And Baal HaSulam, in his introduction to this foundational text of Kabbalah, gives us a glimpse into why.
He talks about the world of Asiya. Now, in Kabbalah, we often speak of different worlds or realms, each representing a different level of spiritual reality. Asiya is often called the world of action, the lowest of the four worlds. According to Baal HaSulam, this entire world, with its five Sefirot – Keter, Chochmah, Binah, Tiferet, and Malchut (KaḤaV TuM) – represents aspects of Malchut. Malchut? That's often understood as the realm of manifestation, the vessel that receives and expresses the divine light. Baal HaSulam equates it only to the purification of the inanimate. Think of it as the most basic, fundamental level of our being, the raw material.
He argues that these five Sefirot within Asiya are really just parts of Malchut. So, if a person purifies the inanimate aspect of their desire to receive – their most basic, reflexive selfishness – they've aligned themselves with the entire world of Asiya. But that's not the end of the story, is it?
Each and every Sefira in Asiya receives from corresponding aspects of higher worlds. It's like a cosmic trickle-down effect. The Sefira of Tiferet in Asiya, for example, receives from the world of Yetzira – the world of formation – which is entirely an aspect of Tiferet and the light of Ruach (spirit). The Sefira of Binah in Asiya receives from the world of Beria – the world of creation – which is entirely an aspect of Neshama (soul). And the Sefira of Chochmah in Asiya receives from the world of Atzilut – the world of emanation – which is entirely Chochmah and the light of Chaya (life-force). Layers upon layers, constantly influencing each other.
So, even if someone has only permanently purified that inanimate part of themselves, if they temporarily purify the other three parts of their desire to receive, what happens? According to Baal HaSulam, they can still receive Ruach, Neshama, and Chaya – spirit, soul, and life-force – from Tiferet, Binah, and Chochmah of Asiya. It's like opening a tiny window to a vast and beautiful landscape.
But here's the catch, and it’s a big one: that reception is only temporary. The moment one part of their unpurified desire awakens, those lights – that connection – are immediately lost. Poof! Gone.
Why is this important? It highlights the ongoing, moment-to-moment nature of spiritual work. It's not enough to achieve a single moment of clarity or purification. It requires constant vigilance, a continuous effort to refine our desires and align ourselves with the divine flow. It reminds us that spiritual growth isn't a destination, but a journey of constant return, of striving to hold onto those fleeting moments of connection and to make them more permanent. It's about building a vessel strong enough to contain the light.