Why do we suffer? Why does the world suffer so? Here we are, in the so-called "new millenium," with all the awareness that technology and instant media bring to us, and still we are helpless in the face of the profuse and profound suffering in the world. Does the Internet help the starving, innocent child? Do my prayers? This is the parsha of suffering; the Jews suffer terribly under slavery, the Egyptians suffer terribly from the plagues. Do the Egyptian children, as much a product of the system as the Jews, deserve to bear the brunt of hail, lice, boils and worse? Is it enough to say that suffering comes from G-d, and therefore has some higher meaning and purpose? I, for one, do not often have that faith, and yet, ironically, I find religious awareness is often awakened in times of duress. The key may be found in separating pain and suffering, in that it is possible to undergo pain and not necessarily suffer from it. The suffering comes from personally identifying with the pain, that it is happening to "me," and that this suffering is what I am. Removing the suffering from pain can be effected by expanding one's perspective beyond the local occurrence - me - and try to create a much bigger space of awareness. A drop of red dye in a small glass of water will change the quality of all of it, but dropped into a bathtub will not be noticed. Expanding our vision of our experience allows space for pain to exist, and suffering to dissipate into clarity.
The method the parsha lays out for creating such a space is by accepting G-d's promise that we will be taken out of this place and brought to a better land. This is the awareness of transience, that "this too shall pass." The second method of separating pain from suffering is to be aware that even in the darkest hour, there remains the most intimate and essential connection with G-d, one of hidden devekut (clinging). These two aspects of freeing awareness, transience and higher connectedness, work together; if the pain will pass due to G-d's guidance, then G-d must somehow be working here and now. The question, "Why is there suffering?" comes to be understood as how to deal with it - through meditation, transience and connection.
Meditation: Sit up straight with your eyes closed and your head slightly tilted downward. Place your hands lightly on your lap and relax into your sitting. Breathe naturally in and out a few times, following the rise and fall of your abdomen until your surface thoughts settle down. Notice how you are feeling at this moment. Fully acquaint yourself, and after being with this feeling and state for a few breaths, consider how this is different from how you felt and were an hour ago. Avoid judgement; just notice the difference. Now consider how this is different, your state of being, from where you were at yesterday. Continue this comparison outward to a week ago, month, year and years. Breathe in and out the flow of change in your life, breathing in the change that the past has brought, breathing out into the change of the future. This is the reality of transience. Now recognize the subject that is aware of this breath and law of change. Contemplate all the change as continuing a relationship between you and something greater than all that has passed or will pass. This is the truth of spiritual connection, which the transience of life serves. Breathe yourself closer, breathing in and out all pain and even joy which brings you closer in its passing.