The Light of Wisdom: Selections from the Kabbalistic Zohar, Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with excerpts from Chapters 7 and 8 of The Lesser Holy Assembly, “Concerning the Brain and the Wisdom in General” and “Concerning the Father and the Mother in Special.” In these chapters, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai teaches that the Most Holy Ancient One is the source of Divine Wisdom, from which all creation proceeds. This Divine Wisdom unfolds as the Father and the Mother, Wisdom and Understanding joined in perfect balance.

CHAPTER 7 CONCERNING THE BRAIN AND THE WISDOM IN GENERAL.

“[…] All things depend mutually from Himself, and mutually are bound together unto Himself, until He is known, because all things are one, and Hoa, He, the Ancient One, is all things, neither from Him can anything whatsoever be separated. Into three other Lights, which are called the Fathers, do these three Lights shine, and these fathers shine into the children, and all things shine forth from the one place. […]

His path, properly speaking. But again, further on: Va-Hoa, and He Himself knows His place; ‘His place properly speaking; much more His path; and much more this WISDOM which is concealed in the Most Holy Ancient One. This Wisdom is the beginning of all things. Thencefrom are expanded the thirty-two paths: […]”

CHAPTER 8 CONCERNING THE FATHER AND THE MOTHER IN SPECIAL.

“Come and behold. When the Most Holy Ancient One, the Concealed with all Concealments, desired to be formed forth, He conformed all things under the form of Male and Female; and in such place wherein Male and Female are comprehended. For they could not permanently exist save in another aspect of the Male and the Female (their countenances being joined together). And this Wisdom embracing all things, when it goes forth and shines forth from the Most Holy Ancient One, shine not save under the form of Male and Female. Therefore is this Wisdom extended, and it is found that it equally becomes Male and Female. Chokmah Ab Binah Am: Chokmah is the Father, and Binah is the Mother, and therein are Chokmah, Wisdom, and Binah, Understanding, counterbalanced together in most perfect equality of Male and Female. And therefore are all things established in the equality of Male and Female; for were it not so, how could they subsist! This beginning is the Father of all things; the Father of all Fathers; and both are mutually bound together, and the one path shines into the other--Chokmah, Wisdom, as the Father; Binah, Understanding, as the Mother. It is written,: ‘If thou call Binah the Mother.’ When They are associated together They generate, and are expanded in truth. […]”