Chapter 4
However, in order to draw the levels of Yaakov and Yisroel down, three things are required: Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov, for the three prayer services were established by the forefathers.
And this is the goal of prayer, when we request “Blessed are You, ‘Havaye,’” drawing You from concealment to revelation through Havaye, as known and explained earlier in the maamar.
However, there must first be a sense of bitterness on one’s being utterly distant from Hashem, as is stated, “The lower waters weep, [saying: “We want to come before the King!]”
When Hashem first made the world, the waters were all mixed together, and on the second day of creation He separated the upper spiritual waters to ascend to Heaven and the lower physical waters to descend to the earth. Because of this, the lower waters cry to Hashem to return to their source in Hashem. [Hashem consoled the waters by promising them that Jewish People will use the physical water for Mitzvos, like the salt from the sea for salting the Korbanos in the Beis Hamikdash.]
Similarly, a Jew should feel a great yearning to return to his source in Hashem.
This is done by reflecting on Hashem’s Greatness, as we say in the morning prayers: “Blessed is He who spoke [and the world came into being] ...” Meaning, that with one Statement [of Hashem] all of the worlds came into existence.
And “it is worth all of the suffering of Gehinnom (Hell) [to reach even the lowest level of Gan Eden] ...”
As our Sages teach (Chagiga 15b), “It is worth it to be judged and punished in order to come to the World to Come” in order to “delight in the ray of the Shechinah-Divine Presence.”
The contemplation is as follows: Hashem created all the worlds in one Statement. This includes all of the levels of Gan Eden, including the highest possible levels of Gan Eden. The lowest level of Gan Eden is such a great spiritual enjoyment that it is worth it to go through tremendous suffering to reach Gan Eden. Gehinom (Hell) is so spiritually painful that one minute of Gehinom is worse than a lifetime of physical suffering. Yet, it is worth it to go through the entire process of Gehinom to reach the lowest level of Gan Eden. This proves that even the lowest level of Gan Eden is infinitely greater spiritual enjoyment than any physical enjoyment a person could ever have in his entire physical life.
Now, this is true of the lowest level of Gan Eden. However, there are infinitely higher levels of Gan Eden than the basic entry level. These higher levels are completely beyond our imagination how much enjoyment and truth they possess. Now, even the highest possible levels of Gan Eden are all created by just one Statement of Hashem. This means that Hashem is in a totally different category of existence than the entire reality of Gan Eden. Our soul originally came from Hashem, the way He is higher than the Statement behind creation of worlds. It came down so low into a body that only understands the lowest physical enjoyment. This is the greatest possible descent from its lofty source in Hashem.
Through this, one’s soul will become embittered over his being absolutely distance from Hashem. Nevertheless, while “weeping is implanted in the heart from this side, joy sits in the other side.”
