--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In virtually every spiritual tradition…" description: "\"“In virtually every spiritual tradition, suffering is seen as a doorway to awakening. In the West, this connection can be seen in the biblical story of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/peter-a-levine-11668_dark-night_in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-s_3155703.jpg" --- # In virtually every spiritual tradition, suffering is seen… ![“In virtually every spiritual tradition, suffering is seen as a doorway to awakening. In the West, this connection can be seen in the biblical story of Job, as well as the dark night of the soul in medieval mysticism. The transformative power of suffering finds perhaps its clearest expression in…” quote by Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/peter-a-levine-11668_dark-night_in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-s_3155703.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/peter-a-levine-11668_dark-night_in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-s_3155703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/peter-a-levine-11668_dark-night_in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-s_3155703.jpg) > ““In virtually every spiritual tradition, suffering is seen as a doorway to awakening. In the West, this connection can be seen in the biblical story of Job, as well as the dark night of the soul in medieval mysticism. The transformative power of suffering finds perhaps its clearest expression in the Four Noble Truths espoused by the Buddha. Though suffering and trauma are not identical, the Buddha’s insight into the nature of suffering can provide a powerful mirror for examining the effects of trauma in your life.”” [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering can serve as a catalyst for spiritual growth and insight across traditions. **In simple terms:** Pain can open doors to awakening. Key Takeaway Reflect on hardship as a teacher. Themes spirituality growth trauma Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Therapy sessions - personal reflection - teaching about resilience Key Concepts Buddhist teachings psychology mythology Questions to Reflect On - What lessons have you learned from hardship? - How can you support others in suffering? A Different Perspective Not all suffering leads to positive change; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddha Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddha-suffering-5683778/) [Dark night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-night/) [Dark night of the soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-night-of-the-soul/) [Mysticism Transformative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysticism-transformative-5683779/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-seen-968722/) [Suffering Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-trauma-707614/) ## Related quotes > [Though suffering and trauma are not identical, the Buddha's insight into the nature of suffering can provide a powerful mirror for examining the effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/though-suffering-and-trauma-are-not-identical-the-buddha-s-insight/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [One challenge is trying to extend access to more poorly served communities in rural areas and in the inner city. Sometimes you have kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/one-challenge-is-trying-to-extend-access-to-more-poorly-served/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [The writing that most interests me isn't about narcos or sicarios or police or whatever. It's about the victims and the survivors, and about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-goldman/the-writing-that-most-interests-me-isn-t-about-narcos-or-sicarios-or/) [Francisco Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-goldman/) > [In community, where you have all the affection you could ever dream of, you feel that there is a place where even community cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-community-where-you-have-all-the-affection-you-could-ever-dream-of/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“You see my state, and still increase my pain I see your face, the need for union regain. For my welfare, you have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hafiz/you-see-my-state-and-still-increase-my-pain-i-see-your-face-the-need/) [Hafiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hafiz/) > [“Maslow emphasized the “heights”, but to get to the heights you must have the Dark Night of the soul, and make your trip to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-armstrong/maslow-emphasized-the-heights-but-to-get-to-the-heights-you-must-have/) [Rob Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-armstrong/) > [I believe that the 'dark night of the soul' is a common spiritual experience. I believe, too, that the answer is continued seeking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/i-believe-that-the-dark-night-of-the-soul-is-a-common-spiritual/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [There can be no rebirth without a dark night of the soul, a total annihilation of all that you believed in and thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-can-be-no-rebirth-without-a-dark-night-of-the-soul-a-total/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“While the Dark Night of the Soul is a process of death, the Spiritual Awakening Process is the rebirth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mateo-sol/while-the-dark-night-of-the-soul-is-a-process-of-death-the-spiritual/) [Mateo Sol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mateo-sol/) > [The dark night of the soul for me was one night in Florida, when I had been on the road for about four years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-manilow/the-dark-night-of-the-soul-for-me-was-one-night-in-florida-when-i-had/) [Barry Manilow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-manilow/) > [“The journey of the dark night of the soul is where we learn who we are, without people telling