A person who thinks that he has already attained bittul should put himself to the test. When it comes to interpersonal relationships, how much does he respect the next person? Does he see the good in others? Does he learn from everyone what could be learned from them? From one person you can learn temimus. From the next person he can learn to hold his tongue during an argument. From the third person he can learn to wake up early to serve Hashem. When he sees that he accepts from others even when it’s difficult for him, and even when it takes his ego down a notch... when he sees that he has bittul toward anyone who is greater than him... then he can see whether he has bittul to the Ribbono shel Olam.
But if a person says, “I have bittul to Hashem. But to my fellow Yid... I don’t know... he doesn’t seem to me like an adam gadol.... Everyone has flaws.” This person has complaints against the whole world, but he thinks he has bittul to the Ribbono shel Olam. It is clear that he is fooling himself, and he doesn’t have bittul to the Ribbono shel Olam either.
How Hashem Is Mechanech His Children
This can be likened to a person who considers himself extremely kind-hearted. He says, “I truly have such strong feelings for others; I am mamash the manifestation of Hashem’s kindness in This World.” Asks the Aibishter, “May I know how much money you distributed to needy Yidden for Yom Tov? Did you overextend yourself toward others or not?”
Hashem gave us practical mitzvos that put our hearts to the test—so we can put to the test what is truly going on inside our hearts, because that is where the hard work takes place.
When it comes to bittul, the Ribbono shel Olam gave us numerous mitzvos—“tests” by which we can ascertain whether we have attained bittul. For example, bittul to our parents, to those older and greater than us, and even to a simple Yid, as outlined above. We can learn from everyone. The entire concept of machlokes stems from lack of bittul. A person must say to himself, “There is another side. Yes, I have my own opinion, and I am not obligated to agree with that person. But I also know that I don’t see the entire picture.” This is called bittul. The entire concept of זכות לכף דן is also rooted in bittul. I don’t see the entire picture.... I am surely missing details.” The ability to think like this is the method by which the Aibishter shapes us in the ways of bittul, which is a vessel for da’as.
