CHAPTER

XXVIII.

CONCERNING THE BRAIN AND MEMBRANE OF THE BRAIN

OF MICROPROSOPUS.

559. In the cavities of the skull three hollow places are found wherein is located the brain.

560. And a thin membrane is placed therein, but not a thick membrane, hidden also as that of the Ancient of Days.

561. And therefore is this brain expanded, and it shineth (or proceedeth) in thirty-two paths. The same is that which is written, Gen. ii. 7: "And a river went forth out of Eden."

562. Also we have learned that in the three hollow places of the skull the brain is contained.

563. Out of the first cavity proceedeth a certain fountain of the brain in four directions, and it goeth forth from the skull, in whose cavity are contained those thirty-two paths which are the spirits of wisdom.

564. Out of the second cavity there goeth forth and expandeth a second certain fountain, and the fifty gates (of the Understanding) are opened.

565. In those fifty gates are contained the fifty days of the law; the fifty years of the jubilee; and the fifty thousand generations wherein the most holy God-blessed be He—intendeth to restore and commemorate His Spirit in them.

566. From the third cavity there go forth a thousand times a thousand conclaves and assemblies, wherein DOTH, Daath, Knowledge, is contained and dwelleth.

* These are the thirty-two paths of the "Sepher Yetzirah," symbolised by the ten numbers of the decad, and the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

+ It is to be remembered that, according to the "Book of Concealed Mystery," Daath is the conjunction of the second and third Sephiroth, Wisdom and Understanding, the I and H of IHVH, the Supernal Father and Mother.

567. And the hollow place of this cavity is placed between the other two cavities; and all those conclaves are filled from either side.

568. This is that which is written, Prov. ii. 4: "And in knowledge shall the conclaves be filled."

569. And those three are expanded over the whole body, on this side and on that, and with them doth the whole body cohere, and the body is contained by them on every side, and through the whole body are they expanded and diffused.

CHAPTER XXIX.

CONCERNING THE HAIR OF MICROPROSOPUS.

570. We have learned that from the skull of His head (i.e., of Microprosopus) hang one thousand times a thousand myriad myriads of locks of black hair, and they are intertwined together each to the other, and they are mingled together.

571. But there is no classification made of the locks of hair separately, because pure and impure alike adhere to each other therein, and here (the description above given) mentions both pure and impure together.

572. In all those sides which are pure, and in all those which are impure, there are intricate and dense locks of hair, some of which are soft, some hard.

573. And in single locks doth the hair hang down, curls upon curls, which emit flames, and hang down in beautiful and strong array, like those of a brave hero victorious in

war.

574. They are excellent as the great and foliated cedars. This is that which is written, Cant. v. 15: "Excellent as the cedars."

* As the mediating path between them.

575. The curling locks are parted on this side and on that above the head.

576. Also we have learned that they remain in curls because they proceed from many fountains of the three canals of the brain.

577. For from the fountain of one cavity of the skull proceedeth the hair, and it becomes curls upon curls (formed), from the fountains proceeding from that cavity.

578. From the second cavity there go forth fifty fountains, and from those fountains the hair issueth, and it becometh curls upon curls, and they are mingled with the other locks.

579. From the third cavity there go forth a thousand times a thousand conclaves and assemblies, and from them all the hair issueth; and it becometh curls upon curls, and they are mingled with the other locks.

580. And therefore are those locks so curling, and all the progeny of them is produced from the three cavities of the brain of the skull.

581. And all those curls hang down and are spread over the sides of the ears.

582. And therefore is it written, Dan. ix. 18: "Incline thine ear, O my God, and hear."

*

583. And in those curls there are found alike right and left, light and dark, mercy and judgment, and everything (that hath in itself the qualities of) right and left dependeth thence (from Microprosopus), and not from the Ancient One.† 584. In the parting of the hair appeareth a certain · slender path, which hath a certain connection with that path of the Ancient of Days, and from that path are divided six hundred and thirteen paths, which are

Whereas Macroprosopus is symbolized only by the right side of the profile.

† For the reason I have given in the preceding note.

The precepts of the law are said to be 613 in number, which is also expressed by Gematria in the words Moses our Rabbi"; MSHH RBINV, Mosheh Rabbino = 40+300+5+200+2+10+50+6=613.

distributed among the paths of the precepts of the law.

585. Like as it is written, Ps. xxv. 6: 'All the paths of Tetragrammaton are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimony."

586. We have learned that in the single locks a thousand times a thousand utterances of the speech of Tetragrammaton are found, which depend from the single

locks.

587. Among them some are hard (rigorous) and some soft (merciful), as (belonging unto) the Lord of the equilibrium (or, the Lord of mercy, who is an equilibrium between these); and therefore is He (Microprosopus) said to include right and left.

CHAPTER XXX.

CONCERNING THE FOREHEAD OF MICROPROSOPUS.

588. THE forehead of the skull is the inspection of inspection, and it is not uncovered, except in that time when it is necessary to visit sinners for the purpose of examining their deeds.

589. Also we have learned that when that forehead is uncovered, all the lords of judgment are stirred up, and the whole universe is brought under judgment.

590. Save in that time when the prayers of the Israelites ascend before the Ancient of Days, and entreat mercy for His children; then is uncovered the forehead of the benevolence of benevolences, and it shineth down upon this (forehead) of Microprosopus, and judgment is quieted.

591. Over this forehead there goeth forth a certain * Namely, that of Macroprosopus.

portion of hair, which is extended over it from the brain, which produceth the fifty gates (of understanding).

592. And when it is expanded, that brow glows with anger; it is the inspector of the sinners of the world— namely, of those who are shameless in their deeds.

593. Like as it is written, Jer. iii. 3: "And thou hadst the forehead of a woman who is a whore, thou refusedst to be ashamed."

594. And we have learned that that hair subsisteth not in that part of the forehead; so that it may be uncovered against those who remain steadfast in their iniquities.

595. And when the Holy One- blessed be He! - is awakened, that He may be pleased with the just, the Countenance of the Ancient of Days shineth upon the Countenance of Microprosopus, and His forehead (that of Macroprosopus) is uncovered, and illuminateth that forehead (that of Macroprosopus), and then is called the time of benevolence.

596. But as often as judgment threateneth, and that forehead of Microprosopus is uncovered, there is uncovered the forehead of the Ancient of the Ancient Ones, and judgment is mitigated and is not exercised.

597. We have learned that that forehead is expanded into two hundred thousand rednesses of rednesses, which are contained therein, and are included therein.

598. And when the forehead of Microprosopus is uncovered, licence is given unto all those to destroy. But when the forehead of the benevolence of benevolences is uncovered, so that it may shine upon that forehead (o Microprosopus) and upon all those (rednesses), then are they quieted.

599. Also we have learned by tradition: Twenty-four superior judgments are found, and they are all called NTZCHIM, Netzachim, or Victories; howsoever, while (in the arrangement of letters, NTzCHIM, the singular) NTzCH, Netzach, is called Victory (i.e., means that), the neighbouring