Your personal battle against doubt, lust, jealousy and anger …

Image AI Generated

Your service of HaShem is so that
your Yetzer Hara (evil inclination) does not
dominate you
in thought, speech or action.

This war requires constant effort and hard work.

You are refining your emotional traits.

The level you are striving for is to become a
Beinoni (intermediate person).

This is a very high level to achieve.

The Beinoni is in control of the raging torrents in his mind and soul.

There are two levels of a Beinoni:

(1) He who serves G-d

(2) He who does not serve G-d

The one who does not serve G-d is not evil.

However, he does not wage a constant war
against his evil inclination.

He is actually on a very high level of
always fulfilling all the mitzvos and
learning Torah.

However, his natural temperament does not challenge him, so he does not need to elevate himself.

For example:

He is studious by nature
or
he is not challenged with a need to pursue women.

He does not have a drive for other mundane pleasures as well.

But he does not push his limits.

He does not use Divine assistance
to reach higher levels.

He simply stays at the level he is at.

He is on “automatic pilot.”

Based on a lecture by
Rabbi Mordechai Finkelman on the Tanya.

Question:

How do you deal with negative thoughts that
sometimes creep into your mind?

Let us know what you think?

Please share this with anyone
who might enjoy or benefit from it.