Of Grace and the Spirit of Life: Selections from the Kabbalistic Zohar, Part 1 of 2

Today, we would like to present selections from the Lesser Holy Assembly, a volume of the Zohar where Rabbi Schimeon wavers between this world and the next. He instructed his students to celebrate his death that day as a Yom Hillula (wedding) as it would messianically unite the immanent and transcendent Ohr "Divine Lights" of Creation. It is a pleasure to share excerpts from ‘The Kabbalah Unveiled,’ specifically Chapters 3 and 4 of The Lesser Holy Assembly, where Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai discusses the inner Heavenly Light from the forehead and the white brilliance of the eyes of the Most Holy Ancient One.

CHAPTER 3 CONCERNING THE FOREHEAD OF THE MOST HOLY ANCIENT ONE.

“THE Forehead, which is uncovered in the Most Holy Ancient One, is called Grace. For that Supernal Head concealed in the Higher, which no man has known, expands a certain external manifestation, beautiful and gracious, which is comprehended in the Forehead. And since He Himself is the grace of all graciousness; hence He assumes the conformation of the Forehead, which is disclosed in the most intense Light (otherwise, has a formation in the figure of a leaf). And when It is disclosed, the grace of all graciousness is found in all worlds. And all the prayers of the Inferiors are accepted; and the countenance of Microprosopus is illuminated, and all things are found to exist in mercy. […]”

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

“THE eyes of the Head of the Most Holy Ancient One are two in one, equal, which ever watch, and sleep not. Like as it is written, Psalm 121:4: ‘The Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps,’ namely, of Israel the holy. And therefore are there no eyebrows nor eyelashes unto His eyes. This Brain is conformed and illuminated with three supernal white brilliances. With this white brilliance are the eyes of Microprosopus bathed. Flowing down from the fulness of that primal white brilliance. And with the remaining white brilliances are the other lights cleansed and purified. The Brain is called the fountain of Benevolence, the fountain wherein all blessings are found. And since this Brain radiates into the three white brilliances of the eye (of Microprosopus), hence is that called the ‘good eye,’ concerning which it is said, Proverbs 22:9: ‘It shall be blessed,’ or rather that from it depends blessing. For, through the Brain, are manifested the white brilliances of the eye. And when this eye looks upon Microprosopus, all the worlds are (in a state of) happiness. This is the right eye. […]”