כָּבוֹד

The primary light of Hashem Yisborach is kavod [honor/glory] — in the dimension of "and the earth shone with His glory" [Ezekiel 43:2]. And the light of Hashem Yisborach flows always — only the person, through his attributes, deeds, and all his physicality, creates a shadow that blocks from him the light of Hashem Yisborach — which is the light of His glory, blessed be He. And the more a person merits to rectify his attributes, through this the shadow diminishes — until when a person merits to nullify himself and all his physicality entirely, to the point where he is in the dimension of ayin [absolute nothingness] — then he creates no shadow at all, and the light of His glory, blessed be He, illuminates and is revealed upon him in completeness. And through this all his deficiencies are completed and he merits to all good. And therefore the truly wise — who are in the dimension of ayin, in the dimension of "and from nothingness [ayin] wisdom is found" [Job 28:12] — through this they merit to honor, in the dimension of "the wise will inherit honor" [Proverbs 3:35]. [Translator's note: No source citation appears for this teaching in this edition.]

The primary honor [kavod] is in speech [dibur] — and speech is the palace of the King [heichal ha'melech], as it were. If so, one who wishes to receive honor in the palace of the King — there is no greater disgrace than this, as is known from experience: that a servant would certainly be greatly ashamed if great honor were accorded to him in the presence of the King. [Translator's note: No source citation appears for this teaching in this edition.]

There are several precious things in the world: a wise person, a strong person, a rich person, or a ruler — meaning whoever has some elevation and prominence. And know that through each one of them one can sometimes be helped to be saved from one's distress — for if one goes to one of them and tells him of his distress to the point of arousing compassion within him for oneself, through this one can be saved. [Translator's note: No source citation appears for this teaching in this edition.]

The root of souls is the dimension of kavod [honor/glory]. And through the revelation of honor — meaning through the increase and magnification of His honor, blessed be He — through this the spreading of prophecy comes. And therefore prophecy rests only upon a wise person, a strong person, and a rich person [Talmud Bavli, Shabbos 92a] — for all of these are in the dimension of kavod, from which prophecy flows. [Translator's note: No source citation appears for this teaching in this edition.]

From all things the glory of Hashem Yisborach cries out — for "the whole earth is full of His glory" [Isaiah 6:3]. And even from the stories of the nations the glory of Hashem Yisborach also cries out — for His glory, blessed be He, cries out always, and calls and signals to the person to draw close to Hashem Yisborach, and He, blessed be He, will draw him close with mercy, with great love and affection. [Translator's note: No source citation appears for this teaching in this edition.]

From elevation and prominence there is no proof at all — for sometimes one does a single thing through which one merits greatness and prominence for even many generations; and sometimes a person does many good things, yet even so has no greatness — because it is decreed upon him that his greatness should be cut off from him. [Translator's note: No source citation appears for this teaching in this edition.]