Abode of Afflictions: A Training Camp for the Soul

The Talmud (Arachin 16b) asks: What is considered suffering? Which problems and troubles that arise in our lives fall under the category of "suffering"? And it answers: Even if a person reaches into their pocket to take out three coins, but only two come out, and now they need to reach into their pocket a second time, this too is called suffering!

In our eyes, this seems like just a routine matter. We are accustomed to the fact that not everything goes completely "smoothly" for us; there are delays and mishaps, and we don't take time to dedicate thought to such minor delays that we've grown used to. But the Sages specifically say that even these tiny delays are considered suffering! Are the Sages suggesting that we adopt such a pessimistic outlook that we see every small difficulty as suffering?!

Certainly not. This perspective actually provides joy in life and the proper way to cope with life's difficulties, as we will see.

In fact, humans were created to experience pleasure. Hashem created humans solely to benefit and delight them! If so, it's not a natural state for a person to experience any pain, even the slightest. Seemingly, a person's entire life should flow smoothly, completely without even the slightest distress.

However, as the "Mesillat Yesharim" writes, the place of true pleasure where a person will delight is the World to Come. That is the place of great pleasure for which we were created. But to reach this, Hashem, for His own hidden reasons, designed it so that a person must first pass through this world, which prepares their soul for life in the World to Come.

If so, this world is a temporary "training camp" for the soul. And in a training camp, the difficulties are intentional!

Let's imagine a new recruit arriving at a training camp. After several days of grueling training, he complains to his veteran friend: "Fine, I understand that I need to train to run for three hours with a heavy backpack, I also understand that I need to climb a steep cliff and all sorts of other such training exercises. All of this is difficult, but I still understand. But why are the mattresses here so hard and uncomfortable? Why isn't the food hot? Why isn't there a cold water dispenser? Why isn't there air conditioning in the room, or at least some fan? Why do the faucets, doors, and cabinets here squeak so much and are so annoying?! Can't they renovate a bit around here?!" His veteran friend answers: "Listen, my friend. All the conditions here are part of the training. It's part of the plan. The harsh conditions are also designed to make us fit for war situations. The army has more than enough money to renovate everything here, but that's not the point. Rather, all the furniture and equipment here were designed precisely for this purpose. A lot of thought went into every detail, so that we leave here as properly hardened and fit soldiers."

Similarly, the Sages say, no pain comes to a person randomly. Every pain, even the smallest that comes to a person, is part of the divine plan to shape and prepare their soul. "A person does not stub their finger below unless it is decreed from above," meaning even a very small pain, like a "stubbed finger," a small cut on a finger, is proclaimed from heaven and comes to a person through divine providence. And even a tiny delay in simple actions like taking a coin out of a pocket! We should not see this as just a random mishap of worldly ways. Hashem could easily have "renovated" our lives and made them easy and comfortable without any friction, even the slightest. And so every delay and every pain - comes with deliberate intention, with planned thought from the Creator. [Perhaps these small, everyday, routine delays are a constant and perpetual reminder for us how much everything is not under our control, how much this world is not worthy of our trust. If our actions flowed smoothly, we would have a sense of control and power, of independence, of "I will follow my heart's desires." These small and constant "sufferings" help us remember the transience of the world, our smallness before the Creator, and the true and important purpose for which we were created].

And when a person remembers that this world is the "abode of afflictions" (in the words of "Sefer HaYashar" below), a temporary training place that comes to prepare the soul for eternal life, and there is purpose and providence for every pain and suffering, even the smallest, then surely they will have inner strength to accept life's challenges with love.

"And this is the deed of the righteous, for they think and know that the world is an abode of afflictions, and therefore their eyes and hearts are on them at every moment, and therefore they will not be frightened or disturbed when they come, but they will frighten one who is secure in the world and says that no trouble will come upon him and that his tranquility will stand for him, and therefore when the opposite of what he thought comes upon him, he will be frightened and lose his mind and faith and service. And the wise person needs to always guard their soul and not trust in the goodness of the world for a moment, but know that afflictions are ready to come, and with this they will succeed and their service will endure." (Sefer HaYashar, Sixth Gate)

What is this comparable to? To a wealthy person who works in his workshop in dirty clothes, and when they ask him: "How is it fitting for a rich person like you to wear such dirty clothes?", he will surely answer: "This is my workplace, here is where I earn, and this is the only way I can earn. If you want to see my fine clothes, come to my home after work hours and then you will see me adorned in my nice garments." This world is our workshop! All the troubles, pain, and distress are our work clothes, with their help we reach our purpose - the World to Come.