The Journey

In a fine text recommended by Cynthia Bourgeault is the following quote (from Toward a Psychology of Awakening) concerning Enlightenment and the actual experience of the journey:

It is easy to become discouraged by life's challenges, to ask, "Why is it so difficult to be human, why do I have to go through this, why am I not more enlightened?" In our despair we fail to appreciate the path quality of human evolution. Enlightenment is not some ideal goal, perfect state of mind, or spiritual realm on high, but a journey that takes place on this earth. It is the process of waking up to all of what we are and making a complete relationship with that. --John Welwood