G. The Tree of Life and the "Fall
of Adam"
The Tree of Life is a universal map for the evolution of both Divine and
individual consciousness in the planes of existence. It contains mysteries
that manifest at both the macro- and microcosmic levels. One of the mysteries
delineated in Tree of Life is the "Fall of Adam." This Fall is
portrayed in the difference between "Working" and "Perfect
Trees" (see Diagram).
Working Trees are so-named because they represent different ways of ascending
the Tree. The primary source for all the different types of Working Trees
is the Sefer HaShmoth. Working Trees are also known as "Fallen
Trees." In the Fallen Trees, the Sefirah Knowledge/First has become
invisible and "fallen" into position as the anally centered Sefirah
Kingdom dangling at the bottom of the Tree. There is no equivalent for the
Sefirah Kingdom in the Sefer Yetzirah, since it only has Perfect
Trees in which the throat Sefirah is visible and there is no Sefirah at
the anal center.
At the macrocosmic level, the Fall of Adam is seen as an apparent differentiation
in the states of matter in the Tree of Asiyah. For example, matter can exist
in a collapsed condition at the core of black holes as the Sefirah Knowledge/First.
Or, it can exist in an expanded manner as mostly hydrogen atoms in Sefirah
Kingdom. It is critical to keep in mind that Sefirah Kingdom and Sefirah
Knowledge/First are one, not two. It is like looking at one object from
two sides. At the microcosmic level in the Perfect Tree, the universe is
perceived by human consciousness in Sefirah Knowledge/First as a perfect
spiritual unity in the mind of God (i.e. Vast Face). In the Fallen Tree,
human consciousness is dualistic in Sefirah Kingdom, perceiving the material
universe as differentiated from the spiritual. The Fall is an illusion sustained
in individual consciousness by the Lord of the Universe via His/Her power
of obscuration, sustained through five limitations: temporal limits, spatial
limits, attachment to particular things, limited knowledge, and limited
agency. The predominant Hebrew Name for the active aspect of the Ayn
as the Creator, Sustainer, and Destroyer of the Creation is the four letter
formula Yod Heh Vav Heh (vocalized by some as "Yahweh,"
and more commonly as "JehovahThe pronunciation of the Name hvhy as "Jehovah" first appeared in the Middle Ages in Jerome’s Vulgate Latin
translation of the Tanakh, which became the official Bible of
the Roman Catholic Church. Jerome changed the "Y" to "J"
and used the vowels of the Name Adonai."). The Fall of Sefirah Knowledge/First
into Kingdom is also reflected in the duplication of the letter Heh in YHVH.
The Upper Heh is the latent or unmanifest condition of all Mayic (illusory)
possibilities in the form of an infinite number of waves of ideas, and the
Lower Heh is their apparent finite manifestation in matter.
)
Most books on Qabalah show only what is known as the "Composite Tree
of Life" ( see Diagram).
The Composite Tree is obtained by superimposing all the Working Tree paths.
This form of the Tree is often erroneously thought of as being a workable
path in itself. However, as all the Sefiroth on the Composite Tree are connected
among one another, it offers no specific route up the Tree, and is consequently
not effective as a working path. Names from Tanakh and the
qabalistic tradition that have been attributed to the gates between the
Sefiroth of various working paths are listed in conjunction with the Composite
Tree diagram in Table.
In many contemporary books on Qabalah, the Composite Tree is shown with
gates connecting the Sefirah Kingdom to Sefirah Victory/South and to Sefirah
Glory/West. This is not correct. When Sefirah Knowledge/First "falls"
and becomes Sefirah Kingdom, it takes the Gate of the Beyt with it, which
thereby connects Kingdom only to the Sefirah Foundation/Below. No other
gates connect to Kingdom in the Fallen Tree. The reader might also take
note that the Composite Tree shows gates connecting Sefirah Power/Fire with
Sefirah Wisdom/East (Gate of Samael), and Sefirah Mercy/Water with Sefirah
Understanding/North (a Gate on the Way of the Saint). These gates are not
usually seen in Tree diagrams.
Gate Names on the Composite Tree
| Gate | Name |
| 1 | Gates of YHVH Elohenu, Central Column |
| 2 | Gate of the Excellent Servants of Everlasting Action |
| 3 | Gate of the Unclean Servants |
| 4 | Gate of Messiah |
| 5 | Gates of the Ruler (Royal Gates), Right Column |
| 6 | Gates of Destruction, Left Column |
| 7 | Gate of Doom (Fate) |
| 8 | Gate of Samael |
| 9 | Gates of the Saint |
| 10 | Gates of the Wizard |
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