Rabbi A.I. Kook on Morality

[Nicholas]

This noble sage & mystic died in 1935, here is a little from his Essay on "Morality and Faith in God":

The ideological conflicts in the human race, among all people, and
particularly among Jews, are based on the issues of morality. Everyone
knows that wisdom and talent refer to capacity, to strengthen the
intellectual or practical capacities. Morality seeks to perfect the human
will that it seek the good. If man's capacity should increase but his will
for the good remain undeveloped, then the increase in his powers can
only lead to disaster. When the love of self rises beyond the equitable
through the loss of moral sensitivity, it is bound to make life more difficult
to the extent that one's powers increase, and this love itself, being without
a proper base in the spiritual, eternal life, will degenerate progressively
to crude and ugly desires. On the other hand, with a good moral state,
which engenders refinement of soul, a higher sense of holiness and a love
for people, it becomes possible for man to structure the limited forces
operative in his humble capacities in such a way that they will engender
good and blessing for him and the world.
It is true that the full benefit will surely come through the complete
union of these two forces, the capacity and the will, in their full state
of excellence. When these join together they will become as one, like
all the forces which manifest themselves to us in the wide domain of
creation, that are united in their source. And the more a person will
grow in knowledge, the more will he recognize the unity of the forces
which manifest themselves in diverse forms . . . This is the most significant
perception of the full unity of capacity and will, as the highest expression
in man's development. But the decisive force in the continuing
development of man, from stage to stage, from generation to generation,
and from epoch to epoch, to the end of time, despite intervening periods
of retreat, is the force of morality and justice. This is the will. It also
stimulates the development of wisdom and talent, which is the realm
of capacity. 'The world rests on one foundation, and his name is zaddik"
[the righteous person] (Hagigah 12b).

 

[Cooky]

 

[Nicholas]

Although he taught Jews mainly, his insight into key values would benefit any person looking at the current state of mankind:

In general, the revealed teaching of the Torah which is of significance
is the knowledge of God and morality, and their derivative applications
in life and in action, in the life of the individual, the nation and the world.
Truly this knowledge, which is crucial for all of life, is the basis of
everything and it embraces everything. But concepts based on scientific
research and feeling, which are but faint sparks of light as compared to
the knowledge of God and the holiness of life, are irrelevant as far as
the teaching of the Torah is concerned.

 

[dybmh]

'The world rests on one foundation, and his name is zaddik"
[the righteous person] (Hagigah 12b).

Yes, the Tzaddik is important, foundational, I agree with that. But, what do you think of this?

"Reish Lakish said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda Nesia: The world only exists because of the breath of schoolchildren."

(Talmud Bavli Shabbat 119b)

 

[Nicholas]

Yes, the Tzaddik is important, foundational, I agree with that. But, what do you think of this?

"Reish Lakish said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda Nesia: The world only exists because of the breath of schoolchildren."

(Talmud Bavli Shabbat 119b)

I guess Xtians (Mt 18:2-4) and Rav Kook would agree, as long as there are children. Then we grow up:

The pure, natural state of man's soul can be recognized with a
profound and probing analysis when the person is still small, in the period
of his childhood, when his soul has not yet been contaminated by the
fermenting passion of the tumult of life. On careful study we note how
easy it is during those years to experience a divine feeling and how prepared
one is to be influenced to the love of the holy and the fear of God, on
reaching any capacity for comprehension. The best thinkers in the field
of pedagogy have therefore come to the conclusion that the pure religious
training, which is illumined by good sense and reinforced with refined
feelings, comes most naturally in the state of childhood.

Among grown up persons it is a rare phenomenon, because of the
many confusions in life, to find one whose divine soul shines in him
with its full natural force and purity.

From The Essential Writings of Abraham Isaac Kook, page 30, edited by Ben Zion Bokser

 

[Nicholas]

Whenever a person raises himself through good deeds, through a higher stirring of his yearning for godliness, for wisdom, justice, beauty and equity, he perfects thereby the spiritual disposition of all existence. All people become
better in their inwardness through the ascendency of the good in any one of them. . . . Such virtue in any one person is due to spread among the general populace, to stir each one, according to his capacity, toward merit, and thus all existence thereby becomes ennobled and more exalted.

The Lights Of Penitence...

 

[Nicholas]

The Lights of Faith

Faith in God is not an expression of reason or feeling, but it is the
most basic self-revelation of the soul's essence, which needs to be directed
according to its own disposition. When we do not destroy the path that
is natural for it, it needs no other substantive resources to support it.
It finds everything within itself. At a time when its light is dimmed, then
reason and feeling come to clear a way for it. But even then it must
know its worth, that its aides - reason and feeling - are not of its essence.
And when it will remain fixed in its position, then will reason and feeling
succeed in clearing the way and in finding rational and moral means of
removing the stumbling blocks from its path.

Religious faith - which is a response of God's presence - is illustrated
in the illumination of prophecy and, on a lower level, through the
influence of the holy spirit, though these sometimes also join with reason
and feeling on the path of their manifestation.

It is well to know that one cannot turn to God with reason and
feeling, and certainly not through the experience of the senses. One can
turn to God but with faith alone. Prayer is an expression of faith. Love
and fear (awe) are also expressions of faith.

From Maamore Ha-Rayah

 

[Nicholas]

A site with much of his teachings translated into English:

ravkook.net