Zohar Lech Lecha - Section 12 - "Three Levels - Nefesh Ruach Neshamah"

It is recommended to study the section prior to reading the Synopsis.

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha lech Lecha Section 12

It is best to study the Zohar in the following manner:

1. Read out loud the Aramaic Verse. If you need to transliterate in order to read with the sounds of the lettersthe verse see below. If you use the transliteration tool than make sure you scan the Aramaic first and last.

2. Read the English Translation - if you desire to understand and realize that your understanding will limit the energy you receive. This is why it is important to scan the aramaic verse first.

3.Write out your understanding of the verse. Send it to yeshshem@hotmail.com in an email. Use the Parasha Name and verse number in the subject. By sending your understanding you give yeshshem.com permission to post this to web page and any other uses Yeshshem may see a beneficial use.

4. Now read chanoch's Commentary or additions to enhance and or modify your own personal understanding.

SYNOPSIS:

There are three levels of soul that we can learn to achieve throughout life. We are born into this world with the lowest level of soul. The next two higher levels are attained by way of spiritual accomplishments that we achieve in the course of life.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

Left to his own devices, man would remain enslaved to the primal urges and impulses of the body, the lowest level of soul. Therefore, the energy of this passage infuses us with the strength to help us climb towards the next level of soul.

Pasook 96. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

סִתְרָא דְסִתְרִין, לַחֲכִימֵי לִבָּא אִתְמְסַר, תְּלַת דַּרְגִּין אִינוּן, דַּאֲחִידָן דָּא בְּדָא, וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן: נֶפֶשׁ, רוּחַ, וּנְשָׁמָה. נֶפֶשׁ, אִיהוּ חֵילָא, דְּגוּפָא אִתְבְּנֵי מִנֵּיהּ. דְּכַד בַּר נָשׁ אִתְעַר בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, לְאִזְדַּוְוגָא בְּנוּקְבֵיהּ, כָּל שַׁיְיפֵי מִסְתַּכְּמֵי וּמִתְתַּקְנֵי לְאִתְהַנָּאָה תַּמָּן, וְהַהוּא נֶפֶשׁ וּרְעוּתָא דִילֵיהּ, אִסְתַּכַּם בֵּיהּ בְּהַהוּא עוֹבָדָא, וּמָשִׁיךְ לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא נֶפֶשׁ, וְאָעֵיל לֵיהּ תַּמָּן בְּהַהוּא זַרְעָא דְּאוֹשִׁיד.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

The secret of all secrets is passed on to those who are wise in their hearts. There are three levels that are attached to each other, and they are Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshamah. Nefesh is the force from which the body is built. When a man is aroused in this world to mate with his wife, all parts of the body agree on this and are prepared to receive enjoyment from it. Then the Nefesh and the desire of the person indulge willingly in that act. The Nefesh is drawn down and enters the sperm that comes forth.

chanoch's Commentary

Does this agreement of nbody parts apply to women as well? Does a different nefesh enter each sperm or is it only one nefesh that enters the penetrating sperm?

Pasook 97. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וּמִגּוֹ רְעוּתָא וּמְשִׁיכוּ דְנַפְשָׁא, דְּמָשִׁיךְ תַּמָּן, אִתְמְשַׁךְ חֵילָא אוֹחֲרָא תַּמָּן, מֵאִינוּן דַּרְגִּין דְּאִתְקְרוּן אִישִׁים. וְעָאל כֹּלָּא בִּמְשִׁיכוּ דְּהַהוּא זַרְעָא, וְאִתְבְּנֵי מִנֵּיהּ גּוּפָא. וְדָא אִיהוּ חֵילָא קַדְמָאָה תַּתָּאָה, דְּאִינוּן תְּלַת.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

From the combination of that desire and the Nefesh, another power is drawn from the levels of the angels, who are called Ishim (people). They all enter as the sperm flows, and the body is then built and constructed of them. This is the first and lowest power of the three levels.

chanoch's Commentary

Notice the phrase constructed of them. Perhaps the translation is incorrect. If not then the body is spiritual as well.

