He tells us, point blank, not to worry so much about creatures other than humans. Why? Because, according to him, humanity is the center of creation. Everything else, all the other critters and crawlers, only matter in how they help us reach perfection. They rise and fall with us, and on their own, they’re… well, insignificant. That's a pretty strong statement, isn't it?
It might sound a bit harsh at first, but let's dig a little deeper.
This idea actually ties into another question, a real head-scratcher: If God is good and benevolent, why is there so much suffering in the world? Why would a loving creator intentionally create beings destined to experience pain?
Baal HaSulam links suffering to the "first stage." He explains that the ultimate, perfect eternity hinges on a future "third stage." To get there, we have to go through a "second stage" where we have to choose between two paths: the path of Torah (the path of divine wisdom and commandments) or the path of suffering.
Think of it as a cosmic refining process.
And here's the kicker: All this suffering? It mainly affects the physical body, the outer "husk." This body, according to Baal HaSulam, was created specifically to die and be buried. The selfish desire to receive, the ratzon l’kabel, embedded within it, is meant to be erased and transformed into a desire to give, the ratzon l’hashpi’a.
So, our suffering isn't just random pain. It serves a purpose. It reveals the insignificance and damage caused by our inherent selfishness. It's a wake-up call, a chance to transform our desires. In essence, suffering highlights the need to shed the limited, ego-driven self and embrace a more selfless, giving nature. It’s not about wallowing in the pain, but rather using it as a catalyst for growth and transformation. We're meant to learn from it, to evolve.
It’s easy to get caught up in the immediate pain and struggle of life, but this perspective asks us to zoom out, to see the bigger picture. To understand that even the unpleasant experiences can have a purpose, a role in our journey toward something greater.
So, are we the center of the universe? Maybe. But perhaps more importantly, this teaching encourages us to focus on our inner work, on transforming ourselves into beings of giving and compassion. After all, maybe that's the perfection we're meant to achieve. And perhaps, in striving for that, we elevate everything around us as well.