310. Rabbi Pinchas opened the discussion saying, "A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon" (Shir Hashirim 4:15). "A fountain of gardens:" HE INQUIRES, Does he not have a spring except from gardens? There are so many good and valuable springs in the world. HE RESPONDS: All pleasures are not equal. There is a spring that emerges in the desert, in a dry place, and there is enjoyment in it for whoever sits down and drinks. However, how much better and more precious is that fountain of gardens. It benefits the grasses and the fruits. Whoever gets close to it enjoys everything; he has pleasure from the water, enjoys the grass and benefits from the fruits. That spring is adorned by everything - many roses, many fragrant plants and grasses surrounding it. How worthy is this spring above all other springs. It is a well living water.

311. This is how we established it regarding the Congregation of Yisrael, WHICH IS MALCHUT, which is referred to as a fountain of gardens. Who are the gardens? HE RESPONDS: The Holy One, blessed be He, has five gardens, WHICH ARE CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH AND HOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, in which He takes pleasure. One spring above them, THAT IS, BINAH, is hidden and stored away. It waters and saturates them, and all produce fruits and plants. There is a garden below them, WHICH IS MALCHUT, THAT RECEIVES FROM THE FIVE GARDENS. That garden is protected and surrounded from all directions. Underneath this garden, there are other gardens, IN BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH, that produce a variety of fruits.

312. That garden, WHICH IS MALCHUT, turns into and becomes a watering spring TO ALL THE GARDENS IN BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AMD ASIYAH, a well of living water. When it needs to, it is a spring and when it needs, it is a well. What is the difference between the two? HE REPLIES: Water that flows by itself, LIKE IN A WELL, is not like water that is drawn up to give drink AS IN THE GARDEN. "And streams from Lebanon:" What is the meaning of "streams?" HE RESPONDS: These waters again become a spring when water flows and drops fall down from above, fresh water for which the soul longs. So these are the five sources, WHICH ARE CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH AND HOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, that emerge from Lebanon, WHICH IS BINAH. They become streams in this spring, WHICH IS MALCHUT, WHERETO THEY FLOW DROP BY DROP. So, too, the Holy One, blessed be He, has produced a miracle for us at this place. THAT IS WHY I read this verse about this spring.