us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ad-le-green/the-journey-of-the-dark-night-of-the-soul-is-where-we-learn-who-we/) [Adèle Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ad-le-green/) > [“The idea is a complicated one, as the burden falls to us to differentiate this Divine Darkness from other kinds of darknesses-- that off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/the-idea-is-a-complicated-one-as-the-burden-falls-to-us-to/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) > [“There is another reason also why the soul has traveled safely in this obscurity; it has suffered: for the way of suffering is safer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-of-the-cross/there-is-another-reason-also-why-the-soul-has-traveled-safely-in-this/) [Saint John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-of-the-cross/) > [And through a dark night of the soul, I came to realize that salvation happens through a mysterious, indefinable, relational interaction with Jesus in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-through-a-dark-night-of-the-soul-i-came-to-realize-that-salvation/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“...the important questions are answered by not liking only but disliking and accepting equally what one likes and dislikes. Otherwise there is no access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-important-questions-are-answered-by-not-liking-only-but-disliking/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) ## More by Peter A. Levine > [The second noble truth states that we must discover why we are suffering. We must cultivate the courage to look deeply, with clarity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/the-second-noble-truth-states-that-we-must-discover-why-we-are/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [If you bring forth that which is within you, Then that which is within you Will be your salvation. If you do not bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/if-you-bring-forth-that-which-is-within-you-then-that-which-is-within/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [“The third noble truth holds that suffering can be transformed and healed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/the-third-noble-truth-holds-that-suffering-can-be-transformed-and/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [Now, what happens whenever there's a loud sound is that it startles us, right? And we arrest what we're doing, and we try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/now-what-happens-whenever-there-s-a-loud-sound-is-that-it-startles-us/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [The paradox of trauma is that it has both the power to destroy and the power to transform and resurrect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/the-paradox-of-trauma-is-that-it-has-both-the-power-to-destroy-and/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [I have come to the conclusion that human beings are born with an innate capacity to triumph over trauma. I believe not only that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-human-beings-are-born-with-an/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [“...who have been traumatized, this can be a monumental leap of faith, but we can recover from trauma; indeed, my experience assisting others to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/who-have-been-traumatized-this-can-be-a-monumental-leap-of-faith-but/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [“For this reason, I sincerely believe that just about everyone can benefit from doing the Twelve-Phase Healing Trauma Program that you’ll find in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/for-this-reason-i-sincerely-believe-that-just-about-everyone-can/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [The effects of unresolved trauma can be devastating. It can affect our habits and outlook on life, leading to addictions and poor decision-making. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/the-effects-of-unresolved-trauma-can-be-devastating-it-can-affect-our/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [While studying the effects of accumulated stress on the nervous system, I began to suspect that most organisms have an innate capacity to rebound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/while-studying-the-effects-of-accumulated-stress-on-the-nervous/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [“He then made the connection between Jim’s death and the compulsion he felt to commit the robberies. Once he became aware of his feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/he-then-made-the-connection-between-jim-s-death-and-the-compulsion-he/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [“Feelings of helplessness, immobility, and freezing. If hyperarousal is the nervous system’s accelerator, a sense of overwhelming helplessness is its brake. The helplessness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/feelings-of-helplessness-immobility-and-freezing-if-hyperarousal-is/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [In top-down processing, which is normally what we do in psychotherapy, we talk about our problems, our symptoms, or our relationships. And then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/in-top-down-processing-which-is-normally-what-we-do-in-psychotherapy/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [“One of the paradoxical and transformative aspects of implicit traumatic memory is that once it is accessed in a resourced way (through the felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/one-of-the-paradoxical-and-transformative-aspects-of-implicit/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [“Highly traumatized and chronically neglected or abused individuals are dominated by the immobilization/shutdown system. On the other hand, acutely traumatized people (often by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/highly-traumatized-and-chronically-neglected-or-abused-individuals/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) [Explore all 58 Peter A. Levine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) ## More Dark night quotes > [On Hanukkah, the