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Introduction
Before
creation only God existed. Upon desiring to create independent reality and consciousness, He
first revealed, to Himself, as it were, His Infinite Light. From this stage
on, Kabbalah's understanding of creation is enormously complex and is not
something that can be covered in detail in an introductory text.
The various stages of creation are often called "worlds"--a
term which is used to denote various developments in the creative process,
as well as levels of consciousness and spiritual phases.
- Or Ein Sof
("God's Infinite Light")
- Ten stages of God's Infinite Light before the
beginning of the creative process.
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- Sod Ha'Tzimtzum
("The Secret of 'Contraction'")
- Three stages of the secret of
"contraction": the "removal" of God's Infinite Light; the
"impression" that God "withdrew" from creation; the "ray" of
Divine light radiated into the primordial darkness.
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- Adam Kadmon
("Primordial Man")
- Two stages of Adam Kadmon: God's specific will and
plan to emanate the "worlds"; the lights that are emanated from the
"ears," "nose," "mouth" of Adam Kadmon.
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- Akudim, Nekudim, Brudim
("Binding, Points, Connection")
- Three stages of "lights" and
"vessels" resulting from the lights which emanated from Adom
Kadmon.
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- 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."
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- Olam Ha'Atzilut
("The World of Emanation")
- Ten stages (partzufim--figures) of the world of
Atzilut--exclusive consciousness of Divine unity.
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- ABiYA
(The Four Worlds: Atzilut,
Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah)
- Four stages ("worlds") which emerge out
of God's infinite light and culminate in our finite physical universe.
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