Ibur & Growth
Gate of Reincarnations: Chapter Five, Section 3
Translation by Yitzchok bar Chaim;
explanation by Shabtai Teicher
Ibur has similar limitations [as gilgul].
In the previous section we learned that a group of Nefashot
from the same root may come together into one body, but there is a quantitative
limitation to this possibility. More than four nefashot may not
reincarnate together. Of the four, three are reincarnations and one is a new Nefesh.
The same quantitative limitation applies to ibur as well.
Up to three Nefashot can come to help a person's Nefesh.
The total will then be four. More is not possible, but less is.
However, those who had come in the secret of gilgul
only came to help themselves, to rectify their sins, or to fulfill a mitzva
they had yet to perform.  | | " The soul of a tzadik may come for its own benefit or only for the benefit of the host" | | |
The last section focused on the subject of multiple gilgulim.
Now we are beginning the discussion of ibur, and the Rav is reminding us
here of the contrast between gilgul and ibur. In gilgul
the Nefashot all come at the time of birth, and they all come to benefit
themselves, to rectify some sin or perform some mitzva. In contrast, in ibur
the soul of a tzadik comes into the host at the age of thirteen and one
day, or later. They may come for their own benefit or only for the benefit of
the host.
Expanding upon the discussion of ibur, the following is an
example.
Consider a person who has reincarnated into a body to rectify
himself. He has ten Nefashot in his root that are higher than himself.
If he merits it, then the tenth, lowest Nefesh, which is still higher
than he is, will enter him as an ibur and help him to achieve tikun.
If he increases his merit then he will receive the ninth Nefesh as an
ibur, and if he merits more, then the eighth Nefesh will enter.
Thus, he will have received three Nefashot, and, including his own,
there will be four in total. More than this is not possible.
However, if he further increases his merits, then he can even
receive the seventh Nefesh as well, causing the tenth Nefesh to
surrender its light to the three higher iburim.
There can only be four Nefashot in the body at one
time. One is the host, and three are iburim (plural of ibur). If
the fourth Nefesh above the host enters, then the lowest of those above
the host must leave.
This is the way it continues until he achieves the three highest Nefashot
of the ten: the first, second, and third. The light of these three will be
revealed in this ibur to assist him. The other seven will lose their
light to them; in contrast to the light of the three upper Nefashot,
they will seem as if they no longer exist. This is because only three Nefashot,
in addition to the Nefesh of the person himself, are possible [in one gilgul]. To link to the previous article in this reincarnation series,
Four Souls, One Person, click here
To continue on to the next article of this reincarnation series,
2 Sets of Three, Plus 1, click here
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