Of Grace and the Spirit of Life: Selections from the Kabbalistic Zohar, Part 2 of 2

It is a pleasure to share excerpts from ‘The Kabbalah Unveiled,’ Chapters 4 to 6 of The Lesser Holy Assembly, where Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai describes the physical features of the Most Holy Ancient One. The eyes possess the ability to see everything and never sleep; the nose brings forth the Spirit of Life; and the beard symbolizes the influence that the life of all things depends.

CHAPTER 4 CONCERNING THE EYES OF THE MOST HOLY ANCIENT ONE.

“For that which is concealed pertains unto the Most Holy Ancient One, the Concealed in all things. But that, indeed, which is manifested, because it depends, belongs unto Microprosopus. And therefore do all the blessings require both concealment and manifestation. Those concealed letters which hang behind depend on the Most Holy Ancient One. Wherefore do they hang behind? For the purpose of establishing the Inferior Yod. (Otherwise, assuredly from the Skull, from the Forehead, from the Eyes, do they depend. And the Yod Maternal depends towards the Inferior Yod.)”

CHAPTER 5 CONCERNING THE NOSE OF THE MOST HOLY ANCIENT ONE.

“THE NOSE. From this nose, from the openings of the nostrils, the Spirit of Life rushes forth upon Microprosopus. And from that opening of the nose, from those openings of the nostrils, depend the letter He, in order to establish the other and Inferior He. And that Spirit proceeds from the hidden brain, and She is called the Spirit of Life, and through that Spirit will all men understand Chokmatha, Wisdom, in the time of King Messiah. As it is written, Isaiah 11:2: ‘And the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, Ruach Chokmah Va-Binah, shall rest upon Him,’ and so forth. This nose is life in every part; perfect joy, rest of spirit, and health. […]”

CHAPTER 6 CONCERNING THE BEARD OF THE MOST HOLY ANCIENT ONE.

From the Beard of the Most Holy Ancient One hangs the whole ornament of all, and the Influence; for all things are called from that beard, Influence. This is the Ornament of all Ornaments, and this influence do all the superiors and inferiors alike behold. From this Influence depends the life of all things. From this Influence Heavens and Earth depend, the rains of grace, and the nourishment of all things. From this Influence comes the Providence of all things. From this Influence depend all the superior and inferior hosts. […]”