- Why Heaven Imposes Hardship
- 1 Sahng-jeh-nim recited the following verses from The Book of Mencius and said, “If you study these verses well, you will not have to study anything more from this book.”
- 2 When heaven intends to assign you a great task, it first breeds distress in your mind to test your willingness.
- 3 It makes your sinews and bones experience toil and your body suffer hunger.
- 4 It afflicts you with poverty and knocks down everything you try to build.
- 5 This is so that you will develop strength of mind, learn patience, and grow to do what you previously could not.
- (JSD Dojeon 8,44)
