הקדמה

52. “Rabbi Shimon opened etc.”Rabbi Shimon opened [his discourse] and said: “Let Rabbi Ḥiyya enter and see how much the Holy One, blessed be He, will renew the faces of the righteous in the next world. Happy is he who comes here without shame, and happy is he who stands in that world like a pillar that is strong in everything.” Rabbi Ḥiyya saw himself entering, and Rabbi Elazar arose, as did the rest of the pillars of the world who were sitting there: They arose before Rabbi Ḥiyya, and Rabbi Ḥiyya was ashamed and entered. He lowered himself and sat at Rabbi Shimon’s feet.

Explanation: Rabbi Shimon hinted to him: “Happy is he who comes here without shame.” He also saw Rabbi Elazar and the rest of the pillars of the world, that they were without shame. However, he himself was in a state of shame, because of [the issue of] that beauty that withers in the dust, and which he did not have the strength to overcome, as stated.1This issue is discussed in section 53. It is a theme of these sections of the Zohar. He thus states: “He was ashamed and lowered himself etc.”