We're going to dive into some pretty heady stuff here, based on the teachings of the Sulam commentary, specifically section 66. So, buckle up!
The creation, in Kabbalistic thought, isn't a one-time event but a continuous process. It all starts with a partition, a kind of veil or barrier. This partition isn't just any barrier; it holds remnants from the highest realm, Keter. Now, Keter, meaning "crown," is the topmost Sefirah, the first emanation of the Divine. Imagine it as the most refined, subtle aspect of God's will.
This partition, holding remnants of Keter, then generates what's called “Atik of Atzilut." Atik, meaning "ancient," represents the opacity, or hiddenness, of the fourth level. It's the part of Atzilut (the realm of emanation) that remains veiled. According to the Sulam, this remnant generates a "returning light," capable of reaching the height of Keter itself, forming the partzuf of Atik. A partzuf, by the way, is a complex spiritual configuration, almost like a divine persona or face.
Following this, the other remnants within the partition migrate to the place of Atik when Atik is "born." And once Atik is complete, something fascinating happens: a "fusion through collision." Think of it as a powerful interaction between the supernal light and the partition itself. It happens on the uppermost level of the remnant in the partition, which is the third level. This third level, the Sulam explains, has the opacity to generate returning light that climbs as high as Ḥokhma. Ḥokhma, meaning "wisdom," is the second Sefirah, representing divine intellect.
And from this collision springs the height of Arikh Anpin! Arikh Anpin, often translated as "Long Face" or "Long Suffering," is a partzuf associated with the height of Ḥokhma. The remnants in the partition that haven't yet undergone this fusion then descend with the birth of Arikh Anpin to the place of Arikh Anpin.
The cycle continues! When Arikh Anpin is complete, another fusion through collision occurs, this time on the second level of the remnant in the partition. This second level's opacity can generate returning light reaching the height of Binah. Binah, meaning "understanding," is the third Sefirah, representing divine comprehension.
This fusion gives rise to the height of Abba and Imma. Abba (father) and Imma (mother) represent the first three Sefirot of Binah, as discussed in earlier sections of the Sulam (sections 41-43). They are the archetypal parents, the source of all creation.
And so, the Sulam concludes, all the partzufim emerge through this process of fusion through collision between the supernal light and the partition. It's a continuous unfolding, a dance of light and shadow, concealment and revelation.
What can we take away from all this? The Kabbalistic creation story, as illuminated by the Sulam, isn’t just about the past. It's a model for understanding how creation continues to unfold within us, right now. The veils, the remnants, the collisions – they're all metaphors for the challenges and opportunities we face in our own lives as we strive to connect with the Divine.