The Book of Formation

Introduction of the Ra'avad, of blessed memory

...those who give birth and those who ascend, etc. Every action of their path is thus. The "Living Creature" Hebrew: Chayah, referring here to a high level of the soul or the celestial beings in Ezekiel’s vision is considered like one who sells an entire ship A reference to the Talmudic tractate Bava Batra, chapter Ha-Mocher et Ha-Sefinah (He who sells the ship), used here as a metaphor for the soul navigating the "sea" of existence and those who travel upon it within the sea. Likewise, for every "Height" of three hundred leagues Parsa: An ancient unit of distance, roughly 2.5 to 3 miles, it extends from there through the "Tongue," In the Sefer Yetzirah, the "Tongue" is the organ of balance between the spiritual and physical worlds for it is nurtured from the Abyss and connects the parts.

Regarding the "Living Creature" as a vessel: some of them contain pure waters that were created during the Work of Creation, and within every refuge is a "Greatness." Its zodiacal sign Hebrew: Mazal, also meaning luck or destiny is like the waters that covered the world until it was completed with the Name of Hallel Praise. It pours them out, and like them, it is a source, a depth, and a hidden treasure.

The "Living Creatures" in the assemblies are the Permutations of the Letters of the Great and Sublime Divine Name—that is, the "Everlasting Waters." Their power is the world, their power is the soul, as I have explained in the commentary on the Chapter of Creation (Bereshit). These are the heavens that sweeten all the "Connections" Spiritual bindings from above.

"And I walked in the search of the Deep" A paraphrase of Job 38:16: "Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?". For in the "search" of the lower waters—though some explain this as reaching as far as the stars of the heavens—there are parts that are neither near nor far, neither firmaments nor water. "In the search of the Deep": meaning, I walked in the very heart of the Abyss. For everything that is "Soul" has a corresponding "Lamentation" in the Abyss. It is possible for the "Gate" to be closed until my "Ranks" Levels or degrees of spiritual attainment, and there are "Paths" and "Plain Script" concerning the "Abysses of the Moon."

"Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?" Job 38:17. Know that death is not the end of everything; rather, it is a transition between the letter Mem The letter Mem often symbolizes water or the womb and the Name, until the Name of "Death" (Mavet) is added. That is to say, when it exceeds its limit until it adds the "Death" of one of the species. This itself is the "Life of the Nothingness."

"In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread" Genesis 3:19; everything is lacking the warmth of the wise. In the "Melting" and the "Secret of the Veil" within it, the "Consolations" die. It returns to them from the living beings, and for the flesh to turn to dust without its life-force. By this matter, it becomes the "Living Being of the Place" A name for God is "The Place" (HaMakom), and likewise for every species: whether from the animal, the plant, or the silent stone—even in the world of Angels, the Spheres, the stars, and the constellations, and likewise in the World of the Sefirot Sefirot: The ten divine emanations or attributes in Kabbalah.

Each and every one has a Name according to its station, for the higher and the lower. Concerning these levels, it is said "Gates of Death"—as in, "Have the gates of death been opened unto thee?" These are the Four Deaths of the Court: Stoning, Burning, Slaying, and Strangling.

Regarding these, in Tractate Sotah, it says that even though the four deaths of the court were abolished After the destruction of the Temple, the Sanhedrin lost the legal power to execute criminals, their divine equivalents were not abolished. He who would have been liable for Stoning either falls from a roof or is trampled by a wild beast. He who would have been liable for Burning falls into a fire or is bitten by a snake. He who would have been liable for Slaying is handed over to the government or robbers who kill him. He who would have been liable for Strangling either drowns in a river or is choked by a "Croup" Hebrew: Luvsi, a respiratory ailment, which is to say, a blockage.

Why do we look down from a high place and say "Under"? Because the one who falls is "Under." Let the rod of the wicked be broken; therefore, the pious man is spared. This is written upon his heart: "Be careful of the trap." Below, there are several "Levels" Or stories/floors similar to the Foundation of the World (Yesod Olam).

Regarding Burning: one falls headfirst or into a "Biting Fire," and it strikes him until he is bent to his knees, for there is nothing to support him. His strength should be in a holy place, in purity and cleanliness, but instead, it is in a place of "Vapor" and "Blows," not in "Exchanges."

Likewise, when discerning the "Hard Flesh" Decree within the walk, he wraps himself in his "Folly" Or perhaps "Pain". This leads to the "Two Pipes" The windpipe and esophagus which provide sustenance; one pulls this way and the other pulls that way, until the "Spirit of the Living God" is severed from him. Then, his mouth is opened, and they place lead This describes the ritual process of "Burning" in Jewish law: pouring molten lead down the throat into it, which enters him. It is thrown into his mouth, resembling the "Fire of Supreme Might" (Gevurah) with the "Palm" from below. It descends and burns his innards.

These are the "Two Outstretched Arms," and there is something similar in the "Ladder" that is between the shoulders from all sides. The general rule of the matter: from the tip of the middle finger of the right hand to the tip of the middle finger of the left hand, when the two arms are outstretched equally—this is the "World that Sustains the Body." The "Body Garment" is refined; these are the "Enduring Letters." Therefore, we do not destroy the "Vessels of Understanding" The physical organs, which are hollow. Everything is with her, except for the "Vessel that Receives the Burning"—the external one, the "Lamps" in the Chariot, as the Name of the Kingdom (Malkhut) performs. And the "Repairers" uproot the one who is liable, down to his knees...