“It Is What It Is” p: 174

AyinBase / Ayin Beis with R' Paltiel ThursdayNight 26 Elul 5772 

Page 174 – below middle of the second paragraph – about 8 lines in (line starts, 'ofen...') For text, see picture below.

Although the light is essential – ohr atzmi – representing an essential quality that does not change – 'it is what it is', yet still we are saying there are levels in the light. We started pointing this out in atzilus, and the investment of light in a vessel. The light senses the vessel and the vessel senses the light.

This is phenomenal – vessel and light are fundamentally different. Ohr does not stand for itself or its own presence – it is self effacing and representative of the source. A vessel on the other hand has the stance of being 'for its own presence'.

Think of a clock on the wall. The clock is a vessel that can exist anyplace and does not have to be owned by a human being. On the wall it is representative of the person who put it there – it is significant only from the perspective of the human aesthetic. Only the presence of the human being gives it that meaning. And yet this light, this quality, relates to the physical setting.

There is an interchange between these 2 elements – between the vessel and the light.

The light functions according to the capacity of the vessel. 

Being invested in the vessel, takes away some of the purity of the light.

The eye is the most refined external organ. This is the meaning of a refined vessel – keli mezuchach – it is clear and does not interfere with the reality.

I see the object directly, so what is the vessel? Seems to be just light... Sight provides the sense of reality. And that he is part of it. The 'vessel' element is that, at the same time he senses, he knows he has a perspective, and does not have 'eyes in the back of his head'.

Ratzon and oneg have no keili. They are just ohr. You are in a total reality. Chochmah draws from the ratzon. This is the difference between ohr and keili.

Ratzon has no definition – it is pure life. You can't ask, 'why do you wanna live?'

Soul is an absolute truth.

Where there is a very fine vessel, the light can shine with greater intensity.