Do not gaze at the face of people whose thoughts are not continuously attached to the Creator, blessed be He, even when speaking to them; for that gaze will blemish your soul. 1
As for fit people however, i.e., those whose thoughts are attached to the Creator, blessed be He, you ought to gaze at them and thus accrue holiness to your soul. 2
This is an extension of the Talmudic admonition not to gaze at the face of a wicked person (Megilah 28a) In the same context one should not use books written by wicked people, even if they contain sacred texts (see R. Judah Hachassid, Sefer Chassidim, sect. 249; R. Dov Ber of Mezhirech, Maggid Devarav Leya’akov, sect. 52).
This whole section follows upon the principle that one is affected by what one sees, especially when gazing with intent. See above, sect. 5-6, and note 1 there.
