749. The Commandment of the Upper One

“What is the burden of the kingdom of heaven? It is like that ox on which a burden is placed at first, in order to elicit from it benefit to the world … If it does not take it on itself first, it cannot work” (The Zohar, BaHar, Item 3, in the Sulam [Ladder commentary on The Zohar]).

We should say that before one takes upon oneself the burden called “above reason,” which is the whole foundation, it is impossible to elicit good from him. In other words, it is impossible to be rewarded with the flavors of Torah and the flavors of Mitzvot [commandments], since otherwise, everything goes toward reception for oneself. For this reason, he can come to separation.

But when the whole foundation is only as a burden, he needs the flavors of Torah and Mitzvot only because “He who does not know the commandment of the upper one, how will he serve Him?” It follows that he does not need support for his work, since his entire work is built only on the burden. Hence, only then can he elicit benefit to the world, meaning to be rewarded with all the concealed benefit.