“Knowledge Beyond Proof” p: 169

AyinBase with R' Paltiel Friday 15 Tammuz 5772 

Page 168 – 4 line from the top of the page (line starts, 'yesod...') For text, see link top right of the blog. Or for text right click here.

We are delving into the definition and nature of ohr/light. Though it is a presence and a real creation with a worldly definition, nevertheless it has very fine and spiritual qualities. It remains connected to its source and rises to its source. This is also seen in the element of fire.

So fire and light do not really mix with the other elements. They are so fine they do not really have a tangible presence that you can grasp.

The metaphor for the G-dliness of atzilus is fire. 'Your G-d is a consuming fire!' says the verse. This is not to say destructive, but continually rising. Ohr/light is even less of a presence, and united with its source...

This is similar to 'the light of day'. It relates to the darkness of the world, but while you see the light you recognize its true quality is its connection to its source.

Through this it has the quality of illuminating the world... contrast this to a candle. The candle doesn't say, 'now its light', it illuminates a certain spot/area. The light of the sun changes the primary state of the world from darkness to light... this is because here below it represents not itself, but the sun.

This is like wisdom being called the 'very life element itself'. The effect of chochmah is knowing what it reveals to you, not via the vessels/keilim. You know it due to the truth of it, rather than via the presentation which is the keili/vessel.

The verse also says, 'chochmah comes forth from ein/nothing'. This is to say it comes out as something from nothing.

Light in the sun is not a created entity. It is the default state of the sun. this is like the ein/nothing in the sun. Just like darkness is the default/ein state of the world.

Then there is light that emanates from the primary light of the sun. it is like something from nothing. It does not function on its own... There is not a process by which you recognize wisdom. You don't know how you know it. And yet chochmah/wisdom is certainly a creation and we are aware of it even in our physical state. Yet on the one hand it is something, but it is 'found' from and representative of ein/nothing.

It is beyond process. It is called 'life' and 'light'. Life does not exist as a presence of its own. It is given from Above. This is like breathing. It is based not on our efforts, but on air pressure that fills the vacuum of our lungs...!