Eckhart Tolle says obstacles actually strengthen consciousness, like a seed that needs soil resistance to grow strong. A plant in a protected greenhouse stays weak because it never faces challenges. Consciousness requires something to push against in order to develop.
The very thing that seems to block the evolution of your consciousness is that which empowers the evolution of consciousness. It applies to all life forms. Often when a gardener puts his seeds in the soil, and quite often gardeners put more soil on top of the sproutings seed in order to strengthen the plant. The plant is strengthened because it encounters an obstacle. A plant that grows in a greenhouse where it's totally protected will be quite weak, will not develop the strength because it's not needed. The hindrance, the obstacle, is necessary for consciousness to grow. Consciousness needs to come up against something.
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