Book of Formation - Sefer Yetzirah

Chapter III

Mishnah 4, part 1

Mishnah * III.4.1.  Three mothers [as a group within the Hebrew alphabet:]  Alef, Mem, Shin —

In the world they are the atmosphere, water, and fire.

Companion

Mishnah III.4.1.  [III.3]  Three mothers - This is a group of three letters of the twenty-two letters of Hebrew pronunciation, of the Hebrew alphabet.  Besides this group of mothers, there are two other groups of letters.  Some call each of the three groups of letters separate "books."  Like books, each one is a separate volume.  If these volumes were on a shelf, one would bring down each of them to study separate but related topics.  The book that expands on the three letters Alef, Mem, and Shin would have the title Mother Letters in the Hebrew Alphabet.  On my part, I would also give the book the subtitle The Three Physical and Metaphysical Fundamentals of the Universe's Creation.

1. The principle of entropy,
2. The principle of inertia, and
3. The principle of all laws of conservation.

Companion - Time

Time is implicit in the three principles.  We measure entropy, inertia, and conservation over a duration of time.  For example, "How much entropy did a system have at the start of measuring?"  Then, "How much entropy was there at the end of the measuring period?"

Companion - Consciousness

Human communication is also subject to entropy, for example.  One person gives a message to a second person.  The second person is likely to introduce a variation in the message (unless he or she is well trained and practiced in memorization).  A third person who receives this message is likely to introduce another variation in the message.  At some point not too far along, the message has been distorted so much that it fails to convey the original meaning and intention.

Inertia, for example, refers to habits of behavior.  For example, we continue to speak the same language with the same dialect by habit.  We do not change our speech pattern unless we want to ‐ perhaps to conform to the dialect of a region where we have relocated.  Sometimes people also learn a new dialect that conforms to a higher social class.

Relocation and travel are inducements to learn an altogether different language, for example.

We remain consistent in our behavior unless motivated to change.  People enter rehabilitation for addictions and substance abuse when they realize that they are addicted and that the addiction interferes with their aspirations.  Another example concerns people who are easily angered to the point that the outbursts interfere with relationships.  When and if they become aware of this kind of dysfunction, they learn anger management strategies if they want to change their behavior.

I have cited extreme examples using easily recognized bad habits.

* Definitions and Pronunciation