Contemplating Sefer HaBahir

Journey Into Redemptive Consciousness

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Secret Of Pi & Aur Tov


אמר ר' נחוניא בן הקנה כתוב אחד אומר
"Rabbi Nehuniah ben HaKana said:
One verse states ... "
Sefer HaBahir, line 1





The first word, אמר (amar, said) is written seemingly using past tense.

However, I propose that the word tense used here is not indicating something "past tense" in terms of "finished and done", but rather, is hinting at the "initial condition" creating time. In other words, the word אמר hints to the original light of awareness hidden away for the righteous which could see from one end of existence to the other.

Consequently, the first אמר here in line (kav) 1 refers to "one end" of this hidden light, while אומר at the "other end" of kav 1 is "the other end" enwedgened into "the beginning end" of the kav.

The end enwedgened with the beginning is a kabbalistic secret of the letter samekh (ס), representing circle-point (feminine) consciousness. The kav is associated with the letter vav (ו), the initial ray of light, and line (masculine) consciousness.

The situation where masculine line consciousness and feminine circle-point consciousness are unified is represented by the mathematical symbol pi (π), the yichud of zer anpin (Havayah) and nukvah (Adnut), and area consciousness. It also figures significantly to the divine names Shakai and the Shem HaMeforash.

So here we can see in line 1 of Sefer HaBahir, we also have a "line" that is really "a circle". Or a circle that is really a line. Or a paradoxical entity which is both a circle and a line, yet is neither as well.

What we have here, in kav 1 of Sefer HaBahir, is an example of a perfect paradoxical synthesis of opposites. Like tohu and tikkun into a third order of existence [1] greater than either of them alone. Like chocolate and vanilla into a sundae delight (v'haricha).

Footnote:

[1] In The Beginning, Discourses On Chassidic Thought, R' Adin Steinsaltz