Arich Anpin
Encyclopedia
Arich/Arikh Anpin is an aspect of Divine
emanation in Kabbalah
, identified with the sephirah attribute of Keter
, the Divine Will.
The Zohar
's imagery expoundes its role in Creation, where it is the macroscopic equivalent of Zeir Anpin
(Microprosopus) in the sephirotic tree of life
. In 16th century Lurianic doctrine it becomes systemised as one of the 6 Primary Partzufim
Divine Personae, as part of the cosmic process of Tikkun Rectification. The Lurianic scheme recasts the linear Medieval-Kabbalistic hierarchy of lifeforce
in Creation into dynamic processes of interinclusion, analogous to the enclothement of a soul into a lower body. In this way, the Partzuf Arich Anpin is said to descend immanently through all levels of Creation as their concealed substratum Divine intention, though in progressively more concealed mode.
It's inner dimension is identified as the related, but transcendent Partzuf Atik Yomin ("Ancient of Days"), synonymous with inner Divine Delight, the "Will of Wills/Primary Will", the most pristine cause for Creation.
(above conscious Divine "Crown") develops into two Partzufim
(Configurations): Arich Anpin, its outer extending Ratzon (Will), and Atik Yomin ("Ancient of Days"), its inner motivating Divine Taanug (Delight). As man is seen as "made in the Divine image", Divinity is perceived through psychological awareness of the Divine Kochos HaNefesh
(Human Soul Powers) articulated in Hasidic thought.
In Kabbalah
the functional role of the sephirot and partzufim in ennacting Creation is articulated. The 7 lower emotional sefirot of Atik Yomin enclothe within Arich Anpin, as God's essential delight motivates the Will to Create. The 3 upper intellectual sefirot of Atik Yomin, transcending Arich Anpin, are the Divine source of Emunah (Faith) through essential unity with the essence of the soul. Together, these three levels, arising from the overlapping of the two Partzufim of Keter, form the three Reishin (Heads) of Keter. The Lurianic Tikun rectification process of the world of Atzilut
begins with its Keter
-"Crown". The crown of a world is its essential "head" of which the Zohar
says analogously, "When the head/leader of the people (the partzufim
of world) is rectified, the entire people is rectified". The three heads of Keter in Atzilut
:
The consciousness of the World of Atziluth
-Emanation, highest of the Four Worlds
, is still completely nullified within its Divine source, perceiving no self existence. Only in the lower three Worlds
does Creation feel progressive degrees of independence from God. Where lower Creation perceive plurality in Divinity, Atzilut perceives only complete Divine Unity. Consequently, any revelation of Divinity in plural categories: 10 Sephirot, 12 Partzufim, 2 Partzufim, 3 Heads in Keter, 4 letters of the Tetragrammaton, are only the apparent perspective from below. In reality, Divinity reveals itself through any numbers, while retaining Omnipresence from the perspective of Upper Divine Unity. After the Tzimtzum
appearance of Divine Withdrawal, when Creation receives its own perspective, Divinity can appear through plurality. All such forms when traced back to their ultimate source in God's infinite light before the Tzimtzum
, return to their state of absolute Oneness. Kabbalah repeatedly stresses the need to divest its anthropomorphic metaphors
from any false, impure corporeal connotations. According to Jewish faith, God is absolutely One, "One but not in calculation". There exists no duality or plurality in Him in any form at all. In Kabbalah the paradoxical perception of absolute Divine Unity within multiplicity, the consciousness of Atzilut, is considered subconsciously innate to the souls of Israel, that are rooted in Atzilut. The souls of the Nations are elevated to this perception through adherence to the 7 Laws of Noah that attachment them to the absolute Divine Unity in the Torah and away from any false plural persepective of idolatry.
acts as the revelation of Divine Delight and Will, through Da'at (the sephirah of "Knowledge", the Lower counterpart of Keter) into emotional expression. This becomes the soul within the ultimate realisation of creation into action, through Nukvah ("Feminine" the Partzuf of Malchut). As Keter and Daat are two dimensions of the same principle, they are alternately listed among countings of the 10 Sephirot, becoming Da'at Elyon and Da'at Tachton (Higher, concealed Knowledge and Lower, revealed Knowledge).
, Kehot pub. Also printed as Appendix of Likutei Amarim-Tanya, Kehot. Chapter 8 etc.
God in Judaism
The conception of God in Judaism is strictly monotheistic. God is an absolute one indivisible incomparable being who is the ultimate cause of all existence. Jewish tradition teaches that the true aspect of God is incomprehensible and unknowable, and that it is only God's revealed aspect that...
emanation in Kabbalah
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
, identified with the sephirah attribute of Keter
Keter
*Keter in Kabbalah, is one of the ten Sephirot *Keter or kether כתר is the Hebrew word for "Crown ", as worn by a king or queen* Keter Publishing House is a book publisher based in Israel...
