Machshava:

Ethics 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Tanya

Description

P. 57. An "unfinished" tzaddik (righteous person) has removed the rah (evil) from within himself, but has not yet managed to transform his powers of desire to good. A person defined as "tzaddik verah lo" (he is righteous and contains [some] evil) is in complete control over the last remaining remnants of evil within him. Exploring the essence of a perfect tzaddik to understand the unfinished tzaddik. The nefesh behamis (animalistic soul) always maintains its great desires and longings, but now works for the nefesh elokis (divine soul). Removing the dirty clothing - pleasures (both permitted and forbidden) of this world from the power of desire - this doesn't mean that a person can't enjoy good food, but that he will not eat in order to satisfy his taste-buds. A person is either on the side of kedushah (holiness) or against it - there is no neutral.