Part 5 · Chapter 55

The Ari's Text

*We have already explained that there are five lights in two vessels. This is because there is ZON in the vessels of Hochma and there is ZON in the vessel of Bina, and a son, which is the above Hesed. These ascents depend on the actions of the lower ones. Sometimes, all five lights ascend, and sometimes, only four ascend, and the light of Hesed, which is a son, remains below in the vessel of Bina. We have explained above that there is ZON in each of these GAR. They are called YH, Yod in the male, and Hey in the Nukva. Know that when all those five lights rise in Keter, they are sometimes incorporated in the Nukva [female], and sometimes in the Dechura [male]. Sometimes, some of them are in the Nukva, and some of them in the Dechura. Know that when only four lights ascend, they always incorporate only in the Nukva.

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

1There is ZON in the Kli of Bina, and a son, which is the above Hesed. The Zachar is the Yod that was born by the ZON de Kli de Hochma, and the Nekeva is the Reshimothat remained in the Kli de Bina from the time of Hitpashtut Aleph. The son there is the Ohr Hesedthat dispensed Hochma to the Kli de Bina after ZON de Hochma had purified to Behina Aleph (see item 51).
2These ascents depend on the actions of the Tachtonim. When Lo Matei in Hochma and Bina because they purified to Behina Aleph and Komat HB disappeared from the Partzuf, HB rise to the Keter. Through their ascent to ZON de Keter, they induce the return of the Aviut of Behina Gimel to the Masach de ZON de Keter.At that time they mate with the Ohr Elyon once more and once more extend Komat Hochma as in the beginning (see Ohr Pnimi item 36). It is similar in the second Behina of the Hitpashtut, meaning Partzuf Bina de AK.When Lo Matei in Hochma, Bina, and Hesed, Tifferet, Hod, and Malchut (see Ohr Pnimi item 47, par. “You already know the two matters”), all the Orot rise to the Keter, to the ZON there. This causes the return of the Aviut de Behina Bet to the Masach there.Then Komat Bina emerges once again as in the beginning on these two kinds of ascents, namely the ascents of Hitpashtut Bet, called Partzuf Hochma de AK, and the ascents of the second Behina of the perpetual Hitpashtut in Matei ve Lo Matei, called Partzuf Bina de AK (see the Rav’s words item 47). Al the words of the Rav before us revolve around that. Regarding his statement that they are dependent on the actions of the Tachtonim, that has been explained above (Ohr Pnimi item 49, subsection “The act of humans”).
3Sometimes all five Orot ascend, and sometimes only four ascend and the Ohr Hesed, which is a son, remains below in the Kli of Bina. It is so because only four Orot rise in Partzuf Hochma, which are ZON de Kli de Hochma, and ZON de Kli de Bina. But, the Ohr Hesed that contains the entire ZAT does not ascend throughout the rest of Hitpashtut Bet of the first Behina until the completion of that Hitpashtut (see item 46 and Ohr Pnimi item 47).In this manner, only the four Orot in HB rose to Keter throughout all exits and entrances. It is so because only Behina Bet purified and her Koma disappeared in the Shoresh in Keter.Yet, Behina Aleph did not purify but only at the end of the Hitpashtut, which is only at the coming of the Orot to Yesod and Malchut. At that time the perpetual Hitpashtut of Matei ve Lo Matei begins, called Partzuf Bina.Five Orot ascend in this Partzuf since here too the Ohr Hesed that contains the whole ZAT rises to Keter. This is so because here the Matei ve Lo Matei applies perpetually, because every time it Mateito Malchut, it is after the Hizdakchut de Behina Aleph.When Malchut too purifies, all the Orot rise to Keter. Thus, every time it is Lo Matei in the Malchut, the five Orot, which are ZON de HB, and the Hesed that contains ZAT, rise to the Keter. He writes that sometimes four Orot rise, meaning in Partzuf Hochma, and sometimes five Orot ascend, meaning in Partzuf Bina.
4Only four Orot ascend, they always incorporate only in the Nukva. You know that there are Zachar and Nekeva in the Kli de Keter. There are two Kelim in Partzuf Hochma de AK, which is Hitpashtut Bet, one for the Zachar and the other for the Nekeva. Hence, when the Orot rise to the Keter, they all come, meaning the four Orot, to the Kli of the Nekeva since she receives them for MAN within her, but not the Zachar since all the ascents for MAN are only to the Nekeva.However, when five Orot rise, it is depicted only in a Partzuf where there is perpetual Matei ve Lo Matei. Every Lo Matei in Malchut, all the Orot rise to MAN to the Keter, meaning the Hesed too.Since there is not more than one Kli de Zachar in Partzuf Bina, the Nukva too clothes the Kli de Zachar. Hence, the Orot must ascend to the Kli de Zachar, since the Nukva is there too.