There is nothing worse than not knowing where your difficulties, suffering and misfortune come from

"The most useful thing a master does for his disciples is to draw their attention to their imperfections, for it is these imperfections that are the cause of their difficulties and suffering. All the while you do not know your weak points, you will be under attack and at the mercy of your enemies. To be able to defend yourself you must learn to recognize the enemy that’s hidden there behind a fault, a bad habit or a wrong idea about things.

There is nothing worse than not knowing where your difficulties, suffering and misfortune come from, for you’ll exhaust yourself firing cartridges into thin air. One day, you’ll have no ammunition left, but your enemy will still be undefeated. So, at least try to understand that your Master is your best ally: not only does he teach you where your enemy is and how it manifests but he also gives you the means to react, and these means will enable you, sooner or later, to triumph."