The Purification of the Soul

The religious life becomes striving to that er purify oneself through a process of spiritual struggle. True religion is always going to be difficult, not outwardly in relation to our practice but inwardly with us. You have to embrace it and work on yourself when you are doing so. And the essence of the religious life is working on yourself - controlling your de rs, teaching yourself to have mercy, having good character... all these things we can do if we want to become better people.