Then, my brother, there will develop in your soul a sublime and lofty result, (1) you will learn from it all the good character traits, and you will reach through it to all the treasured things, namely, (2) purifying the essence of the soul from the obscurity of foolishness, and (3) you will dispel the darkness of doubt that is in your heart.
You already know that (when learning mathematics), according to the correctness, number, and proper order of the fundamental principles will be the resulting clarity and mastery.
Likewise, for preparing a medication in the field of medicine, the benefit of the medication, and the potency of its effect will be according to the potency of the herbs, which the medication consists of.
Likewise for the field of engineering, called in Arabic, Il-Handasa, according to the number of fundamental principles learned in the desired field will be the resulting quality and usefulness of the knowledge.
So it is with many things. For example, a leverage scale cannot be designed without prior knowledge in engineering, mechanics, mathematics and weights.
Likewise for the astronomers' measure called in Arabic, Itztrolab, it cannot be designed without prior understanding in engineering, geometry, astronomical movements, and area of the earth.
So too, for this matter requested from the soul, it will not be possible for you, my brother, until you first bear accepting what I have aroused you in of the spiritual accountings with yourself in this gate and in the other gates, and are diligent in acting on them.
And when you do this with a faithful heart and a pure soul, your mind will become illuminated, and you will see the path to all of the exalted qualities, and the yetzer (evil inclination) will not have a way to reach you and entice you, and you will reach the status of one treasured by G-d. A new, strange, supernal sense will arouse in you, unfamiliar to you of all the senses you are used to knowing, as the wise man said: "A man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face is changed" (Koheles 8:1), then you will perceive the great matters, and you will see the deep secrets, with your pure soul, pure heart, and strong faith. You will not part from a permanent joy in this world and in the next, due to the magnitude of what you observed and the greatness of the secret which was revealed to you, with G-d's help.
I saw proper to give you an analogy, which will clarify for you a bit of what I have mentioned to you: Imagine that you are in a place, above this place and behind you is a wondrous image, and there's no way for you to see it with your eyes, and gaze at it with your sense of sight. A certain person told you that when you make a sheet of metal and polish it until the darkness is removed, and you anoint it with various potions for a long time, and then you place it opposite your face - then you will see the above picture that was previously hidden to you, and you will be able to gaze at it and to enjoy its pleasant appearance and radiant beauty.
The high picture, which you have no way to gaze at with your eyes, is the wisdom of the Creator, and His power, and the beauty of the upper world whose form and quality is hidden from us. The sheet metal is the soul of man, the polishing is the guiding it in the wisdoms and the intellectual and torah morals. The anointings are the thirty ways of personal accounting, which I have mentioned to you.
When you put them to your heart, and establish them in your thoughts, your soul will cleanse, and your intellect will illuminate, and all types of hidden matters will picture in your mind, and you will see true forms with open eyes, and the gates of virtue will open, and the separation veil over your eyes which separates between you and between the wisdom of the Creator will be removed from you. And G-d will teach you supernal wisdom and beneficial acts and will grant you Divine powers, as written: "And the spirit of the L-ord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the L-ord" (Yeshaya 11:2), and "But it is a spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty that gives them understanding" (Iyov 32:8), and "If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then shall you understand the fear of the L-ord, and find the knowledge of G-d" (Mishlei 2:4-5).
אַךְ תּוֹעֶלֶת הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן הַנִּזְכָּר הִיא:
The benefit the spiritual accountings we mentioned yields are the results which the soul develops after:
הַתּוֹלָדָה שֶׁמְּיַלֶּדֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ בְּעָמְדָהּ עַל בֵּרוּר מָה שֶׁקָּדַם לָנוּ בִּשְׁלֹשִׁים אָפְנֵי הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן הַנִּזְכָּרִים,
* attaining a clear grasp in the 30 ways of spiritual accounting we mentioned
וַהֲבָנַת עִנְיְנֵיהֶם,
* understanding their matters
וְצוּרַת מְצִיאָתָם,
* understanding their actual form
וַאֲמִתַּת חִיּוּבָם,
* understanding the truth of their obligation
וְהִמָּשֵׁךְ הַנֶּפֶשׁ לְקַבְּלָם עָלֶיהָ כְּפִי הַכָּרָתָהּ בָּהֶם וַהֲשָׁבָתָם בְּרַעְיוֹנֶיהָ,
* the yearning of one's soul to undertake them, according to one's understanding of them and establishing of them in one's thoughts.
