חָכְמָה

wisdom

Chochmah, the second of the ten sefirot, is the first power of conscious intellect within Creation. It appears in the configuration of the sefirot at the top of the right axis, and corresponds to the right hemisphere of the brain.

In its fully articulated form, Chochmah possesses two personas: the higher of these is referred to as the “higher father” whereas the lower is referred to as “Israel, the Elder”. These two personas are referred to jointly as “the father".

Chochmah is associated in the soul with the power of intuitive insight, flashing lightning-like across consciousness. The persona of the “higher father” is associated with the power to spontaneously extract such insight from the superconscious realm, whereas the persona of “The Elder of Israel” is associated with the power to subsequently direct it into consciousness.

Note This explanation of Chochmah is very heady. It also implies that this is a place to achieve, having a spontaneous insight from the Upper Realm. However, this is a better description of the power that flows through Chochmah, and what that energy that flows from it represents. But it is part of the process of Emanation, as expressed by the Will of G-d.

The “wisdom” of Chochmah also implies the ability to look deeply at some aspect of reality and abstract its conceptual essence till one succeeds in uncovering its underlying axiomatic truth. These seeds of truth can then be conveyed to the companion power of binah for the sake of intellectual analysis and development.

Note This passage has an anthropomorphic ring to it. There is no “conveying of … truth” to binah - where it awaits” intellectual analysis”. Chochmah is a place of Oneness, binah one of form. They are both the same thing, just different purposes – or positions – that are used to describe the indescribable, the miracuous – meaning beyond human comprehension – in words that the average human can understand, and develop the ability to plumb deeper into the mystery of our existence.

Chochmah is the primary or “beginning” force in the creative process, as it is said: “You have made them all with Chochmah.”

Chochmah = 73 (the 22nd prime number). In ordinal numbering, Chochmah = 37 (the middle point of 73; the 13th prime number). In small numbering, Chochmah = 19 (the “middle point” of 37; the 9th prime number; 9 plus 13 = 22). The final “small number” of Chochmah is 1.

The full numerical value of the first verse of Creation: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” = 2701. 2701 = the sum of all numbers from 1 to 73 (i.e. the “triangle” of 73) = 37 times 73. The final phrase of the verse, “and the earth” = 703 = the sum of all numbers from 1 to 37 = 19 times 37.

The word Chochmah is read “the power of selflessness,” or, alternatively as “the palate of selflessness.” “The power of selflessness” implies not only the attribute of selflessness itself, but the great creative power that selflessness entails. “The palate of selflessness” is the soul’s ability to “taste” Divinity by virtue of one’s state of selflessness, as is said “Taste and see that God is good.” In general, the sense of sight relates to Chochmah (the lightening-flash referred to above). From this verse we learn that there is an inner, spiritual sense of taste in Chochmah that precedes and arouses the sense of sight.

The spiritual state corresponding to the sefirah of Chochmah is that of selflessness.

Note That is because ”Chochmah” is a place of oneness. It is the place of everything “making sense”. Wisdom being the ability to see to the heart of the matter - that which brings it all together. Wisdom encompases the essence of the matter, understanding it to its very source - and that source is One - the point of the matter.

Chochmah represents the unlimited flow of energy as it flows down from the Divine Realms, undifferentiated, neither positive nor negative, preceding any polarity.