However, there are three principles here, which we must be extremely careful not to venture beyond while studying the words of the book. I will first present them in brief, after which I will explain them at length.
The first principle: There are four aspects in the modes of perception, which are known as substance, form in substance, abstract form, and essence. The same applies to the ten sefirot, as I will explain below. Understand that the Zohar does not deal at all with the essence or the abstract form in the ten sefirot, but only with the substance in them, or the form that is in them, while it is still enclothed in the substance.