Seven vanities

Synopsis

The hidden meaning of Ecclesiastes' maxim, "Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities, all is vanity" is revealed here. Rabbi Elazar comments that the apparent frustrations and disappointments of life are in fact blessings in disguise. He calls them "holy and necessary," because they establish the limits within which Man can find authentic happiness. "The sun also rises and the sun goes down," refers to the negative aspect of the seven vanities. In its dark midnight or sundown aspect, the inescapable vanity of human existence is compared to a man "Trying to catch the wind" - a futile and useless activity that is harmful to the spirit, and thus evil. Such habits or vices must be left behind.

Relevance

The spiritual influences radiating through this section help us overcome inner weaknesses that impede our progress toward the Light. These positive forces foster deeper awareness of the aspects of life that can bring us lasting happiness and true fulfillment.

Body Breath Pillar Seven Solomon Sun Vanity Wisdom

13. Sitrei Torah (Secrets of the Torah). "And the sun also rises, and the sun goes down" (Kohelet 1:5). HE ASKS, Why did King Solomon begin his book of wisdom with this SECRET OF THE RISING AND SETTING OF THE SUN? Rabbi Elazar said that King Solomon based his book upon the seven Vanities upon which the world is established. The pillars and foundations that sustain the world are called 'vanities,' for just as the body cannot endure without vanity (also: 'breath'), so the world cannot endure without these vanities mentioned by King Solomon. And these are seven, as it is written, "Vanity of vanities, says Kohelet, vanity of vanities; all is vanity" (Ibid. 2). Altogether, there are seven VANITIES IN THE VERSE, VANITY IS ONE; VANITIES IS IN THE PLURAL, AND SINCE THE PLURAL MEANS AT LEAST TWO, THAT MAKES TWO VANITIES; TOGETHER THERE ARE THREE VANITIES. AND AGAIN HE SAYS, "VANITY OF VANITIES," WHICH MAKES SIX IN TOTAL. AND IF WE ADD, "ALL IS VANITY," AT THE END, THERE ARE SEVEN VANITIES.

13. (סִתְרֵי תוֹרָה) וְזָרַח הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וּבָא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ. מַאי קָא חָמָא שְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא, דְּשֵׁירוּתָא דְּסִפְרָא דְּחָכְמְתָא דִּילֵיהּ מֵהָכָא אִיהוּ. אֶלָּא אֲמַר ר' אֶלְעָזָר, שְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא, הַאי סִפְרָא, אוֹקִים לֵיהּ עַל שֶׁבַע הֲבָלִים, וְעַלְמָא קָאֵים עֲלַיְיהוּ. וְאִינוּן עַמּוּדִין וְסָמְכִין, קִיּוּמָא דְעַלְמָא. דִּבג"כ אִקְרוּן הֲבָלִים, מַה גּוּפָא, לָא אִתְקַיַּים בְּלָא הֶבֶל, אוֹף הָכֵי עַלְמָא, לָא אִתְקַיַּים אֶלָּא עַל הֲבָלִים, דַּאֲמַר שְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא. וְאִינוּן שֶׁבַע, דִּכְתִיב: הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים אָמַר קֹהֶלֶת הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים הַכֹּל הָבֶל, הָא שֶׁבַע.

Correction Destruction Disease Evil Fear Judgment Pearls Punishment Seven Universe Vanity Wind

14. You may say that if this be so, the world is sustained on precious pearls. Yet elsewhere it is written of evil vanities that cause the destruction of the universe, as in, "this is vanity and an evil disease" (Kohelet 6:2), and "This...is vanity and harmful spirit" (Ibid. 4). HE ANSWERS THAT assuredly this is so. Although these seven vanities are holy and necessary for the existence of the world, there are corresponding vanities from which every judgment in the world radiates. These other vanities punish men and correct them, so they will walk the path of righteousness. They are called 'a vanity in which there is evil disease,' and 'a vanity which is striving after wind.' And they maintain the world because they ensure that men tread the path of righteousness in fear of the Holy One, blessed be He. Therefore, there are many EVIL vanities that spread from these seven HOLY VANITIES, FOR THEY ARE ALSO THE SUSTENANCE OF THE UNIVERSE.

