Machshava:

Ethics 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Tanya

Description

P. 52. Working on eliminating the rah (evil) of the Nefesh Behamis (animalistic soul) means that a person no longer has any longing (ta'avah) for anything bad or even for neutral and permitted desires of this world. The next step is to actually remove the evil; this goes beyone no having a desire; we want to bring the animalistic soul to a state where it desires godliness and transformation into good. The Ba'al HaTanya's definition of "Tzaddik verah lo" (a righteous person who contains some evil): his evil is completely subservient to his "good," he has no inclination towards anything evil; but there is a tiny little, unfelt remnant of rah left within him. An analogy from the world of meat and milk. Just like a disease might be in remission, many people are constantly worried of evil trace elements.