Daily Zohar – Tikunim – #50- Four men entered a grove.
Four entered a grove (פרדס PRDS). This is abbreviation for the four aspects of understanding and studying the Torah.
1. P – פשט – Simple. Literal meaning.
2. R -רמז – Implied. What comes from understanding the text.
3. D – דרש – Discussed. The learning after discussions of the Torah.
4. S – סוד – Secret. Dwelling into the Torah text to reveal the secrets.
The four that went into the PRDS (grove) were Ben Zoma, Ben Azai, another one (no name mentioned here) and Rabbi Akiva.
The first three ate from the three Klipot and died, Rabbi Akiva, ate the fruit and disposed the shell (Klipot) and came out.
The word Klipot means Shell, like shell of the fruit. Rabbi Akiva connected to the Light, which is concealed behind the the Klipot.
Proper circumcision removes the Klipot from Yesod, reproductive system. Yesod is the power to form new life. Create continuation without the snake skin. (The Snake “knew” Eve before Adam)
We learn from this part of the Zohar that before we can connect to the Light, we need to break the Klipot, which are the shells that hide it. This is our work and by that we can merit and enjoy greater light in life.
When we connect on lower levels or even with a little effort it doesn’t give us lasting light. No efforts means connecting to limitations and death (end). (= no success, no health, no relationships etc..)
When we eat the fruit we remove the shell or wash the dirt from the outer layer first in order to connect to the inner and valuable content.
The Torah guides us to not eating unripe fruit because it can bring death. Nowadays we have fruits delivered from far countries by planes or ships and unfortunately the farmers developed methods to take the fruit from the tree before it becomes ripe. They have tricks to make ripe colors but when the fruit is picked it has the Klipot because the fruit did not reach maturity (Yesod) to be able to channel light to Malchut, which is our mouth.
The Torah teaches us that the negative effect is carried through the DNA to the next generation. Ezikeil 18:2 “The fathers eat the sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”
Organic unripe fruits are as bad as regular ones. Avoid processed, imported, GM (Genetically Modified), Frozen etc…
I wish I could find a worm in my apple. Why? Because then I know that there is life in the apple…
מקור הקטע: הקדמת תיקוני הזוהר עם פרוש מעלות הסולם (רבי יהודה צבי ברנדויין זל) פסקה 243