The Talmud states regarding the evil inclination of sin, i.e., of sexual desire: They blinded its eyes and let it go (Yoma 69b). We see therefore that even though the eyes of the evil inclination of immorality have been blinded, it remains.
This corresponds to that which occasionally happens to people who are somewhat virtuous. Because the fear of God has touched his heart, a person lowers his eyes and does not stare at women. Nevertheless, he sneaks a peek and takes a sidelong glance.
This is the meaning of “blinded its eyes,” of the inclination: he blinds the eyes of the evil inclination which wants to stare. He blinds its eyes by preventing himself from staring. Nevertheless, the evil inclination remains, because he surreptitiously takes a sidelong glance.
אִיתָא בַּגְּמָרָא (יומא סט:) לְעִנְיַן הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע דַּעֲבֵרָה, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁל תַּאֲוַת הַמִּשְׁגָּל: כַּחְלִינְהוּ לְעֵינֵה וּשְׁבָקוּהוּ. נִמְצָא, שֶׁאַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁסִּמּוּ אֶת עֵינֵי הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע שֶׁל נִאוּף, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן נִשְׁאָר.
The Talmud states regarding the evil inclination of sin, i.e., of sexual desire: They blinded its eyes and let it go (Yoma 69b). We see therefore that even though the eyes of the evil inclination of immorality have been blinded, it remains.
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת מַה שֶּׁנִּמְצָא לִפְעָמִים בָּאֲנָשִׁים הַכְּשֵׁרִים קְצָת, שֶׁמֵּחֲמַת שֶׁנּוֹגֵעַ יִרְאַת הַשֵּׁם בְּלִבּוֹ, הוּא מַשְׁפִּיל עֵינָיו וְאֵינוֹ מִסְתַּכֵּל בְּנָשִׁים, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הוּא גּוֹנֵב אֶת הָעַיִן כִּלְאַחַר יָד, וּמִסְתַּכֵּל מִן הַצַּד.
This corresponds to that which occasionally happens to people who are somewhat virtuous. Because the fear of God has touched his heart, a person lowers his eyes and does not stare at women. Nevertheless, he sneaks a peek and takes a sidelong glance.
וְהוּא בְּחִינַת: כַּחְלִינְהוּ לְעֵינֵהּ דְּיִצְרָא – שֶׁמְּסַמֵּא עֵינֵי הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע; שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְהִסְתַּכֵּל, וְהוּא מְסַמֵּא עֵינָיו עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁמּוֹנֵעַ עַצְמוֹ מִלְּהִסְתַּכֵּל, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן נִשְׁאָר הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע, כִּי מִסְתַּכֵּל מִן הַצַּד כִּלְאַחַר יָד:
This is the meaning of “blinded its eyes,” of the inclination: he blinds the eyes of the evil inclination which wants to stare. He blinds its eyes by preventing himself from staring. Nevertheless, the evil inclination remains, because he surreptitiously takes a sidelong glance.