It speaks of Atika, often translated as the "Ancient One," a profound and complex aspect of the Divine. And what’s so special about this Atika? It exists entirely "in one light," the text tells us.
What does that mean?
It means it's under the sway of Chassadim, acts of loving-kindness. Think of it as being bathed in an endless ocean of mercy. Because of this overwhelming compassion, there's simply no space for judgment, for harshness, for anything that isn't pure, unadulterated goodness. It’s a radical idea, isn't it?
The text goes on to say that Atika is "completely joyous and never changing from shining with mercy." It’s a constant, a source of unwavering benevolence. Even though we can conceptually divide it into three columns – right, left, and central, a common Kabbalistic way of understanding Divine attributes – it never strays from the right column, the side associated with mercy and Chassadim.
Now, things get a little intricate here. The Idra Zuta mentions the "thirteen attributes of Mercy." What are these? Well, they stem from the incomprehensible Chochmah, or Wisdom, within Atika. This Wisdom is divided into "three times four," equaling twelve. But Atika itself encompasses and controls all of these twelve aspects, therefore, including Atika itself, we arrive at thirteen.
It's a complex notion, beautifully illustrating the intricate relationship between Divine wisdom and Divine mercy.
So, what can we take away from this mystical description of Atika? Perhaps it's the reminder that at the very heart of existence, there lies an infinite wellspring of compassion, a light that never dims, a joy that never fades. And maybe, just maybe, tapping into that light within ourselves is the key to finding that same unwavering joy in our own lives. Food for thought, isn't it?