Editing Sadness (Atzvus) (section)

==== Sadness from Evil Thoughts ====
If they fall upon him not during the time of divine service but while he is engaged in his business and worldly affairs or similar situations - says the Alter Rebbe - on the contrary, he should rejoice in his portion, for even though these thoughts fall into his mind, he diverts his attention from them, fulfilling what is said: "And you shall not stray after your heart and after your eyes which you lust after." The verse does not speak of tzaddikim, calling them lustful ones, G-d forbid, but of beinonim like him who have thoughts of immorality falling into their minds, whether permitted, etc., and when he diverts his attention, he fulfills this negative commandment. And the Sages said: "If one sat and did not commit a transgression, he is given reward as if he performed a mitzvah."

For this reason, explains the Alter Rebbe, one should rejoice in fulfilling this negative commandment just as in fulfilling a positive commandment. On the contrary, the sadness comes from pride, from not recognizing his place, and therefore he is distressed that he is not on the level of a tzaddik, for tzaddikim certainly do not have such foolish thoughts.

But if he recognized his place, that he is very far from the level of a tzaddik, he would not be sad at all.

The Alter Rebbe concludes that he would be fortunate to be a beinoni and not a rasha all his days, even for a single hour - for this is the level of beinonim and their service: to conquer the evil inclination and the thoughts that rise from the heart to the mind, to completely divert his attention from it and push it away with both hands as mentioned above. With each rejection that he pushes it away from his thought, he subdues the sitra achra below, and as the awakening is below, so is the awakening above, where the Holy One, blessed be He, Himself brings down the sitra achra from its place.

Therefore, let not a person's heart fall within him, nor let his heart be greatly troubled, even if this will be the case all his days in this battle, because perhaps for this he was created and this is his service - to constantly subdue the sitra achra.