Part 10 · Chapter 101

The Ari's Text

*After it was explained in the preceding chapter how Atik, Arich, ZON, and Aba and Ima clothed for the sake of the Ibur of ZA, we will now explain how, after this clothing, Arich Anpin coupled to correct ZON. And we will first explain the first coupling of Arich, called the upper coupling of kissing.

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

1The first coupling of Arich, called the upper coupling of kissing: You should know that the secret of this coupling of kissing is the discernment of a coupling of Netzah and Hod, for the secret of the lips is NH — the upper lip is Netzah, and the lower lip is Hod. And you already know that the root of ZON is Netzah and Hod, and their main structure is ZON of Atzilut. However, every Partzuf is included of ten Sefirot, and therefore these discernments of ZON are found in all the Partzufim and in all the degrees. Except that there is a great difference here, for in all the degrees this coupling of Netzah and Hod is regarded as bestowal from the upper to the lower, whereas only in ZON of Atzilut is there a coupling of two Partzufim at an equal level, face to face — which is the secret of what is written in the Zohar, ‘he is in Netzah and she is in Hod,’ meaning that ZA clothes the Netzah of AA, and the Nukva clothes the Hod of AA, and they are face to face. And you already know that the main discernment of the sources of the Sefirot is in AA alone, who is the Partzuf of the Keter of Atzilut.
And behold, the coupling of kissing of the palate and throat of AA is in the discernment of AB and SAG, upper and lower, is in the discernment of AB and SAG, upper and lower — for AB bestows from its discernment of Netzah, which is the upper lip, as above, and SAG receives in the discernment of its Hod, which is the lower lip, and therefore they are male and female. And through this touch of the upper lip in the lower lip, SAG receives the discernment of a drop of Hassadim from AB, and through this drop SAG brings down its bottom Hey from its Einayim, and raises the AHP that fell from it because of the ascent of the bottom Hey to the Einayim, for now the bottom Hey descends to its place, to the Peh, as it was before the breaking of the vessels.
And behold, these Mochin that go out through the coupling of the palate and throat of AA reach AVI, through their ascent and inclusion in the discernment of MAN [Mayin Nukvin] in the secret of the throat of AA, as will be explained ahead. For through this they attain new NHY of vessels, which are the AHP that were returned to their degree as above, and they also attain GAR [first three] of lights, for one depends on the other, as is known.