Breaking Desires Is the Best Teshuvah

On the Mishnah in which Rebbi Elazar ben Arach answers that the best path is a good heart (Avos 2:9), the Abir Yaakov taught that the heart is the most important part of the body. The best way to guard and refine it is by breaking our desires and mastering our passions. He saw a hint at the very start of the Torah, since the gematria of the word Bereishis equals that of shaber taavah, break desire. Conquering our desires is the best and highest form of teshuvah. On the Mishnah that asks who is a hero (Avos 4:1), he explained that someone who overcomes his yetzer hara is stronger than any physical fighter, because in a physical contest one faces another human being, while in this struggle one faces a mighty spiritual opponent.