Two views

"... no matter what our difficulties may be, we recognize that there is a deep untroubled
stream flowing below all surface troubles and that we are of one substance with that
stream. The soul knows no difficulties."
James Thornton

"True self simply refers to the aspect of our being that is completely aware of its
expanded nature no matter what we may be experiencing in our lives."
Martia Nelson

Masters teach that we can experience two completely different states of reality at the
same time -- from the personality and from the soul.

Author Pema Chödron talks about being hungry, cold and tired but at that same time
deeply content. Ram Dass speaks of how the emotional heart can be breaking while we
recognize that all is unfolding perfectly.

Allowing our soul to be present with the discomforts of the personality shifts our
experience of the discomforts.

Understand the higher cause behind life's pains.