Section: The World of Repair (Openings 59–69)
This chapter specifies the separate functions of MaH and BaN within each Partzuf-level. Two parts: (Part 1) Sefirot of BaN root all aspects of damage — every pathway providing a place for defects and ensuing punishments. Sefirot of MaH root all aspects of repair — to repair those very defects. They are parallel: MaH-repairs are exactly calibrated to BaN-damages. Things not permanently fixed: MaH may hold sway → only good emerges. Or BaN's nature may reawaken → MaH unable to hold sway → damages emerge. Pathways for damage are prepared with exact precision (neither less nor more than required) — this is the cause of flaws in the lights above and punishments in the world below. Sin → flaws lights above → person suffers interruption of goodness → Other Side gains sway through the flaw → evil dealt out commensurate to deeds → flaw disappears as the sinner is punished. (Part 2) For the sake of the governmental order based on reward and punishment and free will, every level must be constructed out of both MaH and BaN. Every level has a corresponding level of human service; all service is based on free will; wherever choice exists, there is the possibility of damage/repair, reward/punishment. So evil exists in each level through its BaN-side; good through its MaH-side.
This is the unit's fourth chapter. After Op. 61 said the Tree is constructed from MaH-joined-BaN-via-Partzuf, Op. 62 specifies what each contributes: BaN roots damage; MaH roots repair; every level needs both.
Part 1 — Separate functions of MaH and BaN. BaN = root of all damage; MaH = root of all repair. Parallel and exact. Not permanently fixed: outcome depends on whether MaH holds sway. Sin causes flaws in lights above; punishments below follow.
Part 2 — Why both are needed in every level. Reward-and-punishment + free will = every level needs both MaH (good) and BaN (evil possibility). Where choice → both possibilities.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
פעולת מ"ה וב"ן בהנהגה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The Sefirot of BaN are the root of defects and punishments, while facing them are the Sefirot of MaH, which repair them. Plain English: Theme: BaN-Sefirot = root of defects/punishments; MaH-Sefirot face them and repair.
Concepts: ban_expansion, mah_expansion, ban_root_of_damage, mah_root_of_repair, tikkun_repair.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
בספירות ב"ן נשרשים כל דברי הקלקולים, דהיינו כל מה שנותן מקום לפגמים להימצא, ואחריהם לעונשים. בספירות מ"ה - כל דברי התיקון, לתקן קלקולים אלה. ולפי ההנהגה הצריכה, צריך שכל מדרגה תהיה בנויה משניהם. ואז מצד ב"ן שבה - ימצאו כל עניני הרע, ומצד מ"ה - כל עניני הטוב:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> In the Sefirot of BaN are rooted all the different aspects of damage – i.e. everything that provides a place for the existence of defects and the ensuing punishments. In the Sefirot of MaH are rooted all aspects of the repair – to repair these defects. For the sake of the required governmental order, it is necessary for every level to be constructed out of both of them. Then all aspects of evil will exist in that level through the side of BaN within it and all aspects of good through the side of MaH. Plain English: Five claims: (1) Sefirot of BaN root all aspects of damage — defects + punishments; (2) Sefirot of MaH root all aspects of repair; (3) for governmental order, every level must be constructed out of both; (4) evil exists in each level through BaN-side; (5) good through MaH-side.
