"This is the law of the metzorah1on the day of his cleansing: he shall be brought to the priest. Then the priest shall command to take for the one who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar-wood, and scarlet tola'at,2 and hyssop." (Levit. 14:2,4)

"How can he be fixed and healed? He should lower himself from his pride like a tola'at and a hyssop". (Rashi – from Midrash Tanhuma 3)

He should lower himself from his arrogance...

The one being purified is advised to take two birds, cedar-wood, and hyssop - [things which are both] tall and lowly.3 He should lower himself from his arrogance, so that [the kohen, who is the tzadik] can lift him up.

I heard the following parable in the name of my Master (the Baal Shem Tov).

A very tall man was standing in the sun, being scorched by its rays. A wise man saw from afar that the tall man was very hot, and did not know how to help himself - to cool himself down with "cold water on a weary soul". (Proverbs 25:25) What did he do? He sat in front of him and sipped water from a bottle, hoping that [the tall man] would see him and do likewise. The man with the bottle was very short, however, and that the tall man had to bend down his head and body in order to take a little water for himself. But because of his arrogance and his stature, he refused to lower himself - as if to show that he needed someone else!

The wise man understood this, and could find no way to get him to take a little water. Finally, he had to throw some water up into the [tall] man's face. Perhaps then he would drink a little and quench his thirst.

However, the tall man pressed his lips together so that not even a drop of water should go in, for that wasn't in keeping with his prestige. The water fell back into the mouth of the one who threw it, and as for the one who refused to drink, he died of thirst.

The allusion is to a great city, full of scholars and scribes, who refuse to hear wisdom and accept guidance on how to follow the way of G·d, until they pass on from [the city] and the generation, and leave the generation orphaned. Thus, it is written: "Hear and your souls shall live".4 (Isaiah 55:3) For listening to the wise and accepting their admonishment heals the body and the soul, as Maimonides writes, (De'ot, chapter 2:1) that they (the Sages) are the healers of the soul. As for a person who refuses to hear admonition, it is said: "The foolish despise wisdom and reproof". (Proverbs 1:7)

Tzora'at strikes a person because he lifts himself up like a cedar and refuses to accept criticism. Tzora'at strikes a person because he lifts himself up like a cedar and refuses to accept criticism. Therefore, he should lower himself like a hyssop and accept admonishment, for this will lead to his healing and purification.

This explains the Mishna: "Who is wise? He who learns from all men" (Avot 4:1) - even from the wicked. When he sees the latter sinning, he learns from him, because from the perspective of oneness, he also has a little bit of that [sin] in him.5 He must remove that little bit [of sin] from within himself, which will purify the other man as well. Thus, "This is the Law of 'one who removes evil' from his friend6 on the day of his own cleansing."

It seems to me that I heard something similar from my Master.
[Based on Tzafnah Paneach, p.26d]