In Kabbalah, the concept of maturity is intricately linked to the flow of divine light and the rectification of creation. It's a process of things returning to their rightful place, like a cosmic homecoming.
To understand this, we need to rewind a bit and talk about the "constriction," or tzimtzum, a core concept in Kabbalistic thought. Imagine a divine vessel, overflowing with light. To make space for creation, this light had to contract, to constrict itself. This constriction, however, led to a state of "immaturity," where everything was a bit out of alignment. As we've discussed, this constricted state split apart every level from Nekudim downward, pushing Bina, Tiferet and Malkhut of the level to the level below.
But here's where it gets interesting. The yearning from below, what's called the ascent of "feminine waters," triggers a flow from above – specifically from Arikh Anpin (the "Long Face" or "Vast Countenance"). This flow causes Malkhut to descend from Bina, where it had been residing due to the second constriction, back to its rightful place. And that is the "state of maturity."
So, what does this mature state actually look like? Well, it's a state where Malkhut has reverted and descended from the place of Bina to its own place. Bina, Tiferet, and Malkhut return to their respective levels, and each level is completed with all five vessels: Keter, Ḥokhma, Bina, Tiferet, and Malkhut; and with all five lights: Nefesh, Ruaḥ, Neshama, Ḥaya, and Yeḥida. Think of it as cosmic harmony restored, everything in its proper order, radiating with its full potential.
As we are told, this state is that in which the Malkhut, which constitutes the mystical meaning of the yod that entered the or (light) and turned it into avir (air), reverted and left the avir so that the avir once again became or. Remember, as we discussed earlier, the yod entering the or (light) and turning it into avir (air) is a fascinating concept.
Now, within this state of maturity, we can discern three distinct levels, represented by the Hebrew letters mem, lamed, and tzaddi. These three letters together form the word tzelem (צלם), which means "image." According to the Sulam commentary, these are referred to as the "brains of maturity," reflecting the structure resulting from the rectification of these lines.
The Zohar tells us that the concept of tzelem is incredibly profound. It's more than just a reflection; it's the embodiment of the divine within us. The tzelem will be elaborated upon in the next sections.
So, what does all this mean for us? Perhaps it suggests that spiritual growth isn't just about accumulating knowledge, but about realigning ourselves with the divine flow, allowing our own inner Malkhut to return to its rightful place. Maybe true maturity isn't just about getting older, but about becoming a clearer, more radiant image – a tzelem – of the divine.