Bahir 11-15

Remember that the surface conceals the gems and is often a simple correspondence. In the case of verse 12 we are similarly placed as in verse 11 in the midst of duality. Let's find out how to return again. First the verse:

"12. How do we know that Chaos is in Evil? It is written (Isaiah 45:7), "He makes peace and creates evil." How does this come out? Evil is from Chaos, while Peace is from Desolation. He thus created Chaos and placed it in Evil, [as it is written "He makes peace and creates evil." He created Desolation and placed it in Peace, as it is written, "He makes peace in His high places."]

Call the spirit of a thing down into the substance of the thing you are. Prepare yourself for transformation. This is how the meaning of this verse comes through. Chaos in Evil turned around is order in Good. Order the thoughts about a thing into the substance of a thing in order to experience this. This Desolation can be considered to be the scattering of doubts. It appears as grim and grave but is really simply a threshhold that is easily crossed over once you recognize what is really going on. The word evil is placed there to knock you off course. Everyone sees evil and they are suddenly afraid. This word cannot make a concept that has no place in your meditations. Think of the context of evil used here simply as that flaming sword which keeps out unwanted visitors. The quoted verse from Isaiah "he makes peace and creates evil", make you step back to consider the voice that is speaking. There are moments when illumination is clear and others when duality steps in. Don't be put off by these undercurrents. After all this is what happens to you in life so why would you not experience this everywhere. The key is in your recognition and committment to seeing your good everywhere. The Bahir and Zohar feature many disparate voices and are clearly a combination of writings. Their purpose does not always coincide. The only way to harmonize the flow of this information is to use its text as we are doing now in order to make a point for reminding us of our good and the direction we are taking. Yes this is most definitely a non standard way of reviewing these texts. Once again I will point out the practical necessity for keeping our thoughts on target even when we navigate these rocky waters. This is an example that is given so that when you find yourself in similar unstable situations you will know that you can by analysis and adherence to the one of your intention make something out of nothing. In this case we are taking the pair of opposites, peace and evil and discarding or transforming the evil and raising the peace into the power of connection so that we now arrive at the place of our greatest control. This control is our ability to change our mind and to take what is given us to transform it accordingly.

The next verse 13 takes us in another direction entirely all the more surprising because of the previous two passages.

"13. Rabbi Bun also sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Isaiah 45:7), "He forms light and creates darkness?" Light has substance. Therefore, the term "formation" is used with regard to it. Darkness has no substance, and therefore, with regard to it, the term "creation" is used. It is similarly written (Amos 4:12), He forms mountains and creates the wind." Another explanation is this: Light was actually brought into existence, as it is written (Genesis 1:3), "And God said, let there be light." Something cannot be brought into existence unless it is made. The term "formation" is therefore used. In the case of darkness, however, there was no making, only separation and setting aside. It is for this reason that the term "created" (Bara) is used. It has the same sense as in the expression, "That person became well (hi-Bria)."

The distinction is made between created and formed. We are still sitting on the surface here in terms of understanding but the way inside becomes easier. Instead of playing with the words here we'll look at the concepts behind these words.
Light. Inspiration and well being. Life from the sun. All of these we are given as long as we remain receptive to it. If we stand under a shade tree we block the light.

Inside of this verse is a clearer look at this distinction between making and creation. A hint. There isn't any. Let me explain. The typical explanation goes like this. A created being can only make while a "Eternal Being" creates or something like that. Lets refer to the SHMA... "Hear oh Israel the Lord thy God the Lord is One. " No duality here. The created being and the creator are one. That which you look up to as being your highest calling is at the same time intimately within you. All of us are connected to creation itself so to say we do not partake of creation and that we form is to say that we are somehow separate. Separation is not a choice here. The mind is always seeking union, harmony or Yoga. Light and darkness, the answer and the question are a part of the same dynamic. In order to look at them we can make the distinction but not in order to ascribe differences and further cloud the unity. See darkness as the great unknown out of which the light comes forth in response to what our thoughts are about. We are always bringing forth this light so that you can truly say that the light is in sum total part of this darkness. Forget then darkness and light and just think creation. Then become that which you already are. When you reach up you lose the separation and attain the unity. The phrase is used "something cannot be brought into existence unless it is made." Well yes you have to think about something in order to set into motion its existence but then again it had to be there in the first place in order for it to be called into existence. Something from nothing? Yes this happens all of the time.

