We're going to delve into a mystical concept from the Idra Zuta, a profound section of the Zohar, that explores just that.
The text introduces us to the idea of Eden. Not just the Garden of Eden we might picture from Genesis, but a higher, more abstract Eden connected to the very source of divine wisdom. This Eden, we are told, is linked to Chochmah, one of the ten Sefirot, or divine emanations, in Kabbalistic thought. Chochmah represents wisdom, and here it's specifically the "Chochmah of the thirty-two paths." Think of these paths as conduits through which divine understanding flows.
But where does this Chochmah originate? From an even more concealed place, the "most concealed highest Eden," described as the "concealed brain." This "concealed brain" is associated with Atika, a term often referring to the Ancient One, the most hidden aspect of the Divine.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. This Eden, this Chochmah, is considered a "beginning" for shining on lower beings, on us. The text emphasizes that in Atika, the "concealed brain," there's neither beginning nor end. It simply is. Beginning and end, rather, belong to Chochmah, both the supernal (higher) and lower manifestations of it.
Why this distinction? Because the "concealed brain" doesn't shine directly on us. Instead, its illumination passes through Mazala (often understood as divine influence or good fortune) and into the "brain of the thirty-two paths"—that lower Chochmah we discussed earlier. This lower brain does have a beginning because it contains Chochmah of the left column, which in Kabbalah represents limitation and judgment. And it has an end: Malchut, the final Sefirah, representing the Kingdom, the realm of manifestation where this Chochmah can be revealed.
The Idra Zuta then makes a fascinating linguistic point. Because Atika has neither beginning nor end, it's not addressed as "you" (second person) but as "he" (third person). It's too distant, too beyond our grasp for direct address. But the place that does contain a beginning, that Chochmah of the thirty-two paths, is called "you" and "father," as in the verse from Isaiah 63:16, "You… are our father." This suggests a closer, more personal relationship with the divine wisdom that manifests in a way we can comprehend and connect with.
So, what does this all mean? Perhaps it's a reminder that true wisdom isn't just about accumulating knowledge. It's about accessing a flow of understanding that originates from a source beyond our comprehension, a source that then manifests in ways that do have a beginning and an end, a way that we can relate to and learn from. It’s a journey from the hidden "He" to the accessible "You," a journey of unfolding revelation. A journey, ultimately, of becoming more human.