M029 025 Tanya Teves 13 ~ 18
Questions for today:
When I do something wrong how guilty do I feel? How much against my grain does it go?
Today’s Tanya is very difficult because the description cuts deeply, so I have to make an important disclaimer: we're talking here about a technical definition. With regards to describing actual life, the Talmud teaches that if a person just ‘thinks about’ repenting, not only are they righteous, they become ‘fully righteous’.
With regards to the technical definition, the Tanya today teaches that the same way that there are thousands of levels with a [basic] righteous person, similarly with a [basic] wicked person there are also thousands of levels.
These are measured based on how much they push away the good, ranging from somebody which pushes it away a little bit, so only an action, or speech, or even just thought – they only think about doing something bad – and briefly, they immediately repent.
…ranging to somebody where the good is pushed so far away that they barely ever feel guilty. Only occasionally, they “think about” repenting.
The distinct level of a ‘fully wicked’ person is defined as someone who never feels any guilt or regret.
Although the description of a ‘fully righteous’ person, and a ‘fully wicked’ person seem identical on their opposite sides of the spectrum, there is an important distinction.
With regards to a fully righteous person we said that the animal soul becomes a partner and a participant in the Good. The reverse is not the case. With a fully wicked person the good doesn't become a partner with the bad, it just becomes detached and completely aloof.
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=12/22/2020
See today’s video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA4Ip1ZN6wg&list=PLFZQPK6u-zSBls9Hwx3P5vKI_BRnjBvHe&index=25