Pinchas: Chapter 52

Sight, hearing, smell and speech

Synopsis

We hear that Yud Hei Vav Hei rests on sight, hearing, smell and speech, and that Adonai rests on doing, touching, using and walking. The Faithful Shepherd explains what he means by this, and he tells us how Chochmah arose in a thought that is Binah; he says that thought and inspiration are both in the heart. The Shechinah is God's sight, hearing, sweet savor, speech, and performance of precepts - and in prayer it is also His bowing and standing. Moses says that in the future God will remove all of Lilit's children from the world, but not so the children of the Shechinah, who are Yisrael; the latter are virtuous, God-fearing men of truth who despise unjust gain. Moses tells what the sages meant when they said, 'No disciple whose inside does not correspond to his exterior may enter the house of study,' and this explains why Yud Hei Vav Hei is called Adonai.

Relevance

The abundance of spiritual energy emanating from these mysterious verses is obviously far too vast and extensive to describe in a few short paragraphs. Suffice it to say that spiritual vision is granted to the reader, which includes the ability to perceive divinity in our daily life - in its turmoil and in its moments of tranquility.

Through the power of Ezekiel's vision and the hidden mysteries of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, our souls ascend into the supernal Temple, where we receive Light that perfects our being. The smoke and fragrance of the ancient sacrifices billows from this passage and blends together to create Incense that banishes death from our being and from this world. The spiritual forces that arise through precepts, prayer, and Torah swirl in our midst. The Shechinah rests upon us and upon all civilization. This empowers our immune system and removes airborne diseases from the world. Our souls are connected to the realm of Binah and our thoughts are aligned with the will of the Creator so that we are constantly inspired in our hearts to pursue this spiritual path. As our hearts are enlightened by the Sfirot of Chochmah and Binah, a great healing unfolds throughout the cardiovascular region. Mankind is connected to the Upper Three Sfirot - Keter, Chochmah, and Binah; and through the Shechinah (the Divine Presence), a bounty of mercy is cast upon the world. Mercy washes away judgement and pain from our life.

Later in the passage, verse 327, the author of the Zohar speaks of (do not pronounce this name) Lilit, the wicked female angel who posseses no humility or modesty. She is the mother of all nefarious people who abhor spirituality and propagate only evil in this world. These are the Mixed Multitude, and you will know them by their actions for they speak evil about all those who share and disseminate the wisdom and Light of this sacred book. Here, Lilit and her offspring are banished from this world. Their reign of terror is ended. The Light of Kabbalah is now free to flourish the world over bringing peace and harmony to civilization as quickly as the light of a bulb expels darkness from a room. Our world now mates with the Upper World, where the Light of Immortality shines upon us. Humility and modesty fill us so that we may receive countless blessings every moment of our lives.

In verse 331, the Zohar says: "This is how it is with men of unjust gain, for even if they had all the money in the world, it would never be enough for them." Here we awaken appreciation for our lot in life. Our insatiable Desire to Receive for the Self Alone is subjugated so that we finally achieve lasting fulfillment and inner peace and calm.

In conclusion, verse 333 expounds upon the concealed mysteries of the Tetragrammaton (Yod Hei Vav Hei) whose true pronunciation has been a secret since the dawn of creation. We're told that in the World to Come, the proper utterance of this Holy Name will be spoken aloud, igniting mercy from all sides. When our eyes scan this passage, it's as if the proper vocalization of the Tetragrammaton is taking place. Consequently, boundless mercy now blankets our world. The World to Come - the Light of Binah - illumines all existence, and it becomes a reality in our present day.