HAAMONAS ELOKUS Chapter 6

The Arizal describes the origin of the creation as follows:
“The light was contracted and only a trace (mark) was left, afterwards he drew down a thin (vector) line”.
The vessels of the ten SEFIROT are from the trace and the lights of the SEFIROT are from the line.

Major questions:
If he does not have any corporal characteristics than how can you say he contracted himself? (It’s like saying that 1+1=2 will be contracted and it does not exist in this room).
The prophet states that the creation does not cause a change, and the contraction is a great change.

Based on the previous discussion it can be understood for the creation is from the ray anf the ray was contracted not his essence.

What happened to the light that was contracted? It returned and was included in it’s source.
An analogy: when a person cannot see the power to see returns to and is included in the soul, but it still exits it just does not have any expression.

The concept of contraction is fundamentally different then the normal order of transmitting which is called “cause and effect”. For the existence that is created after the contraction does not have comparison to the existence before the contraction. (i.e. the Ten SEFIROT cannot be compared in any way to the infinite light that shined before the contraction).

However – (watch out for the paradox) the SEFIROT are G-dly, it is His wisdom and His Kindness etc.
This is the meaning of the word ATZILUT – G-d emanating from himself (in contrast to “creation” which is a separate entity).