From Th Rebbe: Are We Naturally Inclined Toward Good or Evil?
By zevi770 · January 19, 2012
Some thinkers contend that good and evil are two equal powers, and some would even argue that evil is the more powerful of the two.
They consider man’s nature as essentially selfish and morality as a superimposed condition to allow us to coexist in peace.
Most people the argument goes, are controlled by their evil inclination, and the world at its root is an uncaring or even evil place.
The Bible teaches us that this is unequivocally wrong.
There is only one G-d and G-d is good, all of G-d creations, including man and our world, are essentially good.
In our hearts, we all have a natural propensity for justice and virtue, and are repulsed by injustice and abuse.
We maintain a deep hope and faith that things will be better than they are.
The fact that we live in a world where, often, “the wicked prosper” and where selfishness prevails is a result of our giving priority to the materiel world and disregarding the spiritual.
After Adam and Eve sinned, a dichotomy was created between matter and spirit, instead of being seen as a “container” for spiritual Divine “light” within, the world began to be seen as an independent, self-contained hence self-centered reality.
This distortion allows room for evil; but whereas goodness is a real and tangible virtue, evil has no power on its own.
The fact that the wicked prosper is not a reality on its own, but as a result of limiting our vision to the one dimensional material world, or our failure to recognize the matter of the universe as concealed light for us to reveal.
Rather than battling evil, we should concentrate on cultivating the goodness within ourselves and others.
After all, since evil has no independent existence, focusing on it only gives it more opportunity to grow.
The best and most effective response and solution to evil is to attack not only its symptoms, but its cause: through selfless acts of goodness, we destroy evil at its root.
When teaching a child, or when you see a friend succumbing to selfishness, it may be tempting to reprimand him, to frighten him by warning of the terrible consequences that will surely befall him if he continues his behavior.
But the positive approach is ultimately more successful.
Tell the person about the goodness within him, of his pure soul and great potential; show what a great injustice he is committing by not living up to his potential.
Such an approach will foster confidence and pride, while a grave warning demoralizes a person and closes up his soul.