, the Divine Will.
The Zohar
Zohar
The Zohar is the foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material on Mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology...
's imagery expoundes its role in Creation, where it is the macroscopic equivalent of Zeir Anpin
Zeir Anpin
Zeir Anpin is a revealed aspect of God in Kabbalah, comprising the emotional sephirot attributes: Chesed, Geburah, Tiphereth, Netzach, Hod and Yesod.The Zohar's imagery expoundes its role in Creation, where it is the microscopic equivalent of Arich Anpin in...
(Microprosopus) in the sephirotic tree of life
Tree of life
The concept of a tree of life, a many-branched tree illustrating the idea that all life on earth is related, has been used in science , religion, philosophy, mythology, and other areas...
. In 16th century Lurianic doctrine it becomes systemised as one of the 6 Primary Partzufim
Partzufim
Partzufim/Partsufim , meaning Divine "Personae/Visages/Faces/Forms/Configurations", are particular reconfigured arrangements of the 10 sephirot Divine attributes/emanations of Kabbalah into harmonised interactions in Creation. Their names derive from mystical discourses in the Zohar, the...
Divine Personae, as part of the cosmic process of Tikkun Rectification. The Lurianic scheme recasts the linear Medieval-Kabbalistic hierarchy of lifeforce
Ohr
Ohr is a central Kabbalistic term in the Jewish mystical tradition. The analogy of physical light is used as a way of describing metaphysical Divine emanations...
in Creation into dynamic processes of interinclusion, analogous to the enclothement of a soul into a lower body. In this way, the Partzuf Arich Anpin is said to descend immanently through all levels of Creation as their concealed substratum Divine intention, though in progressively more concealed mode.
It's inner dimension is identified as the related, but transcendent Partzuf Atik Yomin ("Ancient of Days"), synonymous with inner Divine Delight, the "Will of Wills/Primary Will", the most pristine cause for Creation.
Two Partzufim-Configurations and three Reishin-Heads in Keter-Crown
The sefirah of KeterKeter
*Keter in Kabbalah, is one of the ten Sephirot *Keter or kether כתר is the Hebrew word for "Crown ", as worn by a king or queen* Keter Publishing House is a book publisher based in Israel...
(above conscious Divine "Crown") develops into two Partzufim
Partzufim
Partzufim/Partsufim , meaning Divine "Personae/Visages/Faces/Forms/Configurations", are particular reconfigured arrangements of the 10 sephirot Divine attributes/emanations of Kabbalah into harmonised interactions in Creation. Their names derive from mystical discourses in the Zohar, the...
(Configurations): Arich Anpin, its outer extending Ratzon (Will), and Atik Yomin ("Ancient of Days"), its inner motivating Divine Taanug (Delight). As man is seen as "made in the Divine image", Divinity is perceived through psychological awareness of the Divine Kochos HaNefesh
Kochos hanefesh
Kochos/Kochot haNefesh , meaning "Powers of the Soul", are the innate constituent character-aspects within the soul, in Hasidic thought's psychological internalisation of Kabbalah. They derive from the 10 Sephirot Heavenly emanations of Kabbalah, by relating each quality to its parallel internal...
(Human Soul Powers) articulated in Hasidic thought.
In Kabbalah
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
the functional role of the sephirot and partzufim in ennacting Creation is articulated. The 7 lower emotional sefirot of Atik Yomin enclothe within Arich Anpin, as God's essential delight motivates the Will to Create. The 3 upper intellectual sefirot of Atik Yomin, transcending Arich Anpin, are the Divine source of Emunah (Faith) through essential unity with the essence of the soul. Together, these three levels, arising from the overlapping of the two Partzufim of Keter, form the three Reishin (Heads) of Keter. The Lurianic Tikun rectification process of the world of Atzilut
Four Worlds
The Four Worlds , sometimes counted with a prior stage to make Five Worlds, are the comprehensive categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah in the descending chain of Existence....
begins with its Keter
Keter
*Keter in Kabbalah, is one of the ten Sephirot *Keter or kether כתר is the Hebrew word for "Crown ", as worn by a king or queen* Keter Publishing House is a book publisher based in Israel...
-"Crown". The crown of a world is its essential "head" of which the Zohar
Zohar
The Zohar is the foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material on Mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology...
says analogously, "When the head/leader of the people (the partzufim
Partzufim
Partzufim/Partsufim , meaning Divine "Personae/Visages/Faces/Forms/Configurations", are particular reconfigured arrangements of the 10 sephirot Divine attributes/emanations of Kabbalah into harmonised interactions in Creation. Their names derive from mystical discourses in the Zohar, the...
of world) is rectified, the entire people is rectified". The three heads of Keter in Atzilut
Atziluth
Atziluth, or Atzilut , is the highest of four worlds in which exists the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Beri'ah follows it. It is known as the World of Emanations, or the World of Causes...
