Part 12 · Chapter 162

The Ari's Text

And behold, since it is now actually night, more than at the time of the evening prayer, therefore this coupling is inferior and not so excellent; and therefore it draws only from the externality of Aba and Ima alone, as mentioned. And behold, two distinctions that there are in these four kinds of Shema have been explained: and the first distinction between them is in the matter of their drawing, for their drawing is not equal. And the second distinction is in the matter of the couplings drawn from them, for they are not equal.

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

1 Actually night, more than at the time of the evening prayer, therefore this coupling is inferior: For until the evening prayer, there still remains some continuation of the Mochin of the day, meaning that there still remains the discernment of the surrounding lights of Katnut of Ima from the Mochin of the day, meaning that AHP have not yet departed from ZON, and they have ten vessels; and therefore there is then no need for the first intercourse, as above. Unlike after the blessing “He who casts,” when their AHP have already descended, and they have returned to actual Katnut, for there remains in them only the internality of the Mochin of Katnut of Ima, namely the NR [Nefesh-Ruach] of nursing; thus they are no longer fit for coupling at all, and they need the advancing of the first intercourse, which suffices only to make her a vessel, which is the discernment of the surrounding lights of Ima of Katnut — this being now done in the Shema upon the bed. Thus this coupling of the Shema upon the bed is more inferior than the Shema of the evening, for this coupling is only to make her a vessel alone, which is only the discernment of a preparation for the ascent of MAN.