraceful places called the aspect of filthy places. And one falls into doubts and evil ugly and strange thoughts and many confusions — and one's heart spins and swirls — for the husk twists and surrounds one's heart with twisting and mighty confusions (in Yiddish: "es iz fardreit dos hartz"). And even though in these places it is impossible to find Hashem Yisborach there — even so — even there there is a great remedy — through searching and seeking Hashem Yisborach from there. And one should be asking and seeking: ""Where is the place of His glory — where is His holiness — where is His purity?"" And the more one sees oneself very far from His glory, may He be blessed — one should be pained and ask and seek more: ""Where is the place of His glory?"" And through this itself — that one is in pain and seeks and searches and longs after His glory, may He be blessed — and cries and asks and seeks: ""Where is the place of His glory?"" — through this itself one ascends in the utmost ascent. For one merits through this to ascend to the supernal holiness — which is the aspect of "Ayyeh" ["where"] (see the main text). And this is the primary teshuvah — to always search and seek: ""Where is the place of His glory?"" as above. For through this the descent is transformed into a great ascent. And this is the aspect of: descent is the purpose of ascent — found throughout the holy books. And see the main text and understand well there — for it is deep.