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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 />

than my own level, unless I bond with <strong>the</strong> Upper level and receive desire,<br />

MAN, from <strong>the</strong> lower level.<br />

Every one <strong>of</strong> us is just a link in a chain and can only rise if he connects<br />

with <strong>the</strong> upper Partzuf and pulls all <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs up. It is impossible<br />

<strong>to</strong> advance alone, without being connected with <strong>the</strong> group.<br />

48. However, when a person attains <strong>the</strong> secrets <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Torah and<br />

<strong>the</strong> tastes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> commandments, he corrects <strong>the</strong> animal level <strong>of</strong> his<br />

will <strong>to</strong> receive. By doing this, he expands and builds <strong>the</strong> point <strong>of</strong><br />

Neshama that dresses in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> 248 and 365 organs <strong>of</strong> his body.<br />

We have studied how man advances in <strong>the</strong> worlds Assiya and Yetzira.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> world <strong>of</strong> Yetzira, he already has a different attitude <strong>to</strong> his duties<br />

and responsibilities. Unlike in Assiya, where he was not aware <strong>of</strong> what he<br />

was dealing with, in Yetzira he already distinguishes between <strong>the</strong> desires<br />

<strong>of</strong> bes<strong>to</strong>wal and reception and acts accordingly. The next level <strong>of</strong> correction,<br />

<strong>the</strong> world <strong>of</strong> Beria, is where man studies <strong>the</strong> secrets <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Torah<br />

and <strong>the</strong> tastes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> commandments. In Beria, he begins <strong>to</strong> treat his<br />

desires (created in us by <strong>the</strong> Crea<strong>to</strong>r) and <strong>the</strong> light, <strong>the</strong> power that he<br />

receives from above, in a very different way.<br />

What is his attitude <strong>to</strong> it? How does it feel <strong>to</strong> be between something<br />

that <strong>the</strong> Crea<strong>to</strong>r created in him and <strong>the</strong> power that He sends <strong>to</strong><br />

him now? Man receives <strong>the</strong> Kelim and <strong>the</strong> light, and has <strong>to</strong> position<br />

himself correctly between <strong>the</strong>se two sources <strong>of</strong> desire and pleasure. At<br />

<strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> Beria, he continues advancing, while attaining <strong>the</strong> secrets <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Torah and <strong>the</strong> tastes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> commandments.<br />

The Torah is <strong>the</strong> most general light that influences us. What is <strong>the</strong><br />

meaning <strong>of</strong> “<strong>the</strong> general light’s secrets” and “<strong>the</strong> tastes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> commandments”?<br />

Man already reaches a level where he feels <strong>the</strong> light <strong>of</strong> Hochma<br />

(wisdom), from which he attains <strong>the</strong> secrets, i.e., how <strong>the</strong> light created<br />

<strong>the</strong> creation, how it corrects it, adapts it <strong>to</strong> itself, and absorbs it. The<br />

243

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