Excerpts from my upcoming book, A Guide to The Book of Zohar
In order to let us realize the entire process of spiritual development, the Creator [1] created the system of connection between Him and us. He uses this system to control us from Above, and from beneath we can use it to ask for and receive help from Him.
This system divides into several parts:
1. The World of Infinity, where the Creator is found with His fully revealed strength.
2. The level below the World of Infinity referred to as the “World of Adam Kadmon,” where the Creator divides His influence into five types, according to the five levels of our ego [2] above which we can ascend.
3. Beneath the World of Adam Kadmon, there is the governance and surveillance system which we refer to as the “World of Atzilut.” The World of Atzilut divides into five parts: Keter, Hochma, Bina, Zeir Anpin, and Malchut that are called Atik, Arich Anpin, Aba ve Ima, Zeir Anpin, and Malchut (Nukva).
- The Zohar [3] refers to Atik and Arich Anpin as to the “unattainable head” of the World of Atzilut;
- Aba ve Ima are Hochma and Bina from where all the Lights of Hochma and Hassadim [4] come to us;
- As they pass through Zeir Anpin, these Lights come to Nukva, that is, Malchut of the World of Atzilut, which is called “Shechina” since all of the Light [5] from Infinity, intended for the souls [6], comes to it. This Malchut is also called the “gathering of the souls of Israel” because it incorporates all the souls that wish to become “Isra-El” (“straight to the Creator”), that is, to ascend to the World of Infinity.
4. Beneath the World of Atzilut are the Worlds of Beria, Yetzira, Assiya (Worlds of BYA), where our souls exist.
5. This world is located beneath the Worlds of BYA.
In the language of The Zohar, Malchut is called “earth” and Bina (Ima) “heaven.” In The Zohar, Zeir Anpin and Malchut are also referred to respectively as Shochen and Shechina , the Creator (Kadosh Baruch Hu) and the gathering of the souls of Israel, the Groom and the Bride, the Masculine and the Feminine parts (Zachar and Nukva). Every one of these components of reality receives many names from The Zohar in the language of the legends (Midrash). And for this reason, in order to help us connect with their inner essence, Baal HaSulam [7] meticulously adds Kabbalistic terminology next to the words of The Zohar.
Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: The Zohar: The Illumination of the Upper Worlds [8]
Laitman.com Post: A Guide To The Book of Zohar: The Communication Systems With The Creator [9]
Laitman.com Post: Excerpts From My Book In Progress: The Guide To The Book Of Zohar [10]