Daily Tanya # 28
By zevi770 · January 6, 2016
Now we understand the meaning and relevance of the oath a soul swears (mentioned in the beginning of Tanya) prior to its arrival to earth “I will be a Tzaddik and not a Rasha, and even if the whole world tells me I am a Tzaddik, I will consider myself as a Rasha.”
The meaning “as a Rasha” means, not that one must consider oneself as wicked – rather that just as the wicked are dominated by evil intention which they do not master, so, though the Benoinie has mastery in his thought, speech and actions, nonetheless this is no sign that his intentions are pure, for as mentioned within us, is both good and evil.
This knowledge allows one not to relax and become complacent and simultaneously not to be disheartened (as mentioned, a person can be depressed if they consider themselves as evil.)