:
- Reisha d'lo Ityada, acronym RADL"A, (the "Unknowable Head"), the essential unity Faith
- Reisha d'Ayin (the "Head of Nothingness"-Ayin), the inner motivation of essential rooted unconscious Delight
- Reisha d'Arich (the "Extended/Infinite Head"), leading Arich Anpin, the outer descending extension of Will
The consciousness of the World of Atziluth
Atziluth
Atziluth, or Atzilut , is the highest of four worlds in which exists the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Beri'ah follows it. It is known as the World of Emanations, or the World of Causes...
-Emanation, highest of the Four Worlds
Four Worlds
The Four Worlds , sometimes counted with a prior stage to make Five Worlds, are the comprehensive categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah in the descending chain of Existence....
, is still completely nullified within its Divine source, perceiving no self existence. Only in the lower three Worlds
Four Worlds
The Four Worlds , sometimes counted with a prior stage to make Five Worlds, are the comprehensive categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah in the descending chain of Existence....
does Creation feel progressive degrees of independence from God. Where lower Creation perceive plurality in Divinity, Atzilut perceives only complete Divine Unity. Consequently, any revelation of Divinity in plural categories: 10 Sephirot, 12 Partzufim, 2 Partzufim, 3 Heads in Keter, 4 letters of the Tetragrammaton, are only the apparent perspective from below. In reality, Divinity reveals itself through any numbers, while retaining Omnipresence from the perspective of Upper Divine Unity. After the Tzimtzum
Tzimtzum
Tzimtzum is a term used in the kabbalistic teaching of Isaac Luria, explaining his concept that God began the process of creation by "contracting" his infinite light in order to allow for a "conceptual space" in which a finite and seemingly independent world could exist...
appearance of Divine Withdrawal, when Creation receives its own perspective, Divinity can appear through plurality. All such forms when traced back to their ultimate source in God's infinite light before the Tzimtzum
Tzimtzum
Tzimtzum is a term used in the kabbalistic teaching of Isaac Luria, explaining his concept that God began the process of creation by "contracting" his infinite light in order to allow for a "conceptual space" in which a finite and seemingly independent world could exist...
, return to their state of absolute Oneness. Kabbalah repeatedly stresses the need to divest its anthropomorphic metaphors
Anthropomorphism in Kabbalah
Kabbalah, the central system in Jewish mysticism, uses subtle anthropomorphic analogies and metaphors to describe God in Judaism. These include male-female influences in the Divine. Kabbalists repeatedly warn and stress the need to divorce their notions from any corporeality, dualism, plurality, or...
from any false, impure corporeal connotations. According to Jewish faith, God is absolutely One, "One but not in calculation". There exists no duality or plurality in Him in any form at all. In Kabbalah the paradoxical perception of absolute Divine Unity within multiplicity, the consciousness of Atzilut, is considered subconsciously innate to the souls of Israel, that are rooted in Atzilut. The souls of the Nations are elevated to this perception through adherence to the 7 Laws of Noah that attachment them to the absolute Divine Unity in the Torah and away from any false plural persepective of idolatry.
Arich Anpin-Long Face and Zeir Anpin-Short Face
As the operative Divine Will through Creation, Arich Anpin acts as the soul descending within and guiding the Divine Intellect and Emotions. In parallel lesser process, Zeir AnpinZeir Anpin
Zeir Anpin is a revealed aspect of God in Kabbalah, comprising the emotional sephirot attributes: Chesed, Geburah, Tiphereth, Netzach, Hod and Yesod.The Zohar's imagery expoundes its role in Creation, where it is the microscopic equivalent of Arich Anpin in...
acts as the revelation of Divine Delight and Will, through Da'at (the sephirah of "Knowledge", the Lower counterpart of Keter) into emotional expression. This becomes the soul within the ultimate realisation of creation into action, through Nukvah ("Feminine" the Partzuf of Malchut). As Keter and Daat are two dimensions of the same principle, they are alternately listed among countings of the 10 Sephirot, becoming Da'at Elyon and Da'at Tachton (Higher, concealed Knowledge and Lower, revealed Knowledge).
Sources
Mystical Concepts in Chassidism, Jacob Immanuel SchochetJacob Immanuel Schochet
Jacob Immanuel Schochet is a rabbi, academic and scholar who has written and lectured on the history and philosophy of Hasidism and on themes of Jewish thought and ethics. He is a well known member of the Chabad movement.-Family background:...
, Kehot pub. Also printed as Appendix of Likutei Amarim-Tanya, Kehot. Chapter 8 etc.