Bh
Simply Tanya
( tanya for everyone )
וצריך להבין דהא דתנן [אבות פ"ב] ואל תהי רשע בפני עצמך וגם אם יהיה בעיניו כרשע ירע לבבו ויהיה עצב ולא יוכל לעבו' ה' בשמחה ובטוב לבב ואם לא ירע לבבו כלל מזה יכול לבוא לידי קלות ח"ו .
How ever we need to understand ( the words of the oath) , for we learnt [ ethics of our father's chapter 2 ] one should not be a wicked person in their own eyes ( then why does the oath say to do so ) . also if one does view themselves like a wicked person it will be detrimental to their emotional state that they become depressed and not be able to serve Gd with joy and a gladden heart . and even if the person does not allow it ( the thought he is wicked ) to sadden him at all , it can then lead him to becoming Gd forbid lax in observance ( for in his mind he is wicked in any case ) .
Simple Tanya
The oath given to the soul before being born is to help it fulfill its life purpose .
What benefit can there from it thinking it is like a evil person ? One who is indeed evil need to know that they are evil in order to repent . however one who is being told he is a righteous person and can be mistaken into thinking he is truly righteous , should be told to doubt what people are saying . but why the need to tell him think he is like a wicked person ?
What benefit can there from it thinking it is like a evil person ? One who is indeed evil need to know that they are evil in order to repent . however one who is being told he is a righteous person and can be mistaken into thinking he is truly righteous , should be told to doubt what people are saying . but why the need to tell him think he is like a wicked person ?
Even more simple
An oath is supposed to encourage you . How can an oath that is meant to encourage you have a clause in it that you should always see yourself like as failure . worse , if you do see your self as a failure you will end up failing .
To the child
Even if you see your self as wicked do not give up. Try again and you will succeed. More importantly is for you to put in the effort , even if it seems not to be effective, then worry whether your succeeding and achievement .
Not so simple
Why does the Alter Rebbe focus his questions on the part of the oath , " and even if the whole world says you are righteous be in your own eyes as wicked " ? Who is he speaking to or for what goal to explain ?
The part of the oath that says , " be righteous " according to what the Alter Rebbe will explain later what a truly righteous person is , not every ones is capable of that . so what is the point of administering this oath to every soul ?
The fact the Alter Rebbe addresses his questions to the part of the oath dealing with thinking your wicked makes sense because he is using these questions as a platform to introduce the "Benoni" the "average person" and this part of the oath is directed more to him then the others ( as we shall see later ).
But then why quote the first part of the oath , " be righteous " its not relevant to us ? The part not to be wicked is important because all can accomplish that so he quotes it . but why mention being a tzadik ; righteous ?
Perhaps we can say that though the primary function of the Book of the Tanya is for the average person. He whose main struggle is not be wicked nor ever becoming like the righteous . Yet the Alter Rebbe is really speaking to every Jew . indeed every Jew , even the righteous might need to struggle with the battles of the average person in early stages of his development . also the average person must know that Gd can perhaps have mercy on him and allow to become completely righteous . the wicked to must know though at the lowest rung he can climb back to stop being wicked and from there average to even above average , righteous .
Post script
The fact the author of the tanya bothers to even ask the question of how thinking your are wicked will trouble the Jew reflects on the Alter Rebbe sensitivity to the Jew who is working to serve Gd . more so it conveys to the Jew working on himself that his emotions must be part of serving Him. He cannot tell himself nor can we tell another , " forget about emotions , if the oath says think your like a rasha , think that !" " do so even forcefully "! " regardless of all evidence to the contrary , just repeat and think in your mind you are wicked " . To the hills your emotions "!
The Baal Hatanya says , no ! It is improper to do so unless it is true for it will effect your emotional state and even worse , action .
The Baal Hatanya says , no ! It is improper to do so unless it is true for it will effect your emotional state and even worse , action .
Finally emotions must reflect reality . Emotional feelings of self evaluation must true and express our true current status of serving Gd . acting like you think your wicked when in your heart you believe to be righteous and then by the part of being humble and a hidden saint is not only dangerous but false .
Bottom line , emotions as well are a valid part of serving Gd .
