152. There are two ears to hear good and bad, and both are considered one, as it is written, "Hashem, bend Your ear, and hear" (II Melachim 19:16). The innermost ear is formed of curved apertures so that the sound will be slowed down in entering the brain; the brain will be able to perceive it and it will not enter quickly, for whatever happens quickly does not possess complete wisdom.

153. From the ears originate all the winged creatures, who receive the sound from the world. They are all called 'the ears of Hashem,' as it is written of them, "for a bird of the sky shall carry the sound..." (Kohelet 10:20). HE ASKS, This verse is difficult, for what sound is there here, if the beginning of the verse writes, "Do not curse the king, no, not even in your thought" (Ibid.). If it says, "in your thought...even in your bedchamber," THEN why the reasoning, "for a bird of the sky shall carry the sound," if there is no sound here BUT THOUGHT?

154. AND HE ANSWERS, Surely man does nothing with whatever he thinks or meditates on until he utters it with his lips, even if he does not mean to. The word he utters cleaves through the air, rises and flies in the world and turns into a sound. The winged ones take that sound; they raise it to the King and it enters His ears. This is the meaning of, "And Hashem heard the voice of your words" (Devarim 5:25), "and Hashem heard it; and His anger was kindled" (Bemidbar 11:1).

155. Therefore, whatever the prayer or entreaty a man asks before the Holy One, blessed be He, he should utter the words with his lips, for if he does not utter them WITH HIS LIPS, his prayer is no prayer nor is his petition a real petition. Once the words are uttered and cleave the air, they rise and fly and become a sound that is taken by someone, who joins them in a holy place in the King's head.

156. From the three cavities of the brain, CHOCHMAH, BINAH AND DA'AT, a trickle drips to the ears; this trickle is called the stream of Kerit as in, "wadi Kerit" (I Melachim 17:3), that is, the cutting off (Heb. keritah) of the ears. The sound enters that place WITHIN THE EAR to be absorbed in the river of that trickle, where it is held and tested to see whether it is good or bad. This is the meaning of, "For the ear tries words" (Iyov 34:3). This is because the sound is slowed down in the river of that trickle in the curve of the ears and does not enter quickly. Then it is tested to see whether it is good or bad, LIKE "the palate tastes food" (Ibid.); this means that it is held in the palate and does not enter the body quickly, so it tastes and distinguishes between sweet and bitter.

157. From the ear cavity derive other cavities: the eye socket, the mouth cavity and the nostrils in the nose. From the sound that enters the ear cavities, if required it enters FROM THE EAR to the sockets of the eyes, and the eyes shed tears. From that sound, if required, it enters the nostrils of the opening in the nose and they bring forth smoke and fire from that sound. This is the meaning of, "and Hashem heard it; and His anger was kindled; and the fire of Hashem burned among them" (Bemidbar 11:1). If necessary, the sound enters the mouth cavity and it speaks and utters words from that sound. Everything is from the sound THAT ENTERS the ears; it enters the whole body and everything trembles from it. Much is derived from that ear. Blessed is he who guards what he says. Hence it is written, "Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile" (Tehilim 34:14).

158. Hearing applies to this ear, NAMELY BINAH CALLED HEARING, and within the hearing are incorporated the brain lobes CHOCHMAH, BINAH AND DA'AT, SINCE CHOCHMAH IS REVEALED ONLY THROUGH BINAH. Chochmah is included in it, as it is written, "Give therefore your servant an understanding (lit. 'hearing') heart" (I Melachim 3:9), HEART (HEB. LEV, =32) BEING THE SECRET OF THE 32 PATHS OF WISDOM. Binah IS INCLUDED WITHIN IT, as it is written, "Speak, for your servant is listening" (I Shmuel 3:10), ALSO we are listening, WHICH MEANS WE UNDERSTAND. Da'at IS INCLUDED WITHIN IT, as it is written, "Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings" (Mishlei 4:10), "and treasure up My commandments with you" (Mishlei 2:1), IN WHICH HEAR MEANS KNOW. Thus everything derives from the ear. THE RECEPTION OF prayers and petitions depends on this ear, as well as the opening of eyes. This is the meaning of, "Hashem, bend Your ear, and hear; open, Hashem, Your eyes, and see" (II Melachim 19:16). Thus everything originates FROM THE EAR.

159. Supreme secrets, NAMELY CHOCHMAH, which do not go outside originate from that ear, which is why it is curved on the inside. The most secret among the secrets are hidden within it. Woe to him who reveals secrets. And when the ear gathers to itself the secrets and the inside curve receives them, it does not reveal secrets to those who follow crooked paths, but to those that walk the STRAIGHT path that is not crooked. This is the meaning of, "The counsel of Hashem is with them that fear Him; and He will reveal to them His covenant" (Tehilim 25:14), for they accept His way and HENCE accept His words.

160. Those whose path is crooked take matters and usher them in quickly, so they have no place to be detained. All the other cavities OF THE EYES AND NOSE open through it so the words come out through the mouth cavity. These are the wicked of the generation, hated by the Holy One, blessed be He. In our B'raita we learned THAT WHOEVER REVEALS SECRETS is as if he killed people and as if he worshiped idols. Everything is derived from the same verse, which says, "You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people; neither shall you stand aside when mischief befalls your neighbor," WHICH IS MURDER; and, "I am Hashem" (Vayikra 19:16), WHICH PROHIBITS IDOLATRY. Whoever transgresses the first part of the verse BY BEARING TALES AND REVEALING SECRETS, it is as if he transgressed them all, MURDER AND IDOLATRY.

161. Blessed is the portion of the righteous, of whom it is written, "but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter" (Mishlei 11:13); surely they are of a faithful spirit, because their spirit is drawn from a supernal, holy place, THAT IS, FROM THE CENTRAL COLUMN. Hence they are considered to be of a faithful spirit. We have explained this sign. Whoever reveals secrets, it is known that his soul is not from the body of the Holy King ZEIR ANPIN, THAT IS, THE CENTRAL COLUMN. Hence there is no secret in him, nor is he from the area of secrets. When his soul leaves his body, it does not cleave to the body of the King, which is not its place. Woe to that man, woe to his soul. Blessed is the portion of the righteous, who conceal secrets, and more so supernal secrets of the Holy One, blessed be He. Of them it is written, "Your people also shall be all righteous; they will inherit the land" (Yeshayah 60:21).