Part 9 · Chapter 37

The Ari's Text

The matter, in brief, is this: while the upper Light spreads downward, so long as its power has not weakened and slackened, it is called male; and when it reaches a place where its power has weakened, it is called female — in the secret of "his power grew weak as a female's." That is: when the upper Light descends into ZA [Zeir Anpin], it does not pass through a Masach [screen] at all, for it is set and clothed within the Kelim [vessels] of Ima, and the mouth of the Yesod of Ima opens within ZA; and just as those Lights came out of the Mochin of Aba, so are they now within Zeir, in that very same illumination. Therefore they are called male Lights, both the Hassadim and the Gevurot — as is known, for a man's daughters, although they are called females, were called males while they were at first comprised in the father's brain.

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

1When the upper light descends within ZA, it does not pass through a screen at all, etc.; and just as those lights came out from the Mochin of Aba, etc.: For ZA received those Mochin in the discernment of Gadlut, at which time the Daat is found — from the coupling of HB in his Rosh [head], from below upward — and afterwards spreads in the illumination of Hochma from above downward, through the Yesod of Ima clothed within him down to the Chazeh [chest]; and from the Chazeh downward, it is revealed in that same illumination as ZA of Aba himself. And this is what is said: ‘and just as those lights came out from the Mochin of Aba’ to ZA of Aba, ‘so are they now within Zeir in that very same illumination’ — meaning only the illumination of Hochma, but not actual Hochma, for this is the entire difference between Aba and ZA: Aba is the light of Hochma in his very self, whereas ZA — his self is the light of Hassadim, but with an illumination of Hochma within his Hassadim. As is written in the Zohar (Mishpatim, item 520): that the Rosh of the King is established in Hesed and Gevura.