Basics in Kabbalah and Chassidut: Mocha Stima'ah

The Stages of the Creative Process
from God's Infinite Light to Our Physical World

Introduction  Or Ein Sof ("God's Infinite Light") Sod Ha'Tzimtzum ("The Secret of 'Contraction'")  Adam Kadmon ("Primordial Man") Akudim, Nekudim, Brudim ("Binding, Points, Connection")  Keter D'Atzilut ("The 'Crown' of Emanation")  Olam Ha'Atzilut ("The World of Emanation")  ABiYA (The Four Worlds: Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah)

 

Keter D'Atzilut ("The 'Crown' of Emanation") Eight stages of the rectification process of the world of Atzilut which begins with the rectification of its "crown."
Introduction: Partzufei Ha'Keter (The "Figures of the Crown")
Atik Yomin	Arich Anpin	Reisha D'lo Ityada	Reisha D'Ayin
Reisha D'Arich	Gulgalta	Mocha Stima'ah	Dikna

 

 

Mocha Stima'ah
"The Concealed Brain"

The Mocha Stima'ah (or Chochmah Stima'ah, "the concealed wisdom") is the sefirah of chochmah within the partzuf Arich Anpin, the origin of wisdom inherent within the power of will. In Chassidut, it is referred to as coach hamaskil, "the power to generate new intelligence."

In the Mocha Stima'ah, "there is a hidden reason for will." At this level there appears a clear distinction between "means" and "end." Every "means" is for the sake of an "end." This is the hidden rational behind the will.

The gevurah of Atik Yomin is "enclothed" within the Mocha Stima'ah, the chochmah of Arich Anpin. The gevurah of Atik Yomin is the origin of the power to measure and limit reality. It is the Mocha Stima'ah which defines the limits and boundaries of all emanated and created beings. Thus, it is the ultimate origin of the "vessels" of the world of Atzilut, whereas the Gulgalta (in which is "enclothed" the chesed of Atik Yomin) is the ultimate origin of the "lights" of the world of Atzilut.

In the Mocha Stima'ah inheres the ultimate power to "clarify" and "rectify" yet unrectified reality. The Mocha Stima'ah identifies, through super-rational intuitive power, the Divine sparks captured and hidden within unrectified reality. By its innate power of will (it is the wisdom of will) its able to extract and "redeem" the holy sparks from their state of bondage and exile. The first power that we find manifest in Mashiach is that of the coach hamaskil (the power to redeem), as it is written in Isaiah: "Behold, My servant [the Mashiach] shall succeed [yaskil, as in coach hamaskil]." The initial "success" of Mashiach is his ability to redeem fallen sparks of Divinity (souls in exile, and sparks inherent throughout all mundane reality) and raise them to a state of full Divine consciousness.