The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
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149. Why is it said in the singular number ? Come and see. In the eyes which are inferior are a right eye and a left eye, and they are of two diverse colours.
150. But in this instance there is no left eye, and they both ascend in one path, and all are right. And on that account is one eye mentioned, and not two.
1 5 I . And this is the tradition : This eye, which is the eye of observation, is ever open, ever smiling, ever glad.
- 152. Such are not the inferiors, who in themselves
- * The word Ayin means eye. — Trans.
THE GEE A TER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
have redness, and blackness, and whiteness — three colours ; and are not always open, for there are eyelids as a protection over these eyes.
- 153. And concerning this matter it is written, Ps.
- xliv. 23 : “ Awake, 0 Lord : why sleepest Thou ? ” And, 2 Kings xix. 16 : “ Open Thine eyes, 0 Lord.”
154. When they are opened, for some are they opened for good, and on some are they opened for evil.
155. Woe unto him upon whom it is opened, so that the eye is mingled with redness, and unto whom the redness appeareth, spreading across that eye. Who can escape from it ?
156. But the Ancient of Days is blessed, presiding over that eye the white brilliance of whiteness, seeing that also it is of such whiteness that it endureth all whiteness.
157. Blessed also is his portion whom that brilliance of all whiteness irradiateth.
158. And concerning this certainly it is written, Prov. xxii. 9 : “ The good eye is to be blessed.” And it is written, Isa. ii. 5 : “ Be ye present, 0 house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of Tetragrammaton ! ”
159. This is the tradition : Save in all these instances, the name of the Ancient One is concealed from all, and is not mentioned in the law, save in one place, where Microprosopus sware unto Abraham.
160. Like as it is written, Gen. xxii. 16: “ By Myself have I sworn, saith Tetragrammaton.” ( Understand ) that this is said concerning Microprosopus.
1.6 1 . Also it is written, Gen. xlviii. 20 : “In thee shall
Israel bless.” That is, the superior Israel.
162. Also it is written, Isa. xlix. 3 : “Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” In these passages the Ancient of Days is called Israel.
163. But we have also stated that the Ancient of Days is called by His name, yet both this [statement) and the other are correct.
K
KABBALAH.
- 164. Thus is the tradition : It is written, Dan.
- vii. 9 : “I beheld until the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit.”
165. “ The thrones were cast down.” What is this ?
He spake unto Rabbi Yehuda, and said : “ Stand in thy
place and explain these thrones.”
166. Rabbi Yehuda answered : “ It is written (ibid.), c His throne is of fiery flame ; ’ and upon that throne sat the Ancient of Days.”
167. “For what reason? Because thus is the tradition : If the Ancient of Days were not seated upon that throne, the universe could no longer exist before that throne.
168. “ When the Ancient of Days sitteth upon that throne, it is subject unto Him. For He who sitteth upon it ruleth over it.
169. “ But at that time when He departeth from that throne, and sitteth upon another throne, the first throne is overturned, lest any should rule over it save the Ancient One, who alone can sit upon it.”
170. Rabbi Schimeon spake unto Rabbi Yehuda, and said : u May thy way be ordained for thee, and may it be pointed out (unto thee) by the Ancient of Days ! ”
CHAPTER X.
CONCERNING THE NOSE OF MACROPROSOPUS.
1 7 1 . And come, behold, lo ! it is written, Isaiah, xli.
4: “I, Tetragrammaton, (am) first and with the last.
I am he HIMSELF ” (Hoa).
172. All things are HVA, Hoa , He Himself, and He
Himself is hidden on every side. So also is His nose.
173. From the nose is the face known.
THE GREATER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
174. And come — see ! What is the (difference) between the Ancient One and Microprosopus ? Over these nostrils He ruleth ; one of which is life, and the other is the life •of life.
175. This nose is as a mighty gallery, whence His Spirit rnsheth forth upon Microprosopus, and they call it the Giver.
176. And it is thus: The Spirit descendeth ; and again the Spirit from hence proceedeth through those nostrils.
177. One is the Spirit ; She goeth forth unto Microprosopus, so that He may be aroused in the Garden of Eden.
178. And one is She the Spirit of Life, through Whom in process of time the sons of David hope to know Wisdom.