first dark night, Light yourself a candle bright. I'll you, if you will me invite To dance within that gentle light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-hanukkah-the-first-dark-night-light-yourself-a-candle-bright-i-ll/) [Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/) > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Faith is a dark night for man, but in this very way it gives him light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/faith-is-a-dark-night-for-man-but-in-this-very-way-it-gives-him-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Maine out of season is unmistakably a great destination: hospitable, good-humored, plenty of elbow room, short days, dark nights of crackling ice crystals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/maine-out-of-season-is-unmistakably-a-great-destination-hospitable/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [“Too often on such occasions one feels, as I feel so strongly with regard to poor old Stilton, that the kindly thing to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/too-often-on-such-occasions-one-feels-as-i-feel-so-strongly-with/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Look at all the resources around you before you make a decision. Look for ways to make your environment work for you. The solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-sutherland/look-at-all-the-resources-around-you-before-you-make-a-decision-look/) [C.D. SUTHERLAND](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-sutherland/) > [“Sitting outside on a dark night, under the stars, invites confidences amongst people of all ages, and all walks of life. It invokes an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-shepherd/sitting-outside-on-a-dark-night-under-the-stars-invites-confidences/) [A.B. Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-shepherd/) > [One thing is certain, whatever choices we make: we will not miss out on some critical purgation by seeking treatment for depression or any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-farrington/one-thing-is-certain-whatever-choices-we-make-we-will-not-miss-out-on/) [Tim Farrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-farrington/) > [“...the important questions are answered by not liking only but disliking and accepting equally what one likes and dislikes. Otherwise there is no access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-important-questions-are-answered-by-not-liking-only-but-disliking/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [A swift carriage, of a dark night, rattling with four horses over roads that one can’t see--that’s my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/a-swift-carriage-of-a-dark-night-rattling-with-four-horses-over-roads/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“The dark night of fascism is always descending in the United States and yet lands only in Europe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-dark-night-of-fascism-is-always-descending-in-the-united-states/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night I can see paradise by the dashboard light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/though-it-s-cold-and-lonely-in-the-deep-dark-night-i-can-see-paradise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Oh, it is sad for a poor Christian to stand at the door of the promise, in the dark night of affliction, afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/oh-it-is-sad-for-a-poor-christian-to-stand-at-the-door-of-the-promise/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“Korsakov turned away, sighing heavily as he made his way toward his SUV. It had been the early winter of 1997, a dark night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/korsakov-turned-away-sighing-heavily-as-he-made-his-way-toward-his/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“Perhaps, if I use my reason in good faith, I may suceed in discovering some ray of probability to lighten me in the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/perhaps-if-i-use-my-reason-in-good-faith-i-may-suceed-in-discovering/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) [Browse all 380 Dark night quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-night/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In virtually every spiritual tradition, suffering is seen as a doorway to awakening. In the West, this connection can be seen in the biblical story of Job, as well as the dark night of the soul in medieval mysticism. The transformative power of suffering finds perhaps its clearest expression in the Four Noble Truths espoused by the Buddha. Though suffering and trauma are not identical, the Buddha’s insight into the nature of suffering can provide a powerful mirror for examining the effects of trauma in your life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter A. Levine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-suffering-is-seen-as-a-doorway/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dark night" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-suffering-is-seen-as-a-doorway/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/peter-a-levine-11668_dark-night_in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-s_3155703.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/peter-a-levine-11668_dark-night_in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-s_3155703.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/peter-a-levine-11668_dark-night_in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-s_3155703.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In virtually every spiritual tradition, suffering is seen as a doorway to awakening. In the West, this…” — Peter A. Levine", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Peter A. Levine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In virtually every spiritual tradition, suffering...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-suffering-is-seen-as-a-doorway/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/in-virtually-every-spiritual-tradition-suffering-is-seen-as-a-doorway/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```