to a fascinating concept about how the Divine light interacts with our world, as explained by Baal HaSulam in his "Preface to Zohar."
Specifically, let's talk about the light that's “enclothed” in vessels. Now, what does that even mean? In Kabbalistic thought, the sefirot (divine attributes) are often described as vessels that contain and channel the Divine light. Think of it like stained glass – the light is always there, pure and brilliant, but the glass colors and shapes it, giving us different expressions of that light.
But here's the crucial distinction. Baal HaSulam emphasizes a profound difference between the light enclothed in the ten vessels of Beria (Creation), Yetzira (Formation), and Asiya (Action), and the vessels themselves. The light, even when it appears within the lower vessel of Asiya – the world closest to our own, the world of action and manifestation – remains Divinity itself. It is a simple unity, without any change, God forbid. Even in the most "distant" or "diluted" expression of the Divine, the light itself remains utterly, perfectly Divine. It's a radical idea!
So, where does the change come from? Where does all that kaleidoscopic variation originate? According to Baal HaSulam, it's all in the vessels, the sefirot themselves. These vessels aren't divine in the same way. They possess what he calls "three hues" – think of these as primary colors – and from these three hues, an endless multitude of changes are fashioned.
The vessels are the filters, the lenses, the stained glass that refracts the pure Divine light into the myriad forms we perceive. The light itself remains one, whole, and unchanged. The Zohar tells us that the light is constantly emanating and providing sustenance for all of existence, and this concept really underscores that point.
What does this mean for us? It means that even in the midst of the chaos and complexity of our world, even when things seem dark or confusing, the source of it all remains pure, unified Divinity. It's a comforting thought, isn't it? Like knowing that even the muddiest river still flows from a clear spring. It reminds us that the potential for unity and wholeness resides within everything, waiting to be revealed.