The thing I find it difficult to take, is when a belief system tells you there is another way of seeing the world - and it can be yours, instantly - and they point the finger of guilt, and make you feel ashamed to still be so blind.

"When you perceive yourself without deceit, you will accept the real world in place of the false one you have made."

This phrase is from page 214 of the Big Blue Book of A Course In Miracles. All this kerfuffle about "making your world" - it is true of course, but I spent a year following the 365 daily lessons of ACIM, waking up every morning expecting that  enlightenment should have happened while I slept. And feeling disappointed and slightly cheated.

I feel much more comforted by hearing of "the seeds of understanding, slowly ripening" It sounds a more natural process, and one that can be enjoyed.

That there is a journey from dark to light seems self evident to me. Those who know, say (when they say anything) that the journey is actually unnecessary and that all we have do is wake up and realise that we are already "home". They say that we are conditioned to think that happiness is somewhere else, and to think that we have to strive to become perfect.

And then there is the great T.S. Eliot quote:

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time

I believe that, but I don't know it. Otherwise I wouldn't be talking about taking steps on a journey!