Pasook 98. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וּבְגִין דְּהַאי נֶפֶשׁ אַקְרִיב, בִּדְבֵקוּתָא וִיסוֹדָא דְגוּפָא, קָרְבָּנָא, דְּאִתְקְרֵיב לְכַפָּרָא עַל נִשְׁמָתָא, אִתְיְהִיבַת חוּלָקָא לְאִינוּן דַּרְגִּין דְּאִישִׁים. וּבְגִין דִּמְשִׂיכוּ דְּחוּלְקָא דְּהַהוּא נֶפֶשׁ אָתֵי מִנַּיְיהוּ. וְהַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב אֶת קָרְבָּנִי לַחְמִי לְאִשַּׁי. בְּגִין דְּהוּא כַּפָּרָה דְּנֶפֶשׁ, נָטְלֵי חוּלָקֵיהוֹן. וְכַד מִית בַּר נָשׁ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, הַהִיא נֶפֶשׁ לָא אִתְעֲדֵי מִן קִבְרָא לְעָלְמִין. וּבְחֵילָא דָא, יָדְעֵי מֵתַיָיא וּמִשְׁתָּעוֹ דָּא עִם דָּא.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

And because the Nefesh offers a sacrifice by attaching itself to the foundation of the body, which is offered as a sacrifice to atone for the Neshamah, then part of it is offered to those grades that are considered as Ishim. Because part of the Nefesh, THE RUACH OF THE NEFESH, is drawn down from them. As it is written, "My offering and my bread for my fire (Heb. ishai)..." (Bemidbar 28:2), which means to the Ishim. So, because it is an offering THAT COMES FROM THE POWER of the Nefesh, the Ishim take their part as well. THEIR SHARE IS DETERMINED BY THE AMOUNT ENCLOTHED IN THE NEFESH THAT OFFERS THE SACRIFICE. And when one leaves this world, that Nefesh never leaves the grave. And because of the power OF THIS NEFESH THAT REMAINS IN THE GRAVE, the dead know and talk with each other.

chanoch's Commentary

This is clear as written with Rabbi shlag's comments. It reinforces the idea that the body has a spiritual component.

Pasook 99. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

רוּחַ, אִיהוּ דִּמְקַיֵּים לַנֶּפֶשׁ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא. וְאִיהוּ מְשִׁיכוּ דְאִתְעֲרוּתָא דְּנוּקְבָא לְגַבֵּי דְכוּרָא, כַּד אִינוּן בְּתֵיאוֹבְתָּא חָדָא, וּכְדֵין אִתְעָרַת לְגַבֵּי דְכוּרָא בְּתֵיאוֹבְתָּא דִילָהּ, לְהַאי רוּחַ. כְּגַוְונָא דְּנוּקְבָא דִּלְתַתָּא אַשְׁדִיאַת זַרְעָא בְּתֵיאוֹבְתָּא לְגַבֵּי דְכוּרָא. וְסִתְרָא דָא וְהָרוּחַ תָּשׁוּב אֶל הָאֱלֹקִים אֲשֶׁר נְתָנָהּ.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

Ruach gives existence to the Nefesh in this world, AS IT DRAWS DOWN THE ABUNDANCE OF LIFE AND PASSES IT ON TO THE NEFESH. THIS IS THE MIDDLE LEVEL OF THE THREE. It is drawn by the arousal of the Nukva OF ATZILUT toward the male OF ATZILUT, when they are in a state of united passion, NAMELY, DURING THE ACT OF MATING. The female is aroused toward the male because of her passion to receive from him the LIGHT OF Ruach, just like a woman in this world who is inseminated by the power of her passion to RECEIVE FROM the man. And this is the secret of the words, "and the spirit (Ruach) shall return to the Elohim who gave it" (Kohelet 12:7). THIS MEANS THAT IT RETURNS TO THE NUKVA, WHICH IS CALLED BY THE NAME OF ELOHIM. AND EVEN THOUGH THE RUACH IS DRAWN FROM ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS CALLED YUD HEI VAV HEI, NEVERTHELESS, BECAUSE IT IS THE RESULT OF THE AROUSAL OF THE FEMALE, SHE IS THEN CONSIDERED TO BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF IT. SO AFTER DEATH AND DEPARTURE FROM THE BODY, IT RETURNS TO HER.

chanoch's Commentary

With Rabbi Ashlag's comments and contemplation the students of Kabbalah will find this clear as written.

Pasook 100. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וְהַאי רוּחַ נָפְקָא מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, וְאִתְפָּרְשַׁת מִנֶּפֶשׁ, עָאל לְגִנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן, דִּבְהַאי עָלְמָא, וְאִתְלַבַּשׁ תַּמָּן גּוֹ אֲוִירָא דְגִנְתָּא. כְּמָה דְּמִתְלַבְּשֵׁי מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי, כַּד נָחֲתִין לְהַאי עָלְמָא, בְּגִין דְּאִינוּן מֵהַהוּא רוּחַ הֲווֹ, דִּכְתִיב עוֹשֶׂה מַלְאָכָיו רוּחוֹת וגו'

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

And this Ruach, AFTER A PERSON'S DEATH, leaves this world and is separated from the Nefesh, WHICH REMAINS HOVERING OVER THE GRAVE, and it enters the Garden of Eden of this world. There, it clothes itself with the air of the Garden of Eden, just as the supernal angels do when they come down to this world. Then, they clothe and cover themselves with the air of this world, because they were created from that spirit (Ruach), as it is written, "Who makes the winds (also: spirits) his angels" (Tehilim 104:4).

chanoch's Commentary

This verse is clear as written with Rabbi Ashlag's commentary.

