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
comprehend that this magnificent reality had not been created but
for them.
Indeed, if they had delved into Kabbalah in order to bestow
contentment to their Maker (if they had transformed their
egoistic desires into bestowal upon the Creator). They would
try to hatch from the shell they were born into and receive the will to
bestow, their eyes would immediately open to see and attain all the
pleasant and sweet, beyond words, degrees of wisdom, intelligence
and clear mind, which have been prepared for them in the spiritual
worlds. Then they themselves would say as our sages said: "What
does a good guest say? Everything the host did, he did for me alone”.
We should attain this level and see all that the Creator is
doing for us. “All” implies the level of the world of Infinity.
We learn that the last level of man’s attainment is called the
“Thought of creation”. The first, the second, the third, and then the
fourth levels descend from there, from the four stages of the Straight
light. The highest level consists of two parts. The lower part of this root
level, Behina Shoresh, refers to us. The Upper Light descends from it and
gives birth to Behina Aleph, the first stage of the Direct light, but this is
the lower part of the root level. The upper part of the root level is the
Creator’s Thought, where all that was created is inside Him, on His
level. We should reach this level.
Although we are born on the lower part (zero stage), we have to
achieve the Creator through our own effort.
Behina Shoresh consists of two parts. The first stage (the will to receive)
is born from the lower part. Then the second stage (the will to
bestow) emerges. Here the Creator’s action manifests with regard to us.
His Thought is in the upper part (the zero stage).
We are born in the third stage, and then the fourth stage follows.
Malchut transforms itself, performs Tzimtzum Aleph, acquires a screen,
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