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the beginning Ein Sof, the kabbalist Infinity of God, emanated
ten sefirot, which are of its essence, united with it. It and
they are entirely one.
To help you conceive
this, imagine water flowing through vessels of different colors: red,
green, and so forth. As the water spreads through those vessels, it
appears to change into the colors of the vessels, although the water
is devoid of all color. The change in color does not affect the water
itself, just our perception of the water.
So it is with
the sefirot. They are vessels, known, for example as Hesed,
Gevurah and Tiferet, each colored according to its function,
white, red, and green, respectively, while the light of the emanator
- their essence - is water, having no color at all.
Better yet, imagine
a ray of sunlight shining through a stained-glass window of ten different
colors. The sunlight possesses no color at all but appears to change
hue as it passes through the different colors of glass. Colored light
radiates through the window.
Just so the sefirot.
The light that clothes itself in the vessels of the sef rot is the
essence, like the ray of sunlight. That essence does not change color
at all, neither judgment nor compassion. Yet by emanating through
the sefirot - the variegated stained glass - judgment or compassion
prevails.
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Light
that makes things seen, makes things invisible. Were it
not for night and the shadow of the earth, the noblest
part of creation had remained unseen and the stars in
heaven invisible.
***
( Sir Thomas Browne, English poet)
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