Rabbi Cordovero's Kabbalistic Commentary on the First Verse of the Shema

Here is a translation I have put together from Tefillah LeMoshe.  It is Rabbi Cordovero's commentary on the first verse of the Shema.  This is a wonderful little snippet to contemplate regularly.  It is a good practice to prepare for praying the Shema by setting the mystical intention (kavannah) to realize the sefirotic dynamics of the verse as one is praying it.

In the verse "Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad" (Deuteronomy 6:4), there are six words: each word is like rain.  As a totality, they are six sefirot that are in Tif'eret.  And in the verse "Baruch Shem Kavod Malkhuto LeOlam VaEyd", there are six words: they are like containment vessels of the rain.  As a totality, they are six sefirot that are in Yesod.

"Shema" : With this word, he shall make preparations for Malkhut, that it be the opening of the assemblage of the words of the prayer.

"Yisrael" : And he shall supplicate to Tif'eret, and he will enter into Malkhut, to dwell with her.

"Adonai" : The first mention of the Tetragrammaton is in Hokhmah.

"Eloheinu" : With this word, he shall bind Hokhmah with Binah.

"Adonai" : The next mention of the Tetragrammaton is in Tif'eret.

"Echad" : If one has recited the Shema with this kavannah, then after the mention of the last word "echad", Malkhut will have united with Tif'eret.

"Baruch Shem Kavod" : Yesod is a receiver of the sefirot and pours them into Malkhut.

"Malkhuto" : And Malkhut is the conduct of the world with the power of Ain Sof.

"LeOlam" : It is said simultaneously with an overflowing of the six ends of the throne of glory.

"VaEyd" : The "Va" of this word represents six of the heikhalot (heavenly palaces).  The "Eyd" of this word represents the other heikhal which is in them all.