11. Come and see, when a man is born, he is given a Nefesh of the animal element from the side of purity, from those that are called the holy Wheels, NAMELY FROM THE WORLD OF ASIYAH. If he gains further merit, he is given a Ruach from the aspect of the holy living creatures, NAMELY FROM THE WORLD OF YETZIRAH. If he merits further, he is given a Neshamah from the part of the throne, NAMELY FROM THE WORLD OF BRIYAH. These three are the maidservant, the manservant and the handmaid of the King's daughter. THEY ARE NESHAMAH, RUACH AND NEFESH FROM THE EXPANDING OF MALCHUT THROUGH BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH. THE MAIDSERVANT IS THE NESHAMAH OF BRIYAH, THE MANSERVANT THE RUACH OF YETZIRAH AND THE HANDMAID IS THE NEFESH OF ASIYAH.
12. If he gains further merit, he is given a Nefesh of the path of Atzilut, from the part of the only daughter called the King's daughter, NAMELY MALCHUT OF ATZILUT. If he is more meritorious, he is given Ruach of Atzilut from the side of the Central Pillar THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN and he is called a child of the Holy One, blessed be He. That is the meaning of, "You are the children of Hashem your Elohim" (Devarim 14:1). If he has more merit he is given a Neshamah from the aspect of Aba and Ima, WHICH ARE BINAH, as written, "and breathed into his nostrils the breath (lit. 'NESHAMAH') of life" (Beresheet 2:7). What is life? It is Yah, WHICH ARE ABA AND IMA, of whom it says, "Let everything that has breath (lit. 'NESHAMAH') praise Yah (Yud Hei)" (Tehilim 150:6). With them, the name of Yud Hei Vav Hei is completed. FOR RUACH AND NEFESH OF ATZILUT ARE VAV HEI AND NESHAMAH OF ATZILUT IS YUD HEI, THUS FORMING TOGETHER YUD HEI VAV HEI.
13. If he has more merit, he is given Yud Hei Vav Hei fully spelled THUS, Yud Vav Dalet, Hei ALEPH, Vav ALEPH Vav, Hei ALEPH, which is the secret of man, WHICH NUMERICAL VALUE IS 45, in the upper way of Atzilut. THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN WHEN HE IS A GARMENT TO SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF CHOCHMAH, WHICH IS SPELLED WITH THE SAME LETTERS AS THOSE OF 'THE POWER OF (HEB. KO'ACH) MEM HEI.' And he is named after the image of his Master, and it says of him, "And have dominion over the fish of the sea..." (Beresheet 1:28). He has power throughout the firmaments, over all the Wheels, Seraphim and living creatures, and over all the hosts and legions above and below. Hence, when one merits the Nefesh of the aspect of the only daughter, it says of him, "She shall not go out as the menservants do."
14. Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi met one night in a tower in Tyre and lodged there. They rejoiced in each other. Rabbi Yosi said, how glad I am to have seen the face of the Shechinah, for the whole way I was annoyed by a certain old merchant, who questioned me throughout the voyage.
15. HE ASKED ME who is the serpent that soared in the air and goes on in separation so that in the meantime there is rest to a certain ant that lies in its jaws. It starts connected and ends up divided. And what is an eagle that nests in a tree that does not exist; its stolen young are not creatures, because there were created where they were not created. When they go up they go down and when they go down they go up; two that are one and one that is three. What is a beautiful eyeless maiden, whose body is hidden yet revealed, who goes out during the morning and covers herself during the day, and adorns herself with nonexistent adornment.
16. He asks me all that along the way and I was annoyed. Now I have rest. Had we been together, we would have delved into the words of the Torah, instead of my dealing with other vain things. Rabbi Chiya said, do you know that old merchant? He said to him, I know that his words are senseless, for had he known he would have expounded with the Torah and the way would not have been spent aimlessly. Rabbi Chiya said, the merchant is here. Sometimes one may find golden bells, THAT IS, GOLDEN TONGUES in vain people. He said to him, he is here and gives his donkey fodder.
17. They called for him and he came before them. He said to them, now two are three, BECAUSE AFTER JOINING THEM THERE ARE THREE; and three are as one, AS THEY JOINED TOGETHER. Rabbi Yosi said, did I not tell you that his words are senseless and empty? He sat before them.
18. He said to them, gentlemen, I have become a merchant but a while ago. At first I was not a merchant but I had a young child, whom I placed in school and wanted him to study Torah. THEREFORE I BECAME A MERCHANT SO I COULD SUPPORT HIM. When I find one of the sages traveling, I lead my donkeys after him. Today I have thought I would hear new expositions of the Torah, but have heard nothing.
19. Rabbi Yosi said, in all your words, I wondered about one only. Either you spoke in jest or these words are worthless. The old man asked, what is that? RABBI YOSI SAID, a beautiful eyeless maiden, etc.
20. The old man opened with, "Hashem is on my side, I will not fear, what can a man do to me? Hashem takes my part with those who help me...It is better to take refuge in Hashem..." (Tehilim 118:6-8). How goodly, pleasant, precious and lofty are the words of Torah. And I, how could I say before these sages that I have heard from them not even one word until now? Yet I should speak up, because I am not ashamed to speak words of Torah in public.