It touches on something we all experience: the interplay between expansion and limitation, light and...well, not-so-light.
The text states that "Expanding Judgment causes darkness…" Sounds a bit dramatic. But when you unpack it, it’s surprisingly insightful.
What is this din (דין), this "Judgment" it speaks of? It's not about punishment in the traditional sense, but rather about limitation and restraint. Think of it as the boundaries that define something, the container that holds it.
Now, imagine a brilliant light. A source of incredible energy and potential. If that light is subjected to too much din, too much limitation, what happens? According to the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, it causes darkness. Why? Because that light’s natural tendency is to radiate, to expand, to share its brilliance. But the limitations prevent it from doing so fully.
It's like trying to pour a gallon of water into a pint jar. The jar, in this case, is din.
The text goes on to explain that when "Judgment rules in a given light, this prevents its innate powers from expanding…with their full force." It's like a dimmer switch turned way down. The potential is still there, but the full radiance is being held back. This, the text suggests, is a state of incompleteness.
But here's where it gets interesting. The absence of this restraint, the removal of that limitation, is what allows the light to become complete. It’s what allows it to truly shine.
Think about a seed. It contains the potential for a mighty tree, but it's confined by its shell. Only when the shell breaks, when the limitations are removed, can the seed sprout and grow.
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah uses this idea to explain different states of being. It suggests that concepts like pregnancy and immaturity can be seen as outcomes of din. The potential for maturity is there from the beginning, but the active influence of limitation prevents it from manifesting fully right away. The active ingredient of time must pass to allow the limitation to recede.
All those different states, from deficiency to completeness, depend on the intensity of the restraint. The more restraint, the less radiance. The less restraint, the more the light can shine. We can measure these states by observing the degree to which din rules or is negated.
So, what does this mean for us? Perhaps it's a reminder to examine the limitations we place on ourselves. The judgments, the restraints, the boundaries we've erected that prevent our own inner light from shining its brightest.
Maybe, just maybe, releasing some of that din, letting go of some of those limitations, is the key to unlocking our own completeness. What limitations are you imposing on your own light? What would it look like to let it shine a little brighter?