Chapter Thirty-Six:

Rabbi Yehudah Ashlag's "Introduction to the Zohar"

-- as translated and commented on by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

__________________________________________________

The second (more fully developed) “vegetable” stage comes next. It’s a more vigorous one than the inanimate stage, and the ratzon l’kabel prevails over each and every one of its details. For, each detail moves along on its own, length- and width-wise, (even) reaching for the sun.

This stage is organic, dynamic and vigorous. And it’s fecund and abundant enough in self-interest that its reach is far and wide. In fact, it’s so dynamic that...

Eating and drinking, and the elimination of waste manifest themselves in each one of its details.

Still-and-all, though, the details don’t exhibit an independent sense of self-will.

... as animate and verbal entities do, to a great degree.

(c) 2008 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

(Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org )

********************************
AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman's translation of "The Gates of Repentance" has been reissued at *at a discount*!
You can order it right now from here
Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon "The Path of the Just", and "The Duties of the Heart" (Jason Aronson Publishers). His new work on Maimonides' "The Eight Chapters" will soon be available from Yashar Books.
Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled
"Spiritual Excellence" and "Ramchal"