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
ascending the five worlds we receive the light of Nefesh in the world of
Assiya, the light of Ruach in the world of Yetzira, the light of Neshama in
the world of Beria, the light of Haya in the world of Atzilut and the light
of Yechida in the world of Adam Kadmon.
As we ascend from the world of AK
to the world of Infinity, we
simply are included into the common light already called, not the NaRa-
NHaY, but the Torah. There are no distinctions or subtle nuances in it,
just the perfect light.
Thus, rising from our world to the world of Infinity, we pass through
the following levels: first “secret”, then “allegory”, after that “hint” and
finally “simplicity”. It is called PaRDeS – Pshat, Remez, Droosh, and Sod.
The Pshat is the simplest light in the world of Infinity; the Droosh (the
light in the worlds of AK
and Atzilut) is below it; then the Remez is like a
hint in the world of Beria and Yetzira and the Sod in the world of Assiya
and in our world, the secret, concealed light, which we neither feel nor
understand.
Therefore the attainment of the PaRDeS occurs in the reverse order
(from down upwards). This is what the Gaon from Vilna says in his
prayer book: “The PaRDeS constitutes four different levels of attainment:
first the simple, then a little deeper, then deeper still and finally very
profound knowledge”.
Thus, we ostensibly attain the PaRDeS, but in fact, we just mechanically
study what is written in the book, staying within the bounds of a
simple learning of the text on the level of our world. In reality, the attainment
of the PaRDeS, i.e., of the Torah in the world of Infinity is simple,
like the light that is shining there, because even the NaRaNHaY
becomes
one simple light on that level.
Here Baal HaSulam says that the common people who study the
Torah think that everything is studied on our level and that the knowledge
of the laws of the universe requires no spiritual ascent. He calls such
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