Now the letter Bet is examined in verse 14. Letters are symbols of concepts which go deeper than their surface meanings.

"14. Why is the letter Bet closed on all sides and open in the front? This teaches us that it is the House (Bayit) of the world. God is the place of the world, and the world is not His place. Do not read Bet , but Bayit (house). It is thus written (Proverbs 24:3), "With wisdom the house is built, with understanding it is established, [and with knowledge are its chambers filled]."

Think creation here and think about the mold of your thoughts as you visualize your heart's desire. A threefold plan of creation is outlined here. First visualize your heart's desire by making a 'house' for it of your thoughts. You keep adding thoughts and strengthening this house. Open in the front this house is a receptacle for your thoughts. "With Wisdom the house is built," refers to your choice of thoughts. If you want to travel uptown, you think about traveling uptown and not downtown. This is a simple reference but you get the idea. Think about just what you want. Focus. There is your wisdom because this focus sets up the entire direction and intensity of all ensuing action which takes place. "With understanding it is established," your thoughts go forth gathering unto themselves the material needed for manifestation. There is a sending forth and an attraction that keeps building until you are attracting those people and situations which you will need in order to realize your heart's desire. "And with knowledge are its chambers filled," these chambers give purpose and definition to your heart's desire. What they are being filled with is the substance of manifestation, the reality of your vision fulfilled. Note how even here our purpose is still on track. The fundamental law of the universe is going from one type of energy to another. We go from the thought of a thing therefore to the thing itself. We keep doing this in order to establish the rhythm and intensity of manifestation. We keep changing our mind to suit our changing desires and the world as encompassed by you changes in line with this.

We carry this analogy further on and deeper still in verse 15.

"15. What does the Bet resemble? It is like a man, formed by God with wisdom. He is closed on all sides, but open in front. The Aleph , however, is open from behind. This teaches us that the tail of the Bet is open from behind. If not for this, man could not exist. Likewise, if not for the Bet on the tail of the Aleph , the world could not exist."

Why is man open in the front? So he can receive the connection continously. What is he open to? He is open to receiving the call to creation. This call is likened to the inspiration that a favorite song brings up inside of you. Sometimes there are memories of times past and then other times then indications of a wonderful future to look forward to. This wonderful future is the world to come. It resides within us and moves with us right around the corner of our awakenings. Why is it that man cannot exist without being open in front as this verse suggests? Man cannot exist nor can any of his designs take place unless he is open to the wisdom which passes through hiim by dint of his connection to all good. This connection cannot be stopped but may be blocked by an insistence on a dual nature. By opening to wisdom we discover the right way to travel in the life of our plans taking place. Therefore what has just been explained about the Bet is an opening in front and an opening from behind. This is something which takes place several times in the Bahir and gives an example of the way thought unifies within itself in order to increase the certainty of manifestation. Bet, the blessing of the beginning. A circuit is being described one end coming from the front and another from the back. Whenever you wonder what it is that they aren't talking about here put thought of the process of thinking into this equation and everything will become balanced and then give up its understanding. The Bet that is found on the tail of the Aleph is a further example of unifying the concept by example and by symbolic representation.

Note: These meanings that are being written have always been there. At this time these ancient writings are revealing their treasures which have remained hidden for all this time. I wanted to point this out so that you will see that thoughts persist in their ability to evoke corresponding thoughts. They also transform into groups of thoughts or ideas which keep this process going forward. The particular interpretations being provided here are meant to awaken a sympathetic inspiration in all who get into the flow of their meanings. What is exciting is that this is a living process. It changes and gives only one direction in terms of the truth it points to. This truth is always about the unity of being and how all things work together. If writings like the Zohar or Bahir, in this case do not give a complete explanation it is because they intimating something which remains for us to finish and to make sense of. It is in this probing effort with certainty that the gems are revealed. The brilliance for which the Bahir is named must be polished. What do you do when you polish something? You go over it a number of times. In this case we have a cumulative shine which can only get brighter as we go along in our discoveries.