Bina (Kabbalah)

Bina is the third of the ten sefirot, following the sefira of Ḥokhma. It is the second level of the supernal light, or direct light, that emanates from the essence of the Creator. This second level or phase represents the desire of the created being to give and bestow and is therefore called the light of giving, as a continuation of the light of the Creator, the light of wisdom. It is called Bina or Understanding, because from it flows forth the power of understanding, of apprehending one thing for another. Bina is also a reference to different lower levels or sefirot in the structure of reality that are derivatives of the second level of the direct light. Bina is considered a “female” (or receiving) sefira, because it receives the light of wisdom. Additionally, at the root of Bina lies the yearning of the created beings that represents the will to receive that is embedded in existence. From a different perspective, Bina is found in of the head of the partzuf constructs, that is in the mind, so to speak, which includes the first three sefirot of Keter, Ḥokhma, and Bina. Each of the five primary sefirot is parallel to one of the five worlds that form existence. The world that is parallel to the sefira of Bina is the world of Beria. Each of the five primary sefirot is also parallel to one of the five partzufim. The partzuf that is parallel to Bina is called Imma, or “Mother.” Like a mother, Bina contains the roots of the sefirot that emanate from it, Tiferet with its six extremities and Malkhut. Additionally, the second constriction (tzimtzum) that forms the backdrop for the *world of tikkun (rectification)*, takes place within the sefira of Bina.