177. We learned that Rabbi Yitzchak said, "A joyful mother of children. Haleluyah" (Tehilim 113:9). We know who the mother is, SHE IS BINAH, but who are the children? Rabbi Shimon said, We have learned that the Holy One, blessed be He, BINAH, has two children, one male and one female. The male He gave to Jacob, as it is written, "Yisrael is My son, my firstborn" (Shemot 4:22) and "Yisrael, in whom I will be glorified" (Yeshayah 49:3), and the girl He gave to Abraham, as it is written, "And Hashem had blessed Abraham in all things (Heb. bakol)" (Beresheet 24:1). Abraham had a daughter named Bakol.

178. The mother, BINAH, sits on them, MALE AND FEMALE and suckles them. Hence it is written, "You shall not take the mother together with the young" (Devarim 22:6). We learned ITS MEANING that a man should beware of sinning below, IN THIS WORLD, for it might cause the mother, BINAH, to depart from the children, MALE AND FEMALE. It is also written, "She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness" (Vayikra 18:7); MEANING, NOT CAUSE HER TO LEAVE THE YOUNG. Woe to him who indulges in incest, WHO CAUSES THE MOTHER TO DEPART FROM THE YOUNG.

179. When the inhabitants of the world repent and do many good deeds before the Holy One, blessed be He, and the mother, BINAH, returns to cover the young, MALE AND FEMALE, BINAH is then called repentance (lit. 'returning'). HE ASKS, Why is it called returning? HE REPLIES, For she returns to her sustenance; MEANING, BINAH RETURNS TO COVER THE CHILDREN, MALE AND FEMALE, AND GIVES THEM SUCK AS BEFORE. It is then written, "a joyful mother of children." The "joyful mother" is surely BINAH, and hence a man should continue multiplying until he begets a boy and a girl, TO CORRESPOND TO MALE AND FEMALE, THE CHILDREN OF BINAH.

180. Rabbi Yitzchak said, It is written, "To behold the pleasantness of Hashem, and to inquire in His temple" (Tehilim 27:4). We understand from this that the desire of the righteous is to behold THE PLEASANTNESS OF HASHEM, THE PLEASANT MOCHIN OF ZEIR ANPIN. How can you say 'above Hashem?' Rabbi Shimon said, All is one, because we understand from the words "the pleasantness of Hashem" that it comes from Atika Kadisha to heaven, MEANING, ZEIR ANPIN RECEIVES MOCHIN FROM ABOVE HIM. The desire of the righteous is assuredly ONLY TO ATTAIN THESE MOCHIN OF ZEIR ANPIN AND NOT ABOVE HIM, FOR THERE IS NO CONCEPTION OF THE FIRST THREE SFIROT. It is written of them: "Great above the heavens" (Tehilim 108:5), BECAUSE THEY COME FROM ABOVE ZEIR ANPIN. FOR THE SAME REASON, it is also written, "Then shall you delight yourself in (lit. 'above') Hashem" (Yeshayah 58:14) WHEN THEY ARE CLOTHED IN ZEIR ANPIN AND NAMED "THE PLEASANTNESS OF HASHEM." BUT BEFORE THAT PLEASANTESS IS CLOTHED IN ZEIR ANPIN, IT CANNOT BE CONCEIVED. Happy is the portion of him, who merit this. They must be few.