Read the kabalistic descriptions of Atzilut and you will find conflicting reports. On one hand we read that the first attribute, the attribute of wisdom, is new, It never existed prior to the world of Atzilut. In Kabalistic terminology its Yesh Meayin - something from nothing. On the other hand we read that the attributes of Atzilut are merely revelations of the concealed. Meaning that the ten attributes aren’t new, they are just a concrete manifestation of something that existed earlier.
So what is Atzilut? Is it just a revelation of Hashem, or is it a new creation?
Will power is undefined, it can desire anything. When a person desires a specific thing, say wisdom, that specific will is closely connected to the general will, as they are both will. Eventually when the person exercises his mind and develops wisdom, the wisdom is completely new, it never existed, previously there was a will for wisdom, but no wisdom.
The infinite light of Hashem can be compared to the will power, Atzilit can be compared to actual wisdom, and in between the two is what we call "the ten attributes that are hidden within their emanator" where there is a desire for ten attributes, yet there is only will. So, on one hand, yes, Atzilut is a revelation of the concealed, after all, it’s only the actualization of the previous will for wisdom. Yet, on the other hand it can be called a new reality for the wisdom is new.
This leads to the next drastic difference between Atzilut, which is considered a G-dly world, and the world of Briah, creation. The world of creation’s existence is dependent on the G-dly light, it’s source, concealing itself. For the moment we would get a glimpse of the creative light we would cease to see an independent creation. By contrast, Atzilut’s existence, as a G-dly world, is dependent on a revelation of it’s source. For it’s Hashem’s will for wisdom, that takes the limited, defined, specific attribute of wisdom and imbues it with the undefined limitless light of the creator.
Parshas Mishpatim, Ateres
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2 comments:
The creation is the same thing yet we say it not revealing anything it's completely new.
In the maamorim talking about yesh meayin they ask the question; wasn't there a source for the world? And they answer that the source was spiritual not physical. Like for example when you build a house you picture it in your brain (the spiritual) and then you have to get the material to build it (the physical). Because your imagination won't become a house.
Aren't you saying the sme thing with regards to Atzilus, that before it was will and now it's wisdom? Yet you're calling it 'Gilui HaHelem'?
Yossi,
Thanks for bringing up an excellent point, I did not think about it initially, but here is what I came up with:
There is an important difference between the parables. In the example explaining Briah, the physical hose and the spiritual idea are as distant as physicality and spirituality. Briah therefore is a completely new creation. The parable is pretty straightforward, before creation all existence is spiritual, after creation everything is physical. So creation means the point were physicality, a new existence, appears.
In the parable explaining Atzilut it’s not that simple, because both Atzilut and the “Ten hidden Sefirot” are spiritual. We therefore need to use a more subtle parable; where within the spiritual realm itself something, the “ten hidden Sefirot”, can exist and not exist. Therefore Atzilut’s can simultaneously be called a revelation of the previous concealment, and something new.
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