וְאָז אָחִי תִּתְיַלֵּד בְּנַפְשְׁךָ תּוֹלָדָה מְעֻלָּה וְרָמָה תִּלְמַד מִמֶּנָּה כָּל הַמִּדּוֹת הַטּוֹבוֹת וְתַגִּיעַ בָּהּ אֶל כָּל הַחֲמוּדוֹת וְהִיא זַכּוּת עֶצֶם הַנֶּפֶשׁ מִקַּדְרוּת הַסִּכְלוּת הַמְּסִירָה חֶשְׁכַת הַסָּפֵק אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבְךָ.
Then, my brother, there will develop in your soul a sublime and lofty result, (1) you will learn from it all the good character traits, and you will reach through it to all the treasured things, namely, (2) purifying the essence of the soul from the obscurity of foolishness, and (3) you will dispel the darkness of doubt that is in your heart.
וּכְבָר יָדַעְתָּ כִּי כְּפִי בֵּרוּר הַהַקְדָּמוֹת וְרֹב מִסְפָּרָן וְיֹשֶׁר סִדּוּרָן תִּהְיֶה הַתּוֹלָדָה הַנּוֹלֶדֶת מֵהֶן בְּבֵרוּרָהּ וַחֲשִׁיבוּת מַעֲלָתָהּ.
You already know that (when learning mathematics), according to the correctness, number, and proper order of the fundamental principles will be the resulting clarity and mastery.
וְכֵן הַרְכָּבַת הַמִּרְקַחַת בִּמְלֶאכֶת הָרְפוּאוֹת כִּי תּוֹעֶלֶת הַמִּרְקַחַת וְכֹחַ מַעֲשֶׂיהָ יִהְיֶה כְּפִי כֹּחַ הַסַּמְמָנִים אֲשֶׁר הֻרְכְּבָה מֵהֶם הַמִּרְקַחַת.
Likewise, for preparing a medication in the field of medicine, the benefit of the medication, and the potency of its effect will be according to the potency of the herbs, which the medication consists of.
וְכֵן בְּחָכְמַת הַשִּׁעוּרִים הַנִּקְרֵאת בְּעַרְבִי אַלְהִנְדָּסָ״א כְּפִי רֹב הַהַקְדָּמוֹת הַמֻּקְדָּמוֹת בָּעִנְיָן הַנִּדְרָשׁ תִּהְיֶה חֲשִׁיבוּתוֹ וְתוֹעֶלֶת יְדִיעָתוֹ,
Likewise for the field of engineering, called in Arabic, Il-Handasa, according to the number of fundamental principles learned in the desired field will be the resulting quality and usefulness of the knowledge.
וּכְמוֹ כֵן בְּהַרְבֵּה מִן הַמַּעֲשִׂים כִּי הַפֶּלֶס לֹא יִתָּכֵן לִמְחַבְּרוֹ עַד שֶׁיֵּדַע קֹדֶם חָכְמַת הַשִּׁעוּר וְטִבְעֵי הַמִּנְיָנִים וְהַשְּׁקָלִים,
So it is with many things. For example, a leverage scale cannot be designed without prior knowledge in engineering, mechanics, mathematics and weights.
וְכֵן חוּג הַחוֹזִים הַנִּקְרָא אִצְטְרוֹלָ״ב בְּעַרְבִי לֹא יִתָּכֵן לִמְחַבְּרוֹ אֶלָּא אַחַר עָמְדוֹ עַל חָכְמַת הַשִּׁעוּר וְעַל הַמּוֹבְדִּיטָאוֹת (המכרוטאות) וּתְנוּעַת הַגַּלְגַּלִּים וּפְשִׁיטוּת הַכַּדּוּר.
Likewise for the astronomers' measure called in Arabic, Itztrolab, it cannot be designed without prior understanding in engineering, geometry, astronomical movements, and area of the earth.