Concepts: ban_root_of_damage, mah_root_of_repair, paired_construction_per_level, free_will_requires_both.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
אחר שהזכרנו חיבור מ"ה וב"ן, עכשיו צריך לפרש מהו תולדת כל אחד מהם:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Having introduced the subject of the joining of MaH and BaN, we must now specify the different effects of each one. Plain English: Op. 59-61 introduced the joining. Now: different effects of each.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלקי המאמר הזה ב'. ח"א, בספירות ב"ן, והוא ענין מ"ה וב"ן, כל אחד בפני עצמו. ח"ב, ולפי ההנהגה, והוא ענין חיבורם:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> This proposition has two parts: Part 1: In the Sefirot of BaN... This explains the separate functions of MaH and BaN. Part 2: For the sake of the required governmental order... This explains how they are joined together. Plain English: Two parts: (1) separate functions; (2) how joined.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק א: בספירות ב"ן נשרשים כל דברי הקלקולים, ספירות דב"ן הם שרשי הקלקולים, כמ"ש למעלה כבר, אלא שספירות מ"ה מחזירים אותם לטוב כנ"ל. אך לפי שלא נקבעו הדברים בשלמות, יכול להיות שספירות מ"ה יתגברו על ב"ן, ולא יהיו אלא לטובה, ויכול ח"ו לחזור ולהתעורר הטבע של ב"ן, שעדיין לא נשתנה לגמרי, שלא יניח מ"ה להתגבר עליהם. ומשם יוצאים הקלקולים ח"ו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 1: In the Sefirot of BaN are rooted all the different aspects of damage... The Sefirot of BaN are the roots of the various kinds of damage, as already explained earlier, while the Sefirot of MaH bring them back to good, as stated above. But because things were not permanently fixed to perfection, the Sefirot of MaH may hold sway over those of BaN, producing only good. On the other hand, it is also possible, heaven forbid, for BaN's intrinsic nature to be reawakened since this has still not been completely changed. This can prevent MaH from holding sway over the Sefirot of BaN, out of which come forth the various kinds of damage. Plain English: BaN-Sefirot = roots of various damages; MaH-Sefirot bring them back to good. Not permanently fixed: MaH may hold sway (only good); or BaN's intrinsic nature reawakens (still not completely changed) → MaH cannot hold sway → damages emerge.
Concepts: ban_root_of_damage, mah_root_of_repair, mah_ban_joining, kelipot.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
דהיינו כל מה שנותן מקום לפגמים להימצא, כי סדר הקלקולים כך הוא - אם לא היו דרכים מוכנים, שבהם האורות יכולים ליחשך וליפגם ח"ו, אז לא היה מציאות זה של קלקול בעולם. אלא כבר הדרכים מוכנים בדקדוק ושיעור, לא פחות ולא יותר ממה שצריך. ועל ידי זה הפגמים נעשים למעלה, והעונשים למטה, כדלקמן. וכלל הדרכים האלה הם לפי הנהגתו של ב"ן:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...i.e. everything that provides a place for the existence of defects... For the phenomenon of damage and destruction is ordered in such a way that if pathways had not been prepared whereby the lights can be darkened and flawed, this phenomenon of damage would simply not exist in the world. However, the pathways have already been prepared with exact precision and measure, neither less nor more than what is required. This is the cause of the flaws in the lights above and the punishments in the world below, as it goes on to say. Overall these pathways are in accordance with the rule of BaN. Plain English: Damage is ordered: pathways prepared so lights can be darkened/flawed. Without these pathways, damage would not exist. Pathways prepared with exact precision and measure — neither less nor more than required. Cause of flaws in lights above and punishments below. Overall in accordance with rule of BaN.
Concepts: ban_root_of_damage, exact_measure_of_roots, kelipot.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ואחריהם לעונשים, זה פשוט, כי כשנתחשכו האורות למעלה - כך פוסקת טובה מן הגורם הדבר הזה למטה. וכך מתגברים עליו מדרגות של ס"א, שתוקפת בפגם ההוא, ועושה לו רעה לפי מעשיו, בעוד שיש רושם פגם ההוא למעלה, שהולך וכלה לפי העונש שסובל החוטא:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...and the ensuing punishments. This is obvious, because when the lights are darkened above (through sin), the person who caused this suffers a corresponding interruption in the flow of goodness, and this is how the governmental levels of the Other Side gain sway over him. For the Other Side has the opportunity to attack through this flaw (in the lights caused by the sin), and as long as some trace of that flaw remains above, the Other Side deals out evil to the perpertrator commensurate to his deeds. The flaw steadily disappears in accordance with the punishment suffered by the sinner. Plain English: Sin → lights darkened above → person suffers corresponding interruption of goodness. Other Side's governmental levels gain sway over him. Other Side attacks through this flaw (caused by sin); as long as trace of flaw remains above, Other Side deals out evil commensurate to deeds. Flaw steadily disappears as the sinner is punished.
