We’re not talking about grasping the entirety of God – that's considered far beyond our reach. Instead, we focus on what is accessible: the light that filters down to us.
Think of it this way: imagine the government of the universe, the way things are ordered and guided from on high. Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, an important Kabbalistic text, suggests this government isn't some distant, abstract entity. It's actually concealed within the very heart of existence, permeating everything, even our own bodies. But it's revealed, made visible, through the face.
From there, the revelation continues, almost like light shining through cracks or fissures. And that's what we're truly concerned with when we delve into Kabbalah: the "radiant splendor" emerging through those openings. It's the last, most accessible point of contact. This idea that the divine is revealed through fissures, imperfections, and the spaces between things is a deeply powerful concept.
Why is this so important? Because that light, that "radiant splendor," is all we can truly apprehend. Everything "more interior" – closer to the source – is simply too elevated, too beyond our limited human capacity. It's like trying to stare directly at the sun.
And what is this radiant splendor, this filtered light? It constitutes all the worlds, in all their diverse and intricate aspects. The Kabbalah sees the universe as a complex tapestry woven from this divine light, refracted and manifested in countless forms.
We only perceive fragments, movements, glimpses of this splendor. Think of it as watching shadows dancing on a wall, knowing there's a complex play of objects and light creating them, but only seeing the outlines.
The core idea? All of this – the worlds, the light, the movements – is rooted deep, deep within the "supreme government." Everything stems from that unknowable source. But it's the revealed aspects, the "radiant splendor," that provide us with the keys, however small, to understanding the larger mystery.
So, the next time you feel like you're only seeing a small piece of the puzzle, remember the "radiant splendor." Remember that even a glimpse of the light can illuminate the path, and that focusing on what is revealed can lead to profound understanding, even if the whole picture remains forever beyond our grasp.