“Intense suffering burns up the ego in us.”
“Suffering drives us into surrender, total acceptance, no more complaining.”
~Eckhart Tolle (paraphrased).
Something all spiritual beliefs, at their core seem to be implying. Different terms are used: self=ego, death of self =ego loss, the first shall be last, burial before resurrection/new life ( new way of seeing) , enlightened= new birth etc..
Different words, same eternal truths for real life. What life is meant to be.
The Undoing of Me 