There was another story of a non-Jew who came before Shammai and requested of him: “Convert me on condition that you will teach me the whole Torah while standing on one foot.” Shammai pushed him with the amat habinyan (building measuring stick) that was in his hand.
Through not gaining on the account of others, not over-investing time, remembering it's a means-not the goal, sharing and donating to others and Israel.
The positive conscious examination and improvement must not come at the expense of the G-dly nature and instinct with which we were all created. Listen to your inner-self.
The Mitzvot include both Mishpatim (understandable) and Chukim (non-understandable). Rav Kook posits that the differentiation between the two is consciously unclear, because study turns the Chukim into rational, and society sometimes interchanges what was thought as rational into a chok (e.g. homosexuality may be seen differently, but it's always wrong).
Rav Kook divides life into 2 basic stages: First developing one's talents and spirituality, and only afterwards can one concentrate on giving and altruism, for only then does he have what to contribute.
