Likutei Moharan 49:1/ליקוטי מוהר"ן מ״ט:א׳

1“Lashemesh Sam Ohel Bahem (He Set Up a Tent in Their Midst for the Sun), which is like a groom emerging from the nuptial chamber, like a warrior eager to run the course. Its source is at the edge of the heavens, its circuit is to their end; nothing escapes its burning heat. The Torah of God is perfect, restoring the spirit.” (Psalms 19:5-8)

2Before the creation, the Light of the Holy One was ein sof (infinite).

3But the Holy One wanted His Malkhut (Kingship) to be revealed, and there can be no king without a nation. Thus, He had to create human beings who would accept the yoke of His Kingship.

4Yet it is impossible to perceive a revelation of His Malkhut except through the attributes. Through the attributes we perceive His Godliness and know that there is a Lord, a Ruler, and an Authority. He thus contracted the Light of Ein Sof (the Infinite One) to the sides, leaving a hollowed space. And within this Chalal Hapanuy (Hollowed or Vacated Space) He created the worlds, which are themselves the attributes.

5The designer of the attributes is the heart—i.e., the Chokhmah (Wisdom) of the heart, as it is written (Exodus 31:6), “I have placed wisdom in the heart of all those who are wise of heart.” Thus, the main formation [of these attributes] took place with Chokhmah, as it is written (Psalms 104:24), “You created everything with wisdom.” We see then that the heart is the TZayaR (designer), as it is written (ibid. 73:26), “TZuR (rock) of my heart.”

6But there is a YeTZiRah (formation) for good and for evil. As our Sages taught: “And [God] YiYTZeR (formed)” (Genesis 2:7) —with two Yods. These are two YeTZaRin (inclinations): the good inclination and the evil inclination. In other words, good thoughts are the good inclination and evil thoughts are the evil inclination. This is because the inclinations are essentially the thoughts and wisdom of the heart, as it is written (Genesis 6:5), “for the inclination of his heart’s thoughts….” Thus, when a person thinks evil thoughts, he clogs up creation’s Space, which is where the attributes are revealed.

7For the heart is “the TZuR of the worlds” (cf. Isaiah 26:4) —i.e., the < TZayaR> of the attributes—because with respect to the light from the flaming of a Jew’s heart, it would be impossible to reveal the attributes. This is because the light from its flaming reaches to Ein Sof. In other words, there is ein sof (no end) and no limit to his yearning.

8Hence, a person has to contract the flaming so that there remains a space in the heart, as it is written (Psalms 109:22), “and my heart is hollowed within me.” By contracting the flaming, he can come to a revelation of the MiDot (attributes)—i.e., to serve God in stages and with MiDah (measure).

9The good thoughts in the heart are the good inclination, through which good deeds and attributes are revealed. This is a formation for good. <Thus, when a person thinks good thoughts, he purifies the Space of creation.>

10But when a person thinks evil thoughts, he clogs up the heart in the aspect of a foreskinned heart, and he spoils the creation—i.e., the Chokhmah in the heart. This is because the evil inclination is the foolishness of the heart, as it is written (Deuteronomy 10:16), “Circumcise the foreskin of your heart,” which Onkelos renders: “your heart’s foolishness.” Thus, foolishness is the spoiling of the creation which comes about through wisdom.

11We see then that when a person thinks good thoughts in his heart on how he might serve God, his heart is then in the aspect of “tzur of my heart,” and of “and my heart is ChaLaL (hollowed) within me.” For within the ChaLaL (Space) his deeds are revealed. And through his good deeds and attributes it is revealed that he wholly accepts the yoke of the Kingship of Heaven.

12This is the explanation of “Sharim (singers) and cholelim (dancers) alike [will proclaim:] ‘All my thoughts are of you’” (Psalms 87:7).

13“ShaRim” is the aspect of revealing <His> Kingship, corresponding to “SaRah (she ruled) over the entire world” (Berakhot 13a), and to “Then God will be King [over the entire world]” (Zechariah 14:9). “And ChoLeLim alike [will proclaim:] ‘All my thoughts are of you’”—i.e., the revelation of His Kingship is commensurate with the ChaLaL made through his holy thoughts.