"Bereavement is the deepest initiation into the mysteries of human life, an initiation more searching and profound than even happy love"

This quote by Dean Inge suggests that bereavement-- losing someone dear to us-- is among the most intense and transformative experiences a person can go through. It is referred to as an "initiation", indicating that it presents us to a complex world of emotions and existential reflection that we might not encounter otherwise. While happy love is typically thought about one of the most significant and fulfilling experiences, Inge presumes that the profound depth and existential impact of bereavement exceed even that.

To check out why bereavement is this "deepest initiation", we must consider the nature of loss. When somebody we like passes away, we are required to challenge our own death and the short-term nature of human presence. The grief and sorrow accompanying this loss press us into a psychological depth that differs from any other. It challenges our understanding of life, compelling us to look for meaning and reassess our worths and priorities. The strength of these emotions can lead to personal development and deeper self-awareness, as we learn to navigate a world without the physical existence of somebody who was important to our lives.

On the other hand, delighted love, while deeply improving and joyful, does not necessarily oblige us to deal with the harsher realities of life. Love primarily broadens our understanding of connection and satisfaction, often keeping us in a more positive frame of mind. Bereavement, however, needs that we grapple with darker, harder feelings and concerns, pressing us into extensive contemplation.

Additionally, Inge's quote hints at the idea that these experiences, while uncomfortable, are necessary to the human experience. They contribute to a fuller understanding of what it means to be human by engaging us to challenge and incorporate both euphoria and misery into our lives. Hence, bereavement, with its browsing and soul-baring nature, ends up being a transformative force, reshaping our understandings and inner landscapes in ways that better experiences might not.