Amongst the many eye-opening revelations on t'shuva in Rabbi Kook's writings, one concept is especially staggering in its profundity. It is such a new understanding, we have decided to devote a separate short chapter to it, to highlight its importance to the reader. Usually, we think that a process is completed when it reaches its end. We experience a feeling of satisfaction when we finish a project. An underlying tension often accompanies our work until it is accomplished. This is because the final goal is considered more important than the means.

"If not for the contemplation of t'shuva, and the comfort and security which come with it, a person would be unable to find rest, and spiritual life could not develop in the world. Man's moral sense demands justice, goodness, and perfection. Yet how very distant is moral perfection from man's actualization, and how feeble he is in directing his behavior toward the pure ideal of absolute justice. How can he aspire to that which is beyond his reach? For this, t'shuva comes as a part of man's nature. It is t'shuva which perfects him. If a man is constantly prone to transgress, and to have difficulties in maintaining just and moral ideals, this does not blemish his perfection, since the principle foundation of his perfection is the constant longing and desire for perfection. This yearning is the foundation of t'shuva, which constantly orchestrates man's path in life and truly perfects him" (Orot HaT'shuva, 5:6).