Introduction to Sulam Commentary

Three Stages in the Emergence of the Ten Sefirot 70. The first stage occurs in the first partzufim of Adam Kadmon, where the ten sefirot emerged all at once.192As will be explained, the concept of “stages” here refers to three different ways the sefirot and partzufim structures emerge in the structure of reality. If one thinks of existence as a tall stack, in which Adam Kadmon is the highest area and this world is the lowest, then it is as if there are three different “areas” in the stack. Each of these areas has different structural properties, giving rise to differences in the emergence of the partzufim of each area. The first area is the first three partzufim of Adam Kadmon. The second is the world of Nekudim. The third is the world of Atzilut and downward. In the world of Adam Kadmon there is only one phase of emergence. In Nekudim there are two, and in Atzilut there are three. Upon the fusion through collision on the partition of the fourth level, the ten sefirot emerged at the height of Keter. Upon the fusion through collision on the partition of the third level, the ten sefirot emerged at the height of Ḥokhma. Upon the fusion through collision on the partition of the second level, the ten sefirot emerged at the height of Bina.193As the preceding sections explained, the partition that lies upon Malkhut at the bottom of the sefirot of the direct light creates returning light that ascends and enclothes the direct light as a new vessel. The height of that returning light is determined by the opacity within the particular partition. This opacity varies within different levels because the surrounding light beats against the partition of any given level, purifying the partition of its degrees of opacity.