“A Man At Prayer” p:16/12

AyinBase / Ayin Beis with R' Paltiel, Nissan 5775 

Page 16 of pamphlet – (6^th line from end of the page. Line begins: 'atah...'). Page 12 of the book. For text see below.

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We are looking at how atzilus is unified with its source and at the same time a new creation that relates to the lower worlds.

To understand this we are looking at the principle of an intermediary/memutzah that can relate to two very distant realms. It enables the higher to relate to the lower and the lower to relate to the higher level.

We are looking at how this works in the higher realms. Ohr ein sof and atzilus and biyah. There is a means to identify the principles at play at a much lower level – to bring it into our own experience. The means to do this is by means of a mashal/metaphor. A mashal is a Godly gift. When we graspit on the lower level we must make ever attempt to grasp the nuance, rather than to apply the structure to how it is above.

The mashal we are using here is halachic: if on Shabbat (when you may not carry from a private to a public domain) you carry a crumb of bread it is to small to be a violation, since it is too insignificant. And if you carried this crumb on a plate you may think it is a violation. And he carried the crumb on a plate or 2 spoons of soup in a cup he is not liable because the vessel is serving the food – it is nullified to the food and he is not carrying it for its own sake.

The cup does not appreciate what it contains, but it holds the soup and becomes united with it, to the extent it is considered a non-entity.

The cup or plate is a receptacle and represents its contents and unifies with its content – this is the principle of bitul/nullification.

In another metaphor: the wise man who relates to reality says, 'I choose the king', even though it will be of no practical value – they won't 'hang out together' and he's not receiving any favors. The wise man says, “the fact that I won't experience it doesn't matter. I know I will be in proximity to the real thing! I pick him. This is more important to me than anything I can experience. All else matters naught to me.”

The wise man can translate the king's will into the world of action. He jumps at the opportunity to fulfill his command, even though his appreciation of the command is limited or non-existent!

The wise man has bitul/nullification to the king – to the king who is of a higher level, but he remains something unto himself. He is an intermediary.

God is not relegated to the realm of infinity. He is present also in the defined world. The sphirot are the beginning of the expression of limitation from Him.

The limitation/gvul element of the sphirot refers to the keilim/vessels.