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

P R E FAC E T O T H E B O O K O F Z O H A R
What does HaVaYaH, the Creator’s name, mean? These symbols
contain the information about the entire universe. The rest happens to
be their various interpretations. If we describe them as Sefirot, they will
correspond to Keter, Hochma, Bina, Zeir Anpin (ZA) and Malchut. We then
further divide the Sefira ZA into six the Sefirot Hesed, Gevura, Tifferet, Netzah,
Hod, and Yesod. Thus these Ten Sefirot are all that we have. Keter, the
Creator’s attitude to the creation, is followed by the Sefirot-derivatives,
the last of which is Malchut, the creation. Accordingly, the Creator’s attitude
to the creation descends from Keter
to Malchut, while the creation’s
attitude to the Creator ascends in the opposite direction, from Malchut
to Keter. All that is included in the Ten Sefirot is called the Soul or the
Partzuf. This is all we deal with.
We know nothing beyond that. We can only perceive what enters
inside us, and call it our life.
Baal HaSulam says that the combinations of the Sefirot and their
various, partially used sub-Sefirot are quite sufficient to describe all possible
states, actions, and properties of everything that takes place between
the Creator and the creation.
In our reality, there are three definitions.
In fact, they are not definitions, but, rather, limitations, which we
need to understand properly. When we dispose ourselves to “The Book
of Zohar” through these three limitations, we understand what it says,
and can penetrate its deeper form.
3. First definition (limitation).
There exist four categories of knowledge called:
• Matter,
• Form in matter,
• Abstract form, and
• Essence.
16