Those who consider the article to be about politics and social welfare miss its central point, which is:

"In the spiritual life one must go through the darkness, not around it, because only the experience of darkness will humanise us and cleanse us of all personal projects designed to make us happy"

I disagree.

When one is led by the light, then even [the material] darkness is never darkness - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2zZv1LNQzw

It is unfortunately common among Christians to seek and dare the darkness. The pretext is the wish to be humanised so to rise above the animal in us of which we feel guilty.

But isn't this itself an ego-based "personal project designed to make us happy"?
One cannot but constantly design to become happy - until one is indeed happy!
And this happens once the illusion of being a small, limited, mortal and helpless human-being, finally drops. Darkness can only be overcome
by light!
Jesus was always happy, even in face of the cross - he called himself "son of God" because he did not entertain that human-illusion.

Hinduism teaches that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is the consort of Vishnu, the benevolent all-pervading preserving aspect of God.
Of course one should not be greedy and attempt to obtain Lakshmi's favours by force or trickery, but when she does shower Her blessings on us, refusing to accept Her blessings and artificially trying to become meek, is thus an insult to Vishnu!

Yuyutsu,
When God is your father wouldn't anyone be always happy ? When you know you're in good hands & all you have to do is tell people what they should be doing & forgive those who give you a hard time ?

Good article Peter, and well said.

Dear Individual,

«When God is your father wouldn't anyone be always happy ?»

Yes, if you know it.

By this I do not mean just having an intellectual understanding of this as an idea, but actually feeling it constantly in your veins, beyond any doubt.