וְכֵן הָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה הַנִּדְרָשׁ מִן הַנֶּפֶשׁ לֹא יִתָּכֵן לְךָ אָחִי אֶלָּא אַחַר שֶׁתִּסְבֹּל קַבָּלַת מָה שֶׁהַעִירוֹתִיךָ עָלָיו מִן הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן עִם נַפְשְׁךָ בְּמָה שֶׁזָּכַרְתִּי לְךָ בַּשַּׁעַר הַזֶּה וּבְזוּלָתוֹ מִן הַשְּׁעָרִים וְהַתְמָדַת הַמַּעֲשֶׂה בָּהֶם.
So too, for this matter requested from the soul, it will not be possible for you, my brother, until you first bear accepting what I have aroused you in of the spiritual accountings with yourself in this gate and in the other gates, and are diligent in acting on them.
כִּי כַאֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה זֶה בְּלֵב נֶאֱמָן וּבְנֶפֶשׁ בָּרָה יֵאוֹר שִׂכְלְךָ וְתִרְאֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ אֶל כָּל הַמַּעֲלוֹת הָרָמוֹת וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לַיֵּצֶר דֶּרֶךְ לְהַגִּיעַ אֵלֶיךָ וּלְהַשִּׁיאֲךָ וְתִהְיֶה בִּתְכוּנַת סְגֻלַּת הָאֱלֹהִים וְיִתְחַדֵּשׁ לְךָ כֹּחַ הָעֶלְיוֹנִי נָכְרִי לֹא יְדַעְתּוֹ בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר הִרְגַּלְתָּ בּוֹ מִכֹּחוֹתֶיךָ כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הֶחָכָם (קהלת ח) חָכְמַת אָדָם תָּאִיר פָּנָיו וְגוֹ׳ וְאָז תַּכִּיר הָעִנְיָנִים הַגְּדוֹלִים וְתִרְאֶה הַסּוֹדוֹת הָעֲמֻקּוֹת בְּזֹךְ נַפְשְׁךָ וּבֹר לִבְּךָ וְחֹזֶק אֱמוּנָתְךָ וְלֹא תִּפָּרֵד מִשִּׂמְחָה מַתְמֶדֶת בְּעוֹלָמְךָ וּבְאַחֲרִיתְךָ לְעֹצֶם מָה שֶׁהִשְׁקַפְתָּ עָלָיו וְגֹדֶל הַסּוֹד אֲשֶׁר נִגְלָה לְךָ עִם הָעֵזֶר הַמַּגִּיעַ אֵלֶיךָ מִן הָאֱלֹהִים יִתְבָּרַךְ.
And when you do this with a faithful heart and a pure soul, your mind will become illuminated, and you will see the path to all of the exalted qualities, and the yetzer (evil inclination) will not have a way to reach you and entice you, and you will reach the status of one treasured by G-d. A new, strange, supernal sense will arouse in you, unfamiliar to you of all the senses you are used to knowing, as the wise man said: "A man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face is changed" (Koheles 8:1), then you will perceive the great matters, and you will see the deep secrets, with your pure soul, pure heart, and strong faith. You will not part from a permanent joy in this world and in the next, due to the magnitude of what you observed and the greatness of the secret which was revealed to you, with G-d's help.
וְרָאִיתִי לִמְשֹׁל לְךָ מָשָׁל קָרוֹב יִתְבָּאֵר לְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ דִּמְיוֹן קְצָת מַה שֶׁזָּכַרְתִּי לְךָ וְהוּא שֶׁתַּחְשֹׁב כְּאִלּוּ אַתָּה בְּמָקוֹם וּמִמַּעַל לַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא צוּרָה כְּנֶגֶד הַצַּד שֶׁהוּא נִכְחֲךָ וְאֵין דֶּרֶךְ לְךָ לִרְאוֹתָהּ בְּעֵינֶיךָ וּלְהַשְׁקִיף עָלֶיהָ בְּחוּשׁ רְאוּתְךָ וְהִגִּיד לְךָ מַגִּיד כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה טַס מִבַּרְזֶל עָשׁוֹת וּתְלַטְּשֵׁהוּ עַד שֶׁתָּסִיר קַדְרוּתוֹ וְתִמְשָׁחֵהוּ זְמַן אָרֹךְ בִּמְשִׁיחוֹת רַבּוֹת וְאַחַר כָּךְ תַּעֲמִידֶנּוּ נֹכַח פָּנֶיךָ אָז יֵרָאֶה לְךָ מִן הַצּוּרָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה מָה שֶׁנֶּעֱלַם מִמְּךָ וְתוּכַל לִרְאוֹתָהּ וּלְהִשְׁתַּעֲשֵׁעַ בִּנְעִימוּתָהּ וְזֹהַר יָפְיָהּ,
I saw proper to give you an analogy, which will clarify for you a bit of what I have mentioned to you: Imagine that you are in a place, above this place and behind you is a wondrous image, and there's no way for you to see it with your eyes, and gaze at it with your sense of sight. A certain person told you that when you make a sheet of metal and polish it until the darkness is removed, and you anoint it with various potions for a long time, and then you place it opposite your face - then you will see the above picture that was previously hidden to you, and you will be able to gaze at it and to enjoy its pleasant appearance and radiant beauty.
וְהַצּוּרָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה הַחֲשׁוּבָה אֲשֶׁר אֵין לְךָ דֶּרֶךְ לִרְאוֹתָהּ בְּעֵינֶיךָ הִיא חָכְמַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְעַלֶּה וִיכָלְתּוֹ וְיֹפִי הָעוֹלָם הָעֶלְיוֹן אֲשֶׁר נֶעֱלָם מִמֶּנּוּ צוּרָתוֹ וּתְכוּנָתוֹ וְהַטַּס הֶעָשׁוֹת הִיא הַנֶּפֶשׁ הָאֱנוֹשִׁית וְהַלְּטִישָׁה הִיא הַנְהָגָתָהּ בַּחָכְמוֹת וּבַמּוּסָרִים הַשִּׂכְלִיִּים הַתּוֹרִיִּים וְהַמְּשִׁיחוֹת הֵם אָפְנֵי הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן הַשְּׁלֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר זָכַרְתִּי לְךָ.
The high picture, which you have no way to gaze at with your eyes, is the wisdom of the Creator, and His power, and the beauty of the upper world whose form and quality is hidden from us. The sheet metal is the soul of man, the polishing is the guiding it in the wisdoms and the intellectual and torah morals. The anointings are the thirty ways of personal accounting, which I have mentioned to you.
וְכַאֲשֶׁר תַּעֲלֵם עַל לִבְּךָ וּתְשִׁיבֵם עַל רַעֲיוֹנְךָ תִּזַּךְ נַפְשְׁךָ וְיֵאוֹר שִׂכְלְךָ וְיִצְטַיֵּר לְךָ כָּל עִנְיָן נֶעֱלָם בְּנַפְשְׁךָ וְתִרְאֶה צוּרוֹת הָאֲמִתּוֹת בְּעֵינַיִם פְּקוּחוֹת וְיִפָּתַח לְךָ שַׁעַר הַמַּעֲלוֹת וְיִגַּל הַמָּסָךְ הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּינְךָ וּבֵין חָכְמַת הַבּוֹרֵא מֵעַל עֵינֶיךָ וִילַמֶּדְךָ הָאֵל יִתְעַלֶּה חָכְמָה רָמָה וּמַעֲשֶׂה מוֹעִיל וְיִתֵּן לְךָ כֹּחַ אֱלֹהִי כמ״ש (ישעיהו י״א:ב׳) וְנָחָה עָלָיו רוּחַ ה׳ רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה וְגוֹ׳ וְאָמַר (איוב לא) אָכֵן רוּחַ הִיא בֶאֱנוֹשׁ וְאָמַר (משלי ב׳:ד׳-ה׳) אִם תְּבַקְשֶׁנָּה כַכָּסֶף וְכַמַּטְמוֹנִים תַּחְפְּשֶׂנָּה וְאָמַר (שם) אָז תָּבִין יִרְאַת ה׳ וְגוֹ׳:
When you put them to your heart, and establish them in your thoughts, your soul will cleanse, and your intellect will illuminate, and all types of hidden matters will picture in your mind, and you will see true forms with open eyes, and the gates of virtue will open, and the separation veil over your eyes which separates between you and between the wisdom of the Creator will be removed from you. And G-d will teach you supernal wisdom and beneficial acts and will grant you Divine powers, as written: "And the spirit of the L-ord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the L-ord" (Yeshaya 11:2), and "But it is a spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty that gives them understanding" (Iyov 32:8), and "If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then shall you understand the fear of the L-ord, and find the knowledge of G-d" (Mishlei 2:4-5).