It is forbidden for a man to look at a woman's beauty

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon says that the souls of Adam and Eve came from such a high place that no one could look at their great light and beauty. Only after they sinned was Adam even able to look at Eve and recognize her for the purpose of mating. We learn that men should not look at women lest they be tempted and acquire bad thoughts that will come to them in the night. It is worse still if a man is mating with his wife and has thoughts about another woman, as this results in the birth of impure children.

Aba and Ima Adam Atzilut Eve Neshamah (Soul) Soul (Neshamah) Soul, The Women

70. We learned that the beauty of Adam came from the glow of the supernal knot of the brightness that shines, BEING THE SECRET OF THE GLOW OF ABA, SINCE HE HAD A NESHAMAH OF THE NESHAMAH OF ABA OF ATZILUT. The beauty of Eve was such that no creature could look at her, SINCE HER NESHAMAH OF NESHAMAH OF IMA OF ATZILUT. Even Adam did not look at her until the time they sinned and their beauty was removed. Only then could Adam look at her and recognize her for the purpose of mating. This is the essence of the verse, "And Adam knew his wife again" (Beresheet 4:25). He knew her in everything; he knew her through mating, that is, "knew," in that he recognized her and saw her.

70. וְתָנֵינָן, שְׁפִּירוּ דְּאָדָם קַדְתִּירָא דְּקִיטְרָא עִלָּאָה, מִזִּיהֲרָא דְּנַהֲרָא. שְׁפִּירוּ דְּחַוָּה, דְּלָא הֲווֹ יַכְלִין כָּל בִּרְיָין לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בָּהּ. וַאֲפִילּוּ אָדָם לָא הֲוָה אִסְתְּכַּל בָּהּ, עַד הַהוּא זִמְנָא דְּחָאבוּ, וְאַעְדִּיאַת שְׁפִּירוּ דִּלְהוֹן. כְּדֵין אִסְתָּכַּל בָּהּ אָדָם, וְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע בָּהּ לְשַׁמְּשָׁא בָּהּ. הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב וַיֵּדַע אָדָם עוֹד אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ. וַיֵּדַע: בְּכֹלָּא. וַיֵּדַע: בְּתַשְׁמִישׁ. וַיֵּדַע: דְּאִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע בָּהּ וְאִסְתָּכַּל בָּהּ.

Eyes Semen Women

71. וְתָנֵינָן, אָסִיר לֵיהּ לב"נ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בִּשְׁפִּירוּ דְּאִנְתְּתָא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יֵיתֵי בְּהִרְהוּרָא בִּישָׁא, וְיִתְעַקָּר לְמִלָּה אָחֳרָא. וְכַךְ הֲוָה ר"ש עָבֵיד, כַּד הֲוָה אָזִיל בְּמָתָא, וַהֲווֹ חַבְרַיָּיא אַזְלִין אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, וְחָמָא לְאִינְתּוּ שְׁפִּירָאן, מָאִיךְ עֵינֵיהּ, וַהֲוָה אָמַר לְחַבְרַיָּיא אַל תִּפְנוּ.

Evil Idolatry Women

72. Whoever look at the beauty of women during the day will have those thoughts coming to him at night. When those evil thoughts come upon him at night, he transgresses, because "nor make to yourselves molten Elohim." FOR THE KLIPOT THAT NURTURE FROM THIS ARE CALLED 'MOLTEN ELOHIM.' Furthermore, if he is mating with his wife when he has these evil thoughts, the children born are called 'molten Elohim' (Leviticus 19:4). Therefore, it is written: "Turn not to idols, nor make to yourselves molten Elohim." Rabbi Aba said: It is prohibited for a person to look at idols and women of the nations, to derive any benefit from them, or to seek a cure from them, as it is forbidden to look at a forbidden place.

72. וְכָל מַאן דְּיִסְתָּכַּל בִּשְׁפִּירוּ דְּאִנְתְּתָא בִּימָמָא, אָתֵי לְהַרְהוּרֵי בְּלֵילְיָא. וְאִי סָלִיק הַהוּא הִרְהוּרָא בִּישָׁא עִלָּוֵיהּ, אַעְבָּר מִשּׂוּם וֵאלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם. תּוּ, אִי שִׁמֵּשׁ בְּאִנְתְּתֵיהּ בְּזִמְנָא דְּסָלִיק בֵּיהּ הַהוּא הִרְהוּרָא בִּישָׁא, אִינּוּן בְּנִין דְּאוֹלִידוּ אֱלֹֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה אִקְרוּן. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, אַל תִּפְנוּ אֶל הָאֱלִילִים וֵאלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם. ר' אַבָּא אָמַר, אָסִיר לֵיהּ לב"נ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֶּאֱלִילֵי ע"ז, וּבְנָשֵׁי דְּעַמִּין, וְלָא לְאִתְהַנְיָיא מִנַּיְיהוּ, וְלָא לְאִתְרַפְּאָה בְּהוּ, דְּאָסִיר לֵיהּ לב"נ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בַּאֲתַר דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ.