Ayin means eye and the human eye is able to encompass a panoramic view of the universe not accessible to touch, smell, taste and hearing. Ayin also implies seeing by the mind which utilizes images to form concepts and by reasoning and faith arrives at wisdom. Isaiah helps us to see this:
Raise your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth below;
Though the heavens grow thin like smoke,
the earth wears out like a garment,
and the inhabitants die like flies,
My salvation will remain forever
and my justice shall never be dismayed. (Is 51:6)
Christian Perspective
At the deeper level of the soul, a Christian has a faith vision of life, death and glory.
Christ has pointed to our inner eye when he says that we should not seek riches on earth but store up treasures in heaven. "The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be."
Likewise, St. Paul emphasizes the inner vision of faith which should rule our life as he says, "May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe...."(Eph 1:18-19)
Be Thou My Vision
| 1. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. |
2. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. |
| 3. High King of heaven, my victory won, May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all. |
Pei represents the power of human speech. The image is made up of mouth plus tooth. The mouth is a means of self expression and social communication. Pei is the means of praising God and the study of the Torah which was originally oral teaching. Pei indicates speech as well as silence. "In the mystical viewpoint, whenever people speak, they release spiritual energy into the universe - an energy setting both visible and invisible events in motions." 41
Christian Perspective
Jesus being the Son of God in a human nature spoke with power and authority. In this scene we see Jesus taking the hand of the daughter of Jarius who was dead and saying, "'Child arise'. Her breath returned and she immediately arose." (Lk 8:54-55)
The people of Nazareth were astonished to hear Jesus speak because he spoke with wisdom. Where did he get it? Was he not just a carpenter? (Mk 6:1-3) In Mk 1:22 we read "The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes."
At Caperneum Jesus met a man with an unclean spirit, "Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet, come out of him!" He commends even the unclean spirit and they obey him." (Mk 1:25, 27)
Jesus met a centurion who's servant was about to die. The centurion being aware that he was unworthy came to meet Jesus before he reached his home and he said to Jesus, "say the word and let my servant be healed." (Lk 7:7) Jesus was amazed because this man had great faith and understood the power of words.
To Tzadik, Kuf