Part 5 · Chapter 37

The Ari's Text

Yet, after the vessel of Hochma turned his anterior opposite Keter, and his light rose there, he then turned his anterior down opposite Bina, and gave her the seven lights. Know that any giving of lights is always regarded as face-to-face.

Inner Light

This commentary hasn't been matched to individual seifim yet — items are shown in reading order, and the number beside each one counts the notes themselves, not the seifim of the Ari's text.

Not matched to a seif

1His Panim down opposite Bina and gave her the seven Orot. The matter of the Histalkut Ohr from Kli de Hochma causes the turning of his Panim down. This is considered Hishtavut with the Panim de Bina since he cancelled his prior Panim, meaning his Behina Bet and turned his Achor, namely Behina Aleph, into Behinat Panim.It follows that now it is Panim be Panim with Bina and can therefore give her the Koma of Behina Aleph which is Komat ZA. Now she is named after the highest Sefira, being Ohr Hesed, containing all seven lower Sefirot HGT NHYM.It is written, “turned his Panim down opposite Bina and gave her the seven Orot.” Now there are eight Orot in Bina. Those are the remains of the Ohr Zachar that she received from the Hochma, which is Behina Bet. This is in addition to the seven lower ones contained in Behina Aleph that have now received from the Nekeva de Hochma, thus eight Orot.
2Any giving of Orot is always regarded as Panim be Panim. It has been explained above that the giver and the receiver should equalize their Tzura with one another. Hence, as long as his Panim are upward he is much higher than the receiver and they do not touch each other. For that reason he does not give except if he cancels his Panim and places his Achor forward.In that state the Panim of the giver and the receiver are equal. This is called Panim be Panim. Examine the interpretation of the matter carefully in Ohr Pnimi item 15.