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
63. Now we can clearly see that the souls of the earlier generations
were immeasurably higher than those of the later generations. The
rule for all Partzufim, both pertaining to worlds and to souls, is that
the purest vessels are corrected first.
Pure means having a small Aviut, small egoism, hence they are
easier to correct
Thus, the Kelim of HaBaD (of Tohu) both of the world and the
souls were introduced first to our world. Therefore, the souls of the
first two millennia are incomparably higher than those that came
after them.
The souls that descended during the first two thousand years of
our world’s existence were very sublime and pure. Man of that time
needed very little. He was quite content with a shelter, a small amount
of food, and security. His egoism did not push him towards any serious
undertakings. Exalted souls are not necessarily those that have profound
attainments. They can feel the spiritual worlds due to their purity.
Despite their tremendous elevation, they could not receive the full
amount of light due to the lack of their own lower components, the
Kelim of HaGaT and NHYM.
They lacked these two parts; therefore, the light in them was only
Nefesh.
During the middle period, when the vessels of the worlds and of the
souls that emerged were of the Kelim of HaGaT, the souls were still
extremely pure.
They were pure because the Kelim of HaGaT are a replica of the
Kelim of HaBaD, albeit on the corporeal level. We know that there are
Ten Sefirot: Keter, Hochma, and Bina, then Hesed, Gevura, and Tifferet,
then Netzah, Hod, Yesod, and Malchut. Hesed is similar to Keter, Gevura
is like Tifferet. Baal HaSulam says that just because the Kelim of HaGaT
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