New, improved Kabbalah Series

Chapter 15 Part 10


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This series is a continuation and should be read in order. If you are not familiar with previous posts you may have trouble understanding later ones.

And now Chapter 15 Part 10

This is also the meaning of the statement "You are He who unites them [the ten sfiros] etc."--specifically You (i.e. G-d Himself), which this is the meaning of the statement "You are One and not with a calculation of ten sfiros." Meaning, that G-d’s unity is not comprised of ten separate sfiros that are somehow united, but rather, G-d’s unity completely supercedes the existence of any individual entities. So that this is not a greater whole, which is made of its parts, but rather, a completely single, simple and essential existence, as was explained in chapter ten. So, being that only G-d Himself is beyond the divisions of the ten sfiros of which everything in the hishtalshellus is composed of - itis therefore only within His ability to break these divisions and cause the sfiros to unite. Similarly, it is specifically from the Essential Self of the Infinite Light of G-d that there is derived the power of limitation and measurement existing within the reshimu/impression and the kav/line --for which reason it was named the line of measurement [kav/line ha’midah]. What’s more, these two abilities are interdependent, for, as discussed previously, it is specifically because G-d makes the rules that He can break them. This is how it is with any ability that the definition of an ability is that one is in control and it is within ones power to either do this or not do this, but one is not forced to do it. Like a light-switch, which gives one the ability to turn the light on, this necessarily means that one can by the same power turn the light off.

(As is explained elsewhere about the general concept of how chesed [kindness; expansion] and gevurah [severity; restriction; limitation] exist within the Essential Self of the Infinite Light. Where it explains that these are the power of limitation to limit and conceal the revelation of the Infinite Light within His Essential Self, elevation after elevation with no end or limit, becoming infinitely more and more removed from relating to anything outside of His Essential Self etc. and conversely the extending of the Light lower and lower with no termination, which is brought about via the kav/line that is drawn out from the reshimu/impression etc. These are two equal aspects within the infinite ability of G-d. Therefore, even with the lowering of the Light of the infinite power of G-d to be expressed within this kav/line - these two abilities - to contract and limit or to connect and unite - remain equal.

In this context, G-d’s ability of limiting and concealing His Infinite Light within His Essential Self is actually the power of chesed [expansion] within the Essential Self of Infinite Light, for it is the revelation of the Infinite Light as it truly is in its purest and most unrestrained form. This is, therefore, the source of the kav/line’s ability of chesed - to unite everything - for by doing so it is revealing the true transcendental nature of the light within creation. While as the extension of the Infinite Light below, into the limitations of creation is really a lessening and concealment of the true nature of the Infinite Light - this represents the power of gevurah [restraint] within the Infinite Light. Therefore, this is the source of the power of gevurah within the kav/line - to divide and limit everything within the hishtalshellus. The reason why it may sound the opposite is because speaking from our perspective it is the opposite, our existence and vitality coming specifically from G-d lowering and restricting His revelation into the limits of the world. As with the analogy of a teacher and a student, that the student receives specifically from the teacher lowering his understanding to their level, which to the techer is a restriction. While as if he were to rise above the restrictions of the students understanding and discuss the subject on his own level of understanding the students would be lost. This relationship is analogous to two people facing each other, where the one’s right hand is opposite the other’s left, as is explained in various places in Kabbalah and Chassidus.

Likewise, just as the powers of limitation and expansion within the Infinite Light and the kav/line are equal, the same applies to the concept of the changes that occur in the light of the kav/line and its issuance, whether with an addition or a diminishing. Such as the differences in revelation between different times, like the change from week days when there is a lesser revelation to Sabbath and Holidays when there is an elevation of all of the worlds resulting in a greater revelation of G-dliness; or like the changes from the time of the Temple to the time of exile. All of these changes are weighed with one power that is divided into two polarities - chesed [expansion] and gevurah [restriction] which come from the power of the original Light of the Essential Self of the Infinite as He Himself is manifesting the aspects of chesed [expansion] and gevurah [restriction] etc., for being all-powerful G-d can do anything, including chesed and gevurah, though He is obviously not limited to these abilities in any way and this explanation will suffice for the understanding.)

This being along the lines of what was explained previously (in chapter fourteen) that the kav/line [line] is an all-inclusive heyuli relative to a multi-dimensional figure (i.e. the expanse of the hishtalshellus, which takes on more dimensions than just the ‘up and down’ of the kav/line), just as the essential light and power within the essential self of the mentor is a heyuli for all of the explanations of the subject. Only that within the essential self of the mentor himself this light is in absolutely unbound proportions, while in this kav/line this very same power comes in the limited manner necessary for the beneficence and issuance of light to the recipients etc. This being the case, then even the contraction and extension of the kav/line to the recipients comes specifically from the power of the original light of G-d’s Essential Self and this explanation will suffice for the understanding.

This is the end of Ch 15


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