It’s not just a physics question; it’s a deeply mystical one. A question the ancient Kabbalists pondered with every fiber of their being. Light, pure and radiant, entering the vessels of our world. What does that even mean?
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, an important Kabbalistic text, gives us a glimpse. It describes the entry of light, how it joins with these vessels – and how that joining ultimately perfects them. It's not just about filling empty spaces. It's about a profound union, a completion of ascents that were destined to happen. Think of it like a key fitting perfectly into a lock, unlocking something incredible.
But what are these "vessels"?
Well, Kabbalah often uses the metaphor of vessels to represent different aspects of creation – our souls, our bodies, even the physical world around us. They are containers, designed to hold and channel the divine light. And just as a vessel can be cracked or broken, so too can these aspects of creation be flawed or incomplete.
So, the entry of light isn't just a passive process. It's an active one, a joining, a filling, a perfecting. This process, the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah tells us, concludes the destined future ascents. It's as if the universe itself is on a journey upwards, a spiritual climb, and the entry of light is the final step.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The text also points to the root of actual evil. It locates this root in Beriyah-Yetzirah-Asiyah. These are the three lower worlds in Kabbalistic cosmology: Beriyah (Creation), Yetzirah (Formation), and Asiyah (Action). They're often considered the realms where things get messy, where the divine light is most veiled, and where the potential for imbalance and negativity exists.
Why these worlds? Because they are closest to our own. They are the realms where free will operates, where choices have consequences, and where the imperfections of creation are most apparent. It's in these lower worlds that the vessels are most susceptible to being broken, to being filled with something other than pure light.
So, what does this all mean for us?
Perhaps it’s a reminder that the journey of light into the world, and into ourselves, is ongoing. That even in the face of darkness and imperfection, there’s always the potential for completion, for ascent. That our choices, our actions in these lower worlds of Beriyah-Yetzirah-Asiyah, play a crucial role in whether we help to bring more light into the world, or whether we contribute to the veiling.
It's a powerful idea, isn’t it? That each of us, in our own way, can participate in this cosmic dance of light and vessels, helping to bring about the destined future ascents.