How suffering leads to knowledge and growth of self. Trust sustains.

I discuss how to read, with example, passages in our great books like the Gita, or the Bible, the IChing, the Dhammapada... Comparing Luke ch23 verses 28-31. The aridity of the soul: St John of the Cross *dark night of the soul/Accent of Mount Carmel. How we must have hope, trust that we can surmount any challenge, *that which does not kill us serves to make us stronger. Trauma dries out our will, but with sacrifice and acceptance we can find the spirit to prevail? The strength lies within, in this philosophy, but we doubt our potential and power.