PaRDesS

HaRav Yitzchak Kaduri's, z'sl, drawing and message: "When you arrive at the stones of pure marble, do not say 'water, water!'

Four Sages entered the PaRDesS (the orchard).
They were Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Acher (Elisha ben Avuya, called Acher: the other one) and Rabbi Akiva, zs'l.

Rabbi Akiva said to them prior to their ascension: "When you come to the place of pure marble stones, do not say, 'Water! Water!' for it is said, 'He who speaks untruths shall not stand before My eyes' (Psalms 101:7)."

Ben Azzai gazed at the Divine Presence and died.

Ben Zoma gazed and was harmed (lost his sanity).

Acher cut down the plantings and became a heretic.

Rabbi Akiva entered in peace and left in peace.

Rabbi Akiva was the only one who departed unharmed because he alone "entered in peace." He was not merely seeking mystical experiences. He did not enter the Pardes in order to satisfy a yearning to cleave to G-d, but in order to achieve a heightened spiritual awareness with which he could enhance his total service of G-d. His colleagues, by contrast, sought personal mystical experiences. They wanted to "come close to G-d," but did not understand how to relate that experience to the full scope of their lives.

PaRDesS - pshat, remez, Derash and sod.

The pshat within sod was revealed by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
The remez within sod was revealed by the Arizal.
The Derash within sod was revealed by the Baal Shem Tov.
The sod within sod will be revealed by Moshiach.