Wonders of Divine Names

Vision comes from greatness of concept.

Letters, in thought, go forth and materialize, coming from a distant world, from a world filled with thought, awareness, light and clarification - from a world that, due to its abundant knowledge, is to us complete hiddeness.

The letters come and approach us, descending towards us, level after level, until we become conscious of them via the voice of thought. Then words are formed, sentences born - a world filled with discourses forms in our minds.

And this world that descended from its Existence [Atzilut] to its Creation [Beriya], penetrates towards its Formation [Yetzira], pressing upon every tool of expression – and they Actualize [Asiya] their task, lips fluttering. And then a voice speaks: "It is a wonder; and it will be wondrous."

The letters, in their revelation, are concentrated in the centers of consciousness, taking with them all the Treasure of Life that is within expanded consciousness, spreading forth in its abundant light supernal radiance, which doesn’t have clarified orientation or defined symbol.

Thus, the letter is filled with power, effecting awesome things, as it goes on its path, as it connects in its source, as is poured forth within it all the abundance of life within the treasure chest of consciousness, which is everlasting.

These are the wonders of [Divine] Names, founders of Life, tamers of [supernal] forces, flashes of existence that the supernal heights don’t shine forth, [even in its] abundance of strength. And there are none to explain the hidden-ness of Your Name.

[Adapted from Orot HaKodesh by Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohein Kook, Vol.1, 103, pg. 117.]

Biographical Notes:
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohein Kook (1865-1935), born in Latvia, was the first Chief Rabbi of Israel in the 20th century, before the establishment of the state. He is perhaps the best known philosopher of religious Zionism, with numerous writings on all aspects of Jewish thought, including the spiritual and the mystical.