Ramchal\u2019s next point is that that\u2019s <\/b>in fact why the first three<\/b> Sephirot<\/i> continued to function<\/b> and to endure<\/b> during the course of the breaking of the vessels — the fact that they were above harm. Nevertheless, what exists in them<\/b>, i.e., in those first three Sephirot<\/i>, that serves the needs of the lower seven <\/b>ones — i.e., the elements there that control the degree of \u201cfunding\u201d that the lower seven would receive, as we depicted it above — wasn\u2019t rectified<\/b>, as we\u2019d imagine they should have been.<\/b><\/p>\n
For had <\/b>that \u201cfunding gauge-system\u201d, so to speak, been <\/b>rectified and perfected, then all of the seven lower<\/b> Sephirot<\/i> would also have been rectified. <\/b>But it wasn\u2019t yet time for that; \u201cit was (still) necessary for the breaking of the vessels to occur in the seven lower Sephirot<\/i>\u201d Ramchal explains in his notes here.<\/p>\n
So those aspects of the first three <\/b>Sephirot<\/i> that relate to the seven lower<\/b> ones<\/b> <\/i>became<\/b> blemished <\/b>rather than broken or rectified. \u00a0As Ramchal explains in his comments, the \u201chind-aspect\u201d of the three higher Sephirot<\/i> descended to the seven lower Sephirot<\/i> of Atzilut<\/i>. While that was certainly a blemish and a descent, it was still and all not a \u201cfatal\u201d one by any means, as at least they didn\u2019t descend to Briah<\/i>, Yetzirah<\/i>, and Assiyah<\/i> as their seven compatriots did in the course of the breaking of the vessels [1].\u00a0And that<\/b> purposely stymied their ability to repair the seven lower<\/b> ones <\/b>[2].<\/p>\n
For if they were able to <\/b>repair those seven, then there\u2019d be no harm <\/b>anymore in the world<\/b> whatsoever, which was not yet to happen (Petach<\/i> 51).<\/b><\/p>\n
The clear implication of this then is that even exalted phenomena must sometimes be stifled, if allowing them to be themselves in full would thwart God’s ultimate designs.<\/p>\n
Notes:<\/p>\n
[1] \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0See Eitz Chaim, Sha\u2019ar Sh\u2019virat HaKeilim<\/i> Ch\u2019s 1-2.<\/p>\n
Reference to the \u201chind-aspect\u201d as opposed to the \u201cfore-aspect\u201d descending, to a relatively minor descent within Atzilut<\/i> as opposed to a true descent to Briah<\/i>, Yetzirah<\/i>, and Assiyah<\/i>, and the like all falls under the rubric cited by the Leshem <\/i>to the effect that \u201ceverything is to be judged on relative terms\u201d (see Leshem<\/i>, Sefer<\/i> HaDeah<\/i> 1:3:5 as well as very many other places in his works).<\/p>\n
What it means is that everything is relative to everything else, and while Phenomenon A may have been bad in itself, in relation to Phenomenon B it wasn\u2019t bad, and vice versa. In other words, things occur but they have different relative ramifications depending on their place, time, and relative stature.<\/p>\n
[2] \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ramchal speaks of this as being an aspect of what\u2019s termed \u201cmochin<\/i> d\u2019katnut<\/i>\u201d (i.e., \u201creduced\u201d or \u201cimmature\u201d mind) which will be discussed below in Petach<\/i> 127.<\/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":" Ramchal\u2019s next point is that that\u2019s in fact why the first three Sephirot continued to function and to endure during the course of the breaking of the vessels — the fact that they were above harm. Nevertheless, what exists in … Continue reading