Pasook 101. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וּבִמְצִיעוּת גִּנְתָּא, אִית עַמּוּדָא חָדָא, מֵרֻקָּמָא בְּכָל גְּוָונִין. וְהַהוּא רוּחַ, כַּד בָּעָא לְסָלְקָא, אִתְפַּשַּׁט תַּמָּן מֵהַהוּא לְבוּשָׁא, וְעָאל גּוֹ הַהוּא עַמּוּדָא וְסָלֵיק לְעֵילָא, גּוֹ הַהוּא אֲתַר דְּנָפְקַת מִנֵּיהּ, כְּדִכְתִיב וְהָרוּחַ תָּשׁוּב וגו'.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

And in the midst of the Garden, there stands a pillar embroidered with many colors. And when that Ruach wishes to rise up TO THE WORLD OF ATZILUT, it disrobes from that clothing, FROM THE AIR OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN, enters to the pillar, and ascends until it reaches the place from where it came, NAMELY THE NUKVA OF ATZILUT. As it is written, "and the spirit (Ruach) shall return TO THE ELOHIM, WHO GAVE IT."

chanoch's Commentary

With Rabbi Ashlag's commentary the verse is clear as written.

Pasook 102. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וְנָטֵיל לָהּ מִיכָאֵל כַּהֲנָא רַבָּא, וּמַקְרִיב לָהּ קָרְבַּן בּוּסְמִין, קַמֵּי קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְיָתְבָא תַּמָּן וּמִתְעַדְּנָא, בְּהַהוּא צְרוֹרָא דְחַיֵּי, דְּעַיִן לֹא רָאָתָה אֱלֹקִים זוּלָתְךָ וגו'. לְבָתַר נָחֲתָא לְגוֹ גִנְתָּא דְאַרְעָא, וּמִתְעַדְּנָא בְּכָל עִדּונִין, וְאִתְלַבְּשַׁת בְּהַהוּא לְבוּשָׁא, וְיָתְבָא תַּמָּן בְּעִטּוּרָא, עַל חַד תְּרֵין מִכַּמָּה דַּהֲוַת בְּקַדְמֵיתָא.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

And then, Michael, the High Priest, takes THE RUACH and offers it as a sacrifice of sweet savor to the Holy One, blessed be He, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN. And it remains there, IN ZEIR ANPIN OF ATZILUT, and enjoys the delicacies of the bundle of Life, WHICH IS DESCRIBED BY THE VERSE, "no eye had ever seen an Elohim, beside You..." (Yeshayah 64:3). Afterwards, it goes down from there and returns to the earthly Garden of Eden. There, it enjoys all the delicacies, clothes itself again with that same clothing, THAT IS, WITH THE AIR OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN, and dwells there crowned with a crown twice as big as the one that it had possessed before IT ROSE UP TO MALE AND FEMALE OF ATZILUT.

chanoch's Commentary

With Rabbi Ashlag's comments this is clear as written. Yet the reason why the nRuach goes up to tzilut is not revealed.

Pasook 103. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

נְשָׁמָה, הִיא חֵילָא עִלָּאָה עַל כָּל אִלֵּין, וְאִיהִי מֵחֵילָא דִדְכוּרָא, רָזָא דְאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי. וְדָא סָלְקָא לְעֵילָא מִיָּד. וְכָל הַנֵּי תְּלַת דַּרְגִּין מִתְקַשְּׁרִין כַּחֲדָא דָּא בְּדָא. וְכַד מִתְפָּרְשָׁן, כָּלְהוֹ סָלְקִין, וְתָבִין לְהַהוּא אֲתַר דִּנְפָקוּ מִנֵּיהּ.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

