Introduction to the Book of Zohar (PDF) - Kabbalah Media Archive

I N T RO D U C T I O N T O T H E B O O K O F Z O H A R
sake of bestowal. This is the actual difference between the first and the
third states.
16. But the above words should not lead us to the conclusion that we
have no freedom of choice because we are compelled to come to the
third state, being that it is rooted in the first one.
It appears that if the first, second, and third states exist, one might
ask where my freedom of choice is? Are we just marionettes “tramping”
from the first state to the third without any say in the matter? No! We do
have freedom of choice. Then, how is it expressed?
The fact is that the Creator has prepared two paths for us in state
two.
This means that there are two ways for us to proceed from the first
state to the third one: a short way and a long way.
1. The Path of Torah and Commandments
A Commandment (Mitzva) is an act intended to correct a desire.
When we correct a certain egoistic desire, the act of correction itself is
the Mitzva. In other words, the act of correction is what the Creator commanded:
to correct the egoistical use of a desire to the altruistic one.
The Light does it. The Light is the “Torah” (from the Hebrew word
“Ohr” - light). There exist many types of light, such as the Light of Hassadim
(Mercy), the Light of Hochma (Wisdom), Light of AB SAG, the
descending, ascending, and surrounding Light, and the NaRaNHaY.
However, the Torah is the general Light that descends from Above.
We learned that correction is made by way of Torah and Mitzvot
(actions influenced by the Light). This way is called the path of Torah,
or the path of Light.
2. The Path of Suffering
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