By April 10, 2008 Read More →

Zohar 3:61b-62a

Jewish Mysticism
Come and see- It is written, “A river issues from Eden to water the garden” (Gen. 2-10). That river [Binah] overflows its sides when [Hokhmah] unites with it in perfect union. Then that Eden [Hokhmah] is in that path which is not known above or below, as it says, “No bird of prey knows the path” (Job 28-7). They are found in [a state of] harmony for the one never separates from the other. Then the springs and streams come forth and crown the Holy Son [Tif’eret] with all these crowns; then it is written “wearing the crown that his mother gave him” (Cant. 3-11). At that moment the Son inherits the portion of his Father and Mother, and he delights in that pleasure and comfort. It has been taught- When the Supernal King is in [a state of] royal comfort and he sits with his crowns, then it is written “When the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance” (Cant. 1-12), i.e., Yesod which emits blessings to unite the Holy King and the Matrona. Consequently, blessings are bestowed upon all the worlds and the upper and lower beings are blessed. Now the holy spark is crowned by the crowns of that gradation, and he and the comrades send up the praises from below to above, and she is crowned in those praises. Now blessings must be drawn out from above to below for all the comrades by means of that holy gradation.

Translated by Elliot Wolfson in Through a Speculum that Shines- Vision and Imagination in Medieval Jewish Mysticism, Princeton- Princeton University Press, 1994.

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