Kabbalah Library Home
/
Baal HaSulam /
Three Partners in Man
178. Three Partners in Man
I heard during a meal celebrating the completion of Part Nine of The Zohar, Iyar 3, May 9, 1951
Concerning the three partners in man: the Creator, the father, and the mother.
And he said that there is a fourth partner: the earth. If one does not take nourishment from the earth, he cannot persist. Earth is considered Malchut. In general, it is considered that there are four discernments, called HB TM. The nourishment one receives from the earth is the scrutinies, where through the nourishment, the food is separated from the Klipa [shell].
There are two discernments in Malchut: 1) Kedusha [holiness], 2) The Evil Lilit. Hence, when a person eats and makes the first and last blessings, by this the food emerges from the dominion of the Sitra Achra [other side]. Since the food becomes blood, and blood is considered the soul, his soul becomes secular, and not from the Sitra Achra.
However, when one eats from a meal of Mitzva [commandment], when the food is considered Kedusha [holiness], if he eats it with intention, the food becomes blood, and the blood becomes a soul. And then he comes to a state of “a soul of Kedusha.” This is why the evil inclination always comes to a person and makes him think that it is not worthwhile to eat at a meal of Mitzva for several reasons. But its primary aim is not to eat at a meal of Mitzva for the above reason, since it is a part of Kedusha.