The evil inclination, mind/brain

[David_L]

This isn't exactly an answer to your question, but coincidentally, the current weekly Torah portion, Acharei Mos (Leviticus 16:1-18:30), includes the Yom Kippur ritual involving the two goats. One interpretation of the ritual is that one goat represents the good inclination and the other the evil inclination. Here's an article by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on the subject:
http://www.rabbisacks.org/covenant-conv ... scapegoat/

[steve]

Thanks David,
A very interesting article.
Two minds the emotional and rational, what came to mind when I read the article, was the dialogue between the soul and the intellect in the Duties of the heart.

[rivka]

Thanks for the explanation of the evil inclination as spiritual.
perhaps the imagination the evil inclination ?

Perhaps everything you imagine is evil (although it seems doubtful), but I find my imagination a very useful tool. Again, it is neutral, neither good nor evil.

[steve]

Rivka, the part of a person that thinks it's "something" would be a good definition of the evil inclination

[rivka]

Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berdichov had said, “A person should have a piece of paper in each of two pockets. On one paper is inscribed, “I am dust and ashes!” On the other should be written the words of the Mishne in Sanhedrin, “A person is obligated to say that the whole world was created for me”. The secret is to know when to take out which piece of paper.

[steve]

Rivka, In this age we call "pleasure" and "leisure time" and "having too much" the weapons of the evil inclination.

[David_L]

And when you've spent the bulk of your life valuing those things, it's rather challenging to remove them.

[steve]

David,
I think the challenge of the evil inclination gives life meaning. So many people have lost the meaning in life because they are not aware of the challenge.
The evil inclination wants everything life has to give and more, the good inclination asks what does life expect.
The challenge is to find what life expects from us ( the meaning of our life's) to love "G-d" and give rather than take from the world (needless to say controling the evil inclination is a big challenge for me)

[steve]

Thanks for the explanation of the evil inclination as spiritual.
perhaps the imagination the evil inclination ?

Perhaps everything you imagine is evil (although it seems doubtful), but I find my imagination a very useful tool. Again, it is neutral, neither good nor evil.

Thanks for the explanation of the evil inclination as spiritual.
perhaps the imagination the evil inclination ?

Perhaps everything you imagine is evil (although it seems doubtful), but I find my imagination a very useful tool. Again, it is neutral, neither good nor evil.

I have been reading "Mysticism and Madness" by the historian Zvi Marks, a book on Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.
It seems both good and evil can be drawn from the Imagination
It may be that the tree of good and evil is - the imagination.

[steve]

It seems that the message of Rabbi Nachman of Breslav is that, the Imagination should be known as the evil inclination.