Introduction to the Book of Zohar (PDF) - Kabbalah Media Archive

P R E FAC E T O T H E B O O K O F Z O H A R
The main difference is that the mental plan of a person is not reality,
while the Creator’s design is the reality itself and is incomparably
greater than the reality of creatures.
Therefore, the third state of the creation is absolutely real. In comparison
with it (the Worlds of Atzilut, Adam Kadmon and Infinity), our
state is spiritually illusory; it is perceived only within us. This resembles
a sick person lying unconscious in his bed. Although he is in this world,
he cannot feel it. Or, imagine a person in a dark room, unaware of the
enormous world around him.
Thus, we have explained the mystery of the World of Infinity and
the World of Atzilut; everything that they convey relates only to the
creation of creatures as they all exist in the design, but their essence
has not yet been revealed. Just as in our example with a house, there
is nothing yet in humanity’s construction plan: no bricks, no wood,
no metal pieces.
25. The three Worlds of BYA, along with this world, are the embodiments
of a planned action, just as construction material is needed
before construction is complete. Correspondingly, the Upper Light
shines in the Worlds of BYA to the extent that Souls must receive it
in order to reach their completion. The Upper Light “dresses” itself
into ten Kelim Keter, Hochma, Bina, Hesed, Gevura, Tifferet, Netzah,
Hod, Yesod, and Malchut, which are the real Kelim relative to
the Creator. That is, they are not related to the Creator, but, rather,
newly created for the Souls’ needs.
The infinite light dresses into the Ten Sefirot of the World of Atzilut;
through them, it enters into our Souls, and transforms them accordingly.
26. From the example above, one should understand how the three
components in the house design are related to one another by causes
and consequences, where the root of everything is in the initial design.
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