Akudim (עקודים) — the Bound World

Core definition

Akudim is the first of the three "general worlds" (עולמות כללים) — Akudim, Nekudim, Berudim — the primordial stages of the light's enclothement in vessels following the tzimtzum [15911/maamar_007 :: עב׳ 127]. Akudim means "bound": "ten lights bound in one vessel" (עשר אורות עקודים בכלי אחד, Etz Chaim), a state of much light in which all the sefiros are bound together as one essence, without division or breaking [15962/maamar_015 :: עב׳ 477–481].

How the Rebbeim develop it

Akudim stands above the level of ordinary hishtalshelut: relative to us, even Adam Kadmon, Akudim, and the "unknowable head" (רדל״א) are above the chained descent of worlds; relative to the Ein Sof's essence, even these are only revelations [15962/maamar_020 :: עב׳ 43]. The "owner of the desire" — the one who wills the world's existence — is of Akudim's aspect, "above the Atik level" [15962/maamar_015 :: עב׳ 477–479].

The defining contrast is between Akudim and Nekudim (the world of Tohu). In Nekudim each light is enclothed in its own vessel, divided and separate from the light in another vessel; each of the points carries light "in multitude," and because the points are opposites of one another, this led to the breaking of the vessels (sheviras hakeilim) [15962/maamar_020 :: עב׳ 61; 15911/maamar_010 :: עב׳ 140–142]. In Akudim, by contrast, though "much light" shines, the lights are bound in one vessel — they are one essence — and there is "no matter of breaking there at all" [15962/maamar_020 :: עב׳ 61].

This unity is the paradigm of a higher bitul. There are two levels of bitul: that two things not contradict each other (bitul from weakness — "soft as a reed"), and that they receive from one another — "a most elevated bitul." The bitul of Tikun is of the first kind, giving room to the opposite middah. But through the refinement of the animal soul, the bitul is made in the soul's very existence, "until the middos are in actual unity — like in Akudim, where there is much light, yet it is bound in one vessel — they are one essence" [15962/maamar_020 :: עב׳ 60].

Akudim is also the level reached toward in the future. Before the sin of the Tree of Knowledge, "the end of the world of Akudim was in the place and virtue of the six first sefiros of Yetzirah now" — the high souls' refinement of the yesh aims to restore the world to what it was before the fall [15911/maamar_007 :: עב׳ 338]. The Akeidah is read as akudim: Yackov's binding of Yitzchak foreshadows the future perfection, earned through present avodah [15962/maamar_020 :: architecture summary].

Key distinctions

• Akudim vs. Nekudim: Akudim — much light bound in one vessel, one essence, no division, no breaking. Nekudim — each light in its own separate vessel, multitude of points, opposites, hence the breaking [15962/maamar_020 :: עב׳ 61].
• Akudim vs. Berudim: like Nekudim, Berudim are ten sefiros in division, each light separate in its own vessel; Akudim alone is the undivided stage [15911/maamar_010 :: עב׳ 140–142].
• Akudim vs. Tohu/Tikun: Tohu preceded Tikun in the order of hishtalshelut "for the coming-into-being of Tikun"; Akudim stands above the Tohu/Tikun pair as the level where opposites are one [15911/maamar_007 :: עב׳ 127–128].

Related concepts

Nekudim, Berudim, Sheviras Hakeilim (the breaking of the vessels), Tohu and Tikun, Adam Kadmon, the Akeidah (as akudim), bitul.

Sources

• 15962/maamar_020, עב׳ 43, עב׳ 60–61; architecture summary (Akudim above hishtalshelut; the paradigm of bitul; Akudim vs. Nekudim; the Akeidah as akudim)
• 15911/maamar_010, עב׳ 140–142 (three levels; Akudim bound in one vessel; Nekudim/Berudim in division)
• 15962/maamar_015, עב׳ 477–481 (the desire's owner as Akudim's aspect; "ten lights bound in one vessel")
• 15911/maamar_007, עב׳ 127–128 (three general worlds; Tohu's precedence for Tikun's sake)
• 15911/maamar_007, עב׳ 338 (the end of Akudim's world before the Tree of Knowledge sin)