The Balance of Ratzo and Shov in Rabbi Akiva
Because Ben Azai had a soul on the level of Ratzo from Ahava Rabba-Abundant Love mentioned above, which is known as ‘Klois HaNefesh-Expiration of the Soul’ in yearning for Hashem, therefore, he did not want to return to a lower state of existence by way of Shov-Returning, and his soul remained above in the spiritual level, resulting in death for the body.
Thus, he did not want to marry a woman, saying (Yevamos 63b), “there are others who can perpetuate the existence of humanity in the world.” Therefore, he glimpsed and died, since his soul completely departed from its vessel (the body). This is expressed in the verse in Shir HaShirim, (8:6) “For love is as fierce as death...”
Nevertheless, this is not the way of Torah, which is the level of Tikkun, for the Torah teaches (Yeshaya 45:18) that the world was “formed to be settled,” and that “against your will for Ratzo shall you live.”
Therefore, Rabbi Akiva, who was from the level of Tikkun “entered and exited in peace.” This means that his entire service of Hashem, both his elevation from below to Above and his causing revelation from Above to below - which is the process of Ratzo and Shov- in the proper measure and ratio, so that proportionate to the Ratzo was the subsequent Shov.
This is the meaning of saying that he “entered in peace,” Seemingly, the Gemara should have just said that he “exited [the Pardeis] in peace,” in contrast to the other sages who were harmed, why does the Gemara need to tell us that he “entered in peace”?
This refers to the fact that he entered using the ‘Middle Channel’ of Tiferes which joins and unifies the right and left Channels, which represent Ratzo (the left channel) and Shov (the right channel).
Tiferes unifies Kindness and Severity, by revealing a higher level of Hashem’s Infinite Light that includes both aspects together and transcends both aspects. Now, the idea of Ratzo-Running, a fiery yearning for Hashem is connected to the aspect Severity, the left side, just as fire, which ascends above, is connected to Severity, the left side.
