Siman 189

(5.) On the road during his journey to Uman he answered and said: "Even so, Hashem Yisburach always helps Israel, and there is no orphaned generation." And as Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said [Shabbat 138b] — when a certain Tanna said: "The Torah is destined to be forgotten from Israel" — Rabbi Shimon answered and said "no" — for [Devarim 31]: "From this Zohar they will go out from exile." For it will not be forgotten from the mouth of his offspring. And therefore he stood himself upon this verse and revealed then the secret printed in Likutay vol. 1 at its beginning — see there — about the greatness of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. I answered and said to him: "Rabbi Shimon also certainly has benefit from this — namely from this wondrous novelty." He replied: "Yes." Afterwards he answered and said: "Rabbi Shimon himself is another matter — for Rabbi Shimon is [Daniel 4]: 'a watcher and holy one descends from heaven,' as printed there." "And now there is a flowing spring, a source of wisdom [Proverbs 18] — such that even the holy watcher <span style="color:#b8a060; font-style:italic;" title="הַשְׁמָטָה — הָעִיר וְקַדִּישׁ"><that even the Watcher and Holy One [ir v'kaddish] also needs to receive from there, like a bird that drinks from the flowing spring></span>" It was also already heard that he said about himself that he is the river that purifies from all stains.