Concepts: sin_flaws_above_punishes_below, sitra_achra, kelipot, reward_and_punishment_purpose.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
בספירות מ"ה - כל דברי התיקון: לתקן קלקולים אלה, שהם בהקבלה - תיקוני מ"ה הם לתקן קלקול ב"ן. ועל פי הסדר הזה נעשה ההתחברות של מ"ה וב"ן. כי לקלקולים הנ"ל צריך לתת אותם התיקונים, המתקנים דווקא אותם הקלקולים:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> In the Sefirot of MaH are rooted all aspects of the repair – to repair these defects. They are parallel: the repairs of MaH come to repair the damage of BaN. It was through this arrangement that the joining of MaH and BaN was brought about. For the above-mentioned defects require precisely those repairs that have the power to rectify these very defects. Plain English: Parallel: MaH-repairs come to repair the damage of BaN. This arrangement = the joining of MaH and BaN. Defects require precisely those repairs that have the power to rectify them.
Concepts: mah_root_of_repair, mah_ban_joining, tikkun_repair.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק ב: ולפי ההנהגה הצריכה - השכר והעונש הצריך, בסוד הבחירה כידוע: צריך שכל מדרגה תהיה בנויה משניהם, שהרי בכל מדרגה יש עבודה לפי אותה המדרגה, וכל העבודה היא בבחירה. ובכל מקום שיש בחירה - יש קלקול ותיקון, שכר ועונש. על כן צריך שכל מדרגה תהיה בנויה משניהם: ואז מצד ב"ן שבה - ימצאו כל עניני הרע, ומצד מ"ה - כל עניני הטוב:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> For the sake of the required governmental order... In other words, in order to produce a governmental order based on the required principle of reward and punishment to make a place for free will ...it is necessary for every level to be constructed out of both of them. For every level has a corresponding level of service on the part of man, and man's whole service is based on free will. Wherever there is choice, there is the possibility of damage and repair, reward and punishment. This is why every level must be constructed out of both of them. Then all aspects of evil will exist in that level through the side of BaN within it and all aspects of good through the side of MaH. Plain English: Part 2. Governmental order based on reward and punishment and free will. Every level must be constructed out of both. Every level has a corresponding level of human service; all service based on free will. Wherever choice → possibility of damage/repair, reward/punishment. Evil per BaN-side; good per MaH-side.
Concepts: paired_construction_per_level, free_will_requires_both, reward_and_punishment_purpose, mans_choice_gives_control, mah_ban_joining.
Op. 62 specifies the separate functions of MaH and BaN within each Partzuf-level. The Sefirot of BaN root all aspects of damage — every pathway providing a place for defects and ensuing punishments. The Sefirot of MaH root all aspects of repair — to repair those very defects. They are parallel: MaH's repairs are exactly calibrated to BaN's damages — the defects require precisely those repairs that have the power to rectify these very defects. This arrangement is the joining of MaH and BaN. Things are not permanently fixed: MaH may hold sway (only good emerges); or BaN's intrinsic nature reawakens (since it has not been completely changed), preventing MaH from holding sway → damages emerge. The pathways for damage are prepared with exact precision and measure (Op. 50: neither less nor more than required) — this is the cause of flaws in the lights above and punishments in the world below. Sin operates by a precise mechanism: (1) sin flaws the lights above; (2) the person suffers a corresponding interruption in the flow of goodness; (3) the Other Side gains sway through that flaw; (4) the Other Side deals out evil commensurate to the deeds; (5) the flaw steadily disappears as the sinner is punished. Part 2 makes the structural claim: every level must be constructed out of both MaH and BaN. Why? Because the governmental order requires reward and punishment, and that requires free will; and free will requires the possibility of both good and evil; every level has a corresponding level of human service; all service is based on free will; wherever there is choice, there is the possibility of damage and repair, reward and punishment. So evil exists in each level through its BaN-side; good through its MaH-side — and every level needs both.
ban_root_of_damage, mah_root_of_repair, paired_construction_per_level, sin_flaws_above_punishes_below, free_will_requires_both.Op. 62 specifies that BaN roots damage; MaH roots repair. Every level needs both for free will.