a sufi point of view...
There is not the slightest doubt that when man has had enough pain in his life he rises to this great consciousness. But it is not necessary that only pain should be the means. It is the readiness on the part of man to efface his part of consciousness and to efface his own personality, which lifts the veil that hides the spirit of God from the view of man.
from http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/XIII/XIII_7.htm
no, i am not sufi...
rookie