The phrase “dark night of the soul” evokes an existential reckoning, a confrontation with the deepest shadows within us. It is an intimate unravelling, a journey where the self is stripped of its illusions, attachments, and certainties. For many, this process feels like an unbearable plunge into suffering. Yet, it holds the potential to reveal a profound truth: the dissolution of the false self and the emergence of an awareness that transcends individual identity.
Taking on the pain and suffering of all mankind might seem like an impossible burden, yet it is precisely what this experience mirrors. It is not about martyrdom or an exaggerated sense of personal responsibility; instead, it speaks to the interconnected nature of all existence. In the depths of this dark night, the boundaries between “self” and “other” blur, allowing one to feel the collective anguish of humanity as their own.
This universal suffering is not a punishment but an invitation—a chance to awaken to the profound unity underlying all forms of separation. By embracing this shared pain, something extraordinary occurs: the heart begins to open, compassion takes root, and the seeds of wisdom sprout in the soil of surrender. The dark night asks, “Can you hold this pain without fleeing, without clinging to explanations, and without identifying with the suffering itself?”
When one says, “This suffering is a small price to pay,” it reflects a realization born of the dark night: the personal self is only a sliver of the infinite whole. In this light, suffering is no longer seen as a problem to solve but as a process to embrace. It transforms from an adversary into a teacher, pointing beyond the veils of duality to the indivisible unity of all that is.
The paradox of this experience is that as one holds the weight of the world’s suffering, it dissolves into something lighter than air. In letting go of resistance, the pain no longer feels like a prison. Instead, it becomes a portal to freedom—a space where all things are seen as perfect, even in their imperfection.
Emerging from the dark night does not mean returning to an unblemished sense of joy or comfort. It means carrying forward an alchemical knowing: the world’s suffering and its beauty are two sides of the same coin, inseparable and equally sacred. This realization births a new kind of strength—a quiet, humble courage that arises not from the need to control life but from a deep trust in its unfolding.
For those navigating this terrain, know that the dark night is not an end but a beginning. It is not a punishment but a grace, albeit one cloaked in shadows. It reveals that the pain and suffering of all mankind, though heavy, are but a small price to pay for the boundless freedom and love that emerges when the illusion of separation dissolves.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Morgan O. Smith 