We all do sometimes. But what if that feeling wasn't just a downer, but a crucial starting point for something amazing?
That's the question Baal HaSulam, one of the greatest Kabbalists of the 20th century, tackles head-on in his introduction to the Zohar. He asks: what exactly is our purpose in this immense, interconnected reality? What are we meant to do with our lives?
He frames this as the second great question one must ask when approaching Kabbalah. It's not just about intellectual curiosity or historical study. It's about figuring out our role in the "great chain of being," as he puts it. That chain, of course, being all of existence, from the smallest atom to the largest galaxy, all linked together.
Think about it: we're here for such a relatively short time. A mere flicker compared to the age of the cosmos. So, what's the point? Are we just supposed to eat, sleep, and accumulate things until our time is up?
Kabbalah, particularly as understood through the lens of Baal HaSulam, suggests there's a far deeper answer. It implies that our individual existence isn't just a random occurrence, but a vital piece of a much larger puzzle. We have a task, a mission, a reason for being that extends beyond our own immediate gratification.
What that task is… well, that’s what the rest of the Zohar, and Baal HaSulam's commentary on it, is there to help us discover. But simply asking the question – acknowledging that there is a purpose beyond our fleeting lives – is the first, crucial step. It's a shift from seeing ourselves as insignificant specks to recognizing ourselves as essential participants in something truly grand. Are you ready to find out what that "something truly grand" is?