Baal HaSulam gave several commentaries on the Ari’s book The Tree of Life. One is called “Ohr Pnimi” – “Inner Light” and the second is “Inner Observation.” One is more specific and the other is more expanded.

In the section “Inner Light,” he explains that the primary reason for the restriction was only the desire for a new form of receiving in order to bestow that is destined to be revealed in the future thanks to the creation of the worlds, and not at all the feeling of any Aviut in the middle point.

The space that the Ari writes about is the space of desire, which felt itself opposite to the Creator and therefore restricted itself. Desire restricted itself to the perception of receiving fulfillment from the Creator, to being in some imperfect form relative to Him. Therefore, both the light of the Creator that filled it and the restriction itself was in the form of a circle.
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From KabTV’s “The Study of the Ten Sefirot (TES)” 10/2/22

Related Material:
Gradual Restriction Of Light
“And He Restricted That Light, And Drew Far Off”
Concealment of the Creator

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