Darkness and pain is a catalyst for growth, on a soul level it is a service.
Pain is the story we tell ourselves, as humans this is what we have been conditioned to do.
We give it an identity, a life out of our pain so we can go back in and wallow in it, some become addicted to it.
When you suffer and feel lost in darkness, look at why.
Exactly why are you suffering, what is its essence and what is the story the mind is telling you....for it is here you find your own lies.
you are also like Fire  formless, pure and require no one's approval to be as you wish to be, being formless.
Now you decide and ponder being the Fire would you need any kind of practice to be Fire ?
Enlightenment simply means that you know you are the formless form of any form and you can enjoy being in any form and experience Life.
Like Fire  lits up itSelf on a Candle, a Clay lamp, a Golden lamp or as a Burning bush in the wilderness Being Aware This cognitive shift in your understanding is Enlightenment.
Your formless form of any form contains within itSelf the truth of purity in its existence as Consciousness, the intelligence in its creativity and the bliss of non-attachment to any consequences or Karmic effect.
That's the beauty of truly being enlightened or realised.
beauty in our wounded and tender places, and the nonduality shining brightly in the damn chaos of duality, and the ever-present existence of a love so vast it cannot be understood by mind, a love that does not shame our shame, or fear our fear, or attempt to purify our "impurities" - a love that loves our imperfections and mistakes and embraces them in loving awareness in each and every moment of our lives - then sign me up!