14. וְאִי תֵימָא, אִי הָכֵי דְּאִינוּן מַרְגְּלָאן טָבָאן דְּעַלְמָא קָיְימָא עֲלַיְיהוּ, הָא בַּאֲתַר אָחֳרָא כְּתִיב הֲבָלִים בִּישִׁין, וְאִינוּן סְתִירוּ דְעַלְמָא, כְּגוֹן זֶה הֶבֶל וָחֳלִי רָע הוּא. זֶה הֶבֶל וּרְעוּת רוּחַ. אֶלָּא וַדַּאי אַף עַל גָּב דְּהַנֵּי שֶׁבַע הֲבָלִים, דְּאִינוּן קַדִּישִׁין קִיּוּמָא דְעַלְמָא, אִית לָקֳבֵל הַנֵּי ז' הֲבָלִים דְּכָל דִּינִין דְּעַלְמָא נָפְקִין, וּמִנַּיְיהוּ מִתְפַּשְׁטִין. וְאִקְרוּן הֲבָלִים אָחֳרָנִין, לְאַלְקָאָה בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, וּלְאַתְקָנָא לוֹן, דְּיַהֲכוּן בְּאֹרַח מֵישָׁר, וְאִקְרוּן הֶבֶל דְּשַׁרְיָא בְּהוֹ חֳלִי רָע, הֶבֶל דְּאִיהוּ רְעוּת רוּחַ. וְאִינוּן קִיּוּמָא, דִּבְגִינֵיהוֹן בְּנֵי נָשָׁא אָזְלִין בְּאֹרַח מֵישָׁר, וּדְחִילוּ מִקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְעַל דָּא סַגִּיאִין אִינוּן הֲבָלִים דְּמִתְפַּשְׁטֵי מֵהַנֵּי שָׁבַע.

Faith Grades Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Merit Mochin Sun Vanity

15. The reason he began with the mystery of the sun, THAT IS, HE BEGAN HIS BOOK WITH THE VERSE, "AND THE SUN ALSO RISES, AND THE SUN GOES DOWN," IS THAT it is a vanity that sustains the world - a secret for bringing man to the supernal faith of the Holy One, blessed be He, SO THAT HE WILL MERIT THE SUPERNAL MOCHIN OF BINAH, CALLED THE 'SUPERNAL FAITH OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE.' Therefore, whatever is beneath this grade, THAT IS, UNDERNEATH THE SUN, is not the secret of the faith AND DOES NOT PERTAIN TO HOLINESS. Therefore it is written, "and there was no profit under the sun" (Kohelet 2:11), and, "in any thing that is done under the sun" (Kohelet. 9:6), for we should not cleave underneath it.

15. וְשֵׁירוּתָא דְּאִיהוּ אֲמַר, רָזָא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא, דְּאִיהוּ הֶבֶל, דְּקַיֵּים עַלְמָא, וְאִיהוּ רָזָא לְאָעֳלָא בַּר נָשׁ לְגוֹ מְהֵימְנוּתָא עִלָאָה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וּבְגִין כָּך, כָּל מַה דִּתְחוֹת הַאי דַרְגָּא, לָאו אִיהוּ רָזָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא, וְע"ד כְּתִיב, וְאֵין יִתְרוֹן תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, דְּהָא תְּחוֹת הַאי, לָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִתְדַּבָּקָא.

Astrology Form Grades Moon Nukva Sun Vanity Wind Zeir Anpin

16. And the sun is within the moon, NAMELY, ZEIR ANPIN IS UNITED WITH THE NUKVA. They are one without separation, and although the moon is under the sun, AS THE NUKVA IS UNDER THE GRADE OF ZEIR ANPIN, AT THE TIME OF UNION everything becomes the sun. THAT IS, EVEN THE MOON IS THEN CONSIDERED PART OF THE SUN, BECAUSE THE SPIRITUAL CLINGING MEANS SIMILARITY OF FORM. THEN THE MOON MAY RECEIVE CHOCHMAH FROM THE SUN, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, without being considered under the sun. And everything under this is harmful spirit. IF CHOCHMAH IS DRAWN BENEATH THE SUN TO ZEIR ANPIN AND NUKVA, IT BECOMES A VANITY THAT STRIVES AFTER WIND, THAT IS, IT BECOMES A KLIPAH AND A FIEND, and it is forbidden to cleave to it.