Rambam - Sefer HaMitzvos: Positive Mitzvah 108: Positive Mitzvah 108

Positive Mitzvah 108: The Purifying Water
Numbers 19:21 "And he that touches the water of sprinkling (purification water), shall be unclean"

A person purifying himself after contact with a dead body must follow certain procedures. One step of his purification process involves Niddah Water.

This is a mixture of natural spring water, combined with the ashes of the Parah Adumah - the red heifer (cow). (See Positive Mitzvah 113).

This water possesses special qualities and when used properly, it can purify. However, it could cause the opposite effect on a person who touches the water for other purposes.

Imagine yourself sitting around a bonfire, enjoying the warmth, pleasant glow and atmosphere. Those same flames which cause so much pleasure, can also burn and destroy if one is careless.

Similarly, this purifying water can cause a person who misuses them to become impure.

Talk is powerful. Speak bad about someone and you expose all the ugliness in him, in yourself and in whoever happens to be paying attention. Once exposed, the scar begins to fester and all are hurt. Speak good about the same person, and the inner good within him, within you and within all who participate begins to shine.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com