Part 7 · Chapter 59

The Ari's Text

Afterwards, Hesed came out, the vessel broke and descended in Bina of Beria, and the light descended in the place of the vessel of Yesod of Atzilut, since the light of Daat preceded to take the place of Malchut. After that Gevura came out and broke, the vessel descended in Hochma of Beria, and the light descended in the vessel of Netzah Hod of Atzilut, which are two parts of the Guf. After that Tifferet came out and broke, the vessel descended in Keter of Beria, and the light remained in its place, which is in Tifferet of Atzilut.

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

1Hesedcame out, the Kli broke and descended in Bina de Beria, and the Ohr descended in the place of the Kli of Yesod de Atzilut. This is because the Ohr Daat preceded to take the place of Malchut. It means that when the Orot are clothed in the Kelim, it is considered that the one that is more Avthan the other, is greater than the other. This is because it is known that the one whose Masach is more Av educes a greater Koma. Yet, when the Kelim are empty of Orot, their Aviut is considered a demerit, hence it is considered the opposite, that the purer is more important.He writes, “and the Kli de Hesed fell to Bina de Beria.” This is because the Kli de Daat extends from a Zivug on Masach de Behina Dalet, connecting the Behina Gimel (see Ohr Pnimi item 41), and the Kli de Hesed extends from Zivug on Behina Gimel only.You find that the Kli de Hesed is more Zach than the Kli de Daat, hence the Kli de Hesed is considered above the Kli de Daat, meaning it is more important than it, as it is more Zach. He writes, “and the Ohr descended in the place of Yesod.” This is because according to the value of the Reshimot that clothe them, hence, the Reshimot are also appreciated according to the importance of the Kelim.
2Gevura came out and broke, the Kli descended in Hochma de Beria. This means that the one that is purer than the other is more important than the other. It is so because after the Histalkut of the Ohr from the Kelim, the Aviut is regarded as lowness. Similarly, the Kli de Tifferet too is more important than the Kli Gevura, hence it fell to Keter de Beria.Thus, the four Kelim: Daat, Hesed, Gevura, and Tifferet, fell to KHBD de Beria, which are GAR of Beria like the Kelim DHGT that were the GAR of ZON. However, they fell in oppositeness of degree.This means that Daat is below them all, as it is the most Av, hence its breaking is the hardest. Kli de Hesed is less than that, as it is only from Behina Gimel de Aviut, and Kli Gevura, which is only from Behina Bet de Aviut, is less than that. The breaking of Kli de Tifferet is the least of all, since it is only from Behina Aleph de Aviut.All the Reshimot of the Kelim fell similarly: the Reshimo de Daat in Malchut de Atzilut, meaning below everyone at the Sium of the Atzilut. Atop it is the Hesed, in Yesod de Atzilut, and atop that is the Gevura in Netzah Hod de Atzilut. Above all is the Tifferet, which remained in its place, meaning in Tifferet de Atzilut, meaning with respect to the Kelim.
3De Netzah Hod de Atzilut, which are two parts of the Guf. Only while they are still in Behinat Achoraim, lacking He’arat Hochma. However, when they are in Behinat Panim, meaning when there is He’arat Hochma in them, they are considered two separate Sefirot from one another.You will find the reason for it in the Rav’s words (Part 5 items 42, 43). He says there that Sefirat Netzah extends from VAK de Keter, at which time Lo Matei in Hochma. Hence, the Netzah is considered not having He’arat GAR de Hochma, and Sefirat Hod extends from Behinat Matei in Hochma. For this reason the Hod is considered to be shining He’arat Hochma in it.Thus, the whole difference between Netzah and Hod is in the He’arat Hochma, which is absent in Netzah, and present in Hod. This difference is therefore possible when there is He’arat Hochma in the Partzuf in general. Yet, when there is only He’arat Achoraim de Ima in the He’arat Partzuf in general, then there is no longer any difference between Netzah and Hod, since there is no He’arat Hochma in Hod too, just like in Netzah.Hence, at that time they are considered one Sefira, and for this reason the Sefirot Netzah and Hod de Nekudim that have only from Behina Bet de YESHSUT, and are also clothed in the Achoraim that fell form the Upper AVI, do not have He’arat Hochma, and are thus considered one Sefira.We might say that accordingly, the Sefirot Hesed and Gevura too should have been regarded as one Kli. This is because its been clarified that the only difference between Hesed and Gevura is in the He’arat Hochma too, existing in Hesed and missing in Gevura, since the disparity between the Hesedand Gevura and the Netzah and Hod is great.This is so because the force of the Achoraim de Bina begins primarily from Bina downward in all the Partzufim, since each Behina sucks from its corresponding Behina in the Eser Sefirot de Ohr Yashar. These Achoraim are not incorporated in the two Sefirot Keter and Hochma at all, only in Bina. Hence, Hesed and Gevura too, which are Behinat Keter and Hochma de Hassadim, the force of the Achoraim does not operate on their own Behina with respect to themselves.The force of the Achoraim operates in its fullest measure only from Tifferet downward, which is known to relate to Bina. Thus, Hesed is always considered containing GAR even during the Katnut of the Partzuf, which is not so with Gevura. Also, there is a big difference between Hesed and Gevura, since Hesed still contains GAR with respect to itself, whereas Gevura, which is not so with the Gevura, being in Achoraim on the GAR from its Shoresh.