The Neshamah is a supernal power high above the other two, NAMELY, THE NEFESH AND THE RUACH. It originates from the power of the male, which is the Tree of Life. THAT IS, ZEIR ANPIN, CALLED 'THE TREE OF LIFE,' DRAWS IT FROM BINAH OF ATZILUT, AND BECAUSE HE DOES SO, HE IS CONSIDERED TO BE ITS ROOT. THIS IS JUST LIKE THE RUACH, WHICH THE NUKVA DRAWS FROM ZEIR ANPIN, AND IS THUS CONSIDERED ITS ROOT. INDEED, THE LIGHT OF ZEIR ANPIN IS CALLED RUACH AND THE LIGHT OF BINAH IS CALLED NESHAMAH. THE NESHAMAH, AFTER MAN'S DEMISE, ascends immediately. IT DOES NOT COME FIRST TO THE EARTHLY GARDEN OF EDEN, AS DOES THE RUACH. RATHER, IT ASCENDS TO ITS ROOT IMMEDIATELY, NAMELY, TO ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS ITS ROOT WITH NO REGARD TO ITS DRAWING IT. And these three levels NEFESH, RUACH, AND NESHAMAH are attached to one another. When they leave THE BODY, they all rise up and return to the places from which they came.

chanoch's Commentary

With Rabbi Ashlag's comments the verse is clear. We learn from our study of reincarnation that the 3 levels are tied together yet they do not elevate from the physical plane together only when they rise to the spiritual level do they rejoin and then separate as they rise to Atzilut.

Pasook 104. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

כַּד הַאי רוּחָא נָפְקַת מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, וְעָאלַת בְּגוֹ מְעַרְתָּא דְּאָדָם וַאֲבָהָן תַּמָּן, אִינוּן יָהֲבִין לָהּ פִּנְקָס סִימָנָא, וְעָאלַת לְגַבֵּי גִנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן. קְרִיבַת תַּמָּן וְאַשְׁכָּחַת כְּרוּבִים וְהַהוּא לַהַט הַחֶרֶב הַמִּתְהַפֶּכֶת. אִי זָכָאת, חָמָאן פִּנְקָס סִימָנָא, וּפָתְחִין לָהּ פִּתְחָא, ועָאלַת. וְאִי לָא, דַּחְיָין לָהּ לְבַר.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

When the Ruach leaves this world and enters the cave of Adam and the Patriarchs, they give it a letter as a sign. Then it goes to the Garden of Eden. When it arrives there, it meets the Cherubs and the flame of the revolving sword. If it is meritorious, then they see the letter, which is the sign, and open the gate for it to enter. If they do not see the letter, they reject it and do not allow it to enter.

chanoch's Commentary

Can you guess which letter?

Pasook 105. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וְיָתְבָא תַּמָּן כָּל הַהוּא זִמְנָא דְּיָתְבָא, מִתְלַבְּשָׁא תַּמָּן בִּדְיוֹקְנָא דְהַאי עָלְמָא. וּבְרֵישׁ יַרְחֵי וְשַׁבַּתֵּי, כַּד בָּעָאת לְסַלְקָא, צַדִּיקַיָּיא דִּבְגִנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן, יַהֲבִין לָהּ פִּנְקָס סִימָנָא, וְסָלְקַת בְּהַהוּא עַמּוּדָא, וּפָגְעַת בְּאִינוּן נָטְרֵי חוֹמוֹת יְרוּשְׁלֵם, אִי זָכְאָה, פָּתְחִין לָהּ פִּתְחָא וְעָאלַת. וְאִי לָא, נָטְלִין מִינָהּ הַהוּא פִּנְקָס וְדַחְיָין לָהּ לְבַר. תָּבַת לְגִנְתָּא, וְאָמְרָה מְצָאוּנִי הַשּׁוֹמְרִים הַסּוֹבְבִים בָּעִיר וגו'. נָשְׂאוּ אֶת רְדִידִי מֵעָלַי. דָּא אִיהוּ פִּנְקָס סִימָנָא, דְּנָטְלֵי מִנֵּיהּ, שׁוֹמְרֵי הַחוֹמוֹת, אִלֵּין אִינוּן נָטְרֵי חוֹמוֹת יְרוּשָׁלֵם. (עַד כָּאן סִתְרֵי תוֹרָה).

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

And it dwells there some time, sitting and clothing itself in the image of this world. And on the first day of the month and on Shabbat, when it wants to rise TO THE UPPER GARDEN OF EDEN, the righteous men who are in the Garden of Eden give it a letter as a sign. And it ascends through that same pillar, WHICH IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LOWER GARDEN OF EDEN, where it meets the watchmen of the walls of Jerusalem. If it is meritorious, they open the gate and it enters. If not, they take the letter away and throw it out. As it is written, "The watchmen that go about the city found me...the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me" (Shir Hashirim 5:7). THE VEIL is the letter given as a sign, which has been taken away from it, by the watchmen of the walls of Jerusalem.

End of Sitrei Torah

chanoch's Commentary

It is clear as written