Divine Manifestations: Selections from the Kabbalistic Zohar, Part 2 of 2

In the “Book of Concealed Mystery,” it is taught that when the Divine figure (Supernal Man) was balanced in its male and female aspects, they were united for the third time. This balance brought harmony to everything, aligning both the spiritual (superior) and material (inferior) world.

“We have learned that because the one has been tempered by the other, hence it is written, Canticles 1:10: ‘We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.’ For judgment and mercy are connected together (otherwise, judgment is tempered through mercy), and She is mitigated by Him. […] We have learned in exotic tradition that this is the sense of ‘We will make the borders of gold with studs of silver,’ that judgment is mitigated through mercy, so that there can be no judgment in which mercy is not found. […]”

“And unless Chokmah, Wisdom, could be hidden from all, all things could be conformed like as from the beginning. Hence it is said, Proverbs 8:12: ‘Ani Chokmah, I, Wisdom, have dwelt with Prudence;’ read it not Shekenethi, I have dwelt; but Shikeneth-i, My Shechinah or my Presence. And unless Adam were thus, the world could not consist; like as it is written, Proverbs 3:19: ‘Tetragrammaton in Chokmah has founded the Earth, Tetragrammaton Bo-Chokmah Yesed Aretz.’ Also, it is written, Genesis 6:8: ‘And Noah found grace in the eyes of Tetragrammaton.’

Also, we have learned that all brains depend from this brain (supernal). And Chokmah, Wisdom, also is a general name, but this concealed Wisdom corroborates and conforms the form of the Man, so that He may abide in his place. Like as it is written, Ecclesiastes 7:19: ‘Wisdom is a strength to a wise man more than ten rulers which are in a city;’ which (ten) are the integral conformation of the man.

Adam, truly, is the interior conformation, wherein consists the Ruach, Spirit; like as it is said, Book 1 Samuel 16:6: ‘Because Adam sees according to the eyes, but Tetragrammaton sees according to the heart,’ which is within the interior parts. And in that formation appears the true perfection of all things, which exists above the Throne. Like as it is written: ‘And the appearance as the likeness of Adam upon it from above’ (Ezekiel 1:26). Also, it is written, Daniel 7:13: ‘And, behold, there came with the clouds of Heaven one like unto a Son of Man, and even unto the Ancient of Days He came, and they made Him approach unto Him.’”