Face and Back, and Face-to-Face 83. Even when the partzuf has already received the brains of the front, as stated above,254See the previous two sections. the Ḥokhma and Bina which are there are still in a state of “face” and “back.” This means that only the Ḥokhma receives the brains of the face. With regard to Bina, however, which is always in the state of the mystical meaning of the verse “for He delights in mercy,” as it wants the light of giving rather than the light of Ḥokhma, for this reason Bina is considered to have its “back” to Ḥokhma, and Bina does not want to receive the brains of the face from Ḥokhma.255Since Bina seeks the light of giving, it does not receive the light of Ḥokhma except as a conduit for Ḥokhma to be transmitted below to Ze'er Anpin.
In many of the earlier sections, this dynamic is discussed in the context of the rectification of lines and the transmission of the light of Ḥokhma through Bina to the lower levels. Ḥokhma and Bina are always positioned in this state of “face” and “back,” until Ze’er Anpin ascends to them as feminine waters.256This yearning of Ze'er Anpin for the light of Ḥokhma triggers Bina to “face” Ḥokhma and receive the flow of light in order to pass it through to Ze'er Anpin.
Since there is a connection between Bina of the direct light to give the illumination of Ḥokhma to Ze’er Anpin of the direct light257This idea is expressed in the preceding footnote. Bina and Ze'er Anpin are connected in the flow of supernal (direct) light of Ḥokhma, in that Bina transmits this light to Ze'er Anpin. Thus, when Ze'er Anpin ascends as feminine waters, this yearning triggers Bina to face Ḥokhma to receive the light of Ḥokhma on behalf of Ze'er Anpin.
However, as explained, Bina does not truly receive this light, but only transmits it. (as explained in “Petiḥa LeḤokhmat HaKabbala,” section 5) – therefore, when Ze’er Anpin ascends as feminine waters to Bina, Bina immediately turns her face back to Ḥokhma to receive from it the brains of the face – which are the brains of the illumination of Ḥokhma – for Ze’er Anpin. This is just as Bina does in the five levels of the direct light. It is then recognized that the Ḥokhma has reached a state of “face-to-face” with Bina.