[Avodah] critique of mussar

[David Riceman]

A friend from Jerusalem stopped by last week, and we chatted for a few 
hours.  One of his remarks struck me as worth repeating here.  He told 
me that when he reads mussar sefarim he gets the impression of small 
mindedness; the concerns are very petty.  Whereas when he reads Rabbi 
Kook "ze mamash marhiv et hada'at."

Any comments (I'll reserve my own)?

David Riceman