The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, a Kabbalistic text exploring the depths of wisdom, dives headfirst into this very conundrum. It grapples with the relationship between Atzilut, the World of Emanation – a realm of divine light – and what it calls the “Unknown Head,” the source from which Atzilut itself springs.
Imagine trying to follow a single thread, something that exists right here in Atzilut, all the way back to its origin in that "Unknown Head." According to the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, we’d quickly find ourselves lost. We wouldn't be able to "find our arms and legs," as it puts it. In other words, we would become utterly disoriented and unable to grasp anything definitively.
Why is this so difficult? Well, you might think that because the "Unknown Head" is the root of Atzilut, we could just climb back up the branches, from the manifestation to the source, and understand it. But the text argues that our perception of this root is simply too uncertain. It’s like trying to pinpoint a star in the night sky with blurry vision.
When we try to trace something back to its origin, we're always left wondering: does it belong on this side or that side? Does it originate from this particular interconnection or another? It seems like multiple possibilities rule, and yet, that can’t be the case! Everything must have its specific place, its unique source. As the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah emphasizes, "the entire governmental order runs through one particular aspect at any given time.”
So, what’s the problem? The uncertainty lies in pinpointing that exact place, that specific ruling combination, the precise source where any given aspect of Atzilut is rooted. It looks like it could be all of them. Initially, it seems like one thing, but upon further investigation, it appears to be something else entirely. And ultimately, we're left unable to reach a definitive conclusion.
Does this mean the quest is futile? Perhaps not. Maybe the point isn't to arrive at a neat and tidy answer, but to embrace the mystery, to acknowledge the limits of our perception when we confront the ultimate source of all things. Maybe the journey itself, the constant questioning and exploration, is the real reward. It is in this tension between the known and the unknown that we find ourselves grappling with the profound questions of existence.