That feeling is central to understanding the Zohar, the foundational text of Jewish mysticism, and especially as illuminated by Baal HaSulam in his profound prefaces.
He grapples with a seemingly simple yet incredibly complex idea: "He, His life, and His attributes are one." What does that mean?
Baal HaSulam, in his "Preface to Zohar," breaks it down for us, always with the caveat that we're talking about something inherently beyond our full comprehension. He explains that these three aspects – "He," "His life," and "His attributes" – are all understood in relation to those who receive them. That's us! Our perspective shapes how we perceive these divine emanations.
Think of it this way: "His attributes" are like the reflections of light in the lower worlds of Beria, Yetzira, and Asiya. These are three of the four worlds in Kabbalah, realms of Creation, Formation, and Action, respectively. Baal HaSulam specifies that these worlds lie below the parsa, or diaphragm, of Atzilut. That parsa? Imagine it as a spiritual barrier, a filter. The full, unfiltered light of Atzilut, the world of Emanation, doesn't pass below it. Instead, only the illumination of the vessels, the containers that hold the light, make it through. This is what we perceive as "His attributes."
"His life," on the other hand, is the illumination of the light of Atzilut itself. This happens when Beria, Yetzira, and Asiya ascend – when we, through our spiritual work, elevate our consciousness to connect with that higher realm. It’s a more direct experience of the Divine.
And "He"? Well, "He" is the essence of Divinity itself, completely beyond our grasp. The Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar emphasizes this point: even though we can distinguish these three aspects, these distinctions are only relevant to us, the recipients.
Here’s the mind-bending part: from the perspective of Atzilut itself, even "His attributes" are an expression of "He." It's all one, unified essence. This is why the world of Atzilut is ultimately incomprehensible to us.
Baal HaSulam uses the metaphor of the color white to explain this. White light contains all colors, but in its pure form, it's impossible to define or grasp. It’s a complete, simple unity. Similarly, in Atzilut, everything is unified in a way that transcends our ability to comprehend it.
So, what’s the takeaway? Perhaps it's this: while we can strive to understand the Divine through its attributes and manifestations, we must also remember that the ultimate reality is beyond our grasp. The journey of understanding is itself the point, a constant striving toward a light we can only ever glimpse. And maybe, just maybe, in that striving, we get a little closer to understanding the One.