While the seven lower Sephirot<\/i> are so engaged, the first three<\/b>, i.e., Chochma, Binah<\/i>, and Da\u2019at<\/i>, serve as crowns <\/b>in relation to the lower seven to <\/b>help govern and rectify them. <\/b><\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how Ramchal explains the relationship between the upper three and lower seven Sephirot<\/i>, and this world (in his comments to Petach<\/i> 51).<\/p>\n
He makes the point that \u201cthe first three Sephirot<\/i> aren\u2019t the actual root of what goes on in this world\u201d; they \u201c(merely) \u2018adorn\u2019\u201d the lower seven Sephirot<\/i> which are in fact the root to — or what we\u2019d term the actual spur behind\u00a0 — what happens here.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how explains he it. \u201cWhile the ways of this world don\u2019t change (overall), its status<\/i> changes according to human actions\u201d. That\u2019s to say, while there are laws of nature that are fairly immutable which make sure that things go on as they do for the most part, there are nonetheless changes going on all the time here. Those changes are rooted in variations in the world\u2019s or in one\u2019s own spiritual-ethical status<\/i> based on his or her actions, he asserts.<\/p>\n
His point then is that \u201cthere are thus two sorts of roots: one for an (essentially) unchanging plane, and a loftier one that (allows for) changes\u201d. Thus, \u201cthe seven lower Sephirot<\/i> are the root of the created phenomena that don\u2019t change (overall)\u2026 (while) the three higher Sephirot\u201d <\/i>do allow for changes — but only changes in \u201cdegree of change\u201d.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s to say that the world goes on as it will, but there will always be variations, and those variations are rooted in humankind\u2019s spiritual-ethical status. The lower seven Sephirot<\/i> act as hands-on, direct overseeing spurs to what goes on here on earth, while the upper seven Sephirot<\/i> are \u201cremoved\u201d (i.e., they act as crowns that sit atop the head at a purposeful distance) like management, and they have another agenda — they supply more or less \u201cfunding\u201d to the project at hand based on the \u201cworthiness\u201d of its benefactors [1].<\/p>\n
Note:<\/p>\n
[1] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The combination of three upper managerial Sephirot<\/i> and the seven supervisory ones — for a total of ten \u201ccommanders\u201d — helps explain how Ramchal understands the existence of ten rather than seven millennia of reality (see 7:6 above). It might also help to explain a belief in a far older universe than usually considered in traditional sources, in that the 7,000 years accounted for can be said to be under the control of the seven Sephirot<\/i> that control \u201cthe seven days of creation\u201d, while the very many more that preceded them are under the control of the three higher (and more amorphous) years-upon-years.<\/p>\n
(c) 2013 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n
Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n ———————————————————-<\/p>\n AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While the seven lower Sephirot are so engaged, the first three, i.e., Chochma, Binah, and Da\u2019at, serve as crowns in relation to the lower seven to help govern and rectify them. Here\u2019s how Ramchal explains the relationship between the upper … Continue reading