CONTROVERSY AND STRIFE You should not allow yourself to be disturbed by the various disputes between the Tzaddikim (as for example the differences of opinion between the Sages of the Mishnah, the Talmud and so on). If a person is troubled by these disputes and states raising all kinds of questions about them, it is a sign that he has allowed some impurity into his mind. It is this internal impurity that is the real source of his doubts. The danger is that his doubts could grow to the point where he becomes permanently separated from the Tzaddikim and their followers, who are the source of true and enduring life. A person should understand that if he finds himself troubled by doubts and questions about the Tzaddikim it is an indication that a flaw exists within himself. If he realizes this, it will help him return to the truth (5:4).
מַחֲלוֹקֶת וּמְרִיבָה
[א]. צָרִיךְ לִזָּהֵר מְאֹד שֶׁלֹּא יְבַלְבֵּל אוֹתוֹ הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁבֵּין הַצַּדִּיקִים, רַק יַאֲמִין בְּכֻלָּם. כִּי כָּל הַבִּלְבּוּלִים שֶׁבָּאִים בְּדַעְתּוֹ עַל הַצַּדִּיקִים מֵחֲמַת הַמַּחֲלוֹקוֹת שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶם וּשְׁאָר קֻשְׁיוֹת שֶׁקָּשֶׁה לוֹ עֲלֵיהֶם, הַכֹּל בָּא עָלָיו מֵחֲמַת שֶׁפָּגַם בְּטִפֵּי מֹחוֹ, שֶׁמֵּחֲמַת זֶה רוֹצִים לְגָרְשׁוֹ מִן הַחַיִּים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים וְהַנִּצְחִיִּים, שֶׁהֵם הַצַּדִּיקֵי אֱמֶת וְהַנִּלְוִים אֲלֵיהֶם. וְצָרִיךְ לָחוּס עַל עַצְמוֹ וְלִקַּח לְעַצְמוֹ תּוֹכָחָה וּמוּסָר מִזֶּה בְּעַצְמוֹ, שֶׁנּוֹפְלִים בְּלִבּוֹ קֻשְׁיוֹת עַל צַדִּיקֵי אֱמֶת, וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה דַּיְקָא יָשׁוּב אֶל הָאֱמֶת. וְעַיֵּן בְּאוֹת צַדִּיק סִימָן ח': (לק"א סי' ה' אות ד')
CONTROVERSY AND STRIFE
You should not allow yourself to be disturbed by the various disputes between the Tzaddikim (as for example the differences of opinion between the Sages of the Mishnah, the Talmud and so on). If a person is troubled by these disputes and states raising all kinds of questions about them, it is a sign that he has allowed some impurity into his mind. It is this internal impurity that is the real source of his doubts. The danger is that his doubts could grow to the point where he becomes permanently separated from the Tzaddikim and their followers, who are the source of true and enduring life. A person should understand that if he finds himself troubled by doubts and questions about the Tzaddikim it is an indication that a flaw exists within himself. If he realizes this, it will help him return to the truth (5:4).