Asiya Is Different Than Yetzira, Beriya and Atzilut
Gate of Reincarnations: Chapter One, Section 6
Translated by Yitzchok bar Chaim;
explanation by Shabtai Teicher
It is important to explain a difference between the nefesh
of Asiya, and the rest of the divisions, Yetzira, Beriya, and
Atzilut. This will also help us to answer a difficult question: How can a
person, whose root is in malchut of Asiya, be able to ascend to
keter of Asiya? Since [every Jew must reincarnate until all the aspects of
NRNCh"Y are completed], then by necessity every Jew will ascend to the keter
of Asiya, [then eventually] to keter of Yetzira, and [then
finally] to keter of Beriya. [That being the case, then] all the
other [lower] levels would [eventually] become nullified!
Since all Jews, after all their gilgulim, would eventually
reach the highest level, no one would be different and no one would remain on
any of the lower levels. However, that can never be the case!  | | " There are 'leaders of thousands of Israel' from the side of keter, 'wise men' from the side of chochma..." | | |
However, this is unimaginable. Obviously, there are Jews who are on
the level of malchut, and others from yesod, etc., as mentioned at
the beginning of Sefer HaTikunim: "There are 'leaders of thousands of
Israel' from the side of keter, 'wise men' from the side of chochma,
and 'men of understanding' from the side of bina...."
Clearly the Jewish nation is composed of many types of individuals
with different abilities and strengths, which are determined by their
soul-roots.
However, the explanation is based upon the difference between
Asiya and all the other three worlds.
For, someone whose root is in the malchut of Asiya is
obviously rooted there specifically. Yet, by rectifying his actions he can
purify his nefesh, level after level, until it actually reaches and
becomes part of the keter of Asiya.
Nevertheless, though it ascends to the keter of Asiya,
even there it remains on the level of the malchut of the keter of
Asiya, since its root is on the level of malchut specifically.
His soul-root level of malchut of Asiya remains,
though it ascends as a result of his spiritual improvements. Because of its root
in malchut, when it ascends to the keter of Asiya it
becomes the malchut of that level.
However, he must be purified until he actually ascends to the
keter of Asiya, even though it will only be called the level of
malchut of keter of Asiya. This is true regarding any of the
levels of Asiya [to which he may ascend]: he will only be considered the
malchut of that level.
For example, if he reaches the yesod of Asiya, he
will only be considered the malchut of the yesod of Asiya,
etc.
However, concerning Yetzira, Beriya, and Atzilut,
it [the process] is different. A person whose soul-root is malchut of Yetzira,
who has rectified and completed that level, also receives a ruach from
the yesod of Yetzira after he has also purified and rectified the
yesod of Yetzira.
As opposed to simply becoming the Malchut of the yesod
of Yetzira, as was the case on the level of Asiya.
The first ruach that he had from the Malchut of
Yetzira remains below [in its original place] in the Malchut of
Yetzira, since that is where it belongs.
Unlike the levels in Asiya which actually ascend from level
to level. | | " Asiya is the lowest of all worlds, and is, therefore,encompassed by the kelipot." | | |
Likewise, when he completes the hod of Yetzira, he
leaves the second ruach that he had from yesod in yesod of
Yetzira, and instead he receives a ruach from the hod of
Yetzira. And this is the way it continues up to the keter of
Yetzira.
Since he has rectified all the levels of his nefesh from
Asiya, he is able to receive ruach from all levels of Yetzira.
It will be likewise with respect to the Neshama from Beriya.
The reason for this difference is that Asiya is the lowest
of all worlds, and is, therefore, encompassed by the kelipot.
The word kelipot means "encasements," like the peel of a
fruit, or the shell of a nut. It refers to the extreme opposite of spiritual
purity and holiness, and is therefore the element within creation that makes
possible spiritual impurity and sinful action. Sometimes the kelipot are
called "Chitzoniyot," which means "Externalities." Being the least
spiritually pure element in creation it is the furthest from light, and
therefore at the bottom of all the worlds.
Consequently, even though a person has already rectified the root
level of his nefesh in Asiya, still, if he leaves it on that
level, there is a fear that the kelipot there will latch on to it.
Since evil has no independent existence of its own, it derives
spiritual nourishment and strength from the side of holiness, but for its own
evil purpose. The closer something holy is to the kelipot, the more
vulnerable it is, and the more desirable it appears to the kelipot as a
source of nourishment.
Therefore, [he must constantly refine his actions] until he rises
as high as he can, [until he reaches his root] in the keter of Asiya.
However, in the World of Yetzira, and how much more so in
the worlds above it, there is no fear of the kelipot latching on, as
there was in Asiya.
The ability of the kelipot to latch on is eliminated on this
more sublime level.
Hence, when a person rectifies the root of his ruach in
Yetzira, he can rectify another ruach from a higher level. Then the
first ruach can remain in its place, in his root. He can acquire a second
from a higher place without having to raise up the first ruach to a
higher place because the fear [of the kelipot latching on] is not there
[in the world of Yetzira].
To link to the previous article in this reincarnation series, Stages Traversed on Each Level of Soul,
click here
To link to the next article in this reincarnation series, To Be Like Moshe,
click here
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