And this is the meaning of, “You are He that is One, but not one that is counted,” meaning, that “He” is not counted amongst the Ten Sefiros.
(And this “One that is not counted” refers to the level of the Keser-Crown Above, which acts to interface between the Infinite Source of Atzilus and the Sefiros of Atzilus).
This level of “Kesser-Crown” - referred to as “He” - is not counted as one of the Ten Sefiros since there is no comparison between the Sefiros of Atzilus to it at all, since it is different category altogether.
In the maamar entitled Pasach Eliyahu 5715, the Rebbe explains (based on teachings of the Previous Rebbe):
In the beginning of the passage of Tikkunei Zohar of “Pasach Eliyahu,” it says the phrase “You are He,” three times, 1- You are He that is One but not one that is counted, 2- You are He that transcends all transcendence, concealed beyond all concealments. No thought can possibly grasp You,” 3- You are He that brought out ten “Tikunim-adornments’ We call them ten Sefiros.” These three expressions correspond to three levels, the first “You are He that is One, but not one that is counted,” refers to the higher levels of Kesser, which is called Atika Kadisha, the second expression “You are He that transcends all transcendence,” refers to the lower level of Kesser, Arich Anpin. The third expression “You are He that brought out Ten ‘Tikunim-adornments,’ are the Ten Sefiros.
Based on this, perhaps we will understand what the Alter Rebbe says in our maamar:
The level called “Kesser-Crown” is the intermediary stage between Atzilus and its ultimate source, the Infinite Light of Hashem. This intermediary level has two parts to it: The higher aspect is called “Atik,” which means separate and removed, since it completely transcends the world of Atzilus. The lower aspect is called Arich Anpin, which means “all-encompassing revelation,” since it is the direct source of all the revelations of Atzilus, yet it still transcends Atzilus, even though it has a connection to Atzilus.
Now, the lower level of Kesser, which is Arich Anpin, even though it is above Atzilus, it is connected to the world of Atzilus. However, Atik is not directly connected to the world of Atzilus, and therefore it is “One that is not counted” among the Sefiros of Atzilus, since it is a level of Hashem’s Oneness that transcends Atzilus.
However, this level of Atik is still part of Kesser, it is still part of the intermediary levels between the Infinite Light of Hashem and Atzilus, and therefore it can still be described as an “intermediary” between the Infinite Source of Atzilus, the Infinite Light, and the world of Atzilus, starting with Arich, which is the “beginning” of the realm of Atzilus.
To make it easier to relate to this:
The two aspects of Kesser, which are “Atik” and “Arich” correspond to two encompassing soul powers, which are pleasure – Atik, and will power – Arich. These two encompassing soul powers are the intermediary stage between the simple indivisible essence of the soul, and the definable and limited conscious soul powers of intellect and emotion (see Soul System chart above). The higher of these two soul powers, pleasure, relates only to the person himself, a “pleasure” cannot be transferred to anything outside of himself, it only exists in the context of the person in himself. Intellect and emotions are levels that can be given over to someone else, you can express an idea or feeling in words. Will power has two aspects to it: On the one hand, it is the person’s own will and desire, it does not exist outside of the person. However, it can be expressed to someone else, you can share with others your will by putting it into words and instructions others to fulfill your will. Thus, it is the beginning of how the soul extends to something outside of itself. Now, this will power is driven by the power of enjoyment. Thus, the power of enjoyment is the “indirect source” of how the simple essence of the soul interacts with the outside of itself.
Similarly, Atik is the pleasure Hashem has in our service of Him, which is the driving force behind why Hashem has a will and desire to create the world etc. Arich is the will and desire of Hashem that there should be the world of Atzilus, and the subsequent worlds of Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiya.
Therefore, Atik is the “indirect source” of Atzilus and that other worlds, and serves as the intermediary between the Infinite Light of Hashem and the beginning of worlds, starting with Arich and Atzilus.
Since the existence of Chochma-Wisdom, as derived from Keser-Crown comes from literally ‘ayin-nothing in the same category at all.’ (ex-nihilo). It does not come to be by way of orderly progression from one level to another, similar, but lower level.
In other words, for Chochma to come into being from Kesser, especially from Atik, there needs to be a “jump,” from Infinite to finite. This is unlike the progression from Chochma to Bina, and from Bina to Ze’eir Anpin etc., since those levels are all in the same general category, similar to the orderly fashion of cause and effect, e.g., intellect producing emotions.
