On the purpose of suffering

[no_escape]

I like the thought that the amount of suffering in this life is proportional to the relief we'll experience in the next. I'm Buddhist too but I get a different message from the teachings. Seems like the Buddha said there isn't really a purpose so much as cause and effect. Ignorance leads to desire, which is the forerunner of consciousness, sense, birth and ultimately suffering. Once desire and aversion are eradicated, then the causal chain stops. I struggle with trying to have faith in his teaching and enlightenment. I wasn't raised in any faith so I have a hard time believing what I cannot see and experience for myself. Of course Buddha says that you must directly experience what he's talking about by yourself, not take it on faith, but it does require some amount of faith to put forth the effort and diligence.