Introduction to the Book of Zohar (PDF) - Kabbalah Media Archive
Introduction to the Book of Zohar (PDF) - Kabbalah Media Archive
Introduction to the Book of Zohar (PDF) - Kabbalah Media Archive
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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<br />
Just as <strong>the</strong>re are five worlds in reality, which are <strong>the</strong> five Sefirot,<br />
Keter, Hochma, Bina, Tifferet and Malchut, so <strong>to</strong>o are <strong>the</strong>re five<br />
Sefirot, Keter, Hochma, Bina, Tifferet and Malchut in, each and<br />
every world, and <strong>the</strong>re are five Sefirot in <strong>the</strong> smallest particle <strong>of</strong> that<br />
world.<br />
Everything is divided in<strong>to</strong> five parts.<br />
We have stated that this world is divided in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> still, vegetative,<br />
animate, and human levels. They correspond <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> four Sefirot,<br />
Hochma, Bina, Tifferet, and Malchut; or ra<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> reverse<br />
order, Malchut, Tifferet, Bina, and Hochma.<br />
Indeed, even in <strong>the</strong> smallest particle <strong>of</strong> each species in <strong>the</strong> still,<br />
vegetative, animate, and human levels, <strong>the</strong>re are four inner categories:<br />
still, vegetative, animate, and human. The same exists in a single<br />
species, i.e., in one person…, in all <strong>of</strong> us.<br />
Now let us understand what man is. Why should we think about<br />
anything else? We are <strong>the</strong> most active part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> universe, that which is<br />
destined <strong>to</strong> bring everything <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crea<strong>to</strong>r. If we (<strong>the</strong> soul) merge with<br />
<strong>the</strong> Crea<strong>to</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> halls, <strong>the</strong> clo<strong>the</strong>s, and <strong>the</strong> angels will merge with<br />
Him <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with us (i.e., <strong>the</strong> entire universe ascends <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crea<strong>to</strong>r’s<br />
level). This depends only on our desire and our work. Therefore, we<br />
study <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> “man” and <strong>the</strong> way he ascends <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crea<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
So even in one person, <strong>the</strong>re are also four levels (still, vegetative, animate<br />
and human), which are <strong>the</strong> four parts <strong>of</strong> his will <strong>to</strong> receive.<br />
In all, <strong>the</strong>re are five kinds <strong>of</strong> desires. We call <strong>the</strong>m Aviut zero, one,<br />
two, three and four. All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se egoistic levels <strong>of</strong> a desire, still, vegetative,<br />
animate and human, exist in our world and are characterized by <strong>the</strong><br />
general notion <strong>of</strong> a man’s heart.<br />
The still level is represented by <strong>the</strong> bodily desires for food, sex, family,<br />
and home. The vegetative level is <strong>the</strong> desire for riches. The animate<br />
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